THIRTEEN
TOP GHOST TOURS |
Source: http://www.digitalcity.com/
1. New
Orleans Ghost Tours
French Quarter
Mad Butcher's House and more.
2. Fells Point Ghost Walk
Baltimore
Seedy, scary seaport history.
3. Ghosts & Gravestones Tour
Downtown San Diego
Tour an "official" haunted house.
4. Ghost Talk -- Ghost Walk
Roswell, GA
Shudder to millworkers' moans.
5. Key West Ghost Tours
Old Town Key West
Paradise can be hell for ghosts.
6. Ghost Tours of Philadelphia
Independence Park/Society Hill
Ben Franklin, a burning bride...
7. Cripple Creek Ghost Walk
Cripple Creek, CO
A 100-year-old mining town.
8. Orlando Hauntings Ghost Tours
Downtown
Old funeral parlor comes alive.
9. San Francisco Ghost Hunt
Pacific Heights
Learn to catch ghosts yourself.
10. Ghost Tours of Newport
Historic Newport, RI
Does "Iron Man" still roam here?
11. Seattle Ghost Tour
From Georgetown to Capitol Hill
Homes built on a cemetery.
12. Ghost Tour of Ocean City
Ocean City, NJ
Spirits at a shipwreck site.
13. Chicago Supernatural Tours
From the North side to Chinatown
Waterways, gangster haunts...
~~~~~~~~~~
New Orleans Ghost Tours
625 Saint Philip St.
Flanagan's Pub & Cafe
New Orleans, LA 70116
504-522-0300
Find out why screams can still be heard at the Mad Butcher's
House, and why just outside pet owners have to silence their
animals when they growl at an unseen presence. Learn why the
police don't startle anymore at reports of a little girl jumping
from the balcony at La Laurie Mansion. Hear the tale of a wealthy
sultan buried alive while his entourage was hacked to bits. These
are just a few of the legends that make up the creepy urban
mythology of New Orleans; notorious tales recounted by costumed
guides who narrate the city's history with delightfully gruesome
detail. The tour includes six exterior locations and the inside
of one haunted building with documented paranormal activity.
Lasting about two hours, with a brief intermission, and the
leisurely paced evening covers about a half-mile radius and
sallies forth in all weather conditions, 365 days a year. This is
not a "haunted house" sort of venture -- no
chainsaw-wielding madmen will jump out at you -- but some of the
stories are disturbing, so parents are advised to use their
discretion when bringing children along. Reservations are
required.
~~~~~~~~~~
Fells Point Ghost Walk
1623 Thames St.
aMuse
Baltimore, MD 21231
410-522-7400
Okay, so how unnerving can a ghost tour that leaves from a toy
store actually be? Plenty -- in Baltimore, that is. There's no
doubt about it, Baltimore is a spooky city. Walk any night
through its narrow cobbled streets smelling dankly of driftwood,
hemmed in on either side by looming brick row houses and their
great black slabs of mansard roof. It does not need the whispery
hint of clammy, insubstantial touches or a reading of Edgar Allen
Poe's 'City Beneath the Sea' to raise the dread in one's soul.
So, it really doesn't matter whether there are any ghosts to be
found on this tour. This is one adventure in which the trip is
definitely more important than the destination. Co-guides Amy
Lynwander and Melissa Garland aren't really avid ghost hunters
themselves, although there is a slightly scary, Halloween-ish air
about them -- especially odd in a pair of toy store owners -- and
they will show you photos with fuzzy white streaks on them as
proof of ectoplasmic habitation. What Amy and Melissa are is
darned well informed on the long, tumultuous, seedy and often
scary history of Baltimore's waterfront. That, more than
encounters with those who have shuffled off any mortal coil, is
the real reason to go on this tour. But don't take the tykes on
this tour; children under nine years old might find it too scary.
~~~~~~~~~~
Ghosts & Gravestones Tour
4040 Twiggs St.
San Diego, CA 92103
619-298-8687
Not for the faint of heart or those easily jostled by things that
go bump in the night, this two-hour trolley/walking
"frightseeing" tour takes a ghostly but humorous dive
into San Diego's netherworldly history. In conjunction with the
San Diego Historical Society and other city organizations, Old
Town Trolley Tours hauntingly highlights some of San Diego's most
spirited sites including what's considered a major psychic
crossroads and the "Most Haunted House in America," the
Whaley House. SoCal's oldest brick building and one of only two
California haunted houses recognized by the U.S. Department of
Commerce, the Whaley House invites visitors to learn the story of
Thomas and Anna while trying to smell his Cuban cigars or her
perfume, or hear the children laughing.
Frightseers also explore Villa Montezuma, once spiritualist Jesse
Shepard's Victorian home, now an eccentric and fascinating shrine
of mystery. Complete this ghoulish tour with a stop at the
William Heath Davis house in the historic Gaslamp Quarter, and an
eerie strolling tour through El Campo Santo Cemetery, one of San
Diego's oldest graveyards. Wear comfortable walking shoes and
bring a jacket to help warm the chills that will certainly run
down your spine. Because of the dark, ghost-story nature of the
tour, children must be at least 8 years old. The tour departs
most nights from the Davis House but reservations are required
prior to arrival.
~~~~~~~~~~
Ghost Talk -- Ghost Walk
60 King St.
Roswell, GA 30075
800-273-0371
It seems like practically every old town in America has its share
of urban legends and ghost stories, and Roswell -- with history
stretching back more than 160 years -- is no exception. This
90-minute tour takes visitors on a creepy walk through the heart
of historic Roswell, starting at Bulloch Hall, which was built in
1840 and served as the setting for the wedding of Major James
Stephens Bullock's daughter Mittie to Theodore Roosevelt (their
son would grow up to be U.S President Teddy Roosevelt).
From there the tour travels to the historic Smith House
Plantation and Founder's Cemetery, the burial site of city
founder Roswell King, where bodies are entombed beneath modern
neighborhoods. Along the way, guides point out antebellum
mansions and regale visitors with ghost stories, Southern-style,
spinning colorful yarns centered around water sprites, voodoo and
exorcisms. From Grand Greek Revival mansions to humble mill
worker's apartments, this one-mile walk will take you into a side
of Roswell rarely seen by casual observers, proving educational,
enlightening, and maybe even a little bit spooky.
~~~~~~~~~~
Key West Ghost Tours
430 Duval St.
La Concha Hotel
Key West, FL 33040
305-296-2991
Gather up all your favorite little ghouls and goblins and meet at
Key West's venerable Hotel La Concha for an evening of chills and
thrills. Your lantern-lit tour leads you through the shadowy
streets of Key West's Old Town, an easy paced walk of about an
hour. Your guide spins yarns about the secret hiding and dwelling
places of ghosts both good and bad. Haunted Island stories will
frighten you, like the tale of the man who married a corpse or of
an eerie doll possessed by a strange spirit. Learn about the
dreaded days of the Yellow Fever quarantine, and of the mystery
of the burial place for a murdered body that is never found. Find
out about Hard Rock Cafe's yellow-eyed scary apparition and dare
to walk in the haunted Key West Cemetery. A secret map to
pirate's treasure will add spice to the evening. This is not for
the faint of heart.
~~~~~~~~~~
Ghost Tour of Philadelphia
620 Chestnut St.
Willie and Duffy's
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-413-1744
That little kid from 'The Sixth Sense' isn't the only one who
sees dead people in Philadelphia. In fact, people have been
seeing ghosts in this town for years. With the Ghost Tour of
Philadelphia, you can visit our Founding Fathers' favorite
haunts, and we're not just talking about where they used to hang
out. The 75-minute tour begins at 6th and Chestnut and travels
around Society Hill. You'll stop by Independence Hall, where
ghosts are said to gather, then move on to Library Hall, the
first public library in America, where Ben Franklin still likes
to pay a visit every now and then. Other stops include the
Physick House and St. Peter's Cemetery, where sightings have
included a phantom horse-drawn carriage and Native American
ghosts roaming the site. The tour concludes outside the historic
City Tavern, where a bride allegedly burned to death in her
wedding gown in the 1800s. Three tables now sit in the spot where
she supposedly died, and the staff at the tavern will tell you
that every night, someone will accidentally spill water at one of
those tables. Maybe it's just a coincidence, or maybe it's the
bride still trying to put out the flames. But whether you believe
in ghosts or not, you'll still be entertained with colorful
stories about Philadelphia's past and its many resident ghosts
who still come back to haunt these streets. This is, after all,
the city where history comes alive.
~~~~~~~~~~
Cripple Creek Ghost Walk Tours
315 E. Carr Avenue
Last Dollar Inn
Cripple Creek, CO 80813
719-689-9113
The town of Cripple Creek was put on the map in 1891 when gold
was discovered in the area. By 1901, its streets were filled with
miners who were hoping to strike it rich. Today, as a summer
resort and tourist center, the area is home to several casinos
that attract modern-day miners with the same aspirations.
A true town of the Old West, Cripple Creek has had its share of
shady characters pass through its streets and many decided to
stay on after their demise. The Cripple Creek Ghost Walk takes
visitors past many of the haunted (and historic) buildings of the
town, while guides recount ghost stories and tales of the Old
West. While the tour doesn't make any stops into any of the
haunted locations, it does provide an nice opportunity to get a
feeling for the Old West and explore the town... and perhaps spot
some of the spirits that haunt it.
~~~~~~~~~~
Orlando Hauntings Ghost Tours
Guinevere's
37 Magnolia Ave.
Orlando, FL 32801
407-992-1200
You'll see downtown in a spookier light after a lantern-led tour
through some of Orlando's most spirit-infested spots. This
90-minute walking excursion, led by local ghost guru and amateur
historian Michael Gavin, leaves from the historic Rogers
Building. Gavin imparts historical details along the way, drawing
your attention to interesting Egyptian revival and Victorian
architectural details on some of downtown's oldest buildings. But
the highlights, of course, are the creepy tales of death and doom
in such commonplace spots as Wall Street and Orange Avenue.
You'll visit the purportedly haunted Elijah Hand Building, a
former funeral parlor that now houses the Blue Room nightclub.
The second floor of the building was where the corpses were
embalmed, and club patrons have reported foreboding sensations,
phantom footsteps and even ghostly apparitions while wandering
the halls. The popular nightclub block at Wall Street Plaza is
supposedly one of the most haunted spots in town. There are
reports of a young girl's image appearing in a restroom mirror at
the Globe on more than one occasion. This fun and freaky tour
gives new meaning to grabbing a drink at your favorite local
haunt.
~~~~~~~~~~
San Francisco Ghost Hunt
1590 Sutter Street
Queen Ann Hotel
San Francisco, CA 94109
415-922-5590
Started in 1998, the San Francisco Ghost Hunt takes patrons on a
two-hour stroll through the hauntings and trappings of ghostly
California. Your guide, Mr. Jim Fassbinder, began having
supernatural experiences as a young child and over the years has
cultivated quite a talent for summoning spirits and ghostly orbs.
On the trek you will see eerie Victorian mansions, learn about
the city's haunted history, hear researched, documented ghost
stories, touch creepy artifacts, and even learn how catch a ghost
yourself.
Meet Flora, San Francisco's most famous wandering soul, she
boasts the most sightings along California Street. Enjoy a run-in
with the late author, Gertrude. A barrel of rum was once
delievered to her home containing her dead husband's body. Has
she returned to the scene of the calamity? Finally, Mary Ellen,
the once reknowned voodoo queen of San Francisco, bitterly haunts
the tour's trail.
Prepare to be enchanted and entertained on this nighttime jaunt
through the Pacific Heights district, which is rich with shadowy
residents. The tour is almost entirely outside and is not
recommended for children under 8, due to the length and hour of
the tour.
~~~~~~~~~~
Ghost Tours of Newport
Corner of Thames St. and Frank Street
Newport, RI 02480
866-334-4678
Participants on this 90-minute tour follow a costumed guide on a
lantern-led tour through the shadowy lanes of historic Newport.
Guides tell tales of the history and ghost stories of the city
and the tour makes several stops along the way to haunted
locations. On the tour, you will learn the answers to questions
such as who haunts George Washington's Revolutionary War
headquarters? Who is ''Iron Man'' and does he still haunt the
Common Burial Ground? What ghost ship predicts certain doom for
modern-day sailors? The organizers of the tour stress that the
stories you are about to hear are real... as are the haunted
houses you are about to enter (at your own risk)!
~~~~~~~~~~
Haunted Happenings: Seattle Ghost Tour
Tour start point
1114 Valley Street
Seattle, WA 98109
206-365-3739
Looking for thrills and chills? Ghost-guru Jake loads you into
her blood-red van to track the haunts of Seattles friendly
spooks. This supernatural adventure lands somewhere between
Casper and the Adams family, since local spirits supposedly
dont harm anyone. Jake claims theyre just a pack of
poltergeists looking for a good time. Seattles oldest
neighborhoods are the haunt of choice for hometown apparitions.
Down at Pike Place Market, an official paranormal posse swears
Chief Seattles daughter, Princess Angeline, regularly walks
through walls in a long faded gown with a basket on her arm.
Its possible; the shack she called home stood on pre-Market
land. Inside Capitol Hills landmark Harvard Exit Theatre,
you may see more than a movie. According to reports, a
turn-of-the century trio generates phenomenal special effects.
Between spook-taculars, Jake rattles off homicide and bordello
trivia. In Seattles Georgetown area, a shabby mansion --
once a brothel -- keeps changing owners. Blame Sarah, a
matriarchal mirage that comes with the manor. Her murdered baby
is allegedly buried under the stairs. Lodgings attract their
share of apparitions, including a hotel-turned-apartment building
on Queen Anne. After one woman strangled her hubby with a rope
and Murphy bed, residents say he decided to hang around.
Theres a litany of long-time Seattle spectres, but since
any decent ghost-hunt includes a graveyard, Jake steers her flock
to a cemetery where 11 homes were built over the childrens
section. Apparently, one little fellow rises up for regular
house-calls. Does the tour-tribe ever spy any ghosts? Jake admits
she did once, years ago, but was too frightened to enjoy it.
- Starla Smith.
Tip: Dont expect Stephen Kings Rose Red
digs on this tour; his saga was filmed in Lakewood.
~~~~~~~~~~
Ghost Tour of Ocean City, New Jersey
East 9th Street and Central Avenue
Central Emporium
Ocean City, NJ 08226
609-814-0199
Ocean City has long been known for two things: family-friendly
beaches and a no-alcohol policy. But ghosts? Only the long-time
residents knew about them until the Ghost Tour of Ocean City was
begun in 2002. Led by the same team who started the Ghost Tour of
Philadelphia, the Ocean City version takes you to several seaside
haunts and provides a colorful history of this old resort town.
Stops include the Flanders Hotel, which is haunted by a
well-known ghost named Emily, and the site where the Sindia ran
aground in 1901, which is now covered by beach. Residents and
visitors have claimed for years that ghosts appear at night near
the shipwreck site, presumably to look for their ship. Whether
you're a believer or not, you'll be entertained by these and
several other ghost stories from Ocean City's past.
~~~~~~~~~~
Chicago Supernatural Tours
1800 North Clybourn
Goose Island Brewery
Chicago, IL 60614
312-915-0071
October is a busy month for Chicago historian and ghost hunter
Richard T. Crowe. Starting October 18, Crowe hosts 24 consecutive
nights of his acclaimed ghost tour that uncovers the dark side of
Chicago's past. Let his experienced hand guide you to places too
creepy to visit on your own. Crowe's luxury coach bus (complete
with washrooms!) will take you to pubs, restaurants, cemeteries
and gangster spots that have all been touched by the
supernatural. There are several tours to choose from, including a
cruise that has participants exploring Chicago's waterways at
night. This is much more interesting than the history you learned
in school. Bring your courage and a group of friends for a spooky
odyssey that promises surprises at every turn.