New Orleans Ghost Adventure

New Orleans makes a fine stage for a ghost hunt, and this tour puts you right in the French Quarter after dark, where old buildings, narrow streets, voodoo lore, and violent history all crowd together. You’ll hear stories tied to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, documented sightings, Jackson Square, and some of the city’s most talked-about haunted addresses.

I like the hands-on EMF meter, which gives you something to do besides listen, and I like the tour’s short walking route, ending at Jackson Square instead of circling back to the starting point. The main caution is reliability: tours can be canceled for low enrollment, weather, or other circumstances, and the cancellation terms require careful reading.

Key points to know before booking

• The meeting point is outside Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, at the gate of its courtyard on 941 Bourbon Street, not inside the bar or at a nearby street corner.
• A real EMF meter is available for paranormal investigation, but you must request and check out equipment at the start of the tour.
• The route covers several French Quarter locations, with stories about ghosts, vampires, voodoo, murder, and reported apparitions.
• The walk ends at Jackson Square, a useful finish if you want to continue exploring the Quarter afterward.
• The pace is moderate and the streets can be uneven, so comfortable shoes and attention underfoot matter.
• No ghost sighting is promised, and photos or EMF readings are part of the entertainment rather than proof accepted by science.

Starting beneath the old Bourbon Street glow

The tour begins at 941 Bourbon Street, outside the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. You do not meet inside the bar, and you should not wait at one of the nearby corners. Look for the guide on the sidewalk at the courtyard gate.

Arrive a few minutes early. This matters because the guide leaves at the scheduled departure time, and a late arrival may mean missing the tour without a refund. If traffic or dinner runs long, contact the operator before departure. The company says it may help move you to another departure with space, but that is not guaranteed.

Starting at Lafitte’s makes sense. The bar is associated with one of the oldest parts of New Orleans, and it gives the evening an atmospheric opening without needing a staged haunted-house set. You begin among real streets, old walls, working businesses, and residents going about their night.

The opening stop itself is brief, listed at about five minutes. The real value comes from the guide setting the tone and placing the ghost stories in the context of the French Quarter. The company is run by Dustin and Ashli Fisher, and the tour uses local guides who live and work in New Orleans. The guide’s role is part storyteller, part group leader, and part equipment manager.

Walking through the French Quarter with an EMF meter

Most of the tour takes place in the French Quarter. Plan on about an hour here, though the full experience can last from one to two hours. The difference depends partly on how long the group waits inside bars along the route.

The route visits several places associated with reported paranormal activity. At each location, the guide explains the site’s background, then shares stories of sightings and unusual events. The themes range from ghosts and vampires to voodoo and murder. This variety helps keep the walk from becoming a string of identical haunted-house tales.

The most distinctive feature is the use of a real EMF meter, short for electromagnetic field meter. You can request paranormal equipment at check-in, provide your name, phone number, address, and booking reference, and check the equipment back in before leaving. The terms warn that lost or damaged equipment can result in a $250 charge, so handle it carefully and do not set it down in the street or a bar.

I like this part because it gives you an active role. Instead of only hearing a story, you can watch the meter and consider how the surroundings affect the reading. Still, an EMF reading does not prove a ghost is present. Electrical wiring, phones, appliances, and other ordinary sources can affect electromagnetic fields. Treat the device as a prop for investigation and discussion, not as a scientific verdict.

Photography is encouraged. The company says some people notice nothing during the walk but later inspect their photos and see what they believe are orbs or figures. You may find that possibility entertaining, but keep your expectations in check. The operator plainly states that no paranormal activity is guaranteed and that no compensation is offered if you see nothing unusual.

That honesty is useful. A ghost walk works best when you enjoy the stories, atmosphere, and questions rather than demand a supernatural event on schedule. New Orleans gives the guide plenty to work with, but even a famous haunted address cannot promise an apparition at a particular hour.

Bars, children, and the pace of the route

Some stops may involve entering bars, and drinks are available for purchase along the way. Drinks are not included in the $35 price. The duration can stretch if a bar is busy, so do not plan a tight dinner reservation immediately after the tour.

Children may attend with a parent or guardian, but not every bar allows children inside. The tour offers to-go windows along the route for anyone who does not want, or is not able, to enter a bar. If you are booking for a family, ask ahead about the current route and bar access.

Alcohol is allowed during the walk, but the operator can refuse service to anyone who is extremely intoxicated. That is a sensible rule for a group moving through public streets. The French Quarter is a residential neighborhood as well as a nightlife district, so do not ring doorbells, trespass, block sidewalks, or wander away from the group for photographs.

The walking pace is described as moderate. You remain with the group, and the guide cannot stop repeatedly for individual photo breaks. The route uses old and uneven streets and walkways, and the operator does not accept responsibility for injuries caused by those conditions. Wear sturdy shoes, watch your footing, and keep your belongings secure.

Jackson Square gives the tour a strong finish

The final section brings you to Jackson Square, in the heart of the French Quarter. This is a convenient ending because you can continue exploring nearby streets, find a drink, or make your way to another part of the city without returning to Bourbon Street.

The Jackson Square stop lasts about ten minutes. The stories here include the most predictable ghost in New Orleans, the city’s largest mass murder, and what is described as its most haunted house. These claims are dramatic, and the guide’s storytelling will shape how convincing or entertaining they feel.

Jackson Square also gives the tour a change of mood. You leave the tighter Bourbon Street setting and finish in one of the Quarter’s best-known public spaces. At night, the square and its surrounding buildings provide a fitting backdrop for a final story, even if the supernatural evidence remains open to interpretation.

Because the tour ends rather than returns to the starting point, check the location before making dinner or transportation plans. The finish is still in the French Quarter, but it is not the same place where you met.

What the $35 price really buys you

At $35 per person, this is a moderate price for a guided evening walk of roughly two hours. You are paying for a local guide, organized storytelling, use of paranormal equipment, and a route through several notable French Quarter locations. There are no separate admission charges for the listed stops.

The value depends on what you want from a ghost tour. If you enjoy local legends, a little theater, and the chance to inspect photos or an EMF meter, the price is reasonable. If you want access to private haunted buildings, guaranteed drinks, a formal investigation, or proof of ghosts, this is not that kind of experience.

No hotel pickup or drop-off is included. You arrange your own way to Bourbon Street and from Jackson Square. Mobile tickets are convenient, and the tour is offered in English. The number of people can vary, and the stated maximum of 999 does not tell you the actual size of your departure. Ask the operator if group size matters to you.

The company has received both strong praise for an engaging guide and serious complaints about cancellations and refunds. The positive experience depends heavily on the guide keeping the group interested, while the main practical risk is having your plans disrupted. I would not place this tour on the only open evening of a short New Orleans visit without a backup plan.

Weather, cancellations, and the fine print

The booking terms allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refundable, and changes inside that window are not accepted.

The operator’s own terms say tours generally run rain or shine, and they warn that hot or cold weather is possible in New Orleans. They also reserve the right to cancel or reschedule for severe weather, low enrollment, family emergencies, or other circumstances. If the operator cancels, the terms describe a future-tour credit in some cases, while the booking policy says you may be offered another date or a full refund for weather or minimum-number cancellations.

Those details do not line up perfectly, so read the conditions attached to your actual booking and keep your phone number and email current. Text messages are the main way schedule changes are sent. The company has previously canceled several days of tours because of a death in the family and offered replacement guides, rescheduling, or refunds, but the episode shows why you should monitor messages rather than assume the departure is confirmed until the last minute.

This is not a reason to avoid the tour. It is a reason to plan sensibly. Keep your booking confirmation, check your messages on tour day, and have another evening activity in mind.

Who will enjoy this ghost walk most

I would choose this tour if you want a social introduction to New Orleans folklore and prefer walking through real neighborhoods to sitting in a theater-style attraction. The mix of history, voodoo, vampires, murder stories, and paranormal equipment gives the evening several hooks.

It suits adults and older children with a parent or guardian, provided the group is comfortable with bar stops and ghost stories. It also works well for visitors who want a short activity before or after dinner, since the walking time is limited and the finish at Jackson Square is useful.

You may want something else if you need wheelchair-friendly surfaces, a quiet academic history lesson, private access to buildings, or a guaranteed paranormal encounter. The route includes uneven streets, bar delays, and group rules that limit wandering and personal stops.

Bring comfortable shoes, a charged phone, weather-appropriate clothing, and a small amount for drinks if you plan to buy one. Keep your camera ready, but leave audio and video recording devices at home because they are not allowed during the tour. Photos are encouraged.

Should you book the New Orleans Ghost Adventure?

Book it if you want a reasonably priced French Quarter walk with local stories, a real EMF meter, and a playful chance to examine your photographs afterward. The best part is the setting itself: you are not being driven past New Orleans history. You are walking through it, one old street and haunted tale at a time.

Skip it if you need a dependable fixed schedule, private access, or evidence of ghosts. The tour is entertainment, not a scientific investigation, and cancellation policies deserve attention. For most visitors, I would treat it as a flexible evening plan rather than the one event your whole itinerary depends on.

FAQ

How much does the New Orleans Ghost Adventure cost?

The listed price is $35 per person. Drinks and gratuities are not included.

How long does the tour last?

The walking tour lasts approximately one to two hours. The operator describes it as an approximately two-hour tour, but the exact duration can change, especially if the group waits inside busy bars.

Where does the tour begin?

Meet outside at the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, at 941 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70116.

Does the tour meet inside Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar?

No. The meeting point is on the sidewalk at the courtyard gate. The tour does not meet inside the bar or at a nearby street corner.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at Jackson Square in the heart of the French Quarter.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. You must arrange your own transportation to the meeting point and from Jackson Square.

Is paranormal equipment included?

A real EMF meter and other paranormal equipment can be used during the tour. You must request equipment at check-in, provide the required identification details, and return it before leaving.

Are ghosts guaranteed?

No. The operator says there is no guarantee of seeing paranormal activity, ghosts, vampires, spirits, or other supernatural beings.

Can children join the tour?

Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian unless a tour guide authorizes otherwise. Some bars along the route may not allow children inside.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. If the operator cancels because of weather or insufficient enrollment, you may be offered another date, another experience, or a refund, depending on the applicable booking terms.