“Everyone experiences the paranormal differently,” said Rita Olsen, owner and operator of AZ Ghost Adventures. “I’m a facilitator to make it happen for them.”
The team visits what are considered haunted locations throughout Arizona, many in Globe-Miami, and uses paranormal equipment to conduct investigations and “communicate with those beyond the grave.”
According to Olsen, she has experienced paranormal activity all her life, and back when she was young, it wasn’t acceptable to talk about. Later, the TV show “Ghost Hunters” brought it into the mainstream and “made it normal,” she said.
Olsen said when she started doing investigations in the Globe-Miami area, she fell in love with the buildings and the history. She was doing it in her free time and was asked to be an investigator when the team noticed activity around her. She was an investigator with AZ Ghost Adventures for a couple of years and said it was a natural progression to become owner when the business was offered for sale in 2021.
The team comprises investigators Bethany Zapien, Lauren Ellington, Alexis Carosello and Lisa Renee. In addition to the primary team, Olsen also said others come in and assist them, including other paranormal teams.
AZ Ghost Adventures often works with Paranormal Scouts, a team based out of Whiteriver. She said that Leland Lavender has assisted several times and also spoke at their Paracon event last fall.
“You cannot fully investigate here without having some understanding of the Apache culture,” Olsen said. “They bring a bigger and better understanding, and it rounds out the investigation.”
She said her team has a “para-philosophy,” which includes being respectful to the location and being respectful to spirits.
They approach the spirits with the belief of: “We’re here to learn your story.”
Olsen considers this area a “diamond in the rough.”
Both Globe and Miami leaders have been extremely responsive to her ventures, she said, and it’s had a wonderful snowball effect. AZ Ghost Adventures is a member of the Globe-Miami Chamber of Commerce, and they host a Christmas toy drive through Bullion Plaza every year.
The 1910 Gila County Sheriff’s Office and Jail in Globe is a common location for the team to investigate. She said they’re learning the stories of the jail spirits.
She believes returning to a place multiple times is helpful, and the spirits “recognize you the more you go back to a place,” she said. “You get more of a rapport with them.”
She said they frequently connect with Kingsley Olds, who was murdered in the county jail after being accused of the killing of two young girls in 1911. She said they also have had contact with Peter Spence, who was a suspect in the killing of Morgan Earp and is buried in Globe.
In addition to the 1910 jail, they also have conducted investigations at Bullion Plaza, the old YMCA (currently Miami Mercantile), the three-story Elks building in Globe, the former Arizona Bakery (most recently The Knotty Fox), the 1912 Freemason building, the old courthouse (currently Cobre Valley Center for the Arts), and the train depot.
Each investigation is very different, Olsen said. She added that they tend to have more activity at Bullion Plaza when young females and teachers are present.
Paranormal investigations often require different types of equipment. One of Olsen’s favorite pieces of equipment is dowsing rods — typically two L-shaped pieces of metal that react or cross when something is “found.” She said they’re simple and easy, and a lot of expensive high-tech equipment isn’t always necessary. Oftentimes, they’ll conduct investigations with balloons, balls and feathers. Some of the other equipment includes SLS cameras, trip wires, REM pods, Mel Meters, K2 meters, portal-speakers and Poltertunes. She said she tries to support small businesses and some of the equipment is custom-made.
AZ Ghost Adventures hosts public investigations on most weekends. After an adventure is booked, they have people come in at 6:45 p.m. and they start at 7 p.m. The guests are trained how to use the equipment. Around 11:30 p.m., guests are sent out on their own until 1 a.m., and also have the option of purchasing an overnight event that lasts until 6 a.m.
“Some people will bring a cot, or throw a sleeping bag into a jail cell,” Olsen said.
The team provides coffee, water, and light snacks. Reservations may be made on their website at azghostadventures.com. There is a discount for military and first responders.
Another event hosted by AZ Ghost Adventures is Globe Paracon. The first event took place in September 2025 at the train depot. The second annual paracon is set for September 2026. She said it highlights local businesses, vendors and teams. It’s free to the public, and they have speakers who discuss the paranormal. They also have food trucks, and at last year’s event, attendees had the opportunity to make dowsing rods and positive protection items.
Some TV shows about ghost-hunting rely on theatrics and drama. Often on walking tours, guests are just observers. Olsen said that’s not what her team is about. She said intent is a huge part of paranormal investigating.
“I try to bring evidence-based practice to it,” Olsen said.
As a historically-based team, they use a lot of cross-referencing, she said.
Olsen enjoys providing guest investigators with a fully immersive experience and is happy to mentor them through it.
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