Memphis: 90-minute Haunted Walking Tour

Memphis has a ghost story for nearly every corner. This 90-minute walking tour takes you beyond Beale Street’s music scene and into tales of haunted theaters, doomed lovers, old taverns, vice, and spirits that refuse to leave.

I like the mix of Memphis history and supernatural folklore, especially the stop inside Ernestine & Hazel’s. I also like that the guides bring plenty of personality to the walk. Liz, TC, Jana, Jess, Hannah, Daniel, Talia, and Brian have all been praised for making the stories lively and easy to follow. The main drawback is the pace and terrain: you walk city streets for 1.5 hours, and the tour is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with a low level of fitness.

Key things to know before you go

• Mary at the Orpheum Theater: Hear about the theater’s famous ghost, said to have haunted performances since 1921.
• The John Alexander Austin House: Learn the sad tale of star-crossed lovers tied to this Victorian-era mansion.
• Ernestine & Hazel’s: Go inside the former brothel known as Memphis’s most haunted building.
• A haunted jukebox: The stories at Ernestine & Hazel’s include a jukebox with a reputation of its own.
• The Green Beetle: See Memphis’s oldest tavern and hear about two spirits said to have been fighting for years.
• A walk with local character: Guides such as Jess, Talia, Brian, and Daniel have earned praise for humor, passion, and strong storytelling.

What this haunted Memphis walk is really about

This is not a ghost-hunting expedition with gadgets, promises of apparitions, or a guarantee of paranormal activity. It is a guided walk through some of downtown Memphis’s older and darker stories, told with enough historical setting to make the legends feel connected to the city.

You will hear about vice, voodoo, phantoms, lost souls, and people whose stories became part of local folklore. The best way to approach it is with curiosity rather than proof-seeking. If you enjoy a good ghost tale but also want to see actual Memphis landmarks, the format works well.

The tour costs $30 per person, which is a fair price for 90 minutes if you value a live guide and the included entry to Ernestine & Hazel’s. You are paying for interpretation, not a long list of admissions. Most of the locations are viewed from outside, so the value depends heavily on how much you enjoy storytelling.

I would not choose this as your main Memphis history tour. The focus is firmly on haunted stories. Still, the walk adds a different layer to downtown, especially if you have already spent time with the city’s music and civil rights attractions and want an evening activity with a darker tone.

Starting at Alfred’s with a neon ghost

You check in at the Backbeat Tours podium at the Patio Bar at Alfred’s. Look inside the patio fence for the red podium and the neon light-up ghost. That unusual marker should make the meeting point easier to spot, but give yourself enough time to find Alfred’s before the scheduled start.

The tour is conducted in English with a live guide. There is no transportation, so you need to arrive under your own power and be ready to walk from the start. Wear comfortable shoes. That advice matters more here than it might on a short sightseeing stop, since the tour covers city streets and lasts a full hour and a half.

The group begins near the Beale Street area and later reaches Ernestine & Hazel’s on South Main Street. The activity information says the tour ends back at the meeting point, while the practical instructions say it concludes at Ernestine & Hazel’s, 531 South Main Street, about a 10-minute walk from the departure point. Plan for the latter. You can stay at the bar afterward for food or a drink, or walk back with the guide toward Beale Street.

The Orpheum Theater and Mary’s long performance

The first major story centers on the Orpheum Theater and its resident ghost, Mary. According to the tale, she has haunted performances since 1921, giving the theater a connection to the supernatural that stretches back more than a century.

The Orpheum is an especially good place to begin because theaters already have a natural ghost-story atmosphere. They are full of curtains, balconies, backstage memories, and generations of performers and audiences. You do not need to enter the theater to appreciate why it makes such a strong setting for a haunting.

The tour does not include entry to the Orpheum. You see the site from outside and hear the story from the guide. That distinction is important if you are hoping for a backstage look or a seated theater visit. The reward is the tale and the building’s role in Memphis folklore, not an indoor tour.

This opening stop also sets the tone. You are not simply walking from one address to another. The guide uses familiar downtown places to explain how stories stick to buildings, businesses, and public spaces.

The John Alexander Austin House and its doomed lovers

Next comes the John Alexander Austin House, a Victorian-era mansion connected with a tale of star-crossed lovers. The story adds a different mood from the theater ghost. Instead of focusing on a performer or a public venue, it turns a private home into the setting for romance, loss, and lingering spirits.

I like this stop because it gives the tour some range. A haunted walk can become repetitive if every stop is just another claim about a ghost. The Austin House story brings in human drama and the older residential side of Memphis.

Again, you should expect to view the building from outside. Entry into buildings other than Ernestine & Hazel’s is not included. The guide’s narration is what gives the stop its meaning, so staying close and listening matters more than rushing ahead for photographs.

This is also one of the places where the tour’s balance between fact and legend becomes clear. You are hearing stories tied to real Memphis buildings, but the supernatural elements belong to local lore. The experience works best when you allow both parts to sit together.

Ernestine & Hazel’s, the main event

Ernestine & Hazel’s is the tour’s most substantial stop and the only building entry included in the price. The former brothel is called the most haunted building in Memphis, and its reputation supplies the evening’s strongest sense of place.

Inside, you hear about several ghosts associated with the building. The tour also includes the haunted jukebox, one of those odd details that makes a ghost story memorable. Even if you remain skeptical, the setting gives the tales more weight than a sidewalk stop can provide.

This part is likely to appeal most to people who enjoy atmosphere. Ernestine & Hazel’s is not presented as a polished museum or formal historic house. It is a bar with a rougher, more unusual character, and that makes it a fitting setting for stories about vice, spirits, and old Memphis nightlife.

You are welcome to stay after the tour for food or a drink. That makes the ending more flexible than a simple return to the starting point. If you want to keep the evening going, you can remain there. If you prefer to return toward Beale Street, the guide may walk back with the group.

One practical point: the tour information spells the name both Ernestine & Hazel’s and Earnestine & Hazel’s in different places. Use the address, 531 South Main Street, as your reliable reference.

The Green Beetle and two feuding spirits

The Green Beetle adds another tavern story to the route. It is described as Memphis’s oldest tavern and is associated with two spirits that have been fighting for years.

That detail gives the stop a lighter, more colorful edge. The tale is less about one tragic figure and more about an ongoing supernatural quarrel. I find that variety useful on a walking tour, since a series of solemn stories can become heavy after an hour.

As with the other locations besides Ernestine & Hazel’s, entry is not included. You see the Green Beetle from outside and hear the story from your guide. The stop is therefore best understood as part of the street route rather than a separate tavern visit.

If you want to visit the Green Beetle on your own, that would be a separate plan and expense. The tour itself does not provide transportation or admission to additional buildings.

The guides make or break the evening

A ghost walk depends more on the guide than on the subject. Anyone can list haunted addresses. A good guide gives each story a clear shape, adds humor at the right moment, and keeps the group moving without making the experience feel rushed.

This tour has received strong praise for those qualities. Liz and TC are noted for being enthusiastic, fun, and informative together. Jess is described as especially passionate about paranormal subjects, while Jana is praised for her stories. Hannah is singled out for clear information, and Daniel for an excellent sense of humor.

Talia is praised for going beyond expectations and connecting the ghost stories with things you might not otherwise learn about Memphis. Brian brings strong knowledge of the city’s past and a clear passion for his work. These comments point to an important strength: the experience can feel different depending on who leads it, but the guide quality appears to be a major part of the appeal.

You should not expect a lecture delivered in a flat voice. The best fit is a guide who can make the material entertaining while still giving enough context to understand the places you are seeing.

One useful suggestion is to ask for a little more background if you want it. Some people will be happy with ghost stories alone. Others may want more information about Memphis during the periods connected with the buildings. The tour can serve both tastes, but your questions may help steer the balance.

What the $30 price includes

At $30, the tour sits in a reasonable range for a 90-minute guided city walk, particularly because admission to Ernestine & Hazel’s is included. You also get a local guide and a route that links several notable Memphis locations.

The price is less compelling if you judge tours by the number of buildings entered. Only one building visit is included, and the Orpheum Theater, John Alexander Austin House, and Green Beetle are experienced from the outside.

I would book it for the storytelling, setting, and evening entertainment rather than for access to historic interiors. A self-guided walk can show you the same streets, but it will not give you the linked stories or the guide’s timing and humor.

The rating of 4.4 from 34 reviews suggests a generally strong experience with some room for personal taste. The praise centers on the guides and the fun, informative delivery. One useful criticism is that some adults would prefer more Memphis history alongside the ghost stories. That is fair. If you want detailed historical context, this may feel a little light. If you want an entertaining haunted walk, the focus is likely right.

Who should book this tour

I would recommend this walk to:

• First-time visitors who want a different way to see downtown Memphis
• People who enjoy ghost stories, local legends, and unusual bars
• Couples looking for an evening activity with a slightly spooky mood
• Families with older children or teens who can manage the walking
• Visitors who like guided storytelling more than formal museum tours
• Fans of paranormal subjects who want to hear about several locations in one route

It is not a good choice for anyone who needs step-free access or finds 90 minutes of city walking tiring. Unaccompanied minors are not allowed, and the bar setting at the final stop may not suit every family.

Bring a camera if you like photographing old buildings and street scenes, but do not expect a photographic tour. The guide’s stories are the main event.

Timing, clothing, and a few useful tips

Check the available start times when booking, since the tour’s schedule can vary. An evening departure is likely to suit the haunted theme, but the key practical point is to arrive at the Alfred’s meeting point before the start time.

Wear shoes you can walk in comfortably. Avoid bringing weapons or sharp objects, which are not allowed. Since the tour is outdoors for much of its duration, dress for the weather, although specific weather arrangements are not provided.

Keep the final location in mind when making dinner plans. You may finish at Ernestine & Hazel’s rather than at Alfred’s, with the original departure point roughly a 10-minute walk away. That can be convenient if you want food or a drink, but it is worth knowing before you arrange a ride.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those options are useful if your Memphis schedule is still shifting.

Should you book the Memphis Haunted Walking Tour?

Book it if you want a lively, story-led look at Memphis’s darker side, especially if Ernestine & Hazel’s sounds like the kind of place you would not discover on your own. The combination of the Orpheum’s Mary, the Austin House lovers, the Green Beetle’s feuding spirits, and the included stop inside Ernestine & Hazel’s gives the route a good mix.

Skip it if you want a detailed architecture tour, several indoor visits, or a serious investigation of paranormal evidence. The $30 price is fair for an entertaining guided walk, but the real value comes from the guide, not from the number of admissions.

For most visitors, I would treat it as a fun second-day or evening activity, not as the main way to understand Memphis. Go with comfortable shoes, a willingness to enjoy a good tale, and realistic expectations about the walking and the limited indoor access.

FAQ

How long is the Memphis Haunted Walking Tour?

The tour lasts 90 minutes.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $30 per person.

Where does the tour start?

Check in at the Backbeat Tours podium inside the patio fence at the Patio Bar at Alfred’s. Look for the red podium and neon light-up ghost.

Where does the tour end?

The practical directions state that the tour concludes at Ernestine & Hazel’s, 531 South Main Street, about a 10-minute walk from the departure point. The activity information also describes the experience as ending back at the meeting point, so confirm the final arrangement when booking.

Is entry to Ernestine & Hazel’s included?

Yes. Entry to Ernestine & Hazel’s is included, along with the 90-minute walking tour and a local English-speaking guide.

Are other building admissions included?

No. Entry to buildings other than Ernestine & Hazel’s is not included.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users or people with limited fitness?

No. The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with a low level of fitness. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.