When indie filmmaker Gavin Webb set out to create a paranormal series exploring some of Arkansas’ most haunted places, he never expected the project to become a homegrown showcase for young investigators from the Muldrow and Roland communities. But that’s exactly what happened in Haunted Arkansas, a 10-episode documentary series that premiered Nov. 21 on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Google Play.

Webb, who has worked in independent film for several years, said three of the featured crew members — including two of the show’s main investigators — are originally from the Muldrow/ Roland area.

“Two of our main investigators for every episode are from Muldrow,” Webb said. “Then in Episode 6, we had a special guest join us who’s also from Muldrow and an Oklahoma University student.”

Those investigators are Mickayla Carreker and Emily Ruckman, both appearing in nine of the 10 episodes, and OU nursing student Lillian “Lily” Holmes, who appears in Episode 6.

The series takes viewers across Arkansas to examine whether the legends surrounding some of the state’s most storied locations are grounded in s ome t h i ng more than folklore.

Fe atured sites include Fort Smith’s historic Clayton House, the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, the Old Miller County Jail in Texarkana, the Poets Loft in Hot Springs, Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, the Collins Theatre, Cosmic Caverns, the Old State House, the Basin Park Hotel and the St. Francis Museum.

From Chuck E. Cheese to paranormal chasing

Emily Ruckman, 20, grew up in Roland and now lives in Fort Smith. She said her involvement in the series started unexpectedly.

“I knew Gavin from work — he was my manager at Chuck E. Cheese. Mickayla and I both worked with him,” Ruckman said. “He told Mickayla about this paranormal series he wanted to do, and she loves this kind of thing. I wasn’t really into that stuff, but she said it would be cool to travel around Arkansas and see places we’d never seen before. I’m so glad I did it.”

Ruckman said she entered the project as a skeptic but left with a new perspective.

“I hated watching scary movies and I just didn’t buy it,” she said. “But after the series, I definitely believe in it — even if I’m still a little skeptical. Some locations were scarier than others. I experienced my hair being pulled at the St. Francis Museum and heard footsteps above us at the Collins Theatre.”

Despite the scares, she said the best memories came after the cameras stopped rolling.

“My favorite memory would have to be going to Waffle House after almost every investigation,” she said. “We’d talk about what happened and joke about things. It was always fun — never really scary.”

Ruckman said that while she originally assumed the experience would be oneand- done, she would “definitely do it again.”

A lifelong believer joins the team

Lily Holmes, 20, of Muldrow, appears in Episode 6, filmed at the Old Miller Coun- ty Jail — a location known for its eerie reputation.

Holmes said her involvement began when Webb, a longtime friend, reached out.

“I actually got involved through my friend, Gavin. We’ve been close for about four years,” she said. “He asked if I’d be interested in being part of an episode. I was excited to support him and be part of the project.”

Unlike Ruckman, Holmes grew up with an early interest in the paranormal.

“I grew up in several haunted houses, so I’ve had my fair share of strange experiences,” she said. “When you’re exposed to that kind of activity early on, it sparks curiosity. Those experiences definitely shaped my belief that there’s more out there than we fully understand.”

Holmes said filming at the Old Miller County Jail left her with moments she won’t forget.

“The most intense moment was when I felt my hair being touched in the men’s restroom,” she said. “Later, I felt someone touch my leg while we were using equipment to communicate with a spirit. I told Gavin immediately, and the spirit actually responded with a ‘shhh.’ That was when everything started to feel very real.”

Like the rest of the crew, one of her favorite parts came after the investigation wrapped. “Honestly, the Waffle House trip afterward,” Holmes said. “After all the adrenaline, sitting down and decompressing made for such a great memory.”

Holmes said she would return in a heartbeat for a second season.

Arkansas’ haunted history

With its blend of small-town investigators, historic locations and authentic reactions, Haunted Arkansas aims to bring something fresh to the paranormal documentary world.

From footsteps in old theaters to whispered warnings in abandoned jail cells, the series sets out to determine whether the stories passed down by Arkansas residents hold unexplained truths.

For Webb, the project became not only a paranormal investigation but also an opportunity to highlight young local talent.

Haunted Arkansas premiered just in time for Thanksgiving weekend, giving families and fans of the supernatural a new regional series to binge.