WACO, Texas — If you had to think of a Texas soda, there's really only one choice: Dr Pepper!
The Texas staple runs a popular museum in Waco that draws plenty of soda-savvy connoisseurs, but employees say there's more bubbling beneath the museum floors than meets the eye.
With more than 250,000 artifacts on site, there's a lot to learn at the Dr Pepper Museum.
"There's a lot of different stories in our collection, there's a lot of rich history with the soda industry in general and we're able to tell many of those stories," said Rachael Nadeau Johnson, the Collections Manager for the Dr Pepper Museum.
Johnson has worked at the museum for more than 10 years and she is a testament to the fact that the history inside the museum isn't all as sweet as the beloved soft drink.
"Yes, it is some sort of haunted," Johnson added. "I guess I'm used to it for the most part. I've been here for over 10 years and we're all friendly. I say hi to them and just go about my day."
The "them" Johnson is referring to are whatever entities roam the halls and rooms of the museum. Making friends with the spirits, the ghouls, whatever old presence is trying to be relevant isn't the worst idea, especially with how prevalent they are.
"In several places around the museum we have little ghosts [signs] that say 'spooky spots' and those are places where paranormal investigators have gotten activity," Johnson explained.
One of the biggest mysteries is who or what is doing the haunting. Johnson believes it could stem from over a century ago.
"On the property where this museum now resides, it used to be several private dwellings and boarding houses, which is where we believe some of our activity actually comes from, not the museum building itself," Johnson added.
The second floor of the museum supposedly has the most paranormal activity in the entire museum.
"Why, I don't know, but it really is," Johnson said. "It always feels colder in here than anywhere else in the building. We have had paranormal investigators come and have a lot of experiences in this room. We have also had some people catch some weird light activity going on in the lights in the case behind me. Also, in this room it always feels like there's someone in here with you whether or not there is."
When 6 News visited the museum, Johnson said one of the ghosts possibly goes by the name Seth and is better known for its personality traits.
"Most of the information we get from whatever entity is here is usually it comes across as a young, maybe teenage man and a little bit sassy when we get our electronic voice phenomenons," Johnson said. "It's not a bad vibe. Like Casper or something, I don't know -- sassy."
Those lurking the halls of the museum aren't all friendly or sassy. There are some that are described as more eerie.
One morning Johnson was working in a third floor office before the museum opened.
"I shut the office door behind me, it locks when you shut it and I came back to the office door being cracked open, which was weird because it was shut and locked when I left it," Johnson explained. "Then, I heard people whispering and I said 'I don't know who's supposed to be up here right now, other than me,' and then the door slammed shut in front of my face and then I opened the office and no one was in here. Apparently dusting exhibits was just too much for them that morning, I guess."
Security cameras have also captured some paranormal activity too, like orbs floating in rooms.
"There are also some theories that we might just have some residual energy or poltergeist activity that was created by the 1953 tornado that went through the center of downtown and hit both buildings that are now the Dr Pepper Museum," Johnson added.
When visiting the Dr Pepper Museum, it's common for visitors to end their experience by getting a sweet treat from the soda fountain, like the world-famous float. However, there's an unpleasant presence felt in the soda fountain, too -- but mainly for the soda jerks. The staff working the soda fountains were originally called soda jerks because of the jerking motion they made pulling the soda fountain handle back and forth.
"I have not personally experienced anything here, but we have had soda jerks who have experienced things," Johnson said. "Some of them have reported experiencing their apron strings being tugged on, or their hair being pulled sort of like in a playful manner."
No matter where you go in the museum, there's a chance to experience a little taste of tension, but you must dare to step in.
"There are a lot of different experiences that people could experience specifically on the paranormal tour, but also maybe if they just visit during regular operating hours," Johnson added.
The Dr. Pepper Museum's paranormal tours happen every Friday and Saturday in October and then every Saturday year round. During those tours is where you might be able to experience some of these hauntings, and maybe even more spooky encounters.