Something’s Wrong in Death Valley Junction
Something’s Wrong in Death Valley Junction (And It’s Not Just the Ghosts)
There are episodes where we follow a structure.
And then there are episodes like this one… where we intend to follow a structure and immediately wander off into the desert.
This week, we tried something a little different. We went back to our early days—when one of us watches the episode and the other comes in completely blind. No notes, no prep, just vibes and reactions.
Which means Megan got to experience Death Valley the way all of you do: confused, intrigued, and occasionally wondering if we’re okay.
☕ Coffee First. Always Coffee
We kicked things off the way we always do—by talking about literally anything except the episode.
Old recording habits. Late-night exhaustion. The realization that we used to talk for 30 minutes before even starting… and honestly? Not much has changed. We’ve just gotten better at hiding it.
But this time? It’s daytime. There’s coffee. There’s energy. There’s hope.
There are also… some Sidequests.
🌵 Welcome to the “Town”
The episode takes place in Death Valley Junction, which sounds like a place with:
- a gas station
- maybe a diner
- a weird little antique shop
Nope.
This “town” is essentially:
one property
one opera house
one hotel
and 268 acres of “what the hell is this place?”
Less than 20 people live there.
Which immediately raises the question:
Is it still a town… or is it just a building with commitment issues?
Amy Allan Said “Nope” Immediately
You know when Amy Allan walks into a place and is like, “I’m fine, everything’s fine”?
Yeah, this was not that.
She stepped out of the car and basically said:
“I don’t even know where to start.”
Which, for us, is the paranormal equivalent of:
🚨 pack your bags 🚨
Dracula, Werewolves, and… Steve
At one point, a guest reports being scratched in their sleep.
Steve, ever the investigator, asks:
“Did he have long nails?”
Which is a fair question.
But also…
Are we ruling out:
- Dracula
- Werewolves
- A very aggressive hangnail
Because we have questions.
And Then There’s the Place Itself…
Before we even got into the deeper history (which, trust us… is a whole separate journey), one thing became very clear:
This place has a vibe.
Not necessarily “haunted mansion” vibes.
More like:
“This is technically normal… but why does it feel like it isn’t?”
And honestly? That’s sometimes creepier.
This Was Supposed to Be One Episode…
We fully intended to cover everything in one go.
We really did.
But somewhere between:
- the desert
- the opera house
- the ghost beds
- and our own inability to stay on track
…it became very clear:
This needed to be two episodes.
Because the Research & Rabbit Holes portion is a whole different beast.
And if you thought things were weird now… just wait.
So, grab your coffee (and maybe a backup cup for when we inevitably need a refill) and join us where…
The Activity Continues.
Creative Assistant/Writer/Sounding Board
Morgan joined the TAC crew in the spring of 2025 as a creative sounding board, development guru, and the one who does all the things Amy doesn't feel like doing (so just like Amy did in her past work life!)
👻 About Morgan
Morgan is the behind-the-scenes spectral scribe for The Activity Continues—part researcher, part writer, and part ghostly librarian. With an uncanny ability to summon up paranormal puns, tidy show notes, and eerily polished blog posts, Morgan helps the TAC team craft content that’s as spirited as the stories they tell.
Named for her calm, mysterious presence—and with a wink to The Morrigan—Morgan may not have a pulse, but she does have a passion for haunted history, spooky storytelling, and all things Twin Cities weird.
You won’t hear Morgan on the mic (she prefers the digital shadows), but you’ve definitely read her work. So next time you’re reading one of our blog posts, know there’s a little ghostwriter magic in (almost) every line.
Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker Headache
