New Orleans Cemetery and Paranormal Investigation Bus Tour

Ghost stories are better after dark. This two-hour New Orleans bus tour mixes cemetery architecture, local folklore, Hurricane Katrina history, and a hands-on paranormal investigation for $30 per person. I like the chance to see Masonic tombs and unusual burial grounds without arranging separate visits, and the included EMF tools give the ghost-hunting part a little more structure. I also appreciate the guides who bring real energy to the ride, especially Kendall, Roy, Henry, and Trish, who are often praised for their stories and people skills.

The main caution is that the route can feel shorter or less complete than expected. The tour is described as visiting several cemeteries and paranormal sites, but some outings spend substantial time driving, taking a refreshment break, or stopping at only one or two cemeteries. If you want detailed cemetery history at every stop, this may feel light.

Key things to know before you book

• Masonic Cemetery #2 is the strongest architectural stop: Its compact tombs, cast-iron fences, angular paths, and communal burial structures show a side of New Orleans funerary tradition that differs from the better-known Catholic cemeteries.
• The route may include several very different sites: Possible stops include Charity Hospital’s pauper’s field, St. Louis Cemetery #3, Holt Cemetery, Odd Fellows Rest, the Hurricane Katrina Memorial Cemetery, and Masonic Cemetery #2.
• The paranormal part is hands-on: You receive tools for communicating with spirits, including EMF readers. Some tours also use an app, so ask the guide for a quick explanation before starting.
• Guide quality matters a lot: Kendall, Roy, Henry, and Trish have each been praised for mixing history, comedy, personal stories, and a friendly approach.
• It is not a pure ghost hunt: You will spend time on the bus, and the tour may include music, city commentary, a café or beignet stop, and views of cemeteries you do not enter.
• Plan for a late-night, walk-and-climb outing: You need to board a bus using steps and walk on mostly flat ground. Comfortable shoes and layered clothing make sense.

What the $30 New Orleans ghost tour actually offers

At $30, this is an inexpensive way to add a cemetery visit and a little spooky theater to a French Quarter stay. The price includes pickup and return at the meeting point, live commentary on the bus, and paranormal investigation tools. That is fair value if you want an entertaining introduction to New Orleans burial customs and ghost lore.

The value drops if you expect a full two hours inside historic cemeteries. The bus itself is part of the experience, and some of the time goes toward moving between sites. A few outings have also included a stop at a café, sometimes for beignets, which can be a pleasant New Orleans touch but may feel like lost cemetery time if you came mainly for the investigation.

The small group limit of 24 people helps. It is large enough to create a social atmosphere, but not so large that the guide has no chance to answer questions. Still, a group of roughly 25 around a tomb or narrow cemetery walkway can create noise. One account specifically noted difficulty hearing the surroundings, which matters during a ghost investigation.

This is best viewed as an accessible introduction, not a serious study of New Orleans cemeteries or paranormal methods. You will get stories, atmosphere, and a chance to test the equipment. You may not get a detailed account of every person buried at each site.

Meeting at Voodoo Tavern in the French Quarter

The tour begins at Voodoo Tavern and PoBoys, at 1140 Decatur Street. This is an easy spot to reach on foot from much of the French Quarter, and public transportation stops are nearby. Parking exists in the area, but it is limited and paid, so walking, public transit, or a rideshare is the sensible choice.

Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. One serious delay has been reported, with the group waiting about an hour before leaving, so I would not schedule a tight dinner reservation or airport transfer afterward. Most of the time, the late-night meeting point is part of the casual bar-and-ghost-tour mood, but waiting in a crowded bar is not ideal for everyone.

The experience is offered in English, and confirmation arrives when you book. The bus returns to the same meeting point at the end, which keeps the logistics simple.

City Park and the moss-draped New Orleans setting

City Park provides a useful reminder that New Orleans is more than the French Quarter. At 1,300 acres, it is one of the country’s oldest urban parks, dating to 1854. Historic oaks and hanging moss create the sort of setting that makes even ordinary stories feel theatrical.

The park has hosted dances, concerts, and old-fashioned duels, so it fits naturally into a tour built around local legends and unusual stories. The route may not give you a long walking visit through the park. Think of it as part of the larger New Orleans backdrop rather than a dedicated City Park tour.

If you have never seen the city’s broad oak canopies, this portion adds welcome variety. If you already spent a full afternoon in City Park, it may feel more like a quick scenic reference than a major stop.

Masonic Temple Cemetery #2 and its unusual tombs

Masonic Cemetery #2 is the clearest architectural reason to choose this tour. Founded in 1865 by the Grand Lodge of the State of Louisiana, Free and Accepted Masons, it has a different character from the Catholic cemeteries most associated with New Orleans.

The cemetery occupies two oddly shaped city blocks and has a triangular plan. Conti Street cuts through it, while the internal paths echo the Masonic square-and-compass emblem. Cast-iron picket fences enclose the two sections, and oak-lined edges give the place a quiet, enclosed feel.

Its most unusual feature is the number of communal tombs. Lodge members pooled their money to build large group tombs, producing compact and sometimes elaborate structures arranged in rows. The design reflects both social organization and practical burial customs. You are not just looking at individual graves. You are seeing how a fraternal community chose to remember and care for its dead.

The scheduled visit here lasts about 30 minutes, with admission included. That is enough time to look closely at the layout and hear the guide explain above-ground burial traditions. It is not enough for a detailed examination of every tomb, so stay near the guide and ask questions early.

At night, the cemetery’s geometry, iron fencing, and close rows of tombs create the right mood for the paranormal portion. The darkness also makes details harder to see. If your priority is architecture and inscriptions, a daytime cemetery visit may serve you better.

The other cemeteries and memorial sites

The route can include Charity Hospital’s pauper’s field, St. Louis Cemetery #3, Holt Cemetery, and other locations. Each offers a different lesson. A pauper’s field raises questions about poverty, public burial, and whose names are preserved. A cemetery such as St. Louis #3 gives you another view of above-ground tombs and Catholic burial customs. Holt Cemetery has its own distinct place in the city’s burial story.

The tour also includes the Hurricane Katrina Memorial Cemetery. This is one of the more meaningful stops because it links the supernatural theme to a real disaster that still shapes New Orleans. Your guide explains the lasting effects of Hurricane Katrina and gives you time to pay respects.

That part of the tour can be sobering. It is not simply a spooky backdrop. The best guides treat the memorial with care and connect it to the lived experience of New Orleans residents. One guide has been praised for sharing a personal Katrina story that helped explain the disaster’s impact on the Ninth Ward.

Odd Fellows Rest may also be part of the route. It is associated with a lesser-known fraternal society, which pairs well with Masonic Cemetery #2. These stops help show that New Orleans burial traditions are not one single story. Catholic, Masonic, fraternal, public, and memorial spaces all reveal different parts of the city.

Because the exact route can vary, you should not assume you will enter every cemetery named in the tour description. Some outings have included only one or two cemetery visits, while other stops were viewed from the bus. Ask the guide at the start which locations are planned that night.

How the paranormal investigation works

The tour supplies tools for communicating with the paranormal, including EMF readers. These devices give you something to do besides listen to a ghost story. You can watch for changes in readings, compare results, and decide for yourself how convincing they are.

Some outings involve an app as well. If you are handed a phone-based tool, ask the guide to show you how it works. Simply downloading an app without instructions can leave first-time investigators unsure what they are meant to observe.

Keep your expectations sensible. The equipment may produce an odd reading, and you may capture an intriguing photograph or video. That does not prove a spirit is present, but it can make the evening more engaging. The point is partly the investigation and partly the atmosphere created by darkness, old tombs, personal stories, and a group willing to play along.

The best guides keep the tone light without turning every local belief into a cheap punchline. Roy has been praised for using eerie music, ghost stories, and humor to bring the group together. Kendall is known for sharing personal paranormal experiences and giving the investigation a stronger sense of occasion. Henry has been praised for combining city history, culture, and ghost stories.

The weakest version of the tour can become a long bus ride with music and broad claims about voodoo. New Orleans voodoo is a complex religious tradition, and it deserves more care than sensational stories allow. If that subject matters to you, listen closely and judge whether the explanation is precise rather than simply spooky.

The guides can make or break the night

Guide quality is the biggest variable. Roy, Kendall, Henry, and Trish have all received strong praise for their energy, humor, storytelling, and ability to adjust to the group. Trish is especially valued for laying out the rules clearly and answering questions. Roy is a good match if you want a social, relaxed outing. Henry suits you if history and everyday New Orleans life matter as much as ghosts.

A good guide also manages the practical side. Cemeteries require respectful behavior, and a strong leader will make that clear before the group enters. The guide should also help you hear the explanation, understand the paranormal tools, and treat the Katrina memorial with respect.

There have also been poor guide experiences. One outing reportedly included an argument with a café manager, which disrupted the evening and made several people uncomfortable. Another guide was described as rambling and unfocused. Those incidents appear to be exceptions, but they explain why the overall score can feel less consistent than the many five-star experiences suggest.

If you are booking because of a particular guide, ask whether that person is scheduled. The operator may not be able to guarantee a name, but it is worth checking.

Family suitability, walking, and comfort

The tour is considered suitable for ages six and up, though it includes death, burial, disaster, and ghost stories. A younger child who likes spooky tales may enjoy it, while a sensitive child may find the cemetery and Katrina material too heavy.

Walking is mostly on flat surfaces and is not considered strenuous. You still need to board and leave the bus using steps, and the vehicle is not wheelchair accessible. Service animals are allowed.

Wear comfortable shoes. Layered clothing is useful because New Orleans weather can change, and the bus and outdoor sites may feel different. Bring a phone or camera if you want to document unusual moments, but keep cemetery etiquette first. Do not touch tombs or behave in a way that disturbs the site.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would choose this outing if you want a low-cost evening activity that mixes several New Orleans themes:

• You enjoy ghost stories but also want some history.
• You prefer seeing several parts of the city without arranging separate transportation.
• You like a social tour with jokes, music, and group participation.
• You are curious about Masonic and non-Catholic burial traditions.
• You want a guide to explain Hurricane Katrina memorial sites.
• You do not mind that some of the route takes place on the bus.

I would look elsewhere if you want a quiet, research-heavy cemetery walk. This is also a weaker choice if you have already visited New Orleans cemeteries during the day and want a completely new set of sites. The nighttime mood is the main addition, but darkness makes tomb details harder to see.

Should you book the New Orleans Cemetery and Paranormal Investigation Bus Tour?

Book it if you want an affordable, social introduction to New Orleans cemeteries and ghost lore, especially with a guide such as Roy, Kendall, Henry, or Trish. The Masonic cemetery, Katrina memorial, and EMF investigation give the evening more substance than a basic ghost-story ride.

Do not book it expecting guaranteed access to three or more cemeteries, nonstop narration, or a serious paranormal research session. The route can vary, and some of your two hours may be spent driving or taking a café break. At $30, I consider it a reasonable gamble for first-time visitors who enjoy a little theater and mystery. If detailed history is your main goal, choose a dedicated daytime cemetery tour instead.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded, and poor weather may lead to a new date or a full refund.

FAQ

Which cemetery does the tour visit?

The tour typically visits Charity Hospital’s pauper’s field, Masonic Temple Cemetery #2, St. Louis Cemetery #3, Holt Cemetery, and other sites. The exact stops can vary.

Does the tour visit Marie Laveau’s tomb?

No. Marie Laveau’s tomb is in St. Louis Cemetery #1, which is not included. The guide may show you other prominent tombs and resting places.

Does the tour visit the Hurricane Katrina Memorial?

Yes. The guide explains the effects of Hurricane Katrina, and you can pay respects at the Hurricane Katrina Memorial Cemetery.

Does the tour include Odd Fellows Rest?

Yes, Odd Fellows Rest is included among the sites visited on this experience, though the exact route may vary.

Where does the tour begin and end?

It begins at Voodoo Tavern and PoBoys, 1140 Decatur Street, New Orleans. The tour ends back at the same meeting point.

Is parking available near the meeting point?

Limited parking is available nearby, and parking rates may vary. Walking, public transportation, or a rideshare is recommended because the meeting point is in the French Quarter.

Is the tour family-friendly?

Yes. It is considered suitable for children ages six and older, but it includes morbid stories and subjects that may frighten younger children.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

No. The bus is not wheelchair accessible, and all participants must be able to walk and manage steps when boarding and leaving the bus.