Louisville Haunted History Walking Tour

March through November, daily; limited dates in the off-season!
Impressive Victorian mansions and quirky residents have earned national attention for Old Louisville, where bourbon barons, racetrack royalty, and titans of tobacco settled in the 1800s. This narrated walk comes from books by David Dominé, who often guides groups himself. Tales involve personal experiences and neighborhood gossip. The New York Times recommends this as the first thing to do during a visitor's "36 Hours in Louisville." You'll also learn about A DARK ROOM IN GLITTER BALL CITY, David's next book—out in October 2021!

Specializing in "America's Most Haunted Neighborhood," we depart from the corner of Fourth and Ormsby, at the transitional edge of the neighborhood. If you love old architecture and spooky history, this is the tour for you! If you do not like an up-and-coming neighborhood with a diverse racial make up, this tour is not for you! If you can't go 100 minutes without a bathroom, this is not for you!

Meeting Point

4th @ Ormsby

Louisville, KY 40203, USA

Start/End at the brown "FILSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY" sign, near the bus stop; this is a little over a mile directly south of the Brown Hotel downtown. (Use "1300 South Fourth Street" but DO NOT TRY TO ENTER the actual building; we meet OUTSIDE, at the corner across the street!)

What's included:

• Certified guide
• Walking tour

What to expect:

Duration: 1 hour, 40 minutes

Old Louisville

Old Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

Recommended by The New York Times, Louisville Historic Tours has specialized in guided walks through "America's Most Haunted Neighborhood" since 2004. Once home to bourbon barons, racetrack royalty, and titans of tobacco, this transitional neighborhood has a wealth of ghostly lore that attracts supernatural buffs from all around the world. Centered around Olmsted-designed Central Park and the charming residential enclave of St. James Court, this 40-square block historic district is jam-packed with Gilded Age grandeur and hundreds of spooky Victorian mansions. Best-selling author David Dominé loves showing off the neighborhood and sharing stories about his favorite allegedly haunted houses. Come and see what all the buzz is about!
IMPORTANT NOTE: On our tours, you might see things you would see in any larger city across the US; this includes homeless people, panhandlers, or others who do not look like you. If you do not like a diverse neighborhood, this is not the tour for you.

1 hour, 40 minutes

The Filson Historical Society

1310 S 3rd St, Louisville, 40208-2306, Kentucky

Completed in 1905, the Ferguson Mansion only saw one family reside there in its intended capacity. In the 1920s, it became a well-known funeral home and remained as such until the 1980s, when "The Filson" moved its headquarters there. Contact their front desk to find out how to get inside.

Pass by without stopping

Conrad-Caldwell House Museum (Conrad's Castle)

1402 St James Ct, , Louisville, 40208-2127, Kentucky

Constructed in the 1890s, "Conrad's Castle" is an impressive limestone Richardsonian Romanesque mansion the typifies Kentucky's Gilded Age. If you sign up for one of their tours (highly recommended!), be forewarned: you might encounter a ghost - or five.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Central Park

Fourth & Magnolia Avenues, , Louisville, 40208-2350, Kentucky

Designed by the same genius behind New York City's famous Central Park, this 14-acre green space is the breathing heart of Old Louisville. At night, it can be kind of spooky.

5 minutes

The Witches' Tree

Park Ave, Corner S 6th St, Louisville, 40208, Kentucky

Hear the story of why this tree is so gnarly and twisted, and why people adorn it with trinkets, beads, and good luck charms.

5 minutes