The Tri-County Restaurant 2nd Follow-Up Investigation in Villa Ridge, MO -  Franklin County was
conducted on Saturday, August 19, 2006  from 9:30 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.

In attendance were Greg, Terry, Tom, Theresa, Steven, Sandy, Tootie and Sona of MPR (now PTF);
Jason, Steve, Chester and Jim of MPIA; Dan, Sherri and Frank of Spook Stalker & Special MPR Guests
Michelle, Cathy, Jeff, Dianne & Lenny.

Local weather conditions for this investigation for the time period of 8:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. were cloudy
to mostly clear,  wind from the West 7 to 14 mph with gust to 22 mph,  temperature was 73 degrees
Fahrenheit dropping to 59, dew point was 52 dropping to 49, barometric pressure was 29.74 rising to
29.85 and relative humidity was 52% rising to 69%.

Lunar data was a Waxing Crescent Moon at  2% Full. Solar X-Rays were Active and the Geomagnetic
Field was Quiet.



Tri-County Restaurant is an historical Old Route 66 landmark located in Villa Ridge, MO and which has
been shut down due to safety reason since our last visit.  The property was originally owned by a
Spencer Groff, who along with his father owned a large chunk of land very near the present day
Tri-County Restaurant & Truck Stop  (TCTS).  The property saw many structures as the restaurant
started as a garage where they soon started selling soft drinks and tobacco.  At this early time it was
known as the Altamont Garage Park.  Due to the bright yellow paint the location was given the name of
the Banana stand which stuck for many years.  Later the Groff's erected The Diamonds Restaurant in
1927 which claimed to be the "world's largest roadside restaurant". It was built in the shape of a
baseball diamond due to the odd shape of the lot.

It was not till the time of the fire on Feb 27,1948 (Although the Franklin county tribune said it was on
March 4, 1947), that the restaurant passed ownership to the Eckelkamp Family which rebuilt what was
the 2nd Diamonds Restaurant which served the public under that name until 1967 when a newer
(third) building was erected east and closer to the newer Interstate 44.  The Diamonds sign and name
were taken to this new site and a new owner bought this older building and opened what is now the
Tri-County Restaurant & Truck Stop.

A full detailed history with pictures can be viewed via the "Tri-County History" tab on the Navigation
Menu on the left side of this page.



Rumors which concern this historical site include the stories of a small girl being hit and killed by a
speeding car one day long ago when she got off of her school bus and crossed the road in front of
this restaurant and another of a truck driver being struck and killed at some point near the same
location.

Other stories tell of possible suicides, drug overdoses or heart attacks of truckers who once stayed
in the then existing lodging cabins on the site or the later sleeping rooms located on its second floor.

Haunting stories from both current and past employees, owners and guest include sightings of an
apparition in the dinning room area and main floor of a man who wears khaki or tan pants with a
checkered or plaid designed shirt, the witnessing of a shadow apparition coming up the basement
stairs and into the kitchen area, children witnessing a man or monster on the stairs going to the
second floor with a knife and cutting or killing a woman.  It has been said that one time after a child
saw this that blood was found on the wall the very next morning.  Other stories are told of an unseen
spirit that employees have nicknamed "George" who will take a fancy to females and caress are lightly
touch them by stroking their arms, patting them on the back, etc.  Some customers and employees
have witness things moving on their own such as the salt and pepper shakers or ketchup bottles on
the tables, furniture during clean up, things being knocked to the ground and breaking when no one
is near them and various appliances being turned off or on their own.  Many current and past
employees are afraid to go into the basement or up on the second floor.



For this investigation several digital and still cameras were used, several video records with and
without night shot capability, several audio recorders, EMF Meters, IR Thermometers, Motion Alarms,
Geiger Counter, Ambient Temperature Pyrometer and a Laser Trip Wire rig designed by MPIA.




The investigative group gathered at the Tri-County Restaurant at 8:00 p.m.   Equipment was focused
throughout the building in stationary and mobile methods.  The investigative team departed from the
site completely at 3:00 a.m.




1. Some investigators were touched by an unseen force in various manners including one
investigator who was pushed and slapped.

2. Audible voices, whispers and noises from unseen sources were experienced by some
investigators throughout the investigation.

3. Many of the investigators experienced rapid unexplainable battery drainage from their equipment.

4. Some investigators experienced ill like symptoms the following day.





Several digital and film still pictures were taken by various investigators along with several hours
worth of video and audio.   Full analysis of all gathered stills, video and audio will take some time to
complete.

Preliminary Analysis

Notable audio has been found and extracted.




Final Analysis & Results

Remarkable EVP, a photograph and video segment were captured.





It is the opinion of Paranormal Task Force that enough unexplainable evidence was
captured and/or experienced during all three investigations to substantiate an actual haunting and
presence of paranormal activity.




Gregory Myers, President
Paranormal Task Force
HELP NEEDED CONCERNING THE TRI-COUNTY RESTAURANT - TRUCK STOP (FORMERLY THE DIAMONDS
RESTAURANT) LOCATED IN VILLA RIDGE, MO

The research section of MPR is in need of help. We are looking for information on a Mr. William Bates.   Mr. Bates is believed to
be the name of a person who lived in the basement of the Tri-County Truck Stop (formerly the Diamonds Restaurant) on
Historic Route 66 in Villa Ridge, MO.

Eyewitnesses tell us that he may have lived there from about the late 1950’s through the mid 1970’s.  He is described as a
short man who had the appearance of a vagrant, further described as a person who may have had some mental impairment.  
The last witness testimonial on Mr. Bates was that after an altercation he left the restaurant and ran in to the woods behind it.  
After a search, which was not successful, he was never seen at the truck stop again.

Although MPR has found lots of witness testimony there has not been any hard evidence that Mr. Bates did really exist. If you
knew Mr. Bates or know some one who does.  Please contact Tim at the following address:

                                                            greg@paranormaltaskforce.com
Tri-County Restaurant September 23, 2006
PARANORMAL TASK FORCE
INVESTIGATIVE REPORT OF TRI-COUNTY RESTAURANT 09/23/2006
History and Profile of Area
Urban Legend or Facts?
EQUIPMENT USED
Human Experiences and Oddities
INVESTIGATION
Potential Evidence for Analysis and Evaluation
Resulting Evidence
Conclusion

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