Meet Mike Smith of Afterlife Tours, Inc. in Far Western Suburbs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Smith.

Mike, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
How I started Afterlife Tours, Inc. is something I didn’t plan on in the beginning.

I am a professional photographer by trade, and I was contracted to do a book cover for a Haunted History book. In my files I had a photograph of a cemetery in the fog. Well, the publisher loved the image and bought it for the cover image.

The author of the book invited me out to one of their ghost tours that grew into working for the company as an independent consultant. That led into creating and operating a three hour experience in a cemetery. After two years of 5 star reviews the company didn’t like what I had created.

So, that is when I started Afterlife Tours, Inc. Since we started in 2016 we have grown into two cemeteries, and the other company after the 2016 season no longer has contracts with the original cemetery, for whatever reason.

My first goal when starting Afterlife Tours, Inc. was that I wanted to preserve the history of the 1800’s cemeteries around us.

So this is Mission Statement:

Afterlife Tours. Inc. supports the historical treasures and preservation of cemeteries through donations, as allowed by the Illinois Cemetery Laws. We work closely with the cemetery associations, owners, and local law enforcement to preserve, protect and honor, those buried there, by always conducting ourselves in a professional manner. Our presence in the cemeteries reduces the threats of criminal trespass and vandalism.

We conduct our tours at night as to not interfere with cemetery day to day operations or family members paying their respects to departed loved ones. We take utmost care to respect the residents of the cemeteries we visit.

This is accomplished by giving back a percentage of the ticket price to the cemeteries we tour at night, after hours. The cemeteries have funds for perpetual care, which means that they cut the grass, do weed control and maintain the roads.

You see the graves and mausoleums are private property and the family is required to maintain them. So, if there is no family left, and they become damaged, vandalized, or the structures become unsafe, it’s up to the cemetery to make the repairs by state laws.

Over the past five years we and our guests have experienced the paranormal first hand, and no two tours have ever been the same. We continue to get 5 star ratings, and our guests experience both cemeteries, several times a year.

We have had several articles written about us this year.

For more information visit http://www.afterlife-tours.com and please like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/afterlifetours/

Has it been a smooth road?
We have had a few bumps along the way… We had obtained a contract for a cemetery, however it turned out that the road leading into the cemetery was owned by a different party. So although we had a contract with the cemetery, we couldn’t access it legally.

There are a few cemetery organizations and companies that won’t let us into the cemeteries they control, but I expected that from the beginning.

It’s hard to work with a corporation that takes over the management of an 1800’s cemetery that believes the residents of the cemetery are protected by HIPA (Health Insurance Privacy Act). In addition, the first thing that they did was to fire their historians, because they didn’t believe the same thing.

To date that has been our only bumps on the road, as it were.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Afterlife Tours, Inc. – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Afterlife Tours, Inc. specializes in letting guests experience cemeteries at night, and hopefully experience paranormal activities, not guaranteed.

We are known for our respect of those who have departed before us, and of any family members that may join us.

Afterlife Tours, Inc. is most proud of the work that we do behind the scenes to protect, and support the cemeteries financially to keep the fabric of history intact for future generations. There is a need to keep the history
of our nation intact.

What sets us apart from others, is our donations back to the cemeteries, where our competitors feel that it is a right, and not a privilege to visit places, that they do not own, and expect to have access for free.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
We enjoy meeting new guests and residents of the cemeteries we visit.

People who do not respect our history and vandalize cemeteries for fun, are no friends of ours.

Pricing:

• 3 Hour Tour
• $45 per Person
• Discounted Rates for Groups of 10 or more

Contact Info:

• Website: www.afterlife-tours.com
• Phone: 1.630.330.3595
• Email: dearlydeparted@afterlife-tours.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afterlifetours/

Image Credit:
Mike Smith – Photographic Services International, Inc.

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