Self-Guided Haunted Ghost Walking Audio Tour in St. Augustine

Ghost stories are better after sunset. This 45 to 55 minute audio walk takes you through St. Augustine’s old streets, cemeteries, gates, inns, and haunted buildings using your phone. I like the freedom to begin day or night, and I like that you can pause, replay, or revisit the tour later. The low price is another plus, though you should be comfortable navigating with an app and arrive with a fully charged phone.

The tour is a good answer if you dislike crowded group walks or your scheduled guide cancels. One customer found the app kept closing even after downloading the tour, so the technology is the main concern. Bring good walking shoes, test the WalknTours app before setting off, and download the tour if that option is available to you.

Key things to know before you go

• The walk begins at the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse: Start at 14 St George Street and finish near the Casablanca Inn on the Bay.
• You visit cemetery gates, not cemetery interiors: The Huguenot and Tolomato Cemetery stories are told from outside.
• The audio narration sets the pace: You can pause whenever you need a drink, photo, snack, or closer look.
• The route mixes ghosts with real St. Augustine landmarks: Expect the Old City Gates, the oldest wooden schoolhouse, Potter’s Wax Museum, and old inns along with the spooky tales.
• The price is modest: At $9.75 per person, it costs less than many in-person ghost walks, but you give up a live guide.
• Your phone matters: The tour is delivered through the WalknTours app, and one reported app failure prevented the customer from taking the tour.

A low-cost way to meet St. Augustine after dark

St. Augustine is well suited to a ghost walk. The old center is compact, the streets are filled with early buildings, and several burial grounds sit close to the main sightseeing area. This tour uses that setting well without asking you to pay for an entrance ticket or join a large group.

You receive a mobile ticket and follow the tour through the WalknTours app. A professionally narrated voice tells the stories as you move between stops. One especially praised feature is the narrator’s pleasant tone, which helps the experience feel more like a guided stroll than a string of directions from a phone.

The route lasts less than an hour, making it easy to fit around dinner, shopping, or a longer visit to the city center. In Florida heat, that shorter length matters. You get a taste of St. Augustine’s spooky side without committing to a long walk in the sun.

The experience is offered in English. There is no in-person guide, and only your group takes part, so you are free to stop for photos or replay a story without holding anyone else up.

Start at the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse

The meeting point is the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse at 14 St George Street. The tour begins outside, and you do not go inside the building. That is important if you expect an admission visit. This experience uses the schoolhouse as a place to begin the story, not as an indoor museum tour.

Originally built in 1716, the schoolhouse is described as the oldest surviving wooden building in St. Augustine. Over the years, it served as barracks for British soldiers, a school, and the home of Juan Genopoly, a leader of the Minorcans.

The audio story connects those different periods with the ghosts said to remain behind. It is a strong opening because the building is not treated as a generic spooky backdrop. Its past gives the story several possible sources of restless spirits.

Take a moment to get your bearings before pressing play. St. George Street can be active, and the app is easier to use when you are not trying to study the screen while walking.

The Old City Gates and Elizabeth’s ghost

The first numbered stop is City Gate Spirits, near St. Augustine’s old city gates. The gates were built in 1808 to replace an older wooden structure. They rise three stories and once helped protect the city from invasion.

The ghost story centers on Elizabeth, a 10-year-old girl whose spirit is said to haunt the gates. This stop takes about three minutes, so it is short and easy to fit into the walk.

I like this part because it combines a visible landmark with a personal story. The gates are not simply another old structure. The tale gives you a reason to look closely at a place you might otherwise photograph and pass by.

The stop is outdoors, and admission is free. Expect the experience to be atmospheric rather than theatrical. There are no actors or special effects. The narration and the old stone setting do the work.

Huguenot Cemetery and a grim 1821 story

Huguenot Cemetery is one of the most serious stops on the route. In 1821, yellow fever killed more than 400 people in St. Augustine, more than one third of the city’s population at the time. The dead were buried quickly in a mass grave.

The audio tells the story of the burial ground and the spirits said to linger there. The stop takes about five minutes, which gives the subject more room than some of the shorter building stops.

This is where the tour feels less like a collection of ghost legends and more like a reminder of the dangers faced by earlier residents. The story has a clear historical setting, and the cemetery itself adds weight even though you remain outside.

You do not enter the cemetery. You listen from the gate, so anyone hoping to explore the grounds should know that this tour will not provide that access. Still, the outside viewpoint works well for a short audio walk and avoids turning a burial ground into a noisy group stop.

Potter’s Wax Museum, old medicine, and eerie faces

Potter’s Wax Museum was established in 1948 as the first wax museum in America. It contains more than 160 wax figures, many representing people who have long since died. The building itself dates to 1739 and was moved to its current location in 1887.

Before becoming a wax museum, it served as a pharmacy and is said to have been the oldest pharmacy in the United States. The building is also considered haunted.

This stop gives the tour a different kind of unease. Cemeteries suggest death directly, while a wax museum creates its own strange effect through lifelike figures. The building’s earlier use as a pharmacy adds another layer to the story.

You remain outside, and the tour does not include museum admission. That keeps the price down, but it also means the wax figures are part of the narration rather than something you inspect up close.

Tolomato Cemetery and the child’s grave

Tolomato Cemetery is described as the oldest burial ground in Florida, dating to the 1700s. Its grounds contain the remains of bishops, enslaved people, murderers, and more than 1,000 others.

The story here focuses on a boy who is said to haunt the cemetery. You will hear about him and see his headstone from the gate. The stop lasts about five minutes.

This was one of the strongest parts of the experience for me because the story includes a specific grave rather than only a general claim that the cemetery is haunted. A child’s marker near an oak tree is singled out in the audio, giving you something concrete to look for.

Again, you do not enter. The tour stays at the gate, which may disappoint anyone wanting to walk among the graves. It is also a respectful choice for a short public tour, especially when the narration already gives you a clear point of focus.

The Old Powder House Inn and the sweeter spirits

The Old Powder House Inn occupies a site once used for Spanish gunpowder and ammunition storage in the 1700s. The building later became a boarding house, a grocery store, and a bed and breakfast.

The story here shifts away from mass death and frightened children. The inn is said to be haunted by gentle spirits. The stop lasts about three minutes.

That change in mood helps the walk avoid becoming one long series of grim tales. You hear about a place connected to military supplies, then follow its later life as a lodging house. The ghost story feels tied to the building’s changing uses.

You should not expect to go inside the inn. Like the other stops, this is an outdoor visit with audio narration.

Scarlett O’Hara’s and the promise of eternity

Scarlett O’Hara’s occupies a building constructed in 1870 by George Colee for Marion, his fiancée. The story says he planned to live with her for eternity, and the narration explains where Mr. Colee is now believed to haunt.

This is another short stop, about three minutes. Its appeal comes from the personal connection. Instead of a broad tale about an old building, you get two named people and a romantic plan that takes a darker turn.

The restaurant or business may be operating while you pass, so keep in mind that this is a public street experience. You listen outside rather than entering as part of the tour.

Two brief spooky pauses before the final inn

The route includes two additional short points between Scarlett O’Hara’s and the Casablanca Inn. One is said to be haunted by the ghost of a particularly mean old woman. The other is a quaint spot haunted by spirits from its past.

The supplied details do not identify these locations by name, so I would treat them as quick audio moments rather than major stops. They help connect the better-known places on the route, but they may not satisfy you if you want a full story at every location.

This is also a reminder that the tour is designed as a compact walking experience. Some stops receive only a few minutes of narration. If you enjoy a slow, detailed investigation at each building, an in-person tour may suit you better.

Casablanca Inn and the lantern-waving ghost

The tour ends at the Casablanca Inn on the Bay, at 24 Avenida Menendez. The route finishes at the back of the inn on St. George Street.

The inn was once a refuge for rum runners and is now said to be haunted by its former owner. Her spirit is known for appearing with a lantern, according to the story. This final stop receives about five minutes, giving it a little more time than the shorter building visits.

Ending here works well. An old inn tied to rum running already has an atmosphere that fits a ghost tale, and the lantern gives the story a clear visual image. You can finish the walk near the waterfront side of the historic area and decide what to do next.

The end point is not the same as the starting point, so plan to walk back if your car or lodging is near the schoolhouse. The tour does not provide transportation.

What $9.75 gets you

At $9.75 per person, this is a strong value for anyone who wants a short introduction to St. Augustine’s haunted places. You get a narrated route, directions between stops, cemetery stories, and a recap you can use again after completing the walk.

The best value comes from the flexibility. You can start at any time during the stated operating hours, pause for lunch, and replay the audio later. You can also revisit the sites after the tour without paying again for the narration.

The tradeoff is simple: you pay less because you are guiding yourself. There is no person to answer questions, adjust the route, or solve a phone problem on the street. You also do not receive interior admissions, so the price covers the audio walk only.

For a solo visitor, couple, or family wanting privacy, that arrangement is appealing. For someone who wants jokes, conversation, and live answers, the savings may not make up for the lack of a guide.

App, timing, shoes, and phone battery

You can take the tour day or night, but darkness will likely add to the mood. Daylight makes it easier to see building details and read markers from the gates. Your choice depends on whether you value atmosphere or visibility.

Wear good walking shoes. That advice came through clearly in the practical feedback, and it is sensible for an outdoor route through the old city. Keep your phone charged, since the app supplies the directions and narration.

The WalknTours app is the one weak point. One customer downloaded the tour, but the app kept closing and the tour could not be used. That appears to be an isolated problem rather than the general experience, since other feedback praised the clear directions and natural narration, but you should still test the app before arriving.

Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate. The tour is near public transportation. Confirmation is provided at booking, and free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes inside that period are not refunded or accepted.

Who should book this ghost walk?

I would choose this tour if you want:

• A low-cost introduction to St. Augustine’s haunted places
• A private walk for your own group
• The freedom to pause, start late, or replay stories
• A short activity that fits into a busy day
• Outdoor sightseeing without entrance fees
• A self-guided option after a group tour has been canceled

I would think twice if you need a live guide, want to enter the cemeteries, or expect extensive time inside the buildings. The tour is also a poor fit if your phone battery is low or you are uncomfortable using a navigation app.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts outside the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse at 14 St George Street, St. Augustine, Florida.

Where does the tour end?

It ends at the back of the Casablanca Inn on St. George Street, at 24 Avenida Menendez.

How long does the audio tour take?

The tour takes approximately 45 to 55 minutes.

Is there a live guide?

No. This is a smartphone-guided walking tour delivered through the WalknTours app, with no in-person guide.

Do you enter Huguenot Cemetery or Tolomato Cemetery?

No. The stories are told from outside the cemetery gates.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded.

Should you book it?

Book this walk if you want a flexible, inexpensive ghost tour with real old-city landmarks and a few memorable stories, especially the child’s grave at Tolomato Cemetery and the lantern-waving spirit at the Casablanca Inn. The 45 to 55 minute length is manageable, the route is private, and the recap lets you revisit the narration later.

Skip it if the app gives you trouble, you want to explore interiors, or a live storyteller is essential. For everyone else, $9.75 is a fair price for a compact evening walk through St. Augustine’s darker corners. Charge your phone, wear sensible shoes, and treat the ghost stories as part of the city’s folklore, not a promise of proof.