Memphis: 90-minute Haunted Walking Tour

Memphis gets plenty of attention for blues, barbecue, and Beale Street. This tour adds a darker layer, taking you from the Orpheum Theater to old homes, taverns, and Ernestine & Hazel’s, a former brothel said to be the city’s most haunted building. The best part is the mix of local history and ghost stories. Guides such as Liz, TC, Jess, Jana, and Talia bring plenty of energy to the walk.

I like that the tour includes entry into Ernestine & Hazel’s, rather than leaving you to peer at haunted places from the sidewalk. I also like the manageable 90-minute length and the chance to hear different guide styles, from Brian’s strong grasp of Memphis history to Daniel’s comic touch. The main drawback is that the tour is not designed for wheelchair users or people with a low level of fitness, and some adults may want more historical background alongside the ghost tales.

Key things to know before you go

• Mary at the Orpheum Theater: Hear about the theater’s famous resident ghost, who has been linked to performances since 1921.
• A Victorian love story: The John Alexander Austin House brings star-crossed lovers into the tour’s collection of Memphis legends.
• Inside Ernestine & Hazel’s: This former brothel is the main indoor stop and is said to house several ghosts and a haunted jukebox.
• Two spirits at the Green Beetle: Memphis’ oldest tavern is tied to a long-running supernatural quarrel.
• A lively guide makes the difference: Liz, TC, Jess, Jana, Hannah, Daniel, Talia, and Brian are among the guides named for this experience.
• A practical evening walk: The tour lasts 90 minutes, starts at Alfred’s Patio Bar, and finishes near Ernestine & Hazel’s on South Main Street.

Memphis after dark, with a ghost story at every turn

This is not a haunted house attraction with actors jumping from closets. It is a guided walk through older parts of Memphis, using local buildings and their legends as the stage.

You will hear about vice, voodoo, phantoms, and lost souls while moving between several historic sites. That gives the experience more character than a string of invented scares. The city itself supplies the atmosphere, and the guide supplies the story.

The $30 price is fair if you want a focused introduction to Memphis after dark. You are paying for a live guide, a 90-minute route, and entry into Ernestine & Hazel’s. It is less compelling if you expect access to several buildings or a long paranormal investigation, since most locations are viewed from outside.

The route suits adults, older children accompanied by an adult, and anyone who likes local legends with a side of history. Unaccompanied minors are not permitted. You should also be comfortable walking for 90 minutes, often at an evening pace, and wearing proper shoes.

Meeting the guide at Alfred’s Patio Bar

The meeting point is the Backbeat Tours podium inside the patio fence at Alfred’s. Look for the red podium and the neon light-up ghost.

This detail matters because Alfred’s is a busy spot, and the check-in point is not described as a large office or separate storefront. Arrive with enough time to find the podium rather than wandering around the block looking for a tour bus. There is no transportation included, so plan to reach the starting point on your own.

The experience is in English and uses a live guide. Guide quality matters a great deal on a story-based walk, and the named guides bring different strengths. Liz and TC are described as enthusiastic and fun. Jess brings a clear interest in the paranormal, while Talia adds a strong sense of place and extra attention to the story. Brian is especially good for you if Memphis history matters as much as ghosts. Daniel brings humor, and Jana and Hannah are noted for clear storytelling.

No particular guide can be guaranteed, so book this for the route and subject rather than for one individual. Still, the range of positive guide comments suggests that the human element is one of the tour’s strongest features.

The Orpheum Theater and Mary

The first major story centers on the Orpheum Theater and Mary, the ghost connected with performances since 1921.

The appeal here is not just the idea of a theater ghost. The Orpheum gives the story a clear setting: a performance space where audiences, actors, backstage workers, and staff have passed through for generations. A ghost associated with the building’s performances fits the place in a way that a random haunted tale would not.

You should expect to hear the legend from outside rather than take a full theater tour. Entry into buildings other than Ernestine & Hazel’s is not included. That is an important distinction for anyone hoping to see the Orpheum’s interior.

This stop also sets the tone for the rest of the walk. You are not simply checking off haunted addresses. You are hearing how certain buildings acquired their reputations and how Memphis’ entertainment history blends with its darker stories.

The John Alexander Austin House and its doomed lovers

The John Alexander Austin House brings a different kind of ghost story. Instead of a theater spirit or a rowdy bar, the tale centers on star-crossed lovers in a Victorian-era mansion.

This part should appeal to you if you prefer romantic and tragic legends to outright scares. The mansion gives the guide a chance to talk about Memphis homes and the people connected to them, even if the ghost story remains the main focus.

The supplied details do not promise entry into the house, so expect to see it from the street. That may feel limited if you want a tour of historic interiors, but it keeps the walk moving and lets the guide cover more ground in 90 minutes.

One useful tip is to listen for the human story behind the haunting. The strongest parts of a tour like this are often the details about who lived, loved, suffered, or disappeared, rather than the final claim that a spirit remains.

The Green Beetle and two spirits who cannot agree

The Green Beetle is presented as Memphis’ oldest tavern and the home of two spirits who have been fighting for a very long time.

That makes this stop different from the Orpheum and the John Alexander Austin House. The theater is tied to performances, the mansion to romance, and the Green Beetle to conflict. The variety keeps the tour from feeling like the same ghost story repeated at every address.

You should not assume that this stop includes entry. Ernestine & Hazel’s is the building specifically included in the tour price. The Green Beetle is part of the route and its story, but other building admissions are not included.

The tavern setting also gives the guide a chance to connect Memphis nightlife with the city’s more unsettling folklore. You are still walking through an active city, not a museum after closing time. That contrast between ordinary evening life and stories of angry spirits is part of the fun.

Going inside Ernestine & Hazel’s

Ernestine & Hazel’s is the payoff for many people booking this walk. The former brothel is described as the most haunted building in Memphis, and you get to go inside.

This is where the tour moves beyond exterior storytelling. You can enter the building, hear about several ghosts associated with it, and learn about the haunted jukebox. The jukebox is a particularly memorable detail because it gives the paranormal talk a physical object to focus on.

The building’s past also gives the guide more material than a simple haunted address. Its former use connects the stories to vice, nightlife, and the people who once passed through the place. You may find this stop more atmospheric than frightening, but that depends on your taste and the guide’s delivery.

Ernestine & Hazel’s is also where the practical part of the evening changes. The tour information says the activity ends at the meeting point, while the detailed instructions say the walking portion concludes at Ernestine & Hazel’s, 531 South Main Street, about a 10-minute walk from the departure location. You are welcome to stay for food or a drink, and you can join your guide on the walk back toward Beale Street.

That makes this a useful final stop rather than a quick photo opportunity. You can continue your evening there, or use the short walk back toward the starting area as a chance to settle back into ordinary Memphis.

What the 90-minute format does well

Ninety minutes is a smart length for a walking tour in a city you may be exploring on foot. It gives you enough time for four major stories without turning the evening into a long march.

The route also works well as an early-night activity. You can fit it around dinner, live music, or time on Beale Street, though you should check the available starting times before planning the rest of your evening.

The tradeoff is depth. A 90-minute walk cannot provide a full history of every building or a detailed account of Memphis’ past. One adult-focused concern is that some people may want more general city history alongside the ghost stories. If that sounds like you, pay close attention to the guide’s framing and ask questions when there is a natural opening.

The strongest guides appear to balance facts, humor, and supernatural material. Liz and TC are described as making the stories fun. Jess brings obvious enthusiasm for paranormal subjects. Brian is a good match if you want more attention to Memphis itself. The route remains the same, but the experience may feel more historical or more theatrical depending on who leads it.

Walking conditions and what to bring

Wear comfortable shoes. That is not a throwaway recommendation here, since transportation is not included and the tour covers several stops on foot.

Bring a camera if you want photographs of the buildings and streets. The tour is in English, so you should be comfortable following spoken stories for the full 90 minutes.

The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with a low level of fitness. No weapons or sharp objects are allowed, and unaccompanied minors cannot join. These rules are easy to plan around, but they matter when you are choosing an evening activity for a mixed-age or mixed-mobility group.

The route ends near South Main Street, so do not arrange a pickup only at Alfred’s without checking the timing and final location. The stated walk back is about 10 minutes, and the guide may welcome you to return with the group toward Beale Street.

Is $30 a fair price?

At $30 per person, I see this as a reasonable midrange activity rather than a bargain attraction.

The value comes from three things: a live local guide, a compact route through several notable Memphis locations, and admission to Ernestine & Hazel’s. The indoor visit matters because many ghost walks only point at buildings from the sidewalk.

The price is less attractive if you want a full architectural tour, access to multiple interiors, or a serious investigation using paranormal equipment. None of those are promised. This is a storytelling walk with one included building visit.

For a first evening in Memphis, the tour can help you see the city through a different lens. It gives you addresses and stories that you might otherwise pass without noticing. If you already know the downtown area well and want fresh historical research, the supernatural focus may feel light.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour gives you some flexibility, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful when your Memphis schedule is still taking shape.

Who should book this haunted walk?

I would book it if you enjoy folklore, old buildings, theatrical stories, and a little uncertainty about what may be lurking in the next room. It is especially suited to couples, small groups of friends, and families with older children who can stay with an adult.

It also works for people who want an easy introduction to Memphis after dark without committing to a full evening show. The guides add personality, and the different locations keep the walk moving.

I would skip it if you dislike ghost stories, have difficulty walking for 90 minutes, need step-free access, or want substantial interior access. I would also choose another activity if your main goal is a broad, detailed account of Memphis history rather than haunted legends.

Should you book the Memphis Haunted Walking Tour?

Book this tour if you want a lively introduction to Memphis’ darker side, with real locations, a short walking time, and entry into Ernestine & Hazel’s. The Orpheum, John Alexander Austin House, Green Beetle, and Ernestine & Hazel’s give the route enough variety to justify the $30 cost.

Go in expecting stories and atmosphere, not proof of the supernatural or access to every building. Wear good shoes, confirm the start time, and plan for the final stop on South Main Street. If that sounds like your kind of evening, this is an entertaining way to move beyond the usual Beale Street routine.

FAQ

How long does the Memphis Haunted Walking Tour last?

The tour lasts 90 minutes, or one and a half hours. Starting times vary, so check availability when booking.

Where does the tour start?

Check in at the Backbeat Tours podium inside the Patio Bar at Alfred’s. Look for the red podium inside the patio fence and the neon light-up ghost.

Where does the tour end?

The tour information lists the meeting point as the end location, while the practical directions say the walking portion concludes at Ernestine & Hazel’s at 531 South Main Street. That location is about a 10-minute walk from the departure point.

Is entry to Ernestine & Hazel’s included?

Yes. Entry into Ernestine & Hazel’s is included in the tour price.

Can I enter the Orpheum Theater or other buildings?

Entry into buildings other than Ernestine & Hazel’s is not included. The tour visits the Orpheum Theater, the John Alexander Austin House, and the Green Beetle as part of the walking route and stories.

What language is the tour offered in?

The live tour is offered in English.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is listed as not suitable for wheelchair users.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes and a camera. No weapons or sharp objects are allowed.

Can I cancel or pay later?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve your place and pay later.