Five Things to Consider When Choosing a Ghost Tour

Anytime is a good time to take a ghost tour, but ghost tours aren't always offered year round. Soon the high season of ghost tours (October) will be upon us. After that many of them go on hiatus during winter before reemerging in spring.

Technically we have about three months of good ghost touring opportunities left in most places. (Less as some tours start filling up and selling out in advance here shortly.) If you're wanting to take one and haven't before (or have but didn't enjoy it), here's five things to consider when choosing a ghost tour to make it the best experience possible:

1. Walking or riding: This one is key. How mobile are you? How much standing and walking can you endure? Most tours last anywhere from one to three hours. Are you up to three hours on your feet for a walking tour? Or would you be more comfortable on a driven tour? (It may seem like a given, but people sometimes overestimate their physical abilities. The point is to enjoy your ghost tour experience, not hurt yourself.)
2. Age appropriateness: Are you hoping to take the kids along? Some tours aren't kid-friendly. Most are pretty good about including disclaimers or setting age limits if they cover mature themes, but if you're not sure it's always a good idea to ask first.
3. Physical exertion: This sort of relates to the first one. If you're going to take a walking tour, how far will you be walking? Are there hills? Steps? Will there be places to sit and rest along the way? Keep in mind your physical limitations, and that of any little ones you may be bringing along.
4. Bathrooms: Do you foresee anyone in your group needing one during the tour? If so, ask ahead of time if bathroom facilities will be accessible during your tour.
5. Weather: Inclement weather often cancels some tours, but not always. And sometimes it's not inclement enough to warrant canceling, but it also might not be ideal. Make sure you dress appropriately and have whatever paraphernalia you may need. Be that water bottles during hot weather, umbrellas and rain coats during wet weather, or hats and mittens for cold weather.

FIND A GHOST TOUR NEAR YOU

These sites list ghost tours by state:

1. Ghostvillage.com's Ghost Tours
2. FindGhostTours.com
3. Angels & Ghosts's Ghost Tours

Where to Find Ghost Hunting Tours

On my post about ghost tours, Autumnforest (from Ghost Hunting Theories) made a comment about how she advises people interested in ghost hunting to try a tour on for size first. She even stated how her group, MVD Ghostchasers, conducts ghost hunting workshops four times a year.

This is a wonderful idea. More and more I'm seeing such groups offer opportunities like this. Sometimes you have to join the group (usually it's a modest annual fee to do so), but other times you only need make a reservation for the night of the hunt. (Again, usually there's a nominal cost involved, about equal to what a dinner and/or movie out might cost you.)

Another nice thing about ghost hunting with an established group is they often provide access to equipment it might otherwise cost you a small fortune to buy. That way you're not pouring money out for a hobby you discover you have no interest in.

WHERE TO FIND A GHOST HUNTING GROUP NEAR YOU

1. Try the Shadowlands List of Local Ghost Hunters, Investigators and Researchers
2. Check out the Society for Paranormal Investigation's list of ghost groups
3. Scan Ghostvillage.com's list of Paranormal Investigators
4. Search for ghost hunting meetup groups in your area on Meetup.com (Alternately, you can find ghost tracking groups on Meetup.com also)

However, some haunted sites that draw tourists on their own also offer ghost hunting. Sometimes it's in conjunction with a paranormal group, sometimes it's with a ghost tour company. Sometimes it's just offered by the place itself.

PLACES THAT OFFER GHOST HUNTING TOURS

1. One Feather Productions - Spirit Adventure Tours (conducted in a variety of areas, including Sedona, Tombstone, Santa Fe, the Oregon Trail, Gettysburg, St. Augustine, and Great Britain).
2. Preston Castle - Overnight ghost tours conducted in conjunction with Ghost Trackers Paranormal Research Group (Tour offered June-November).
3. The Whaley House - A 90 minute investigation led by the San Diego Ghost Hunters.
4. Walking Ghost Tour and Ghost Hunt - Look for ghosts in Old Town San Diego.
5. Queen Mary Paranormal Investigation Tour - Try your hand at hunting for ghosts aboard this famed ship.
6. Lizzie Borden B&B Weekend Paranormal Retreats - These are offered in conjunction with Haunted Times and there's only one weekend left for 2009, September 4-5. (Click here to read a blog I wrote about other locations where Haunted Times holds ghost hunts.)
7. Haunted Tours at Historic Fort Wayne - Take a tour of the fort, learn its history, then stay and search the grounds for evidence of what still lingers.
8. Copper Queen Hotel - Every Thursday night the hotel offers guests to do more than stay the night in Bisbee.
9. Old Montana Territorial Prison - It's a tour where they turn the lights out and take you to five of the hottest of the prison's hot spots. They encourage you to bring your camera, video recorders and other ghost hunting devices to see what evidence you might capture.
10. Haunted Detroit Tours - The tour guides come equipped with digital camera, infra-red thermometers, and EMF detectors for your three hour ghost hunting adventure of Metro Detroit.

Make Reservations Now for October Ghost Tours

The time to make reservations for ghost tours in October is now. I discovered this thanks to my friend Amy. She thought it'd be fun to do a ghost tour with a group so she started asking people if they'd be interested.

I think initially she had in mind to do one any old time, but many people (including myself) said, "Oh, you mean around Halloween? Sure, that'd be fun."

But Amy wasn't so sure we could reserve places now for sometime in October. Nashville Ghost Tours was ranked #5 by the South China Morning Post. She thought they might already be booked up. However, she made a call and was told if she booked now she'd be guaranteed a spot for October.


Great!

I'm not sure exactly when we're going yet, but I'm looking forward to it. However, if you're also interested in gathering a group of friends to do a ghost tour in October around Halloween, might not be a bad idea to make your reservations now.

LINKS TO LISTINGS OF GHOST TOURS

1. Haunted America Tours Top Ten - the ten best tours in the country as voted by the people who've taken them.
2. Ghostvillage.com's List of Ghost Tours - One of the most complete listings of ghost tours on the web.
3. Ghosttour.com - This might be the first chain ghost tour operation. It operates tours in Gettysburg, Philadelphia and Lancaster, PA; Ocean City, NJ; and St. Petersburg, FL.
4. Angels & Ghosts - This one is also a pretty comprehensive listing source. Also includes not just U.S. tours but international ones as well.

LINKS TO GHOST TOURS IN SOME OF AMERICA'S MOST HAUNTED CITIES

1. A Ghostly Experience (presented by Ghost Tours of St. Augustine)
2. Chicago Supernatural Tours (guided by Richard Crowe)
3. The Original Ghosts of Gettysburg
4. Baltimore Ghost Tours
5. The Original New Orleans Ghost & Vampire Tour
6. Eureka Springs Ghost Tour
7. Savannah Ghost Tour
8. Bulldog Tours (Charleston, SC)
9. Salem's Best Ghost Tours
10. Candlelight Ghost Tours of Frederick (MD)
11. San Francisco Ghost Hunt
12. Haunted Texas (Austin area)
13. San Antonio Ghost Tours
14. Ghost Tours of Galveston
15. Old Towns Most Haunted (San Diego)
    

Become a Ghost Tour Beta Tester

Here's an interesting opportunity for some of you Haunt Jaunters out there: a start-up company specializing in ghost tourism is looking for ghost tour beta testers.

This opportunity came to my attention because of a comment left on one of my postings about paranormal tourism. My interest was piqued and my curiosity prompted me to contact the poster.

Which I'm glad I did because she made me aware of a new company she's launching. I'm sure it'll be profiled more later, but for now I can write about how she needs beta testers to test her product.

WHAT YOU'LL BE BETA TESTING

It's a self-guided tour package which will be going up for sale in southeast Wisconsin. From what I gather, it's a collection of Haunt Jaunts you follow at your leisure. (See why I was intrigued?)

WHERE YOU'LL BE BETA TESTING

The southeast Wisconsin area.

WHEN BETA TESTERS ARE NEEDED

Between July 26 and August 8.

WHO TO CONTACT TO BECOME A BETA TESTER

Susan Scot Fry of the Caper Company susanscotfry@yahoo.com.

TALK ABOUT YOUR BETA TESTING EXPERIENCE

If you do this, I hope you'll leave a comment and let me know how it went.

Or, better yet, if you'd like to guest blog about your experience, I'd love to have you do that too. Just drop me an email at admin@hauntjaunts.net or leave a comment here so I can get in touch with you about it.

Ghost Tour de France

With the Tour de France well underway, I thought it'd be interesting to take a ghost tour of France. The trouble is, I had a hard time finding ghost stories from France!

LOST IN TRANSLATION?

I figured finding ghost tours in France, or ghost stories from France, would be as easy as finding them for England. It doesn't seem that the French have embraced the concept of ghost tours in all their historic places as readily as the English have, though.

Paris had one, but the rest of France seems like an untapped market for anyone looking for a place to branch out into paranormal tourism.

Still, I did find a few places that would make fun Haunt Jaunts if you happen to make it to France. (Not to mention they just look like neat places you might like to visit period, ghost enthusiast or no, if you're ever over there.)

FROM THE INTERNATIONAL HAUNTED PLACES DIRECTORY

• Disneyland Paris - The children's section has had reports of "mysterious vortex of energy" haunting the area.
• Monts d'Arree - The locals have a spot they deemed the Gates of Hell because of all the ghost sightings. Legend has it a little girl was sacrificed by devil worshippers there. Her ghost, along with a demon dog, are the ones most frequently reported. (Interesting to note: A nuclear reactor was built on the site, so if you find that start looking for ghosts!)
• Basilica at Domremy - Joan of Arc's ghost is thought to haunt here.
• Versailles - Marie Antoinette's entire court is said to haunt the gardens of Trianon.

FROM SHADOWLANDS HAUNTED PLACES IN FRANCE

• Best Western Bretagne Montparnasse - Stay in Paris and have a hauntingly good time with a ghost said to wake you from your dreams to find a bright, wispy blue hand and arm over your face.
• Paris Catacombs - On the Shadowlands site it says there was a video camera found with footage showing a terrified man running from something unseen, but the man was never found. Sounds like the Blair Witch Project to me. But of course with so many bones, all of which were transplanted from other cemeteries, there might be a restless spirit or two lurking down there...
• The Eiffel Tower - Did an angry boyfriend throw his girlfriend to her death after she refused to say yes to his proposal of marriage? Her ghost is said to be heard first laughing, then saying no, then screaming as she falls to her death.

FROM GHOSTS AND THE PARANORMAL

• Brissac Castle - This is one of the castles in the famed, fairytale land of the Loire Valley. It's dubbed "The Giant of the Loire Valley" because its seven stories make it the tallest of France's castles. Said to be haunted by Jacques de Breze's wife, Charlotte and her lover, who were killed together.

FROM GHOSTVILLAGE.COM

• Mysteries of Paris Ghost Tour - I wasn't kidding when I started off saying the French haven't caught on to the boon of paranormal tourism yet. The cities first ever ghost tour just opened this past Spring. That blows me away given all of its history. I think of all the ghost tours in our oldest cities, which are just babies compared to Paris. But it was comforting because it explains why I had such a hard time finding ghost tour info for other French cities --they likely don't have ghost tours yet! (I smell opportunity for any of you ex-pats or wannabe ex-pats.)

State Tourism Offices Realize Haunt Jaunts Boost Revenue

Recently I wrote about how some historical organizations are using haunt jaunts as fundraisers. Now I've come across an article about how state tourism departments are realizing haunt jaunts as revenue streams.


ALABAMA'S "GHOST TRAIL"


Yesterday I read a great article by Marty Roney on MontgomeryAdvertiser.com called "Alabama's 'ghost trail' may scare up tourism dollars." It was about how the Southwest Alabama Regional Tourism and Film Office plans to promote Alabama's Black Belt with a "ghost trail."


It's going to be set up as a driving, self-guided kind of tour. They'll have a website featuring ghost tales starting with stories from Dallas, Perry and Wilcox counties. More stories will be added as they're gathered.

They're hoping it encourages people to frequent this part of the state, which is more economically depressed than other areas of the state. (Not sure if that means it's more economically depressed overall, or if it's just not attracting tourists. That may be about to change.)


MORE CITIES EMBRACING PARANORMAL TOURISM


The Southwest Alabama Regional Tourism and Film Office took its cue from other cities that have realized that a good ghost business brings in tourism bucks. Some of the cities listed in the article that enthusiastically promote ghost/paranormal tourism included:

• Mansfield, Ohio (Specifically mentioning the Ohio State Reformatory, which you might have seen in the movie "The Shawshank Redemption" or on an episode of Ghost Hunters.)


• Richmond, Virginia


• Cape Fear area of North Carolina


• Long Beach Island, New Jersey


• Houston, Texas

It'll be interesting to see if more and more tourism offices start promoting haunt jaunts or ghost trails or the like to attract visitors to their states. If not, they should seriously consider it. If there's one thing us ghost enthusiasts like to do, it's travelling to track down ghosts.

That means spending on gas, food, and sometimes even lodging at our destination. Not to mention if the haunt jaunt itself charges a fee, like many museums, prisons, and historic homes do. Oh yes, there's definitely revenue to be realized by catering to us haunt jaunters.

Haunt Jaunts as Fundraising Venues

Increasingly I'm noticing a trend in some of my Google Alerts: stories about Haunt Jaunts as fundraising venues. Especially for historical societies and foundations.

This weekend I came across another one. How the Vaughan-Smitherman Museum in Alabama recently did a ghost hunt as a fundraiser. Specifically, The Friends of the Vaughan-Smitherman Museum held a Paranormal Weekend in conjunction with Southern Paranormal Researchers.

HOW IT WORKS

Oftentimes the venue's historical society (or preservation society, whatever name they might give it) teams up with the local paranormal investigation group. The paranormal investigators, along with members of the historical society, offer a night (or sometimes a weekend) of ghost hunting.

Both groups advertise the event, and usually so does the venue. As you might imagine, it generates a lot of local press. Which is great for all involved.

Also, experienced and novice ghost hunters are usually both welcomed (and encouraged) to attend the events. This offers a really great DIY opportunity for fans of shows like Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures to experience the action for themselves.

RECENT AND UPCOMING HAUNT JAUNT FUNDRAISING EVENTS

I think the first one I came across was a dinner at a restaurant where the money would benefit something. Trouble is, I don't remember either the restaurant or the cause... (Sorry!)

But I do remember the Haunt Jaunt that would benefit Historic Fort Wayne's preservation society, which I wrote about in a previous article. Their next events will be on these dates: 8/16, 9/19, and 10/31.

Most recently I wrote about PARA's upcoming event at Fort Mifflin on 9/5. I went to their website today and saw their May 16 and 17 events raised over $6,000 for the fort. That just goes to show if you pair a great location with a ghost hunting fundraising event, you can raise some pretty decent money!

And here's another one I stumbled across: The Preston Castle Foundation (yes, as in the Preston Castle that was recently the focus of an investigation on Ghost Adventures), in conjunction with Ghost Trackers Paranormal Research Group, offers Overnight Ghost Tours. The cost is $100 per person and can be attended on the following dates: 7/25, 9/26, and 11/28. (There was also one for 8/22 but it's sold out.)

Don't be surprised if you see me post more of these as they come up. I think it's a pretty neat idea.

Yahoo! Groups Provide Haunt Jaunts Galore

Today I finally had some time to skim the posts on the Yahoo! Groups I belong to and ended up stumbling across Haunt Jaunts galore! (I didn't have much time to lurk around these groups before, but I do now that I'm done with radiation. After what I came across today, I'm stoked because what a great additional resource for me to find new Haunt Jaunt activities!)

All except one I found via the Haunted Times Yahoo! Group. (The other was via The Paranormal Research Society group.) I listed them by event date.

1. LIZZIE BORDEN BED & BREAKFAST WEEKEND RETREAT: JUNE 26-27, 2009

I know this doesn't give you much heads up since this event starts tomorrow. I don't even know if there's space still available. But I thought I'd list it anyway.

It's a Haunted Times event. On Friday June 26, Christopher Moon will give his Ghost Hunting 101 Seminar, followed by dinner which includes telling of the haunted history of of the B&B plus a tour. Then the night concludes with an investigation. On Saturday June 27, Moon goes more in-depth with his Ghost Hunting 102 class, and then dinner plus more investigations follow. (And, yes, Moon will be using his Telephone to the Dead during the investigations.)

Cost: $150 plus tax per person per night (includes class, dinner, investigation, room and breakfast) OR $50 per person per night for investigations only.

Call the Lizzie Borden B&B at 508-675-7333 to register.

2. AUDUBON COTTAGES - DAUPHINE ORLEANS WEEKEND RETREAT: JULY 24-25, 2009

Another Haunted Times event. Same kind of thing as described above, just the location and costs are a bit different.

Cost: $99 plus tax per person per night (includes class, dinner, and investigation...room is extra but discounted rates are available) OR $50 per person per night for investigations only.

Call Haunted Times Magazine at 877-880-6232 to register for the event.

To book a room at the event site, Call Dawn Ledet of the Dauphine Orleans at 504-586-1800.

NOTE: HT says space is limited for this one so if you're interested book sooner rather than later.

3. VILLISCA AXE MURDER HOUSE - SPIRIT COMMUNICATION 101: AUGUST 7, 2009

Another HT event. This time the focus of the class is on communicating with the dead, followed by a dinner and an investigation. Moon and his HT staff will leave at midnight, but the house will be open for further investigations until 2 a.m.

Cost: $99 per person (class, investigation and dinner only, you have to make your own room reservations)

Call Haunted Times Magazine at 720-344-6150 to make reservations for this event.

4. MASON HOUSE INN BED AND BREAKFAST: AUGUST 8-9, 2009

Yep, another HT event consisting of Ghost Hunting 101 and 102 classes.

Cost: $75 per person per event (Rooms are extra, but if you stay both nights you get $5 off your room the second night.)

Call 1-800-592-3133 to register.

5. FORT MIFFLIN PARA EVENT: SEPTEMBER 5, 2009

This is not an HT event. Rather, it's put on by Paranormal Association of Research & Assistance (PARA) in association with PARA-X Radio (who will be broadcasting live during the event).

Looks like they have some neat things lined up: presentations at each of the buildings, an EVP lab where you can listen to EVPs captured there, a photography lab teaching spirit photography techniques, and even an auction where one of the prizes will be a private investigation with investigators Shannon and Jeff Sylvia (who will also be there).

Cost: $75

Contact Lorraine Irby at 215.685.4167 to pre-register or visit PARA's website for more info.

ABOUT THE YAHOO! GROUPS IN THIS POST

If you're not a member of them but are interested in checking them out and maybe joining yourself, I posted their links below:

TheParanormalResearchSociety

Haunted_Times_Magazine_Public_group

Haunted Cruise Tour of New England and Canada October 17-22, 2009

Recently one of my Google Alerts included a press release that caught my eye for three reasons: (1) it was about a cruise (something I love to do), (2) it was about a cruise in New England and Canada (places on my Bucket List), and (3) it involved ghosts.

Mark Nesbitt, who's penned quite a few ghost books (most notably his "Ghosts of Gettysburg" series), will "headline this unique cruise of New England and Canada October 17 -22, 2009" aboard Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas.

Cruisers can expect to be treated to spooky stories from Nesbitt while onboard, but the main draw is sure to be his port excursions.

What are the ports? There are three: Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine, and Halifax Nova Scotia.

Nesbitt will lead a spooky tour of Portland, a haunted trolley tour in Bar Harbor, and a ghost walk in Halifax.

But the ghost touring doesn't end when the cruise does. Nesbitt is also offering a ghost tour of Boston followed by an overnight in Boston's haunted Park Plaza Hotel.

And what does all of this ghost touring, haunt jaunting New England cruise fun cost?

• Cruise rates: $514.39 (interior cabin), $664.39 (ocean view cabin), $794.39 (balcony cabin).
• Port excursions in Portland, Bar Harbor, and Halifax: $65 (for all three, which is not too shabby as far as excursion rates go).
• The extension in Boston with the ghost tour and stay at the Park Plaza: $120.

Interested in signing up? You have to book through Cruise Holidays of Alexandria, 866-368-7327, and put down a $250 deposit (refundable up to one day before final payment is due).

Haunting sailing!

Haunted Grass Valley Historical Walking Tour: Edgier Than Most

Today I came across a story on TheUnion.com called "Explore hauntings in the county" which told about the Haunted Grass Valley Historical Walking tour in Grass Valley, California. It caught my eye because the ghosts featured on the tour sounded a little edgier than those on most ghost tours.

Why do I say that? Well, for one, the tour's creator, Mark Lyons, is quoted as saying, "While I would be perfectly delighted to encounter any of the Nevada City ghosts some dark night, I am not so sure I could make the same claim regarding Grass Valley ghosts." (Lyons also runs the Haunted Nevada City historical walking tour.)

Gulp.

Just what kind of ghosts are we talking about here? Apparently, as the article put it, "Grass Valley wraiths colorfully reflect the rough and tumble atmosphere of its early hardrock mining days."

For instance, there's a "phantom" who tried to strangle a young woman in Saint Joseph's Hall. And over at the Owl Tavern, phantom patrons think it's a hoot to terrorize waitresses by untying their apron strings, pinching them and "engaging in other inappropriate physical behavior."

Lovely.

I've never heard of anyone being accosted by a ghost on a ghost tour, but it sounds like it could happen on the Haunted Grass Valley tour. If you're hoping for such contact, this just might be the ghost tour to check out!

INFO ABOUT THE HAUNTED GRASS VALLEY HISTORICAL WALKING TOUR

Lyons is now operating the tour on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. June through October.

He doesn't require reservations. Just show up at the Grass Valley Library (207 Mill St.) and pay your fee ($10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12, children 5 and under are free).

Or check out the Haunted Nevada City Historical Walking Tour. He runs that on Saturday nights. Start time again is 7:30 p.m., same fees, but it takes off from the corner of Bolder, Broad and Nevada Streets in Nevada City. (The exact address is 101 Boulder.)

Ghosts in the News for the Week of 5/3/09

Here's a couple of places I came across in news stories this week that might be fun to take a Haunt Jaunt to.

HISTORIC FORT WAYNE - Detroit, MI

According to an article published on May 4, 2009 by TheTimesHerald.com, Metro Paranormal Investigations (MPI) out of Macomb, Michigan, in conjunction with the Historic Fort Wayne Coalition, will be giving ghost tours/allowing for paranormal investigations of Historic Fort Wayne on the following dates:

• May 16, 2009
• June 20, 2009
• August 16, 2009
• September 19, 2009
• October 31, 2009.

The fort is located in downtown Detroit along the banks of the Detroit River. Like many such sights, there've been a lot of reports of mysterious forms and unexplained activity. Some of which I presume you'll learn about during the guided tour that'll start off the evening. (Investigators with MPI will be on the tours.) Then, afterwards, you're on your own to investigate where and how you want.

Tickets may be reserved by visiting The Haunted Tours at Historic Fort Wayne site. (Click here.) Cost: $40 per person, with proceeds benefiting Historic Fort Wayne.

Clever idea to raise funds to preserve a historic site!

For more info about MPI, check out their website.

RAMS HEAD TAVERN - Annapolis, MD

I have a special affinity for haunted pubs. Even before my experiences at the Shilo Inn or in St. Augustine, there was the George & Dragon in Phoenix.

It was supposed to be like an English pub. Neat place. We often met coworkers there for happy hour or dinner. It was a waitress wearing a mass of jingling bracelets on her wrist that first alerted me to the theory their may be an otherworldly patron or two hanging about. Like with Harry's in St. Augustine, this ghost had a penchant for the bathroom, too. (But I never experienced anything like what I did at Harry's.)

Anyway, so I love when I stumble across haunted bar stories. Which is what I found in a story by Diane Rey on HometownAnnapolis.com from May 4, 2009.

The building that houses the tavern can trace its roots all the way back to 1703. It's been a lot of things over the years besides a tavern and has seen a lot of people come and go. well, um, er...maybe not so much go.

The most notable lingerer is a spirit known as Amy. Legend has it she died in the building while "entertaining" a male client. In addition to spotting her apparition, some claim to feel a cold chill they believe is her when in the presence of "hot guys." (From one of he servers.)

But there's also an old woman some believe roam the tavern, and employees report feeling uncomfortable and spooked by another presence in the cellar.

It sounds like a neat place as is. Food, drinks, music...can't go wrong. But what sounds even more fun is what the Maryland Ghost and Spirit Association did recently: they gathered in the tavern's "tea room," had dinner, then conducted a hunt afterwards.

As Rey quoted manager Scott Haney in the article, "Ghosts don't have to be scary. If they help sell beer, even better."

My thoughts precisely!