collaborative post | Who doesn’t love listening to haunting accounts of things that go bump in the night? That rush of adrenaline at the crescendo of a spooky story is what attracts many of us to ghost stories. There are few better ways to achieve this sensation than by finding yourself in the heart of a haunt. It explains why ghost tours are so popular and highlights the importance of embarking on the best ghost tours in the United States.
If you’re curious about the kind of ghost tour you should take in the United States, we have some recommendations below. You may have thought there was only one kind of ghost tour to choose from, but as you’ll find, the options can be quite varied and unique.
Overnight Ghost Hunts
Traditionally, a ghost tour takes visitors on a stroll through time, stopping at historic locations oozing with spectral legends. Some focus on one location and attempt to draw out activity through an overnight ghost hunt. These tours equip guests with the latest in ghost-hunting hardware, from EMF meters to spirit boxes, and task everyone with trying to secure infallible proof of the afterlife.
The conventions of a traditional ghost tour are still there. Instead of seeing multiple spots, though, you’ll listen to the legends and ghostly lore of an iconic haunted hotspot. One of the most notable overnight ghost hunts is the ghost hunt at the Jennie Wade Birthplace House. The former home of the Gettysburg heroine is still visited by the tragic figure, who was accidentally killed during the Civil War.
Spanning around 7 or 8 hours, the evening typically starts late (around midnight) and goes until morning. Be prepared to pull an all-nighter.
Haunted Cemetery Tours
Cemetery tours often replace a walk around town with a (respectful) tour of a cemetery known for its spirit activity. The Villisca Cemetery Tombstone tour, for example, focuses on specific markers for tragic figures of the town’s past. It’s these ethereal figures that are more likely to return from the grave.
Infamous for the unsolved Villisca Ax Murders that left eight dead, the small Iowa town of Villisca is no stranger to death, and its cemetery is prime for a tour. Unlike a traditional ghost tour, though, this experience is self-guided, with audio narration and GPS directions provided via a dedicated app. Other cities may offer a live guide, depending on the scope of the tour or if the cemetery is privately owned.
The Villisca tour highlights key locations in town, including the infamous murder house and the cemetery, and hones in on the graves of notable figures that locals believe are haunting the burial grounds. Each tour’s format may change from city to city, but you can bet a cemetery will always be at the center.
Being self-guided is a big selling point, as you can take your time seeking out Villisca’s most active spirits. Considering the negative energy that’s festered for decades, there are many.
Ghost Tour in Haunted Historic Districts
The United States has no shortage of historic cities. From New Orleans to Aspen, hundreds of years of history are embedded in historic districts. Old buildings, original cobblestone streets, and memories of the past make for the perfect conditions for an evening ghost tour. These tours are equal parts historical and spooky, for without the history, the ghosts wouldn’t be there.
New Orleans is one of the nation’s best historic districts for a ghost tour. It’s a mystical city, touched by Voodoo and the horrors of slavery, all of which left their mark on the French Quarter. Just walking through the old district, you can feel the energy radiating from its original buildings. St. Augustine in northeast Florida is another worthwhile historical city to explore. The city dates back to well before the formation of the United States, and even features an old fort from the early Spanish occupation.
When searching for the best ghost tours in the United States, it’s best to start with the nation’s oldest cities. You’re almost guaranteed a run-in with lingering spirits and apparitions waiting to tell their centuries-old stories.
Haunted Pub Crawl
Alcohol and ghost hunting may not sound like a good mix, but haunted pub crawls prove otherwise. For the crowd they often attract, pubs can be known for their sordid histories. Tales of murder or the forlorn spirit eternally trying to drown their sorrows take the spotlight on haunted pub crawls, which are almost exactly as they sound.
A traditional pub crawl sees visitors going from one bar to the next, sampling libations along the way. A haunted pub crawl adds in the eerie ghost stories of each location, creating an evening of spirits and spirits.
Some of the best haunted pub crawls are in cities known for their party atmosphere. Annapolis, for example, is a college town with vigorous energy. Cities like Las Vegas and even Savannah have the right energy, the right number of bars, and a bounty of scary stories, making them ideal for haunted pub crawls.
The one caveat? Drinks typically aren’t included.
Grisly Haunted House Overnight Stays
When we talked about Overnight Ghost Hunts, we used the Jennie Wade Birthplace as a tame example. Jennie’s spirit is nonconfrontational, and guests aren’t going to find themselves cowering in a corner. The same can’t quite be said with an overnight stay in a location known for bloodshed, murder, and dark energy. Among the best examples of this is the Lizzie Borden House, where the brutality of the dual murder still resonates today.
An overnight stay at the Lizzie Borden House actually puts guests in the very rooms where key players used to live. Yes, including Lizzie Borden herself. Guests can even stay in the same room where Abby Borden was found bludgeoned to death, the John V. Morse Suite. Ghost tours are very frequently laden with heavy, sometimes uncomfortable tales of murder. Hearing the stories, though, pales in comparison to staying in the rooms in which the horrific acts unfolded.
Don’t expect a cozy night’s rest, as every knock, bump, or chilling breeze will keep you on alert.
