What Actually Happens on a Ghost Tour
A good ghost tour is absolutely worth it. A bad one isn't.
The difference usually comes down to the guide, the research behind the stories, and whether you're being taken somewhere with real history or simply being told a spooky story in the dark.
At its best, a ghost tour is part history lesson, part storytelling, and part something harder to explain: the experience of standing where documented events happened and seeing a familiar place through a completely different lens.
American Ghost Walks has guided more than 15,000 guests across 10 destinations over the past 14 years. The most common thing first-time guests say afterward isn't that they were scared. It's that they didn't expect to learn so much.
So what actually makes a ghost tour worth your time and money? Here's what to look for before you book.
The Tour Itself
A ghost tour is a guided walking experience through historically documented locations. On an American Ghost Walks tour, groups are capped at 20 guests and routes cover roughly 1 to 1.5 miles over 90 minutes to two hours, stopping at around 10 documented sites per tour.
In Hollywood, that means standing outside the Roosevelt Hotel and hearing what staff have documented about Marilyn Monroe's suite. In Old San Juan, it means walking the walls of Castillo San Felipe del Morro at dusk and hearing what 500 years of recorded history left behind.
Group size shapes the experience more than most people expect. On a tour of 80, you are watching a performance. On a tour of 20, you are part of a conversation. It is worth asking about before you book.
Stories Built on Research, Not Reputation
At American Ghost Walks , every story is verified before it is ever spoken aloud on a route. That has been the standard since Mike Huberty founded the company in 2010, and it is what separates a well-built ghost tour from one that simply sounds convincing in the dark.
Chicago's tours are developed by Ursula Bielski , who has spent nearly 20 years researching Chicago's supernatural folklore and hosts WYCC PBS's The Hauntings of Chicago. Hollywood's tours were created by Scott Markus , founder of LA Hauntings and author of Voices from the Chicago Grave. Maine's tours were built by Sally Lobkowicz , a genealogy and historical research specialist who has been leading tours in the region since 2007.
The stories are not written to entertain. They are researched, documented, and sourced. The 4.9-star average across more than 2,847 reviews over 14 years is what that standard looks like in practice.
What First-Time Guests Consistently Discover
After more than 15,000 guided experiences, most first-timers say the history surprised them more than the ghost stories did. They came for the atmosphere and stayed for the context: the sense of walking through a city they thought they knew and discovering they had barely scratched the surface.
Before booking any ghost tour, ask who built it and what their credentials are, how many guests are capped per group, and whether the stories are sourced or simply based on local legend. Those three questions will tell you most of what you need to know.
Ready to See What's Hiding in Plain Sight?
American Ghost Walks runs tours across 10 destinations, from the coast of Maine to the streets of Old San Juan. If you are ready to discover what is hiding in the cities you thought you already knew, find your tour here .
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to believe in ghosts to enjoy a ghost tour? Not at all. Most guests come for the history and storytelling rather than the paranormal. Guides present documented stories and let guests draw their own conclusions. Skeptics are frequently among the most engaged people on the route.
How long are ghost tours, and how far do you walk? Most American Ghost Walks tours run 90 minutes to two hours and cover approximately 1 to 1.5 miles on foot.
Are ghost tours appropriate for kids? Tours cover mature historical themes and are recommended for guests 13 and older. The focus is on documented history rather than graphic content, but parental judgment always applies.
What should I wear or bring? Comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. Tours run in light rain. Most routes are accessible; advance notice is appreciated for wheelchair accommodations.
How much do ghost tours cost?
Public tours range from $20 per person in Wisconsin to $59 in Hawaii depending on the destination. All tours are bookable at
americanghostwalks.com
.