Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabe Mathews.
Hi Gabe, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I moved to Greenville in 2005 and have spent my entire adult life here. I’ve loved the spooky ever since I came out of the womb. One of my earliest memories is visiting Disney World and riding The Haunted Mansion. My father said it was all I wanted to do, and he had to drag me away just to see the rest of the park. I was also obsessed with Casper the Friendly Ghost and The Real Ghostbusters.
As a kid, I used to sleepwalk, and one night I saw an apparition of my grandfather, who had passed before I was born, and the faint smell of cigar smoke filled the air. No one in the house smoked.
My first paranormal investigation was in 2013 after meeting someone in Greenville who did it as a hobby. Before that, I only watched the shows on TV and never imagined doing it myself. When he later moved to Atlanta, I decided to form my own team, Truth Searchers, dedicated to searching the unknown and encouraging everyone to “Be a Searcher.”
After starting Truth Searchers, I began watching Ghost Adventures and couldn’t get enough of Zak Bagans. He quickly became my hero, the first real person I ever looked up to. My other idols had always been fictional: Egon Spengler from Ghostbusters and Fox Mulder from The X-Files. Zak showed me that you could actually live that life and chase the unknown for real.
Over the years, the team has gone through changes as members have moved away, and investigations slowed down more than I’d like. Then in 2022, while visiting Arches National Park in Moab, I took a Big Iron Tour Co. off-road tour that inspired me to start my own paranormal tour. When I discovered there wasn’t an active ghost tour here, I began researching, writing my script, and launched my first public tour on October 1, 2022.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Overall, it’s been a pretty smooth road. The biggest challenge has been that the City of Greenville doesn’t allow tour groups inside Springwood Cemetery after 6 p.m. That was always my favorite part of the tour. The Springwood Cemetery is the heart of Greenville’s haunted history, and I really miss being able to share the stories with guests while standing among the headstones.
Another ongoing challenge has been advertising and getting the word out. Many don’t know there is a Ghost Tour in Greenville. There are plenty of ways to promote the tours, but many of them are too expensive for the return. Billboards are out of reach, and without a brick-and-mortar location, the city doesn’t allow me to put out signs. So I rely on flyers, rack cards, online listings, and social media. Those work, but I’ll admit I don’t always love spending time on social media posts.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My dream is to have my own paranormal television show someday. I’ve been spending time editing hours of investigation footage and releasing it on my YouTube channel, @TruthSearchers. I’m also working on a paranormal-themed music album that I hope to release in 2026. I’ve already released two songs, which are available on Spotify and on my YouTube channel.
What sets me apart is that I combine paranormal investigation with entertainment, storytelling, and humor. I want people to have fun while exploring the unknown and to see that paranormal experiences can be both thought-provoking and entertaining.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
When I started Greenville Ghost Tours, I knew I was taking a risk. I created the kind of tour that I would want to go on, something more personal and different from the traditional ghost tours that just list off historical facts and legends. I mix real paranormal investigation methods, humor, and storytelling, and I know my style isn’t for everyone.
Taking that risk meant accepting that not every guest would connect with it, but I’d rather be true to what I enjoy and what feels authentic than try to please everyone. The people who get it really connect with the experience, and that makes it worth it. To me, risk is about being willing to stand out and do things your own way, even if it means not taking the safe route.
Pricing:
- Greenville Ghost Tours $27
- Spooky Spartanburg $25
- I use dynamic pricing. There is a youth discount
Contact Info:
- Website: https://GreenvilleGhostTours.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenvilleghosttours/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreenvilleGhostTours
- Twitter: https://x.com/GabeTspi
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthSearchers
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/greenville-ghost-tours-greenville
