Location and History - The Cowboy Back Bar is located in downtown Belle Fourche, SD.

Reported Activity -  Claims of activity were a full-bodied apparition of a cowboy in the covered patio area of the bar, near a stage. The apparition was witnessed approximately between 4 and 5PM on July 5, 2008.  Several pictures were taken during the incident. Upon viewing the images they noticed they had captured smoke or mist along with what appeared to be an outline of a cowboy.
Several days after this incident a vendor, who had installed a sign, had taken a picture of his work and the picture revealed what appears to be a white vortex/mist.  Off and on over the past year, several patrons and workers have taken photos of what to be white mist and vortexes.  Other claims of activity are employee's being touched while in the back room.  One employee had tried to close the door of the walk-in cooler to have it feel as if someone had blocked it, keeping it from closing.

Investigation 7/22/2009 - It was decided that since the full-bodied apparition was witnessed during the afternoon and alleged photographic evidence was taken at the same time, an investigation would be conducted during the same time of day.

Investigator’s Mark and Peggy Shadley went to the location on July 22, 2009 and conducted an investigation From noon to 6pm. A static digital video camera along with a digital recorder was stationed in the back room where one employee felt as though she was touched. A digital D-5000 Nikon camera was used to take still pictures throughout the entire location. A K-II meter and digital EMF meter were also utilized during the investigation.
Baseline EMF readings were taken throughout the location; Covered patio near stage area where apparition was seen: 3.5 – 5.0m gauss (We noticed several electrical wires running overhead). Covered patio where patron was sitting when he witnessed apparition: .0 - .3m gauss. (Considered to be normal readings). Back room where employee claims to have been touched: 1.0 – 117.0m gauss (This room contains the walk-in cooler, ice machine, and compressor – these are considered dangerous unhealthy levels).
There was only one piece of evidence, a photograph, which was intriguing. This photograph was taken in the patio area that depicts the side of my face and part of the outside bar and a TV. Upon closer inspection of the reflection of the TV screen there appears to be a person sitting at one of the outside tables. The time stamp on the photo reveals that the only people in this area were the two investigators, neither one of which were seated at this particular table.  Also, note there is no reflection of the person taking the photograph!  We went back to the bar and attempted to debunk this photograph, but every attempt met with negative results. We could not recreate what we captured.

Evidence review - We were unable to adequately prove or disprove the photographic evidence. The only evidence that supports this as paranormal in nature is the fact a witness observed what he thought was an apparition when this photograph was taken.  The photograph that was taken by the vendor depicting a white vortex was interesting in the fact that he was not associated with the bar nor did he have any knowledge of the previous photographic evidence, and he used his own digital camera.
We noticed the photographs depict what appears to be either smoke, mist, or steam. As this photograph was taken in the middle of summer, we checked to see if the patio had a misting system installed to keep patrons cool; there is no such system installed. We also checked to see if they had a smoke machine for bands playing on the stage; there were no such machines in use or any seen in the photos.  Being a bar, smoking is allowed and we concentrated on taking several pictures while a bar patron graciously lit up for us. We had the person-smoking stand near the stage and begin blowing large amounts of smoke into the air. We sat at the same table the original photos were taken from and began taking several photographs. We then took several pictures within 3’ of the smoke.  We reviewed our photographs on scene and found that we could not recreate what was captured in the original photographs. We were unable to reproduce the incidence with the cooler door or find plausible explanation for the employee being touched.  Humidity, heat from running equipment, a/c could account for the door.  Again, extremely high EMF was present in the back room.
 

Investigation 8/16/2009 - We returned to conduct a nighttime investigation. Members present were Lead Investigator Mark Rowland, Investigator/researcher Mark Shadley, Investigator Peggy Shadley, Investigator Darlene Shafer. Also present was the bar owner and the employee who took the photograph of the apparition/mist.  An EMF sweep was conducted and readings were consistent with July 22.  Static IR cameras covered patio area, inside the bar, and in the back room. We also placed digital recorders with each IR camera.
Prior to the investigation beginning, one of the investigators arrived early and sat at the bar. She heard someone sit down in the chair next to her. Her back was turned and when she turned to see who had sat down no one was present.
One of the claims were voices being heard in the men's room.  During an EVP session in the men's room an investigator heard what sounded like footsteps outside the bathroom door. When the investigator called out to see if someone was present there was no answer.  Location of all persons were accounted for and none were near the bathroom.  Another investigator was detailed to sit outside the bathroom and both investigators later heard what sounded like boxes being moved in a back room. When they went to investigate, they found the office door locked but a maintenance room was open. They were unable to find the source of the sounds.  Two other investigators, while seated in the patio area, heard pool cues being rattled and footsteps.

Evidence review - A few interesting noises were captured. One digital recorder caught, in the bar area, what sounded like a stool being dragged. A review of our cameras revealed there was no one present or anything being moved.  Another digital recorder that was located in the back room captured what sounds like a door closing, then a moment later another door open. Our cameras did not capture any doors opening or closing. The cameras also show there was no investigators in the area during that time. When we played this for the client, she indicated that this sounded like her office door and the door to the walk in cooler. We timed what we heard for the office door to close and the other to open. We had the bar owner open and close her office door, then walk across the hall and open the walk-in cooler door. The time it took her to close her office door and walk to the cooler door was eerily identical to what we had captured.  Unfortunately, the pool cues and footsteps in the back porch area were not captured.  Batteries in our recorder were dead and they were fresh batteries.

We captured no additional evidence from this investigation.

Conclusion - Based on the review of evidence from both investigations, there is no evidence that proves conclusively the Cowboy Back Bar is haunted. However, based on audio evidence and photographic evidence we feel there could be possible paranormal activity at the location. Additional investigations are suggested.

Equipment Used - 7/22/2009  D-5000 Nikon camera. A K-II meter and digital EMF meter.   8/16/2009 - D-5000 Nikon camera, DVR with 3 static IR cameras, EMF detectors, KII, Olympus digital audio, RCA digital audio.

Weather 7/22/2009 - Temperature in the mid to low 50's.  Partly to mostly cloudy.  Just the start of a New Moon.
Weather 8/16/2009 - Temperature mid to low 50's.  Clear to partly cloudy. 4 days to a New Moon.

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