If you’ve ever wanted to go beyond simply hearing ghost stories and actually participate in a paranormal investigation, St. Augustine has some fascinating opportunities.

One of the techniques we use during our Para4ce Investigations at The Dixie House is the Estes Method—a unique approach to spirit communication that can make for some truly interesting investigation sessions.

What Is the Estes Method?

The Estes Method is a paranormal investigation technique designed to separate the person asking questions from the person receiving the potential spirit-box responses.

Here’s how it works.

One investigator wears headphones and an eye mask while listening to a spirit communication device. Because they can’t see what’s happening around them, they aren’t able to hear the questions being asked or react to visual cues from the other investigators.

A second investigator—or several investigators—then asks questions aloud.

The person wearing the headphones says out loud whatever words or phrases they believe they are hearing.

The investigators document the questions and responses and compare them afterward.

For example, someone might ask:

“What’s your name?”

The person wearing the headphones might respond with a name they believe they heard.

The person listening doesn’t know what question was asked.

That’s what makes the experiment so intriguing.

The Estes Method at The Dixie House

During our Para4ce Investigations, we use the Estes Method as one of the techniques guests may experience while investigating The Dixie House.

And if you’ve spent any time learning about the Dixie House, you know this isn’t simply a random location we picked because it looks spooky.

The Dixie House has a long history and has become one of the locations where our investigators have experienced unexplained activity over the years.

It’s also a place where we can experiment with different paranormal investigation techniques and equipment in an actual investigation environment.

The Estes Method gives us another way to approach potential spirit communication.

Rather than everyone in the room hearing the same thing and reacting to the same questions, the person participating in the Estes session is intentionally isolated from the conversation happening around them.

That can make for some fascinating—and sometimes downright strange—moments.

Why Use an Eye Mask?

The eye mask isn’t just for dramatic effect.

It’s an important part of the experiment.

By preventing the participant from seeing what’s happening, we remove one source of information that could potentially influence their responses.

They can’t see who is asking the questions.

They can’t watch the equipment.

They can’t see someone react to something unexpected.

They simply listen.

The headphones further isolate them from the room, allowing them to concentrate on the sounds coming through the device.

When the session is over, the investigators can look back at what was said and compare it with the questions that were asked.

It’s a fascinating way to conduct a paranormal experiment.

The HEXBOX and Estes Method

The equipment used for an Estes Method session can vary, but the HEXBOX is one of the devices we use for this type of experiment.

The HEXBOX is a versatile piece of paranormal investigation equipment designed for spirit communication experiments. It offers multiple scanning modes and adjustable sweep rates, giving investigators different ways to conduct a session.

During an Estes session, the person wearing the headphones listens to the audio from the HEXBOX while the other investigators ask questions.

And because the listener doesn’t know what questions are being asked, the investigators can document the responses and see if anything appears to line up.

Of course, paranormal investigation requires a healthy dose of skepticism.

Not every word that comes through a scanning device is necessarily a spirit response. Radio fragments, environmental sounds, audio artifacts, expectation, and coincidence can all produce interesting results.

That’s why we don’t approach the Estes Method with the assumption that every response is paranormal.

We experiment. We document. We compare. And we let the evidence speak for itself.

Why the Estes Method Is So Interesting in a Historic Location

There’s something particularly interesting about using the Estes Method inside a place like The Dixie House.

St. Augustine is one of the oldest continuously inhabited European-established cities in the United States, with centuries of history surrounding the people and places of the Ancient City.

When you’re investigating inside a historic location, you’re surrounded by stories.

But paranormal investigation is about more than hearing those stories.

It’s about creating opportunities to investigate.

The Estes Method is one of the ways we can do that.

Instead of simply walking through a supposedly haunted location and hoping something happens, you’re actively participating in an experiment.

You’re asking questions.

You’re listening.

You’re documenting responses.

And you’re trying to determine whether anything meaningful emerges.

You Don’t Have to Be a Paranormal Expert

One of the things we love about the Para4ce Investigation is that you don’t have to be a professional paranormal investigator to participate.

If you’ve never used a spirit box or paranormal equipment before, that’s okay.

Our investigators guide guests through the experience and explain what we’re doing along the way.

You’ll have the opportunity to learn about different investigation techniques, participate in experiments, and experience The Dixie House in a completely different way.

The Estes Method is just one of the tools in the paranormal investigator’s toolbox.

And you never know what might happen when the lights go down, the headphones go on, and the questions begin.

Ready to Investigate The Dixie House?

If you’ve taken a traditional ghost tour in St. Augustine, a Para4ce Investigation gives you a chance to experience something very different.

This isn’t just about hearing stories of the paranormal.

It’s about investigating.

You’ll enter The Dixie House with paranormal equipment, participate in investigation techniques such as the Estes Method, and work alongside our team as you explore one of St. Augustine’s intriguing haunted locations.

Maybe you’ll hear something you can’t explain.

Maybe you’ll capture an interesting response.

Or maybe you’ll walk away with a perfectly reasonable explanation for everything that happened.

That’s part of paranormal investigation.

You won’t know until you investigate.

Experience the Estes Method at The Dixie House

Ready to see what happens for yourself?

Join us for a Para4ce Investigation at The Dixie House and take part in a real paranormal investigation in St. Augustine.

Bring your questions.

We’ll bring the equipment.

The investigation starts when you walk through the door.