Thomas Hotcaveg has been seeking ghosts for about 17 years. Later this month, he hopes to make his first discoveries in Downtown Harlingen along with dozens of regular citizens who also have an interest in locating paranormal activity.
“We are hoping maybe the founder of Harlingen will still be around,” Hotcaveg says about the upcoming ghost tour in the city. “Maybe some of the spirits from those who had businesses in the area will be there.”
The co-founder of RGV Paranormal Investigations admits it is the first time in Harlingen seeking ghosts after looking for spirits in Brownsville quite often.
People from all over South Texas and beyond follow the nonprofit organization. Hotcaveg is a founder, along with his sister Bonnie Salazar and his daughter Janie.
To prepare for the Downtown Harlingen Ghost Tours, the organization will perform a mock hunt to “get a feel” for where the activity might be. They are also looking for what type of spirit is around.
“Sometimes you come across something that doesn’t want you around, so we go in there and determine that and see what we pick up,” he said. “What spirits are lingering around?”
A new hunt
On Oct. 18 and 19, they will take groups of as many as 50 strong on a walking tour ghost hunt. They will cover Jackson Street, the city’s historical district. The tour will then end in the Downtown Harlingen building at the corner of Jackson Street and Commerce. There has already been a sense of activity in that former bank building.
Hotcaveg is certainly ready for whatever he comes across in the area.
“My most enjoyable is Fort Brown with the Confederate soldiers,” he said about the Brownsville location. “I go out there around the jail and take out a harmonica and start playing ‘Yankee Doodle’ to stir up activity. One year I did it and got kicked in the back. That was my sign to stop playing.”