The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) is a paranormal investigative organization. It's dedicated to learning more about things outside the realm of the typical human experience.
Beginnings of Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS)
The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) was founded in 1990 by Jason Hawes of Warwick, Rhode Island. Jason had a paranormal experience, one he mostly keeps to himself, that changed his perception of the world around him. Filled with a desire to dig deeper into the realm of the unknown, he began meeting with like-minded individuals in a loose-knit coffee klatch.
Grant Wilson also had an unusual experience that affected him profoundly, leading him to the group just a few years later. Together, Jason and Grant became the guiding force behind a group of paranormal enthusiasts. TAPS seeks to investigate reports of paranormal activity while trying to either explain it or capture conclusive evidence of life beyond death. Throughout the years, this quest to understand the unknown led the members of TAPS all across the USA in search of true hauntings and other paranormal activity.
How TAPS Investigates the Paranormal
Although TAPS was primarily formed to study the paranormal, it became the group's mission to help people who felt their home or establishment was haunted by unknown, and sometimes unwanted, spirits. The group conducts investigations of the site using a number of electronic devices that can help gauge unusual energy levels and sounds the human ear is unable to capture.
Investigations are typically conducted over a single night although the group has returned to several locations that have warranted a further look. After the main body of an investigation is concluded, TAPS reviews all voice and image recordings to look for anything unusual. Sometimes it seems as though a ghostly image or voice has indeed been captured. It's then the team's job to try to find a reasonable explanation for what caused the anomaly. If no real-world explanation can be found, the image, activity or sound is determined paranormal in nature.
Any and all evidence is presented to the home or business owner for review, and the team leaders offer their honest opinion about whether the location might truly be "haunted". Sometimes owners are relieved to find out there was a completely normal explanation for the activities they witnessed. Other times, they are either shocked or elated to have their suspicions confirmed. The team never knows how an owner will react to the news they receive, so they always try to present their findings in as professional a manner as possible to avoid frightening their clientele. TAPS states that the group doesn't charge anyone for their services.
TAPS receives more calls for help than they can cover on their own. For that reason, TAPS built a network of related societies, affectionately referred to as part of the "TAPS Family". Each society that joins the network must meet a set of guidelines found on the TAPS website before they can be considered for membership. After that, TAPS reviews each application to decide if the group seeking membership is ready and able to become yet another branch of the network.
Keeping Up With Ghost Hunters TV Show
TAPS broke ground with the SyFy TV series, Ghost Hunters, that documented the group's paranormal investigations from 2004 to 2016. In 2019, Grant Wilson formed his own team for a revival of Ghost Hunters on A&E that ran for two seasons, while Hawes was on Travel Channel with Ghost Nation. In 2021, the series Ghost Hunters was back in Jason Hawes' hands and airing on Discovery+, with TAPS cast members, Steve Gonsalves, Dave Tango, and Shari DeBenedetti.
Visit the TAPS Website
There is a wealth of information and news at the TAPS website, The Atlantic Paranormal Society, and a listing of upcoming events. However, should you need help, you can search the TAPS family of investigators for one in your area.
