Paranormal group investigates Kerouac home

The SPIRITS of St. Petersburg, a local paranormal research group, concluded an overnight investigation at the Jack Kerouac House of St. Petersburg on July 18, 2026.

Six members arrived at the Disston Heights residence, and three stayed the night. The group had donated to book the house as a bed-and-breakfast, securing permission from the owners to conduct their tests. The home has been open to the public since the pandemic, retaining the furniture, dishes, and books that belonged to Jack, Stella, and his mother, Gabrielle.

Brandy Stark, the group's founder, has a history with the site. In 2002, she visited while the power was out at Haslam’s Bookstore, where an electromagnetic field detector recorded an anomalous reading. A photo taken that night showed a mist in the upper left corner, which later won second place in a ghost photography contest. During the July investigation, the team used table-tipping to communicate with the residents' spirits. Jack appeared pleased with their presence, while Stella repeatedly moved the table toward her bookshelf in the dining room.

The group also deployed REM pods, modified theremins that detect disturbances in temperature and electromagnetic fields. The devices activated in an empty room where no cell phones were present to cause interference. Video footage captured the activation with no one near the device. The team also recorded audio in the living room and Jack's bedroom, capturing a faint male whisper that seemed to react to their movements.

During a dust test, the camera caught a rod image, an elongated, translucent object moving against the airflow. The object traveled from the left side of the screen to the right. The team noted that no bugs were reported by the members, and no one received bites during the night. The group also conducted a flashlight test using balloon lights in the dining area near Jack's card table. The lights turned on in response to questions directed at Stella and also activated while the room was empty.

Stark reported that sensitives in the group felt a welcoming presence from Stella, who appeared proud of her kitchen. One member reported a mental image of Stella kneeling to pray by her bed. The team ended the evening by eating pizza off the couple's dishes and leaving a margarita and wine for them. The group plans to return in 2027 for National Day of Ghost Hunting to host a fundraiser and public tour.