Haunted Memphis Walking Ghost Tour

Memphis gets plenty of attention for music, barbecue, and civil rights history. This tour takes a different route, after dark and on foot, linking downtown landmarks to tales of ghosts, gangsters, hoodoo, lost love, and one especially famous child spirit. The most memorable stop is Earnestine & Hazel’s, a former brothel and bar said to shelter several ghosts.

I like the way the tour mixes supernatural stories with useful Memphis background. I also like the guides’ personal style: Daniel brings humor and extra history, Sheena is an engaging storyteller, and TC welcomes questions without losing the thread. The main drawback is that most stops are viewed from the sidewalk, so you should not book this expecting a series of indoor haunted-house visits.

Key points to know before you go

• Mary at the Orpheum Theatre: Hear the story of Memphis’ best-known ghost from outside the theater.
• Earnestine & Hazel’s is the main indoor stop: You enter this former brothel and may stay afterward for food or drinks, though neither is included.
• Expect about two miles of walking: The route uses public sidewalks and includes some elevation.
• The guides make the difference: Daniel, Sheena, Liz, and TC have all been singled out for strong storytelling, humor, and local detail.
• The tour ends near South Main Street: From Earnestine & Hazel’s, it is about a 10-minute walk north to Beale Street.
• Weather matters: The experience is mostly outdoors and can be rescheduled or refunded if poor weather cancels it.

A ghost walk that uses real Memphis places

The Haunted Memphis Walking Ghost Tour lasts about 90 minutes and costs $29.63 per person. That price is fair if you enjoy guided storytelling and want an easy way to connect several downtown locations in one evening.

You are not simply led from one spooky doorway to another. The route uses recognizable Memphis places as prompts for stories about murder, romance, old cemeteries, organized crime, spiritual traditions, and unexplained events. The ghost tales provide the hook, while the local background gives the walk more substance.

I would think of this as a storytelling tour with paranormal themes, not a serious investigation of ghosts. Guides may point out strange details or invite you to watch your photos and videos closely, but the experience is built around spoken stories and atmosphere.

The group can include up to 24 people. That is large enough to give the tour some energy, but still small enough for a guide to answer questions and keep the group together. A few people have found that their guide adjusted the pace or route when the group was very small, which can make the evening feel more personal.

Starting at Alfred’s on Beale

The tour begins at Alfred’s On Beale, at 197 Beale Street. This puts you in the center of downtown nightlife, so allow extra time to find the meeting point and get settled before the walk begins.

Parking is available in several nearby garages and open lots. The closest mentioned option is at 149 Peabody Place, between Second Street and BB King Boulevard, about two blocks from the starting point. Metered street parking may also be available on nearby sections of Second Street, Beale Street, and Peabody Place.

You will receive confirmation when booking, and the tour uses a mobile ticket. Public transportation is nearby, but hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. Plan to arrive independently and wear shoes suited to two miles of city walking.

The route takes place mainly outside. Memphis evenings can feel very different from the temperature earlier in the day, so bring a light layer when needed. You should also be ready for sidewalks, occasional elevation, and a pace that keeps moving between stops.

The Orpheum Theatre and the story of Mary

The first stop is the Orpheum Theatre, where you hear about Mary, Memphis’ most famous ghost. The group stays outside, and the stop lasts about 15 minutes.

This is a good opening because the theater is an instantly recognizable downtown landmark, and the story gives the tour a strong central character. Mary is described as a 12-year-old girl, and her connection to the Orpheum has become one of the city’s best-known ghost stories.

Do not expect to enter the theater or take a backstage tour. The value here comes from the guide’s telling, the view of the building, and the contrast between the theater’s public role and its unsettling reputation after dark.

This is also where your guide’s personality starts to matter. Daniel has been praised for pairing ghost stories with Memphis facts, while Sheena is known for making her material clear and entertaining. TC has a more conversational approach, with time for questions and a bit of humor.

The John Alexander Austin House and a haunted love story

The next stop is the John Alexander Austin House, viewed from outside for about 10 minutes. The building provides the setting for a tragic love story, giving the walk a change of mood after the more famous Orpheum tale.

I like this part because it shows that haunted Memphis is not only about violent deaths and scary sightings. Romance, loss, and unfinished business also shape the stories. The building’s appearance and the guide’s explanation give you a reason to look closely at a place you might otherwise pass without notice.

There is no admission included because you do not go inside. If you want a tour filled with interiors, this may feel limited. If you like seeing ordinary city streets connected to unusual stories, the stop works well.

Earnestine & Hazel’s, the tour’s creepiest stop

Earnestine & Hazel’s is the heart of the tour. You spend about 20 minutes here, and admission is included. This is the one location where you go inside rather than simply listening from the sidewalk.

The building was formerly a brothel and is now known for its barroom atmosphere and reported paranormal activity. It is described as one of the creepiest and most haunted places in Memphis, and the age and reputation of the building give the guide plenty to work with.

This stop is useful even if you are skeptical. You can listen to the stories, look around the old interior, and decide for yourself how much you believe. Some people have noticed unusual shapes or glowing spots in photos and videos taken here. Treat those as personal curiosities, not proof, and you will get more from the experience.

Food and drinks are not included. After the tour, you are welcome to remain at Earnestine & Hazel’s, which makes the ending more flexible than a simple walk back to the starting point. You can order something on your own, or walk with the guide and group back toward Beale Street.

The return walk takes about 10 minutes if you head north on Main Street. That makes the stop convenient for continuing your evening downtown, though you should budget extra time and money if you plan to eat or drink.

The Green Beetle and a gangster’s hideout

The Green Beetle is an outside-only stop lasting about 15 minutes. Here the subject shifts from spirits to a haunted gangster’s hideout.

This section adds a different kind of Memphis lore. The stories connect the city’s past to crime and old neighborhood power, rather than focusing only on apparitions. The setting also helps break up the supernatural material, giving you a little social and urban context along the way.

Again, you do not enter the building. The stop is best for people who enjoy hearing how a place gained its reputation. If you are hoping to inspect a room or see a preserved crime scene, you will find the experience less detailed than a museum visit.

Puck Food Hall and Memphis hoodoo

At Puck Food Hall, the guide discusses voodoo and hoodoo in Memphis. The stop lasts about 10 minutes and takes place outside.

This is one of the more distinctive parts of the route because it moves beyond the standard ghost story. The guide connects local spiritual traditions to the city’s broader culture, giving you a glimpse of beliefs and practices that do not fit neatly into a haunted-house narrative.

You should listen carefully here and avoid treating voodoo and hoodoo as simple spooky decoration. The stop is brief, so it will not provide a full study of either tradition. Still, it adds a useful layer to the tour and helps explain why Memphis folklore can feel different from ghost stories in other American cities.

The Lorraine Motel and Morris Cemetery

The final stop is the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel. The tour discusses the site of Morris Cemetery, described as Memphis’ oldest former cemetery, and the stop lasts about 15 minutes.

You view the location from outside. Admission to the museum is not part of this tour, so you should make a separate visit if you want to explore the exhibits and learn more about the civil rights movement.

This stop gives the ghost walk a more serious close. The subject is not just an old building with odd noises, but the way death, memory, and public history remain tied to a place. The guide’s role is important here, since the stop asks for a more respectful tone than the comic or spooky sections earlier in the walk.

If you have never visited the National Civil Rights Museum, consider returning during its regular visiting hours. The ghost tour can point out the site, but it is not a substitute for the museum itself.

What the guides add to the evening

The guides are the biggest variable in a storytelling tour. The strongest names associated with this experience are Daniel, Sheena, Liz, and TC.

Daniel is praised for bringing ghost stories to life while adding useful Memphis facts. He also appears comfortable adjusting the tour when only a couple of people attend. Sheena is described as a strong storyteller who knows how to make local information entertaining. Liz receives praise for creating a fun evening with plenty of Memphis lore.

TC’s style is more interactive. He welcomes questions, adds humor, and gives the tour a relaxed feel without losing the main stories.

You cannot necessarily choose your guide when booking, so go in expecting a style that may vary from night to night. That is not a flaw unique to this tour. It is simply part of booking a live walking experience. The good news is that the repeated strengths are clear: local facts, humor, patience, and a willingness to answer questions.

Is $29.63 a good value?

At $29.63, the tour offers 90 minutes of guided walking, six named stops, local taxes, and entry into Earnestine & Hazel’s. You are paying mainly for the guide’s preparation and delivery, not for admission to a collection of buildings.

The value is strongest if you want an evening activity that combines Memphis orientation with spooky stories. You see parts of downtown, learn where several landmarks fit into the city’s past, and finish at a place where you can continue the night.

The value is weaker if you want extended time inside historic buildings, a meal, drinks, or a formal paranormal investigation. You will need to pay separately for anything you order at Earnestine & Hazel’s, and gratuities are not included.

For many visitors, the tour works well early in a Memphis visit because it introduces the downtown area on foot. It can also be a good second-night activity after you have already spent time with music and food.

Who should book this Memphis ghost tour?

I would recommend it to adults, older children, couples, friends, and solo visitors who enjoy local legends with a little humor. It suits people who want atmosphere but do not need every story to be proven.

You should have a moderate level of fitness. The walk covers about two miles on public sidewalks, with some elevation, and most of the evening is outdoors. Service animals are allowed.

I would think twice if you dislike walking at night, need frequent indoor seating, or want access to every building on the route. The tour is not designed as a wheelchair-accessible indoor history program, and the supplied details do not promise specific accessibility arrangements beyond service animals and nearby public transportation.

Book with the weather in mind. If poor weather cancels the tour, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. If you cancel, you need to do so at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a lively introduction to Memphis folklore, enjoy walking, and like hearing a local guide connect real places to strange stories. The best parts are the Mary story at the Orpheum, the time inside Earnestine & Hazel’s, and the guides’ mix of humor and Memphis background.

Skip it if you want a museum-style tour, extensive indoor access, or a meal included in the price. For everyone else, $29.63 is a sensible price for a compact evening walk that ends at one of Memphis’ most unusual bars.

FAQ

How long is the Haunted Memphis Walking Ghost Tour?

The tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

How much walking is involved?

The route covers about two miles on public sidewalks and includes some elevation. A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended.

Does the tour enter the historic buildings?

The tour is conducted mostly outside. Earnestine & Hazel’s is the included indoor stop, while the Orpheum Theatre, John Alexander Austin House, Green Beetle, Puck Food Hall, and National Civil Rights Museum are viewed from outside.

Are food and drinks included at Earnestine & Hazel’s?

No. Food, drinks, and alcoholic beverages at Earnestine & Hazel’s are not included in the ticket price. You may stay there after the tour and purchase items separately.

Where does the tour begin and end?

The tour begins at Alfred’s On Beale, 197 Beale Street, Memphis. It ends at Earnestine & Hazel’s, 531 South Main Street.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You must cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded, and poor-weather cancellations may result in a different date or a full refund.