Public Ghost Hunts

Paranormal Investigation Rules & Waiver

DISCLAIMER & RELEASE OF LIABILITY

Participation in a paranormal investigation or "ghost hunt" may involve known and unknown risks to a participant’s physical, emotional, or mental well-being, including the risk of injury, illness, emotional or spiritual distress, accidents, property damage, or other unforeseen conditions. By participating, you (as the “participant”) agree to release, waive, and hold harmless Kim Rose, DeLand on Main and its owners, subsidiaries, affiliates, employees, contractors, representatives, sponsors, and volunteers; X9 Paranormal; Rochester Candlelight Ghost Walks; and any associated tour guides, investigators, or event staff (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from any and all claims, liabilities, damages, costs, losses, or causes of action arising out of or related to participation in the event, except where prohibited by law. Participants acknowledge that this is an entertainment-based paranormal investigation and guided experience. No guarantees are made regarding the occurrence, presence, or demonstration of any paranormal activity, phenomena, or experiences during the event. Any experiences reported or perceived during the event are subjective in nature and may vary widely between participants. Individual experiences are influenced by personal perception, environment, expectation, and interpretation. Participants agree that the Released Parties are not responsible for any lack of paranormal activity, perceived outcomes, or differences in individual experiences. Participants further acknowledge that no scientific claims are being made regarding the existence, cause, or explanation of any perceived phenomena. Presentations during this event are provided for entertainment and educational purposes only. A psychic medium may be present during the event. All statements, impressions, interpretations, or communications expressed by such individuals are subjective in nature and reflect personal beliefs and experiences. No guarantees are made regarding the accuracy, validity, or reliability of any information presented. Participants acknowledge that such content should not be considered factual, medical, legal, psychological, or professional advice. Participation in or exposure to such activities is voluntary, and participants agree that the Released Parties are not responsible for any interpretations, beliefs, or conclusions drawn from these interactions.

RESERVATION & REFUND POLICY

This is a prepaid, reservation-only event. All participants must have a valid advance booking in order to attend. Late entry is not permitted. Participants are required to arrive on time for check-in and orientation. Failure to arrive by the designated check-in time may result in denial of entry without refund. All participants must be 18 years of age or older and must present valid government-issued photo  identification upon arrival. The Released Parties reserve the right to verify age and identity prior to participation and record ID information. All ticket sales, deposits, and participation fees are final and non-refundable. No refunds, credits, exchanges, or rescheduling will be provided for any reason, including but not limited to cancellations by the participant, late arrival, failure to attend, removal from the event for any violation, personal emergencies, illness, weather conditions, fear or discomfort experienced during the event, or dissatisfaction with the experience. In the event the organizers cancel the event due to unsafe conditions, venue issues, severe weather, or circumstances beyond their control, the organizers reserve the right to provide either a rescheduled date, event credit, or refund at their sole discretion.

GUIDED EXPERIENCE

This is a guided experience and all participants are required to remain with the assigned group guide(s) as a group at all times. Participants may not wander away, separate from the group, or explore the venue on their own unless expressly authorized by event staff. Any participant who violates this rule may be removed from the event immediately without refund. VENUE Participants acknowledge that this event takes place within a historic property that includes antique furnishings, fixtures, and décor, and operational business areas, including on-site bars and restaurant spaces. All furniture, fixtures, décor, and property elements—whether part of the historic home, event staging, or business areas—must be treated as fragile and protected. Participants are strictly prohibited from moving, lifting, rearranging, climbing on, standing on, marking, or otherwise altering any furniture, fixtures, décor, or property within the venue. Items may not be removed from their original location or used in any manner not expressly directed by event staff. Seating, where available, must be used only as intended. Standing on furniture, counters, bar tops, or decorative structures is strictly prohibited. Any participant who damages, misuses, or interferes with venue property may be removed from the event immediately without refund and may be held financially responsible for any damages. Participants acknowledge that portions of the venue may be staged, decorated, or altered depending on prior or concurrent events, including but not limited to seasonal displays (such as Halloween, Christmas, Easter), private rentals, weddings, or other special functions. As a result, the appearance of the venue may vary between events and is not guaranteed to reflect any specific condition or layout. Participants are strictly prohibited from touching, moving, tampering with, or interfering with any furniture, decorations, props, equipment, or venue items unless expressly instructed to do so by event staff. All items within the venue, whether decorative or functional, must be treated as fragile and part of the protected environment. Any participant who damages, alters, or interferes with venue property or event setups may be removed immediately without refund and may be held financially responsible for damages.  Participants acknowledge that access to specific areas or floors of the venue may be restricted, modified, or denied at any time due to repairs, renovations, maintenance, safety concerns, preservation efforts, legal requirements, operational needs, or other unforeseen circumstances. Event organizers reserve the right to restrict access to any area of the venue with or without prior notice. Participants shall not enter any restricted area and assume all responsibility for complying with venue rules and staff instructions. The restriction or closure of any portion of the venue shall not be considered a cancellation, material alteration, or breach of the event and shall not give rise to any right to a refund, discount, credit, rescheduling, or other compensation, so long as the event continues to operate at the venue.

CONDUCT

Participants are expected to behave respectfully toward the venue, staff, guides, other participants, and the alleged spirits. Any participant engaging in inappropriate or unsafe behavior may be removed from the event immediately without refund. Prohibited behavior includes, but is not limited to: failure to follow written or verbal instructions; entering restricted or unauthorized areas; separating from the guided group; threatening, aggressive, or disruptive conduct; intentionally provoking or taunting alleged spirits; rowdy behavior, horseplay, pranks, or staged theatrics; destruction of venue property whether intentional or unintentional; and any conduct deemed unsafe or disruptive by event staff. The Released Parties maintain a zero-tolerance policy for unsafe, disruptive, threatening, destructive, or inappropriate behavior. Event staff reserve the right to remove any participant from the event at any time, with or without warning, if their conduct is determined to be inconsistent with event rules or instructions. No refund or compensation will be provided in the event of removal.

ATTIRE

Participants are required to wear closed-toe sneakers or boots at all times. Sandals, flip-flops, high heels or wedges, platforms, open-toe footwear, “heelies” (shoes with pop-out wheels), or any footwear deemed unsafe by event staff are not permitted. Participants should wear comfortable, seasonally appropriate clothing. Some areas of the venue may not be climate controlled; layered clothing is strongly recommended. Because photography, video recording, and audio recording will take place during the event, participants are asked not to wear reflective, illuminated, excessively loose, dangling, or noisy clothing or accessories that may interfere with investigations, recordings, or the experience of other guests. Because events may be recorded and published, participants may be asked to remove, cover, or change clothing or accessories that display offensive content, disruptive messaging, political or religious affiliation, personal branding, copyrighted material, or prominent commercial branding that could interfere with production, publication, platform compliance, or sponsorship requirements.  Strong fragrances, including perfume, cologne, scented lotions, or similar products, are strongly discouraged as they may distract from the investigation, affect group comfort, and interfere with the controlled sensory conditions of the event.

PERSONAL BELONGINGS

Participants are solely responsible for their personal belongings at all times during the event. Please leave valuables at home. The Released Parties are not responsible or liable for any loss, theft, damage, or destruction of personal property brought onto the premises, regardless of cause or culprit.

EQUIPMENT

X9 Paranormal and Rochester Candlelight Ghost Walks will provide specialized equipment for participant use as part of the guided experience. All equipment use is supervised and must be handled only as directed by event staff or guides. Participants acknowledge and agree that they are fully responsible for any damage, loss, theft, or destruction of equipment resulting from improper handling, misuse, negligence, failure to follow instructions, or intentional or accidental damage while in their possession or control. Participants may be financially responsible for the repair or replacement cost of damaged or lost equipment. Repair or replacement costs will be assessed at the reasonable market value of the equipment. Participants further acknowledge that equipment availability may vary by event. Certain devices or items shown in promotional materials or social media content, or advertised during prior events, may not always be available due to maintenance, repair, safety considerations, operational needs, discontinuation, or other circumstances. The Released Parties do not guarantee the availability of any specific equipment at any given event. The venue and event staff reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to prohibit the use of any participant-brought equipment or devices if they are deemed unsafe, disruptive, or potentially harmful to the venue, other participants, or the integrity of the investigation. Continuous recording or live streaming devices and personal communication devices such as walkie-talkies are not permitted. To preserve night vision and maintain appropriate low-light conditions, only red-light flashlights are permitted for participant use unless otherwise authorized by event staff.

RECORDING & MEDIA USE

Participants hereby grant express permission and consent to be photographed, filmed, videotaped, and audio recorded during the event by other participants, DeLand on Main, X9 Paranormal, Rochester Candlelight Ghost Walks, and their respective employees, contractors, representatives, and affiliates. Participants acknowledge and agree that such recordings may include their image, likeness, voice, and/or participation. Participants further grant the Released Parties a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, irrevocable license to use, reproduce, edit, distribute, publish, broadcast, and otherwise utilize such media in any format or media now known or later  developed, for promotional, marketing, commercial, and archival purposes, including but not limited to social media platforms and video-sharing services. Participants acknowledge that no compensation, royalties, or other payment will be provided for the use of their image, likeness, or voice. Participants waive any right to inspect or approve the finished media or its use, or be notified of its publishing. Participants may record photo, audio, or short video clips solely for personal, non-commercial use on personal social media accounts. Such content must accurately reflect the event and may not be edited, staged, or altered in any way that misrepresents findings, evidence, or occurrences during the investigation. Recording for any commercial purpose, monetized content, or organized media production is strictly prohibited without prior written consent from all Released Parties. This includes, but is not limited to, filming for television, film, documentary style projects, series content, podcasts, sponsored content, or any form of paid media distribution. Participants may not record continuous or full-session coverage of the event. Recording should be limited to short, incidental clips intended to capture personal experiences. Event staff may require participants to stop recording at any time to preserve the integrity of the investigation. The use of professional or semi-professional recording equipment is prohibited, including but not limited to external cameras beyond standard smartphones, wearable cameras (such as body-mounted or head-mounted devices), smart glasses (including camera-enabled eyewear), drones, or tripods, unless expressly authorized in advance by event staff. Livestreaming of any kind is strictly prohibited.

ACCESSIBILITY

This event takes place in a historic building with original construction features and limited accessibility. Due to the age and layout of the building, full accessibility cannot be guaranteed. Access to the second and third floors is available by stairs only. The staircase to the third floor is narrow and may be difficult to navigate for some individuals. Participants acknowledge that certain areas of the venue may be inaccessible depending on physical ability, mobility limitations, or use of mobility aids. Participation in all areas of the building is not required, and guests may remain in accessible areas as needed; however, not all event locations may be fully accessible to all participants. By purchasing a ticket and attending the event, participants acknowledge and accept these physical limitations of the property. No refunds or credits will be issued due to inability to access certain areas of the venue, missed portions of the event, or personal comfort with navigating stairs or confined spaces. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for participants with disabilities to the extent possible within the constraints of a historic property and the nature of the event. Participants who require accommodations are encouraged to contact event organizers in advance so that potential arrangements can be discussed.

SENSORY EXPERIENCE

Participants acknowledge that this event takes place in low-light and dark environments and may involve conditions that can be disorienting, frightening, or  unpredictable. These may include, but are not limited to, sudden noises, unexpected movements or reactions from other participants, confined or enclosed spaces, and emotionally intense storytelling or investigative moments. The investigation may also utilize equipment and environmental effects intended to enhance the experience, including but not limited to electronic audio devices, radio frequency or static interference, EMF meters, laser grids, flashing or strobing lights, and other visual or auditory stimuli. These effects may be intermittent, unpredictable, or occur without warning. Participants understand that such conditions may be unsettling or triggering for some individuals and may not be suitable for those sensitive to sensory stimulation, darkness, or sudden changes in light and sound. Participants are responsible for assessing their own tolerance for these conditions prior to attending and should notify event staff in advance if accommodations or modifications are needed where reasonably possible. While alcoholic beverages will not be served during the event, alcohol and bar-related materials may be visible on the premises.

FOOD & DRINK

Participants may bring outside ready to consume foods and non-alcoholic beverages for personal consumption. Light refreshments may also be provided by the event organizers. All food and beverages must be consumed only in the designated ground floor bar area. Consumption is not permitted in other areas of the venue. This includes gum and candy, which must be disposed of before entering the historic home.

SUBSTANCE USE & WEAPONS

Participants must be sober, coherent, and capable of following instructions at all times during the event. Any participant who appears to be under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, illegal drugs, or any intoxicating or impairing substance may be denied entry or removed from the event without refund. The use or possession of alcohol, cannabis, illegal drugs, vaping devices, tobacco products, or any controlled or intoxicating substances during the event is strictly prohibited unless otherwise required by law or authorized in advance by event staff. The possession, carrying, or use of any weapons of any kind is strictly prohibited during the event. This includes, but is not limited to, firearms (loaded or unloaded, concealed or openly carried), ammunition, knives of any type or size, tasers, stun devices, pepper spray, mace, brass knuckles, blunt objects intended or capable of being used as weapons, or any other item that could reasonably be considered dangerous or used to cause harm. Any participant found in possession of a prohibited weapon may be denied entry or removed from the event immediately without refund.

PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES

For safety, respect of the venue, and the integrity of the event experience, participants are strictly prohibited from conducting any unauthorized spiritual,  religious, or ritualistic activities while on the property. This includes, but is not limited to, cleansing or blessing rituals, exorcisms, smudging, invocation or dismissal of alleged spirits or deities, attempting to open or close portals, or any similar practices intended to alter the perceived spiritual environment of the location. Such activities are only permitted with the prior express written consent of owner Kim Rose. Any participant engaging in prohibited activities may be removed from the event immediately without refund. For the protection of this historic property, the use or possession of any open flame or smoke-producing materials is strictly prohibited during the event. This includes, but is not limited to, candles, incense, sage, palo santo, smudge bundles, resin, oils or liquids intended for burning or anointing, matches, lighters, and any similar items. Any participant found using or attempting to use prohibited items may be removed from the event immediately without refund.

COPYRIGHT

All narratives, stories, historical accounts, case details, and experiential descriptions shared during the event are proprietary content owned by the Released Parties and are protected by copyright and other applicable intellectual property laws. This includes, but is not limited to, any content intended for future publication, including books, articles, documentaries, or digital media. Participants are strictly prohibited from recording, reproducing, transcribing, summarizing, distributing, publishing, or otherwise using this material in any form without prior written approval.