New Orleans Paranormal Investigation

New Orleans is famous for ghosts, but this tour gets more specific. You walk through the French Quarter with a paranormal detector, stopping at places tied to apparitions, cold spots, murders, vampires, and other unsettling tales. The route covers more than a dozen public locations between Bourbon Street and Jackson Square.

I like the friendly guide-led format and the chance to use actual paranormal equipment rather than only hearing ghost stories. I also like the optional to-go cocktails, which fit New Orleans well and let you set your own pace. The main drawback is that this is an outdoor storytelling walk, not a private investigation inside haunted buildings, and equipment may not always work perfectly.

Key points to know before booking

• A two-hour French Quarter walk: The route begins at 941 Bourbon Street and ends near Jackson Square.
• More than a dozen locations: Expect public streets, sidewalks, bars, hotels, churches, cemeteries, balconies, galleries, and other sites.
• An EMF meter is part of the experience: You may get to handle paranormal equipment, but activity is never guaranteed.
• Ashli Fisher may lead the tour: She is one of the owners and guides, and her style is energetic and story-heavy.
• To-go drinks are optional: Alcohol costs extra, and you can choose a window drink instead of entering a bar.
• Strict timing matters: Arrive early at the courtyard gate beside Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. Late arrivals may miss the group without a refund.

Walking into New Orleans’ haunted quarter

The tour begins on the sidewalk at the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar at 941 Bourbon Street. You do not check in inside the bar, and the tour company is not affiliated with the business at that address.

That meeting detail matters. Bourbon Street has plenty of noise, foot traffic, bars, and tour groups, so arrive a few minutes early and look for the guide at the courtyard gate. The group leaves at the scheduled time. If you arrive late, the guide may already be moving through the Quarter and cannot stay on the phone while leading the walk.

From there, you enter the French Quarter on foot. The tour moves at a moderate pace and usually lasts from one to two hours. The stated duration is about two hours, but waits at bars can stretch the outing. I would leave extra room in your evening rather than booking a dinner reservation immediately afterward.

The route covers many public places rather than one single attraction. That gives you a useful introduction to the Quarter’s streets and layout, but it also means the experience is always changing. A crowded sidewalk, a busy bar, or a delayed drink stop can affect the pace.

The first investigation: a mass burial ground

The opening location is a mass burial ground associated with cold spots, apparitions, and orbs. It sets the tone quickly. You are not starting with a long orientation or a general lecture about ghosts. The guide begins with a specific place and explains why paranormal investigators pay attention to it.

You can expect the guide to discuss reported activity and invite the group to notice changes in temperature, atmosphere, or unusual details. A real EMF meter, short for electromagnetic field meter, is used during the investigation. Participants may be allowed to handle paranormal equipment, but you must ask for it at check-in and provide your name, phone number, address, and booking reference.

The operator tracks its equipment, and missing or damaged gear can result in a $250 charge. That is worth taking seriously. Handle the meter carefully, keep it with the group, and return it directly to a staff member before you leave.

There is also an important limit here: the tour promises an investigation, not a supernatural sighting. You may feel a cold spot or see an unusual reading, but no ghost, spirit, vampire, demon, or other nonhuman appearance is guaranteed. That honest warning makes the tour a better fit for curious skeptics than for anyone demanding proof.

Jackson Square and the long list of haunted places

The second major part of the route brings you toward Jackson Square, where the walk concludes. Along the way, the guide leads the group through more than a dozen locations spread across the French Quarter’s 78 blocks.

The places named for the route include haunted houses, apartments, morgues, bathrooms, bars, pubs, cemeteries, balconies, galleries, hotels, sidewalks, streets, and churches. You will not enter private property, and the tour does not promise access to restricted buildings. The appeal is in seeing the Quarter’s public spaces while hearing the stories tied to them.

That mix makes the experience broader than a cemetery-only ghost walk. You might hear a disturbing account outside a hotel, then move to a bar or church with an entirely different kind of legend. Some locations may feel dramatic, while others may seem ordinary at first. That contrast is part of the fun. In New Orleans, an unremarkable doorway or quiet sidewalk can carry a story that changes how you see it.

The route also offers a useful first look at the French Quarter. If you are new to New Orleans, you will learn the basic shape of the area while picking up tales about murders, vampires, hauntings, and other local legends. I would not treat the stories as a formal history lesson, but they do show how the city’s old buildings and layered traditions feed its supernatural reputation.

What the guide adds to the experience

The guide is the heart of this tour. The best version of the walk depends less on a device and more on how well the storyteller connects each location to the city.

Ashli Fisher is an owner and guide who has led the company since 2014. Her style is described as exuberant, with a strong focus on stories about hauntings, vampires, and murders. If Ashli is leading your group, expect an animated presentation rather than a quiet, scientific field exercise.

That distinction helps set expectations. This is entertainment built around local research and paranormal investigation tools. The tour company says its information comes from research by its authors and guides, and the stories are presented at public sites. You are not signing up for access to secret rooms or private homes.

The group size can reach 28 people. That is manageable for a walking tour, but it is not the same as having a private investigator at your side. A smaller group can make it easier to hear the narration and take a turn with the equipment. A full group may feel less personal, especially on narrow sidewalks or at busy stops.

An occasional small-group experience is possible, but you should not count on having the guide to yourself. One particularly positive account came from a participant who ended up with Ashli and no other members in the group, making the walk feel more relaxed and personal. That is a lucky situation, not a standard feature.

The EMF meter and the reality of paranormal equipment

The EMF meter gives the walk a hands-on element. Instead of only listening to a story, you can watch the detector and consider what its readings might mean. For amateur investigators and families with older children, that activity can make the tour more engaging.

Still, keep your expectations practical. An EMF reading does not automatically prove a ghost is present. Electrical sources, buildings, wiring, phones, and other ordinary factors can affect equipment. The tour itself does not guarantee paranormal activity, and one account described the available detectors as damaged or not working during the walk.

That report is useful because it points to the main risk of booking this experience. If the meter is unavailable or unreliable, the tour becomes a standard ghost-story walk with extra atmosphere. You should book for the guide, locations, and stories first. Think of the equipment as a bonus, not the entire reason to go.

Photos are encouraged, but audio and video recording devices are not allowed during the tour. Keep your camera ready for quick pictures, but do not wander away from the group to frame a shot. The guide needs to maintain a moderate pace and stay on schedule.

To-go cocktails and bar stops

Between locations, you may stop to buy a cocktail or another alcoholic drink for the walk. Drinks are not included in the $35 price, and you pay for anything you order.

This option fits New Orleans, but it is not essential. If you prefer to concentrate on the stories, skip the drink. Some bars may be crowded, and waiting for service can lengthen the tour. To-go windows are available along the route for people who do not want to enter a bar, and not every bar permits children inside.

Drinking is allowed, but the operator can refuse service to anyone who becomes extremely intoxicated. If intoxication causes the tour to be canceled for that person, no refund is offered. I would keep the drink to a modest part of the evening, especially since you still need to walk on uneven sidewalks and remain with the group.

Is $35 a fair price?

At $35 per person, this tour is reasonably priced for a guided French Quarter walk lasting up to two hours. The price includes the local guide, the walking route, and admission to the tour itself. There is no separate admission charge for the listed stops.

The value depends on what you want. If you are looking for a low-cost introduction to the French Quarter with a supernatural theme, the price makes sense. You get a guide, a broad route, many story locations, and the chance to use paranormal equipment.

If you expect entry into haunted buildings, a controlled investigation, working equipment at every stop, or a guaranteed sighting, the value drops quickly. The route stays on public property, and the experience may be affected by crowds, weather, bar waits, or equipment problems.

I would compare this with the cost of a normal evening walk and a drink. Since the cocktail is extra, plan for more than the ticket price if you want to purchase refreshments. The tour works best when you see it as a guided night walk with paranormal tools, not as a professional scientific investigation.

Practical advice for the walk

Wear comfortable shoes. The tour covers a good stretch of the Quarter at a moderate pace, and the operator warns about old, uneven, and worn streets and walkways. Stay with the group, watch your footing, and do not block sidewalks or step into streets for photographs.

New Orleans weather can be hot, cold, or rainy. The tour operates rain or shine unless the operator cancels or reschedules it. Bring clothing suited to the forecast and be prepared to walk outdoors for most of the activity.

Keep your phone available. Schedule changes, delays, and cancellations may be sent by text or email, with text messages used most often. Make sure your booking includes a working mobile number.

The experience is near public transportation, service animals are allowed, and most people can participate. Children under 18 need a parent or guardian unless a guide authorizes otherwise. Remember that some bars do not admit children, though to-go windows are available.

The cancellation rules are strict. The booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If the operator cancels because minimum numbers are not met, an alternative or full refund may be offered. A canceled tour may also result in credit for a future tour, depending on the circumstances. Since a last-minute cancellation is possible, avoid making this the only plan for your evening.

Who should book this New Orleans ghost walk?

I would recommend it to first-time visitors who want a lively introduction to the French Quarter and enjoy ghost stories without needing a polished museum-style presentation. It also suits amateur investigators who want to try an EMF meter and compare readings at several locations.

It is a good match for people who like walking, storytelling, local legends, and a little uncertainty. You can enjoy the outing even if nothing paranormal happens because the route itself introduces you to public streets, bars, churches, hotels, cemeteries, and other Quarter landmarks.

I would be cautious if you need guaranteed access, strict scientific methods, a quiet pace, or a refund-friendly booking. The tour is also a poor fit for anyone who expects to enter private homes or haunted buildings. You remain in public areas and move as part of a group.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want an affordable, story-driven walk through the French Quarter, with paranormal equipment and optional cocktails added to the evening. Arrive early, wear good shoes, keep your expectations realistic, and choose it for the guide and route rather than a promised ghost encounter.

Skip it if your main goal is a serious investigation inside a haunted property. The experience is best understood as a lively New Orleans night walk with ghost-hunting elements, not a guarantee of supernatural evidence.

FAQ

How long does the New Orleans Paranormal Investigation last?

The tour lasts approximately two hours, though the operator states that walks can take from one to two hours. Waiting inside busy bars may extend the outing.

Where does the tour begin?

Meet on the sidewalk at the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar at 941 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70116. Do not go inside the bar to check in.

Where does the tour end?

The walk concludes in the Jackson Square area of the French Quarter.

Is paranormal activity guaranteed?

No. The operator states that the tour is for entertainment and does not guarantee that you will see or encounter a ghost, spirit, vampire, demon, angel, or other supernatural being.

Is an EMF meter included?

A real EMF meter or paranormal detector is used during the tour. If you want to check out equipment, request it at check-in and return it to a staff member before leaving.

Are drinks included in the ticket price?

No. Alcoholic drinks are available to purchase along the route at your own expense. To-go drink windows may be available for people who do not want to enter a bar.

Can children join the tour?

Children under 18 must attend with a parent or guardian unless a guide authorizes otherwise. Some bars do not allow children inside, but to-go options are available.

What happens if I arrive late?

The group leaves at the scheduled departure time, and the guide may not remain at the meeting point. Late arrivals are not refunded, so contact the operator before departure if you expect to be late.