Haunted Pub Crawl

Ghost stories come with a drink here. This two-hour Sitka pub crawl mixes old Alaska tales, local bars, cemetery views, and a private-club stop where your first drink is included. I like the blend of town history and informal bar culture, and I like that the experience is private to your group rather than shared with a large crowd. The main catch is that you must be 21 or older, walk about a half-mile, manage 10 stairs, and arrive completely sober.

The tour begins at 1 p.m. at Harrigan Centennial Hall and ends at the same place. It costs $75 per person, which is fair if you value the guided stories and included drink, but less compelling if you mainly want a standard bar crawl. The ghost tales are the point, not a promise of paranormal sightings. One participant put it plainly: they saw no ghost, but still enjoyed the stories and conversations with locals.

Key points to know before booking

• Three very different drinking stops: You visit the Moose Lodge, Pioneer Bar, and Ernie’s Old Time Saloon, each with its own history and mood.
• Your first private-club drink is included: The Moose Lodge stop covers the first alcoholic beverage in the admission price.
• History continues between the bars: The route passes beyond the Russian Cemetery, through back alleys, and along Seward Street.
• The group is private: Only your own party takes part, a useful feature for families of adult children, couples, or friends.
• Plan for a short but real walk: You should be comfortable walking about a half-mile and going up and down 10 stairs.
• Book ahead: This experience is often reserved about 107 days in advance, so cruise-port dates and busy travel periods may fill early.

Sitka’s darker side, told one bar at a time

This is not a theatrical haunted house with actors jumping from closets. It is a walking history tour with drinks, old buildings, local characters, and stories of people who supposedly never quite left. That makes it a good fit if you prefer atmosphere and conversation to special effects.

The route covers about two hours. You start at Harrigan Centennial Hall, walk to several drinking spots, pass historic corners and the Russian Cemetery, then return to the starting point. The walking is modest, but the stops give the experience a slower, social rhythm.

The strongest part is the mix of subjects. You hear about early Alaska territory days, soldiers, fishermen, colorful Sitka residents, an infamous late-1800s murder, and spirits said to haunt an old saloon. The stories give the town’s streets a second layer. You are not only looking at buildings. You are hearing what supposedly happened inside them.

The tone also seems to depend on your guide. The guide has been praised for being enthusiastic, friendly, and professional. A response from Emily also has a playful tone, suggesting the tour does not take itself too seriously. Expect ghost stories with humor, not a solemn lecture.

Starting at Harrigan Centennial Hall

Your meeting point is 330 Harbor Drive, at Harrigan Centennial Hall. This first stop lasts about 15 minutes and has no admission charge. You sign in here, your identification is checked, and the guide opens with the first haunted tale.

That opening matters because it sets the rules for the afternoon. You must be at least 21, show valid identification, sign a waiver, and have no alcohol in your system before the tour begins. This is not a detail to ignore. If you arrive after drinking, you may not be able to participate.

The hall also gives the group a clear place to gather before heading into town. Since the tour begins at 1 p.m., you are not waiting for a late-night ghost walk. The early start may suit cruise visitors and anyone who wants time afterward for dinner or another Sitka activity.

The Moose Lodge and its secret gambling past

The first major stop is the Moose Lodge, where you spend about 30 minutes. This private club once served as a secret gambling hall during Alaska’s early territory period. The stories focus on soldiers who passed through and the fate that awaited them.

This is the most useful stop for understanding the tour’s structure. You are not simply entering a bar for a drink. You are hearing how a private social space may have worked in a rougher period of Alaska’s past, then connecting that setting to tales of danger and death.

Your first alcoholic drink at the private club is included in the $75 price. That improves the value, especially if you enjoy trying local drink specialties rather than paying separately at every stop. The exact drink selection is not specified, so do not book expecting a particular cocktail or tasting menu.

The private-club setting may also make this stop feel more personal than a busy public bar. At the same time, the experience is still built around conversation and storytelling. If you dislike alcohol-centered tours, this stop may feel less appealing, even though the historical material gives it more substance than a basic pub visit.

Walking past the Russian Cemetery to Pioneer Bar

From the Moose Lodge, you continue toward Pioneer Bar, passing beyond the Russian Cemetery. The cemetery adds a strong visual and emotional shift. You are moving from a private club connected with gambling and soldiers to a place where Sitka’s past is visible in the ground itself.

The Pioneer Bar stop lasts about 30 minutes. It is described as an established fisherman’s bar, with stories about some of Sitka’s more colorful characters and the way they are said to linger in the building. Hundreds of fishing photographs cover nearly every inch of wall space.

That detail tells you what kind of place this is. Pioneer Bar is not presented as polished or formal. Its appeal lies in local character, working waterfront connections, old photographs, and the sense that regular life has left marks on the walls. You can look around while the guide explains the people and stories attached to the room.

This is also where the tour seems to connect most directly with present-day Sitka life. A participant particularly enjoyed talking with locals and seeing how people live in Alaska. That social element may be as memorable as the ghost stories. You get a short look at a real bar, not just a historic site arranged for visitors.

Keep your expectations sensible. The tour does not promise that a spirit will appear. You may hear a good story, notice an odd photograph, or simply enjoy the setting. The value comes from the combination of place, people, and storytelling.

Ernie’s Old Time Saloon and the late-1800s murder

The final drinking stop is Ernie’s Old Time Saloon, another 30-minute visit. This is the scene of an infamous murder from the late 1800s, and the guide tells stories about the many haunts associated with the old saloon.

The murder connection gives this stop a sharper edge than a general ghost story. You are sitting in a place linked to a specific event, then hearing how that event fits into Sitka’s wider folklore. The experience is strongest if you enjoy the uncertainty of ghost stories: what happened, what people remember, and what may have grown in the retelling.

Crafted cocktails are part of the stop. The tour materials do not say that a cocktail is included here, so plan on paying for additional drinks yourself. The included beverage is specifically tied to the Moose Lodge.

Because this is the last main bar stop, pacing matters. You have already heard several stories and visited two drinking venues. If you are looking for a fast crawl with many bars, three stops over two hours may feel limited. If you prefer time to listen, look around, and talk, the pace makes sense.

The alcohol rules remain important here. You must not drink before the tour begins, but you can enjoy the included drink and any other purchases during the experience. Drink responsibly, since the route still requires walking and stairs.

Back alleys and Seward Street

After the saloon, the route continues through Sitka’s back alleys and along Seward Street. This final portion lasts about 15 minutes and returns you to the meeting point.

The walking section gives the tour a welcome change of pace. Instead of staying indoors, you hear about buildings with haunted pasts while taking in views around town. The stories concern people who lived and died more than 100 years ago, so the streets become part of the storytelling rather than merely a path between bars.

This is also the part that helps justify the experience as a tour rather than a sequence of drinks. You get a little orientation to Sitka, a look at older corners, and a sense of how local stories attach themselves to ordinary buildings.

The route is not a demanding hike, but it is not entirely effortless. You should be able to walk casually for about half a mile and handle 10 stairs. Anyone with mobility concerns should assess stamina before booking. Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation.

Is $75 a fair price?

At $75 per person, this is not the cheapest way to buy three drinks in Sitka. That is not the right comparison. You are paying for a private guide, a planned walking route, local history, access to a private club, and the first drink at the Moose Lodge.

The value is strongest for people who would otherwise spend money on a bar visit and a town history walk. Here, those two activities are combined. You also receive a guided story at each stop, rather than wandering into bars without knowing their connection to Sitka’s past.

The value is weaker if you do not drink alcohol, dislike pub settings, or want a guaranteed supernatural event. The drink is part of the experience, but the tour is not a tasting class. The ghost stories are folklore and local tales, not proof of anything paranormal.

The private format helps. Only your group participates, so you can ask questions and keep the mood comfortable. It may also make the $75 price easier to justify for a small group that wants a more personal outing.

Who will enjoy this Sitka tour?

I would recommend it to adults who like local history with a relaxed social side. It suits couples, friend groups, adult families, and cruise visitors who want something more unusual than a standard sightseeing loop.

You will probably like it if:

• You enjoy ghost stories but do not require a real sighting.
• You want to visit working-style local bars.
• You like hearing about soldiers, fishermen, murders, and colorful town characters.
• You prefer a small private group.
• You can walk half a mile and manage 10 stairs.
• You are happy with an afternoon start and a two-hour schedule.

I would hesitate if you want a serious historical lecture, a late-night ghost hunt, or a long pub crawl. The tour is friendly and playful, with a strong emphasis on stories and drinks. It is not designed as a formal museum experience.

The overall rating is 4.6 from eight published ratings, with praise aimed at the history, local bars, drink specialties, and guides who are friendly and professional. One person gave four stars after enjoying the local conversations and ghost tales, despite seeing no ghost. That is a useful way to judge the tour: the stories and setting need to carry the experience.

Booking details worth noting

Confirmation arrives when you book, and the tour is offered in English. The activity is private, and it ends back at Harrigan Centennial Hall.

Demand appears fairly strong, with bookings commonly made about 107 days ahead. I would reserve early if your schedule is tied to a cruise stop or a particular date in Sitka. Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the 1 p.m. start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book the Haunted Pub Crawl?

Book it if you want Sitka’s past served with a drink and a little spooky humor. The best reasons are the private format, the three distinct bar settings, the Russian Cemetery route, and the stories about soldiers, fishermen, and a late-1800s murder.

Skip it if you want a guaranteed ghost encounter, a large selection of drinks, or a strenuous nighttime investigation. For the right audience, $75 buys more than alcohol. It buys context, access, conversation, and a memorable way to see Sitka’s older corners. Just arrive sober, bring valid ID, wear comfortable walking shoes, and let the spirits be as shy as they please.

FAQ

Where does the Haunted Pub Crawl begin?

It begins at Harrigan Centennial Hall, located at 330 Harbor Drive in Sitka, Alaska.

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 1 p.m.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts about two hours.

Where does the tour end?

It ends back at the meeting point at Harrigan Centennial Hall.

Is a drink included in the price?

Yes. The first alcoholic drink at the private club, the Moose Lodge, is included in the admission price.

How old must I be to participate?

You must be at least 21 years old and have valid identification.

Can I drink alcohol before the tour starts?

No. Participants must not have consumed alcohol before the tour begins and must sign a waiver.

How much walking is involved?

You should be capable of casually walking about a half-mile and going up and down 10 stairs.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded.