Ghost Stories

Christopher Columbus first spotted Chacachacare Island on his third New World voyage on August 12, 1498 and dubbed it El Caracol because of its shape. Since then, it has served as a cotton plantation, a whaling station and, as it is most known for, a leper colony. It is now named for the native cotton that grows on the island. The Spaniards grew cotton on the island and established a whaling station. By 1791, the island had a sizable population living there. Then it was given to an Irishman, Gerald Fitzpatrick Carry, for services rendered to the King with the proviso it would be returned if needed by the King. He used it for agriculture and grew sugar apples and cotton. In 1813, Venezuelan patriot Santiago Mariño, who later joined forces with Simón Bolivar, used Chacachacare as a base to launch an invasion of Venezuela during its war of independence with only 45 "Patriots". In the 1800’s, Chacachacare was used as a health spa and retreat for Trinidadians. In 1880, Dom...

Typically, the historical accounts displayed on Ghost Hunters International are somewhat close to actual facts. But I've been noticing, on occasion, how completely off they can be. For example, they visited the Gran Hotel Viena in Argentina last year that supposedly was a hot spot for the Nazis maybe even Hitler after WWII. After writing an entry about this location, reporting very much the same, I was contacted by the descendants of the hotel's original owner, stating the stories were fabricated. I believe I may have found myself in a similar situation. During last night's premiere, viewers were given a short and sweet history behind the Lopinot Plantation. Also known as Compte de Loppinot Historical Complex, it was established in the 1800s by Charles Joseph, Compte de Loppinot. He was a general in the French army and later a member of the Trinidad military. He settled there with his family and 100 African slaves on several hundred acres of land. This portion of the bac...