Old Louisville Ghost Tour as Recommended by The New York Times @ 4th and Ormsby
March through November, daily; limited dates in the off-season!
Impressive Victorian mansions and quirky residents have earned national attention for Old Louisville, where bourbon barons, racetrack royalty, and titans of tobacco settled in the 1800s. This narrated walk comes from books by David Dominé, who often guides groups himself. Tales involve personal experiences and neighborhood gossip. The New York Times recommends this as the first thing to do during a visitor's "36 Hours in Louisville." You'll also learn about A DARK ROOM IN GLITTER BALL CITY, David's next book—out in October 2021!
Specializing in "America's Most Haunted Neighborhood," we depart from the corner of Fourth and Ormsby, at the transitional edge of the neighborhood. If you love old architecture and spooky history, this is the tour for you! If you do not like an up-and-coming neighborhood with a diverse racial make up, this tour is not for you! If you can't go 100 minutes without a bathroom, this is not for you!
Options
Old Louisville Ghost Tour as Recommended by The New York Times @ 4th and Ormsby
What's included in Old Louisville Ghost Tour as Recommended by The New York Times @ 4th and Ormsby
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
Recommended by The New York Times, Louisville Historic Tours has specialized in guided walks through "America's Most Haunted Neighborhood" since 2004. Once home to bourbon barons, racetrack royalty, and titans of tobacco, this transitional neighborhood has a wealth of ghostly lore that attracts supernatural buffs from all around the world. Centered around Olmsted-designed Central Park and the charming residential enclave of St. James Court, this 40-square block historic district is jam-packed with Gilded Age grandeur and hundreds of spooky Victorian mansions. Best-selling author David Dominé loves showing off the neighborhood and sharing stories about his favorite allegedly haunted houses. Come and see what all the buzz is about! IMPORTANT NOTE: On our tours, you might see things you would see in any larger city across the US; this includes homeless people, panhandlers, or others who do not look like you. If you do not like a diverse neighborhood, this is not the tour for you.
The Filson Historical SocietyPass-by Only
Completed in 1905, the Ferguson Mansion only saw one family reside there in its intended capacity. In the 1920s, it became a well-known funeral home and remained as such until the 1980s, when "The Filson" moved its headquarters there. Contact their front desk to find out how to get inside.
Conrad-Caldwell House Museum (Conrad's Castle)
Constructed in the 1890s, "Conrad's Castle" is an impressive limestone Richardsonian Romanesque mansion the typifies Kentucky's Gilded Age. If you sign up for one of their tours (highly recommended!), be forewarned: you might encounter a ghost - or five.
Inclusions
- Guided Tour
- Private transportation
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- FYI The starting point is in a transitional area where you might encounter panhandlers, homeless people, and people who don't look like you.
- MUST BE ABLE TO WALK 2 HOURS WITHOUT A BATHROOM BREAK!
- Not recommended for visitors who have trouble walking longer distances
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
You will make your own way to the meeting points
Meeting / End Points
- Start/End at the brown "FILSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY" sign, near the bus stop; this is a little over a mile directly south of the Brown Hotel downtown. (Use "1300 South Fourth Street" but DO NOT TRY TO ENTER the actual building; we meet OUTSIDE, at the corner across the street!)
Redeem
Ticket Redemption
Please be advised that all walking tours start and end at the transitional edge of an ethnically diverse neighborhood; you might encounter panhandling and homelessness, things found in many good-sized cities across the country. Meet your guide several minutes before the tour start time and wear comfortable walking shoes. Ghost tours leave from in front of the "Welcome to Old Louisville" sign at the southwest corner of South Fourth Street and West Ormsby Avenue. Plan on about 90 minutes for each tour. Please treat your tour tickets as you would concert or theater tickets. If you miss your tour, there are no refunds; if you arrive late, it is up to you to find your guide. We still conduct the tour even if there is only one person signed up.
