By If you’re anything like me, a fan of spooky stories and real life ghost encounters, a guided ghost tour is always at the top of my list when I’m looking for something fun to do. Over the years I’ve tried a few, including the famous Stanley Hotel in Colorado, where Stephen King himself was inspired by the eerie tales of the grand old place. And because our family has always been pretty comfortable with the paranormal, we somehow managed to talk the guides into letting our son come along the Stanley tour even though he was under the age limit at the time.
So when Portland Ghosts reached out to me offering a tour and an honest review, I thought: absolutely, yes! This is right up my alley. The only catch? I don’t live in Portland. Lucky for me, US Ghost Adventures run tours in over 170 cities across the country. When I saw Austin on the list, I said, sign me up! I’ve spent plenty of time in San Antonio, but Austin felt like new territory, and what better way to explore it than with a ghostly twist?
Kicking Off Spooky Season
As soon as September hit, I was already pulling out the Halloween decorations, so scheduling this tour for the first week of the month was the perfect way to kick off spooky season. We left New Braunfels early enough to grab dinner in Kyle, then braved the Austin traffic for an evening in the city.
Logistics
The tour meets outside the Omni Hotel downtown. We found it easiest to park in the Omni’s garage. It’s not the cheapest option (our ticket was about $21 total for a couple of hours), but it was convenient and secure which is worth it in downtown Austin. From the garage, we took the elevator up to the main lobby, headed out the front doors, and made a left. By the stairs, outside of the hotel, we saw our guide waiting with a lantern.
Our guide for the night was Vincent who was soft spoken at first (I admit I wished he’d project a little more in the busy city noise), but very kind and enthusiastic. He encouraged us to use the hotel restroom before we started, since it’s about an hour of walking. Right away he asked if we believed in the paranormal, and naturally, we gave a big yes. I shared ghost stories from our neighborhood which got Vincent animated and set the tone for a fun night.
The Tour
The tour itself was straightforward. We followed Vincent and his lantern through the streets, stopping outside five different locations, each with its own backstory and ghostly lore. While I would have loved the chance to step inside some of these historic spots, the stories were told from the street.
- Omni Hotel: This was our meeting spot for the tour, and its towering glass windows makes the ghost story here feel even more tragic and haunting. Legend has it the hotel is home to a spirit of a man who leapt to his death after a devastating gambling loss.
- Driskill Hotel: One of Austin’s most iconic landmarks, the Driskill is said to host several restless spirits. Stories include a little girl forever chasing her ball down the grand staircase and a heartbroken wife who never checked out. The elegance of the building only makes the ghost stories feel more chilling.
- Cockfight Bar: At one point in Austin’s history, bodies began to pile up faster than they could be buried, so they were secretly cremated here though it was illegal at the time. Bartenders have been face to face with the spirits who made this building their final resting place.
- Paramount Theater: This historic 1915 venue has several wandering spirits including a woman in white and a former projectionist who continues to show up to work.
- Building across from the Paramount: A lesser known stop with one of the weirdest tales. Locals say it’s haunted by a spirit infamous for unusual dislikes: coffee and liberals. Odd as it sounds, it added a bit of humor to the night and showed just how colorful Austin’s ghost lore can be.
If you’re curious to dig deeper into Austin’s haunted history, check out US Ghost Adventures’ Austin tour or the Lizzie Borden Austin Ghost Tours.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the tour was a simple, low key walk through Austin with a spooky twist. It wasn’t over the top theatrical, but that actually made it feel a little more authentic, like you were just walking the city with a friend who happens to know all its darkest secrets.
The entire tour lasted about one hour, which made it the perfect length for an evening activity without feeling too long or too short. My only real disappointment was that we weren’t able to go inside any of the locations and the stories were told from the street. While that kept things easy and accessible, part of me would have loved to step into the haunted hotels or theaters to really soak in the atmosphere.
For me, it was still a nice way to mark the start of spooky season. Would I do it again? Not likely. It’s a one time kind of experience since the tour is short and straightforward. But for a night out in Austin, it was exactly what I needed: a mix of ghost stories, city history, and a relaxed walk through downtown.
Ready to have your own spooky night? Book your Austin Ghost Tour here
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