Zak Bagans has a problem. He’s the most famous ghost hunter on the planet, but he won't get on a plane. For years, fans of Ghost Adventures have noticed the "circle" getting smaller. Investigations shifted from the wide-open haunts of Europe and the East Coast to a very specific, drivable radius around Las Vegas. It’s no secret: Zak has a crippling fear of flying.
So, what do you do when you want to explore the world's most terrifying international locations but can't leave Nevada? You send a proxy.
That is the DNA of Destinations of the Damned with Zak Bagans. It’s a show born from a logistical nightmare and a desire to keep the brand alive while the lead star stays firmly on the ground. Released in late 2024 on Discovery and Max, the series marks a massive shift in how Bagans produces content. It’s not just another spin-off. It’s a global experiment in armchair ghost hunting.
The Global Scope of Destinations of the Damned with Zak Bagans
The premise is simple, if a bit controversial among the hardcore GA crew. Zak narrates from his home base—likely his Haunted Museum in Vegas—while a dedicated documentary crew travels to the literal ends of the earth. We’re talking about places that make a standard haunted basement look like a playground.
The locations in the first season are genuinely heavy.
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- Armero, Colombia: The site of the 1985 volcanic eruption that killed over 20,000 people.
- Houska Castle, Czech Republic: A place famously built over a "hole to hell" to keep demons in, not people out.
- The Diplomat Hotel, Philippines: A former seminary turned hospital turned ruins, where beheaded priests reportedly roam.
- Italy’s Poveglia Asylum: An island so saturated with plague and madness that the soil is said to be 50% human ash.
It’s ambitious. Most paranormal shows stick to the US because it’s cheaper and easier. By going international, Bagans is trying to tap into "old world" horror—the kind of stuff that has centuries of weight behind it.
Why Fans Are Divided on the Format
Honestly, if you go into this expecting the classic Zak, Aaron, Billy, and Jay dynamic, you’re going to be disappointed. They aren't there.
Instead, the show relies on a film crew—people like Justin Brooks and Griffin Senning—to be the eyes and ears. Zak’s role is that of a "General" directing troops from a safe distance. He does the voiceovers. He does the Zoom calls. He "feels" the energy through the monitor.
Some viewers find this a bit much. On Reddit, the consensus is split. One camp loves the high-production documentary style. The cinematography is objectively better than the shaky-cam era of 2008. But the other camp? They feel like it’s "phoning it in." There's a certain irony in a guy telling a crew to "go deeper into the darkness" while he’s sitting in a temperature-controlled office in the desert.
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The Ethics of Extreme Hauntings
One of the most intense episodes focuses on Armero, Colombia. This isn't just a "ghost story." It’s a recent, massive human tragedy. Thousands died in the mud. The show explores the legend of a murdered priest who supposedly cursed the town, but it also shows the real, raw grief of survivors.
This is where the show gets complicated. Is it documenting history, or is it exploiting a disaster? Bagans leans heavily into the "curse" narrative, which some critics argue overshadows the actual geological failure and government negligence that led to the deaths. It’s a fine line that paranormal TV often walks, but Destinations of the Damned with Zak Bagans pushes it further than most.
The Technical Side: What Are They Using?
Even though Zak isn't there, the tech is. You still see the SLS cameras (the "stick figure" cameras), the digital recorders, and the spirit boxes.
The difference here is the "local" element. In the Mexico City episode, which focuses on an alarming rise in reported demonic possessions, the crew works with actual exorcists. This gives the show a "boots on the ground" feel that feels more like a Vice documentary than a Travel Channel reality show. It’s grittier. It’s less about "did you hear that?" and more about "why is this culture experiencing this?"
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Episodes You Shouldn't Skip
- Buried Alive (Colombia): The most somber. It sets the tone for the season.
- Nazi Portal to Hell (Czech Republic): Classic Bagans lore. If you like the occult history of WWII, this is the one.
- The Asylum’s Prophet (Italy): This episode features carvings in an Italian asylum that supposedly predicted the moon landing. It’s weird, unsettling, and fits the "damned" theme perfectly.
What This Means for the Future of Paranormal TV
Let’s be real: Zak Bagans is getting older. He’s been doing this for nearly twenty years. His health has been a topic of discussion among fans for a long time—he often wears a respirator during investigations due to lung issues from years of inhaling mold in abandoned buildings.
Destinations of the Damned with Zak Bagans feels like a blueprint. It’s a way for the Bagans brand to continue without him having to physically endure the physical toll of 12-hour lockdowns in moldy ruins or the mental toll of international flights. It’s smart business, even if it loses some of that "Vegas bro" charm that made Ghost Adventures a hit.
If you want to dive into the series, here is how to get the most out of it:
- Watch for the History: The "lore" segments are actually well-researched. Forget the ghosts for a second; the historical context of these locations is fascinating on its own.
- Check the Background: In Episode 4 (the Czech castle), eagle-eyed fans spotted a shadow figure in a window that the editors seemingly missed. It’s one of those "did I just see that?" moments that makes these shows fun.
- Stream it on Max: Since the Discovery+ and HBO Max merger, the easiest way to see the full 8-episode first season is on the Max app.
The show proves that even if Zak stays in Vegas, the "damned" parts of the world will always find a way to get on camera. Whether he's there to see it in person or just watching through a screen, the stories remain just as dark.
To get the full experience of the series, start by watching the Armero episode first to understand the documentary-heavy shift in tone. If you find the lack of the original crew jarring, try to view it as a travelogue of the macabre rather than a standard investigation. You can find the entire first season streaming on Max or Discovery+ under the full title Destinations of the Damned with Zak Bagans.