Local News

Paranormal show may film at old Cambria jail

EBENSBURG -- Seeking physical evidence of the paranormal, a group of well-known ghost investigators may soon explore a former Cambria County jail after receiving permission from county commissioners to do so.

The three commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to approve a location contract, allowing the production company, Groff Entertainment LLC, to film at the former jail at the corner of North Center and West Sample streets in Ebensburg.

Little about the proposed filming was discussed before the vote, but Commissioner Mark Wissinger provided hints with a reference to the popular movie, "Ghostbusters."

"You got to watch. You could walk by there and get slimed," he said.

Later, county solicitor Bill Barbin revealed that an episode of "Paranormal Lockdown" may soon shoot at the former jail.

According to the television show's website, "Paranormal Lockdown" features paranormal investigators Nick Groff and Katrina Weidman, who "spend 72 hours confined to America's most haunted locations in a daring attempt to capture the most groundbreaking physical evidence on record."

County officials could not say exactly when the paranormal investigators will visit the jail.

Barbin said filming at the site is contingent on the selection of shooting dates, which have yet to be selected.

However, Barbin said steps are being taken to ensure that the dates do not interfere with the possible development of the old, stone structure, where the county's records were previously stored.

Developer Sheldon Piepenburg aims to renovate the former jail into a brewery, restaurant and coffee shop, according to previous Mirror reports.

Plans to develop the jail are underway, but the county still owns the building and pays its utilities costs, county Controller Ed Cernic said.

At the meeting, Cernic also expressed some frustration with the developer's progress.

"The county was put under the gun at the end of March to move our records out of there," he said. "I'm a little disappointed that things haven't moved a

little quicker."

Larry Custer, Cambria County Redevelopment Authority's executive director, said he is confident the necessary financing to move forward with the project will soon be secured.

As a stipulation of the contract, Groff Entertainment has agreed not to damage or alter the former jail building, Barbin said.

On Thursday afternoon, Jay Sinrod, executive in charge with Groff Entertainment, confirmed the paranormal investigators likely will visit Ebensburg to film a one-hour episode for the show's third season.

However, he was reluctant to reveal the dates that shooting will take place.

The show and its stars have a large following, and Sinrod said he worries unwanted attention from fans and other spectators could interfere with filming and the investigation, which, according to the show's website, relies on the use of "state of the art high-resolution cameras, and never before seen paranormal technology."

"We have a lot of work to do," Sinrod said.

Before the conclusion of Thursday's commissioners meeting, Wissinger offered a tongue-in-cheek word of advice to the "Paranormal Lockdown" crew.

"I can tell you, when I go by, I always go to the other side of the street," he said, referring to the former jail. "I don't want that green slime on

me."