Haunted Memphis Walking Ghost Tour

Memphis gets a different voice after dark. This 90-minute ghost walk links the Orpheum Theatre, an old love story, a former brothel, a gangster hideout, and the Lorraine Motel through tales of spirits, murder, voodoo, and buried history. Guides such as Daniel, Sheena, Liz, and TC bring the stories with humor as well as suspense.

I like the route for two clear reasons: it covers about two miles of downtown Memphis rather than keeping you in one square, and it ends at Earnestine and Hazel’s, one of the city’s most notorious haunted spots. I also like the mix of folklore and real Memphis history, so you get more than a string of spooky claims.

The main consideration is that this is largely an outdoor walk. You will not tour the interiors of most buildings, and Memphis weather can make a night on public sidewalks less pleasant. Food and drinks at Earnestine and Hazel’s cost extra, too.

Key things to know before you go

• Mary at the Orpheum: Begin with the story of the theatre’s best-known ghost, a 12-year-old girl.
• Earnestine and Hazel’s finale: Spend about 20 minutes at the former brothel and reputedly haunted bar, with refreshments sold separately.
• A two-mile downtown route: Expect public sidewalks, some elevation, and a moderate level of walking.
• Storytelling makes the difference: Daniel, Sheena, Liz, and TC have all led engaging tours, with humor, local facts, and room for questions.
• Outdoor sightseeing: Stops at the Orpheum, John Alexander Austin House, Green Beetle, Puck Food Hall, and Lorraine Motel are outside only.
• Easy evening logistics: Start near Beale Street at Alfred’s and finish on South Main, about a 10-minute walk from Beale Street.

Why this Memphis ghost walk works

The appeal is not simply the chance to photograph an odd blur and call it a spirit. This tour gives you a moving look at downtown Memphis, using haunted stories to connect places that you might otherwise pass without much thought.

You begin at Alfred’s on Beale Street, a useful meeting point in the middle of the city’s evening action. From there, the group heads south through a series of stops. The route finishes at Earnestine and Hazel’s on South Main Street, so the walk has a clear beginning and end rather than looping back to the starting point.

At $29.63 per person, the price is reasonable if you want a guided introduction to downtown and enjoy live storytelling. You are paying for the guide, local taxes, and the structure of the walk, not for a meal, a drink, hotel transport, or admission to a collection of historic buildings.

The value is strongest when you treat this as both a ghost tour and a short Memphis orientation. It gives you stories, street views, and a feel for several parts of downtown in one evening. If you want a theatrical haunted-house production or extensive access inside old buildings, this is not that kind of experience.

The Orpheum Theatre and Mary’s story

The first stop is outside the Orpheum Theatre, where the guide tells the tale of Mary, Memphis’s most famous ghost. You spend about 15 minutes here, enough time to hear the central story and look at the theatre from the street.

The outside-only format matters. You should not book this expecting a backstage visit or a tour of the theatre’s interior. The draw is the story tied to the building and the atmosphere of standing outside an old performance venue after dark.

This is also a good opening stop because it sets the tone quickly. The guide has to hold the group’s attention on a public sidewalk, and the strongest guides use more than a spooky voice. Daniel has been praised for blending ghost stories with facts about Memphis, while TC has been singled out for answering questions and adding humor.

That mix is useful. A little comedy keeps the tour from becoming too grim, while the local context gives the stories some footing. The exact tone can vary with your guide, but the tour is designed as entertainment, not a serious investigation of paranormal claims.

The John Alexander Austin House and a haunted love story

The next stop is the John Alexander Austin House, with about 10 minutes devoted to what is described as a beautiful but haunted love story. You will see the house from outside, hear the tale, and then continue on foot.

This shorter stop gives the tour some variety. Instead of repeating stories about violent deaths or restless spirits, the route shifts toward romance and loss. That change helps the evening feel like a collection of Memphis stories rather than one long version of the same ghost legend.

Do not expect to enter the property. The tour is conducted mostly outside, and the available details specify that the buildings are not entered. Wear shoes that are comfortable for walking and clothing suited to the forecast.

Earnestine and Hazel’s, the main haunted stop

Earnestine and Hazel’s is the heart of the tour. You spend about 20 minutes here, the longest scheduled stop, at a former brothel that is said to be home to several spirits.

The venue has a strong reputation in Memphis folklore, and the setting gives the guide plenty to work with. The story is tied to a real place with a complicated past, not an invented haunted attraction built solely for tour groups. That makes this stop feel more connected to the city itself.

The ticket includes the stop and the guide’s presentation, but food and drinks are not included. Alcoholic beverages are also extra. You can stay at Earnestine and Hazel’s after the tour, which makes the ending practical if you want to order something and keep the night going.

There is one point to read carefully. The experience is mostly outdoors and does not include entry into the buildings along the route. Earnestine and Hazel’s is listed as an included stop, but you should not assume that your ticket covers a full private interior tour or any purchase inside. The safe expectation is a guided visit to the location, with refreshments separate.

Some people enjoy taking photos here and looking for unexplained shapes, orbs, and figures. Keep your expectations sensible. A mysterious image can be fun, but the real value is the guide’s account of the place and its role in Memphis after dark.

The Green Beetle and a gangster’s hideout

The Green Beetle is another outside-only stop, scheduled for about 15 minutes. Here the focus shifts to a haunted gangster’s hideout.

This stop adds a different kind of local story to the route. The tour is not only about old theatres and tragic romances. It also touches the criminal side of Memphis’s past, using the Green Beetle as a setting for tales of danger and lingering spirits.

Because you are viewing the building from the public sidewalk, the guide’s delivery matters more than the architecture alone. A strong storyteller can make a short stop feel vivid, while a quieter presentation may leave you wishing for more time. The guides associated with this experience have been praised for keeping the pace lively and adding humor without losing the darker mood.

Puck Food Hall and Memphis voodoo

At Puck Food Hall, the subject turns to voodoo and hoodoo in Memphis. This is another 10-minute stop viewed from outside.

For me, this is one of the more useful parts of the tour because it broadens the definition of haunted Memphis. The city’s supernatural stories are not limited to ghosts in old buildings. They also include beliefs, practices, folklore, and fears that have shaped how people understand certain places.

The guide’s job here is especially important. Voodoo and hoodoo are subjects that can easily be reduced to cheap spooky decoration. You will get the most from this stop if the explanation gives cultural context rather than treating every belief as a scare gimmick.

As with the other exterior locations, there is no admission ticket for you to use at Puck Food Hall as part of the tour. The stop is about hearing the story and seeing the site from the street.

The Lorraine Motel and Morris Cemetery

The final scheduled stop is the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, with about 15 minutes focused on the site of Memphis’s oldest former cemetery, Morris Cemetery.

This is where the tour’s mood can shift from playful to more serious. The location connects the supernatural theme with the city’s painful past, and it asks you to think about how memory remains attached to places. The tour does not include admission to the National Civil Rights Museum, so you are seeing the exterior area and hearing the guide’s account rather than visiting the museum galleries.

If you plan to visit the museum separately, this walk can help you notice the site before a daytime visit. If the Civil Rights Museum is a major priority, allow separate time and budget for it. The ghost tour is not a substitute for the museum.

The stop also shows why the tour works best for people who want local history mixed into their folklore. The evening is not only about trying to get scared. It is about hearing how stories accumulate around theatres, houses, bars, cemeteries, and memorial places.

Guides, group size, and the feel of the evening

The tour allows up to 24 people. That is large enough to create a shared evening atmosphere but small enough for a guide to address questions without using a microphone in most situations.

Your guide may be Daniel, Sheena, Liz, TC, or another member of the team. Daniel has been praised for professional storytelling, interesting Memphis facts, and a willingness to adjust the route slightly when only two people attended. Sheena has been noted for clear local knowledge and an entertaining style. TC has been described as patient, funny, and open to questions, while Liz has earned praise for making the evening enjoyable.

Those details point to an important practical fact: the guide shapes the experience. The route and subjects remain the same, but the balance of humor, history, ghost lore, and audience interaction can change.

The walking distance is about two miles, with some elevation. I would call the physical demand moderate rather than strenuous, but you should still wear supportive shoes. Since the tour spends most of its time outside, bring layers or rain protection as needed.

Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not provided.

Parking, meeting point, and the walk back

The tour begins at Alfred’s on Beale, at 197 Beale Street. Several garages and open-air lots sit within a few blocks. The closest listed garage is at 149 Peabody Place, between Second Street and BB King Boulevard, next to the Hampton Inn.

Metered street parking may also be available on Second Street south of Beale, on Beale between Front and Second, or along Peabody Place from Front to Fourth Street. Availability can change, so allow time to park and reach the starting point.

The tour ends at Earnestine and Hazel’s, at 531 South Main Street. From there, Beale Street is about a 10-minute walk north on Main Street. You may also walk back with the guide, which is useful if you parked near the starting point or want company after dark.

Since the start and finish are in different places, do not park far outside downtown unless you have a clear plan for getting back. The route is easy to understand on foot, but it is not a round trip.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this experience if you enjoy local legends, nighttime walks, and guides who tell stories with personality. It fits a first evening in Memphis because it introduces several downtown locations while giving you a reason to look more closely at streets and buildings.

It also suits people who want history with their ghost stories. The Orpheum, Lorraine Motel, Morris Cemetery, and South Main stops give the night more substance than a simple hunt for scares.

Families with older children may enjoy it, but the former brothel, gangster stories, and darker themes may not suit young children. The tour is also less suitable if you need frequent sitting breaks, dislike walking on sidewalks, or want indoor shelter.

For the best value, plan to eat or have a drink at Earnestine and Hazel’s after the walk, since the tour ends there. Just budget separately for anything you order.

Should you book the Haunted Memphis Walking Ghost Tour?

Book it if you want a compact, story-led look at Memphis after dark, with a route that mixes famous sites and lesser-known local tales. The $29.63 cost is fair for a guided two-mile walk, especially if you value the guide’s humor, local facts, and ability to bring each stop to life.

Skip it if you expect entry into every building, a formal paranormal investigation, or a fully indoor experience. For most people who like folklore and city history, the combination of Mary at the Orpheum, Earnestine and Hazel’s, the Lorraine Motel, and a personable guide makes this a worthwhile Memphis evening.

FAQ

How long is the Haunted Memphis Walking Ghost Tour?

The tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $29.63 per person.

Where does the tour begin?

The meeting point is Alfred’s on Beale, at 197 Beale Street, Memphis, Tennessee 38103.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at Earnestine and Hazel’s, at 531 South Main Street, Memphis, Tennessee 38103.

Does the tour include food or drinks?

No. Food, drinks, and alcoholic beverages at Earnestine and Hazel’s are not included in the ticket price.

Do you enter the buildings on the route?

The tour is conducted mostly outside and does not include entrance into the buildings along the route. The stops at the Orpheum Theatre, John Alexander Austin House, Green Beetle, Puck Food Hall, and National Civil Rights Museum are outside only.

How far do you walk?

The tour covers approximately two miles on public sidewalks, with some elevation. A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded or accepted. If poor weather causes the tour to be canceled, you will be offered another date or a full refund.