LENOX, Mass. - Robert Oakes has been leading ghost tours at The Mount in Lenox for more than a decade.

"There's so many different kinds of reports, from sights and sounds, smells, people say they smell cigar and pipe smoke in various places," Oakes said. "We've had audio captures, paranormal investigation groups have captured the sound of voices and other kinds of things."

Oakes said he's had several paranormal experiences over the years, but the most intense was listening to a sound recording captured during an investigation at The Mount.

"It was total silence in the room, but when we listened back, there was this kind of gravely, distorted voice, very loud, that seems to say 'Robert.' And so, that gives me the chills, still does to this day," Oakes said.

Because of the pandemic, this year's tours are all done virtually. Oakes said it's not quite the same as being there in person, but it does allow people to explore places usually closed to the public.

Oakes said, "Because it's just us with the camera and me speaking, we can go into those places, the top floor of the stable or the top floor of the house, places that are really paranormal hotspots of the estate."

In addition to the tours, Oakes also wrote a book, called Ghosts of the Berkshires. It explores stories like the Old Coot of Greylock Mountain, and the ghosts of the Hoosac Tunnel.

Oakes said these tales are a big part of the identity of the region. "There's this sense that these stories live, they're sort of part of people's lives, and there's such a strong sense of identification with their home and the stories of their lives," he said.