Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
- Broken Wings Paranormal investigated St. Anthony's old reform school, claiming it's Idaho's most haunted.
- The team experienced poltergeist activity, disembodied voices and "insane" EVPs during their visit.
- Local folklore includes stories of unmarked graves and Hope Chacon's mysterious death.
ST. ANTHONY, Idaho — Who ya gonna call? How about Broken Wings Paranormal?
The Salt Lake City-based research group recently spent an evening investigating the former Idaho Industrial Reform School in St. Anthony and is calling it, hands down, the most haunted place in Idaho.
Built in 1924, the reform school has long been one of eastern Idaho's most recognizable and controversial landmarks. Originally built to house juvenile offenders, the facility operated for decades before eventually transitioning to other correctional uses.
During its years of operation, the institution drew national attention over allegations of cruel and unusual punishment for the treatment of some of its residents.
Today, it has been transformed into an Airbnb known as Summerhill Estate.
Over the years, stories of unexplained noises, shadowy figures and other alleged paranormal activity have become part of the property's local folklore, attracting ghost hunters, history enthusiasts and curious visitors.
Steve Cutter, digital creator and lead investigator for Broken Wings Paranormal, said the place did not disappoint.
They were armed with 20 night-vision cameras, digital audio recorders and equipment designed to detect electromagnetic fields that Cutter believes pick up on spirits. Cutter said he and his team experienced near-constant activity, including what the team described as poltergeist activity, disembodied voices and "insane" EVPs (electronic voice phenomena).
"Often, when we go on an investigation, nothing happens. It's like watching paint dry for eight hours," he said. "But from the second we got here, that wasn't the case. There was a constant feeling of being watched, along with knocking and banging, things being thrown and some creepy voices that could clearly be heard."
"At one point, a door opened on its own, and it's rare to capture something like that on camera," he added.
Who may be haunting the reform school?
Local folklore surrounding the former reform school includes stories of 22 unmarked graves believed to belong to children who died while at the facility, rumors of a 17-year-old girl who was bullied and killed in the communal showers and tales of a young woman who allegedly jumped from a third-story window to her death.
One of the property's most enduring stories centers on 14-year-old Hope Chacon, an inmate at the reform school who died in the dormitory on March 17, 1941.
Her death was officially ruled a suicide by hanging, according to her death certificate and contemporaneous newspaper reports. However, some of her relatives have long questioned that conclusion, even to this day, and believe she may have been murdered.
Over the years, visitors and paranormal investigators have claimed to encounter the spirit of a young girl they believe is Hope, making her one of the site's best-known ghost stories. Cutter believes his team may have experienced that during its investigation of the old shower area.
Cutter's daughter, Chelsea, a psychic medium and member of Broken Wings Paranormal, said she enters a deep meditative state in an attempt to communicate one-on-one with spirits. During the investigation, she believed she made contact with Hope.
"We knew right away she was picking up on some bad things that happened in the communal shower," Cutter said. "Those girls were treated terribly. Was it suicide or murder? We'll likely never know."
Cutter said that, unlike many paranormal reality TV shows, Broken Wings Paranormal's videos are not heavily edited or dramatized.
"We never make up fake evidence," he said. "Everything we do is in the moment."
Cutter said the team's highly sensitive Zoom digital recorder also captured what sounded like a young girl humming in the shower area. At another point, he said someone in the group asked, "Where do you want us?" and a creepy male voice appeared to respond, "Bedroom."
Overall, Cutter said the team was left with an overwhelming feeling of sadness and despair.
"Some investigations can drain you out emotionally, mentally and physically," he said.
Broken Wings Paranormal conducts between 25 and 35 investigations each year. Recent locations have included the Idaho State Penitentiary, Boise's Egyptian Theatre and the old Idaho State Tuberculosis Hospital in Gooding. The group also investigates private homes at no charge.
"This is an expensive hobby, but we're not in it for the money. It's our passion," Cutter said, adding that the team of eight all have different jobs.
Asked about the scariest experience as a paranormal investigator, Cutter pointed to Virginia City's infamous Red Room in Nevada, where he said he felt as though he had been hit by an NFL linebacker and later discovered bruises on his body.
Despite describing the St. Anthony investigation as one of the most active his team has ever experienced, Cutter said there is still much more to explore at the former reform school.
"We'll be back," he said.
For more information and to view more of the team's videos, follow Broken Wings Paranormal on Facebook, YouTube and TikTok.
