Meet the Woman Behind the Shadows: Courtney McInvale, Founder of Seaside Shadows

Founder | Historian | Paranormal Researcher | Author

🌒 A Life Touched by the Paranormal

When guests join a Seaside Shadows ghost tour, they’re stepping into a world shaped by years of research, passion, and personal experience. At the heart of it all is Courtney McInvale—a historian, author, and intuitive whose journey through the shadows began long before Seaside Shadows ever took form.

Growing up in Connecticut, Courtney was surrounded by historic cemeteries, colonial homes, and echoes of the past. But the supernatural became real at just 15 years old when Ed and Lorraine Warren investigated her childhood home. That experience sparked a lifelong dedication to honoring the spirits of the past—with curiosity, integrity, and deep respect.

👻 The Birth of Seaside Shadows

In 2013, Courtney founded Seaside Shadows Haunted History Tours, establishing the first authentic, woman-owned ghost tour in Mystic, Connecticut. Her background includes a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from The Catholic University of America and professional service with the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice—a foundation that shaped her rigorous approach to research and storytelling.

Rather than relying on gimmicks, Courtney aimed to tell the true stories of the past—those backed by historical documentation, community folklore, and firsthand paranormal accounts.

✨ A Mission Rooted in Remembrance

“By telling the stories of those who came before us—our ancestors—we don’t just learn from them, we remember them. We keep their memories alive, honor their lives, and carry their torch forward into the present. It’s a sacred responsibility and a privilege to give voice to those whose stories deserve to be heard.”

For Courtney, storytelling is more than a passion—it's a sacred duty. Each tour is a chance to walk in the footsteps of those who came before, to reflect on the lives they led, and to ensure they are never forgotten.

🏆 From Local Legacy to National Spotlight

Since its founding, Seaside Shadows has expanded into Westerly, Rhode Island and beyond—earning national recognition, including a spot as one of USA Today’s Top 3 Ghost Tours in America.

Courtney continues to personally write tour scripts, train her team, lead special events, and collaborate with historians and paranormal researchers across the country.

She is the author of several acclaimed books, including:

• Haunted Mystic

• Revolutionary War Ghosts of Connecticut

• Civil War Ghosts of Georgia

Her work has been featured on national TV and streaming platforms, including Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures and Portals to Hell, and she’s collaborated with notable figures like John Zaffis and Andrea Perron.

🔮 Carrying the Light Forward

Whether you're exploring Mystic’s haunted downtown or strolling through a historic graveyard, you’re not just witnessing the past—you’re stepping into stories that continue to unfold. Through Seaside Shadows, Courtney honors the forgotten, uplifts independent voices, and connects guests with the unseen layers of local history.

🖤 Join Courtney and the Seaside Shadows team this season and experience the stories that refuse to stay buried.