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Spirits of the Season

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Ghost Tours Scare up Connections to the Past

Story by Katie Teems Norris

Allison Jornlin, depicted here in an illustration, researches and writes scripts for ghost tours.

For many, October isn’t complete without spine-tingling ghost stories, and chances are your hometown has a few of its own. Allison Jornlin, co-founder and tour developer with American Ghost Walks, conducts research and writes ghost tour scripts in towns across the United States. Allison is also a paranormal investigator and speaker, and she’s been featured on the CW Network’s “Mysteries Decoded.”

Ghost tours are immensely popular, and Allison says they can be found in almost every large city and even in many small towns across the country. “I think people have lost their connection with history and with their ancestors, and this is a way to reconnect,” she says.

The Old Charleston Jail, which once held pirates, Civil War prisoners, and the
first known female serial killer, is an especially spooky spot.

Unlike haunted house attractions that have terrifying special effects, ghost tours offer authentic history in locations that give guests the chance to literally step into the paranormal. They allow people to connect to the haunted past through walking tours, bus/trolley tours, investigation-style tours, and even pub crawls. Some guests report experiencing paranormal phenomena, like feeling unexplained cold spots or photographing disembodied faces and shadowy figures.

Allison pores through old newspapers and historical archives and interviews local people to give her tours as much local flavor as possible. “I’m looking for stories that are unique to the community that they come out of,” she says. While many stories across the country have common themes, Allison says, every place is a little bit different.

A group pauses before entering the First Presbyterian Church during a ghost walk in Birmingham, Alabama.

“You don’t have to believe in ghosts to enjoy the tour,” she says. Skeptics can have fun learning spooky stories. Tour guides often encourage guests to share their personal paranormal experiences to relate to one another. Ghost tours can’t guarantee guests will have an otherworldly encounter, but there is always a possibility.

If you’re ready to test your luck, consider joining these popular local tours, if you dare:

  • Charleston, South Carolina’s, rich history, fascinating places, people, and landmarks bring with them incredible stories—and lots of ghosts. Check them out through the Bulldog Tours website.
  • The Birmingham Ghost Walk in Alabama includes 2 walking tours and the Ghosts and Graveyards Chauffeured Experience.
  • Old Louisville is home to what many consider to be the “most haunted neighborhood in America.” Learn why through Old Louisville Ghost Tours, in Louisville, Kentucky..