New Orleans: 2-Hour Paranormal Investigation Tour

The ghosts have old addresses. This two-hour New Orleans tour turns the French Quarter into an open-air investigation, using an EMF meter and paranormal detector as you visit haunted houses, pubs, cemeteries, streets, and other corners of the Vieux Carre. I like the hands-on gear and the chance to cover much of the Quarter on foot. I also like that the guide mixes ghost stories with the city’s long, sometimes grim past.

The $24 price is easy on a New Orleans sightseeing budget, especially if you want an evening activity with a spooky theme. The main concern is consistency: one recent booking reported that the guide never arrived, while another past booking said the group received a standard story tour instead of the promised investigation. Confirm the meeting details and cancellation terms before you go.

Key points to know before you go

• The meeting point is 941 Bourbon Street: Meet on the sidewalk by the courtyard gate attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, not inside the bar.
• You handle paranormal equipment: An EMF meter and ghost detector are used during the investigation, and you can ask questions about the equipment.
• The route covers the French Quarter: Expect a broad walk through the 78-block Vieux Carre, with stops at roughly a dozen places.
• The price is unusually modest: At $24 per person, the tour costs less than many specialized New Orleans outings, though the uneven service record matters.
• The mood is family-friendly but not always bar-friendly: The tour has suited ages 12 to 50, but some stops allow children and others do not.
• The tour may be canceled for low enrollment: If that happens, the operator says you will be contacted by phone, text, or email in the hour before departure.

Starting at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop on Bourbon Street

Your first practical task is finding the guide. The meeting point is the sidewalk at the courtyard gate attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, at 941 Bourbon Street. You do not meet inside the bar, and the bar staff do not work for the tour or handle tour questions.

That detail matters on Bourbon Street, where a crowded doorway and a busy bar can make a meeting point easy to miss. I would arrive early, stand by the courtyard gate, and keep your phone available in case the operator needs to contact you. Bring the exact address with you rather than relying on a general search for the bar.

The operator is Show Me New Orleans Tours, also associated with New Orleans Drunk History Tours. The guide leads the group on foot, and the tour is conducted in English. A private group option is available, which may be useful if you want more control over the pace or prefer not to investigate with strangers.

The tour lasts two hours. That sounds generous, but the French Quarter covers 78 blocks, so this is a moving walking tour rather than a long stop at every location. You should expect several brief investigations and story stops, not a private sitting in one haunted building for half the evening.

The first stop: a burial ground with cold spots

The investigation begins at a mass burial ground associated with cold spots, apparitions, and orbs. This gives the tour an immediate supernatural frame, but it also points to one of the most useful parts of the experience: New Orleans’ ghost stories are tied to real places and difficult events.

A site like this can work well as an introduction because it gives the guide a chance to explain what the group is looking for. You may hear about physical sensations such as sudden cold, reported sightings, and unexplained lights. The guide also introduces the equipment used during the tour, including an electromagnetic field meter and a ghost or paranormal detector.

The EMF meter is not proof of a ghost. It detects changes in electromagnetic fields, which can have ordinary sources. Still, holding the device yourself makes the experience more active than simply listening to a guide recount haunted tales. One family group found the guide willing to let participants see and hold the meter, and the guide answered questions about it.

That hands-on element is important for setting expectations. You are not receiving a scientific investigation with controlled conditions. You are taking part in a themed, amateur investigation where the equipment adds suspense and gives you something to watch as the guide tells the story.

Walking through the 78 blocks of the Vieux Carre

The French Quarter is the real setting for the experience. The tour is designed to cover more than 70 blocks, often described as the full 78-block Vieux Carre. The route includes haunted homes, pubs, cemeteries, streets, and other locations that many people would pass without considering them paranormal sites.

I like this broad approach because it shows the Quarter as more than Bourbon Street nightlife. You move through a district with many layers, and the guide uses its old buildings and public spaces as prompts for stories about apparitions, deaths, strange sounds, and other reported activity.

The drawback is pace. Two hours is enough time to see a wide part of the Quarter, but it limits how long you can remain at each stop. If you want to sit quietly in one building or spend half an hour taking readings, this tour may feel rushed. If you prefer variety and movement, the wide route should suit you better.

You should also expect a normal city walk, not a sealed-off haunted attraction. People, traffic, bars, and everyday street noise remain part of the setting. That can weaken the spooky mood, but it also keeps the experience connected to the real French Quarter rather than a staged theater set.

What happens at the haunted houses, pubs, and streets

The exact order of the stops can vary, and the available information does not name every location. The stated route includes haunted houses, pubs, cemeteries, streets, and other places across the Quarter. You follow the lead investigator from one location to the next, hearing the story connected to each site and using the meter when appropriate.

At houses and buildings, the focus is likely to be on reported apparitions or events associated with the property. At cemeteries and burial grounds, the atmosphere comes from the setting itself, along with stories about death and unusual sightings. Streets and pubs give the tour a more public feel, since the activity takes place among ordinary New Orleans life.

During the walk, you are allowed to stop and buy drinks. That can be handy on a warm evening, but it also means the tour is not a tightly controlled museum visit. Some bars allow children inside and some do not. If you are bringing a younger family member, ask the guide before entering any pub and plan for the possibility that part of the group may need to wait outside.

One past family booking included ages from 12 to 50 and found the experience suitable for that group. That suggests the tour can work for older children and adults who enjoy spooky stories, but the operator’s alcohol policy and bar stops make it less straightforward for very young children.

The guide makes or breaks this experience

The strongest part of the tour appears to be the guide’s storytelling. Cody received especially warm praise for being entertaining and well-informed about New Orleans and its past. Another guide was described as polite, willing to answer questions, and more informative than a separate ghost tour taken by the same family.

Those details tell you what to look for. A good guide should explain the paranormal equipment, answer skeptical questions without being defensive, and connect the ghost story to the place around you. The best version of this tour is not just a chain of spooky claims. It is a walk through New Orleans with a guide who can make the setting feel strange while still giving you useful city context.

Service has not been perfectly reliable. One booking in September 2025 reported that the guide did not show up. An earlier booking also described a serious mismatch between the advertised investigation and the experience delivered. That group expected to use investigative methods, then learned after several stops that the guide planned to tell stories rather than conduct the promised activity.

I would not ignore those reports. The experience has also produced very positive feedback, including praise for the guide’s humor, explanations, and use of the handheld meter. But the mixed record means you should confirm the departure shortly before the start time and contact the operator quickly if no guide appears at the meeting point.

Is the $24 price good value?

At $24 per person, this is a low-cost way to spend two hours in central New Orleans. The fee includes the local guide and use of the paranormal equipment during the tour. You are paying for a walking route, stories, access to the guide’s interpretation, and the fun of trying the meter yourself.

The value is strongest if you already plan to walk around the French Quarter and want a theme to give the evening shape. Instead of wandering without a plan, you get a route through many locations and a guide who points out places you might otherwise overlook.

The price is less attractive if you expect a formal investigation with specialized instruments, private access to buildings, or guaranteed evidence of paranormal activity. None of those promises is stated. The tour is better understood as an interactive ghost walk with amateur investigation elements.

Private groups are available, but the supplied details do not give a separate private-group price. If you are considering that option, ask about the cost, group size, and whether the private route changes the time spent at each location.

Walking, timing, and practical comfort

You spend the full two hours on foot in the French Quarter. Wear shoes you can comfortably walk in and keep your belongings secure in crowded areas. The supplied information does not list a mileage total, so you should not assume the route is short simply because the tour lasts two hours.

Wheelchair access is listed, which is useful, but the route includes streets, sidewalks, pubs, and cemetery-related stops. Ask the operator about the exact path if you have concerns about pavement, entrances, or restroom access. Accessibility in an old district can vary from one stop to the next.

The tour is offered in English with a live guide. Starting times vary, so check the available departure options when booking. An evening departure would fit the theme, but you should rely on the confirmed time rather than assume it begins after dark.

The operator may cancel if too few people book. The stated procedure is to contact you by phone, text, or email during the hour before departure, then offer an alternative tour or a full refund. Keep your phone on and check your messages before leaving for the meeting point.

There is also conflicting information about cancellations. The activity details say you can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund and reserve now while paying later. The Eventbrite instructions say all sales are final with a 100 percent cancellation penalty. I would treat the terms shown at your final checkout as the controlling policy and save a copy of them.

Who will enjoy this ghost hunt?

I would choose this tour if you like local stories, walking tours, and a little theatrical suspense. It suits people who want to participate rather than stand in a crowd while a guide performs a monologue. The chance to hold the EMF meter and ask questions gives the experience a social, hands-on quality.

It can also work for families with older children, provided everyone is comfortable with ghost stories, cemetery settings, and possible bar stops. The age range in one family group ran from 12 to 50, and the experience was described as family-friendly.

You may want another option if you need a tightly scheduled professional investigation. The wording promises a dozen haunted locations and the top 10 haunted sites, but the actual experience depends heavily on the guide. The conflicting account about receiving only stories is the clearest warning for anyone booking mainly to use equipment.

I would also skip it if you dislike walking through crowded nightlife areas or if your group cannot handle uncertainty around bar access. The French Quarter is part of the appeal, but it is also an active public neighborhood, not a quiet paranormal lab.

Should you book the New Orleans paranormal investigation?

Book it if the $24 price, broad French Quarter walk, and amateur ghost-hunting angle sound fun to you. The best version gives you an entertaining guide, useful local context, several atmospheric stops, and the chance to test an EMF meter yourself.

Before paying, confirm the meeting point, the exact cancellation terms, and the departure status. Contact the operator at [email protected] if you have concerns, and remember to meet outside at the courtyard gate by Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, never inside the bar.

I would call this a promising budget ghost walk with real strengths and a service warning. Go for the stories, setting, and participation, not a guaranteed paranormal discovery.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

Meet your guide on the sidewalk at the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar at 941 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70116. Do not meet inside the bar.

How long is the paranormal tour?

The tour lasts two hours.

What equipment is used?

An EMF meter and a ghost or paranormal detector are used during the tour. Participants may be able to see, hold, and ask questions about the handheld meter.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. It has a live English-speaking guide.

Can I cancel for a refund?

The activity information says you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. However, the Eventbrite instructions state that all sales are final with a 100 percent cancellation penalty, so check the terms shown at checkout before booking.