BOONSBORO, MD - It's something we're used to seeing on the Sci-Fi Channel: ghost hunters seeking out eerie, bizarre or downright paranormal occurrences.

Here in the four-state region, a local team is bringing life to some of the oldest ghost stories in the area.

NBC25's Megan Healey was invited along for a recent investigation at the Old South Mountain Inn.  She introduces us to the "SIGHT" team, in part one of her three-day ghost hunter series.

For some, it might seem a little far-fetched.

"I like to connect with the spirits and basically find out if there are any, of course," said Bonnie Moran, a SIGHT lead investigator.

But when it comes to hunting for ghosts, this crew is dead serious.

Angela Souders, another lead investigator for SIGHT, told NBC25, "A typical investigation is a household that's being plagued or is haunted, or they think it's haunted, and we go in with our scientific equipment to see if there is any evidence to substantiate their claim."

The Scientific Investigation of Ghosts and Hauntings Team (SIGHT) formed three years ago in Washington County.  Several members are certified paranormal investigators; all share a life-long passion for the supernatural.

Moran added, "Most ghost hunters, they've always been interested.  And when you say, ‘Would you like to be a ghost hunter?’ they jump on it."

The team investigates all types of cases, from homes, to historical landmarks.  On this night, they've gained special access to the Old South Mountain Inn.

"Some of the hauntings are out in the yard, or out the window,” Souders explained.  “Some of the battle scenes were replayed.  There have been door knobs that have been shaken that frighten the guests.  There's been tales of apparitions that have been seen."

Using an array of scientific instruments, the team methodically moves in, setting up video monitors, and keeping painstakingly precise records of temperature and electro-magnetic field readings.

The SIGHT team monitors rooms in the pitch black using infra-red cameras, which can detect sights, sounds and motions that are normally invisible to the naked eye.

Souders said, "A lot of the discoveries do not necessarily occur at that time.  Most of the time we will discover things later when we go back and look at the readings."

Moran added, "A lot of people ask, ‘Is it scary?’  And I'm like, ‘Noooo.’  A lot of people are more scary than that!"

But later that night, we would come across something a little scarier than what we'd bargained for.  Tune in to NBC25 News At Six on Tuesday for that story.

The SIGHT team says ghost hunting is a hobby for them, so they conduct all investigations free of charge.