New Orleans Drunken Voodoo, Mystery, Paranormal, Supernatural and History Tour

The French Quarter has plenty of secrets. This lively walking tour mixes New Orleans history, voodoo stories, ghost lore, vampire sightings, and stops near some of the Quarter’s most famous bars. I like the way it brings together real landmarks and colorful storytelling, and I also like the chance to use an EMF meter while exploring haunted locations. The main drawback is reliability: several recent bookings ended in cancellations or no-show problems, so you should confirm the departure details and keep your phone nearby.

The $35 price is fair if you want a social introduction to the Quarter rather than a formal history lecture. Guides such as Cody, also called Coty in some comments, have earned strong praise for their energy, local advice, and patience with lively groups. Still, the route can take anywhere from one to two hours, bars may slow the pace, and drinks cost extra.

Key points to know before you book

• Start at 941 Bourbon Street: Meet outside at the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, not inside the bar or at a street corner.
• The EMF meter is available by request: You must check it out, provide identifying details, and return it before leaving.
• History comes before scares: The route includes Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, the Louisiana Purchase signing site, Marie Laveau lore, and old crime and haunting stories.
• Drinks are not included: You may buy drinks along the route, but extreme intoxication can end your tour without a refund.
• Expect a moderate walk: Uneven, old sidewalks and streets are part of the French Quarter experience, so wear steady shoes.
• The operator has a mixed record for logistics: Strong guide praise is offset by reports of missed departures and late cancellations, making advance confirmation wise.

What this $35 French Quarter tour is really like

This is not a quiet museum-style walk. It is built for people who want a loose, social evening in the French Quarter, with a drink in hand and a story at every turn. The guide leads the group on foot, points out major sites, and adds tales of murder, ghosts, vampires, voodoo, and local characters.

At $35 per person, the value depends on what you want. If you would otherwise wander Bourbon Street without much context, the tour gives your evening a useful shape. You get a local guide, a group walk, and stories tied to specific buildings and public places. Drinks are extra, so your final cost depends on how often you stop.

The experience is advertised in English and usually runs for one to two hours. The stated route breaks down into roughly one hour around the historic and paranormal sites, 40 minutes through the French Quarter bar area, and 20 minutes near Jackson Square. In practice, bar waits can stretch the outing.

The group can be as large as 99 people. That is a very different experience from the small walks described in the most enthusiastic comments, where a guide had time to answer questions and shape the pace around the group. Ask yourself if you enjoy meeting people and moving as a crowd. If you prefer quiet access to a guide, a maximum group of 99 may feel too large.

Meeting at Bourbon Street’s most important detail

The meeting point is easy to misread. You meet on the sidewalk at the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar at 941 Bourbon Street. You do not meet inside the bar, and the tour company is not affiliated with the bar.

Arrive several minutes early. The operator says the group leaves at the scheduled time, and a guide may not be able to answer the phone after departure. A late arrival may mean missing the entire tour without a refund. This is one of the most important practical warnings, especially if you are arriving by rideshare.

The meeting area can be busy, and there may not be a large sign announcing check-in. Look for the courtyard gate rather than wandering into the bar and expecting staff to direct you. If you are unsure, contact the operator before departure, not after the group has left.

The tour ends in the heart of the French Quarter at Jackson Square. That is useful because you can continue on foot to bars, restaurants, shops, or other evening activities without arranging a ride back to Bourbon Street.

Historic New Orleans before the ghost stories

The first part gives the supernatural material a historical setting. You walk through the Vieux Carré, the French Quarter’s formal name, and visit public landmarks tied to New Orleans’ past.

One notable stop is the location where the Louisiana Purchase was signed in 1803. That moment changed the size and direction of the United States, and seeing the exact site gives the story a physical anchor. Instead of hearing a date in isolation, you are standing in the old Quarter while the guide connects national events to the streets around you.

The route also includes St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square. Its position beside the square makes it one of the easiest landmarks to recognize in the Quarter, and the area is a natural place for the guide to explain the city’s religious, architectural, and civic story.

The best part of this approach is variety. You are not asked to choose between history and spooky tales. A building may first be explained through its architecture or former use, then revisited through a story about death, crime, or unexplained activity.

Guide quality matters a great deal here. Cody received especially warm praise for giving useful recommendations, explaining the area clearly, and staying patient when a group had many questions. Other strong comments describe an enthusiastic guide who covered buildings, people, culture, movie connections, and local places to visit. If your guide has that same style, the tour can help you get your bearings early in your stay.

Voodoo, Marie Laveau, and the city’s living traditions

The voodoo material focuses on how the practice came to New Orleans and on the famous Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. The walk includes a property associated with her and sites connected to voodoo ceremonies.

This part deserves a thoughtful approach. Voodoo is not just a spooky prop, and the tour’s value depends on how carefully the guide separates cultural history from sensational stories. You should expect entertainment, but also listen for the details about migration, belief, ceremony, and the people who shaped New Orleans.

The supplied information does not promise entry into private homes or private ceremonial spaces. The walk stays on public property, and you should not trespass, ring doorbells, or disturb residents. That matters in the French Quarter, where homes sit directly beside busy nightlife.

The guide may present competing stories and local legends. That can be fun, but I would treat supernatural claims as folklore rather than established fact. The tour operator itself says there is no guarantee you will see a ghost, vampire, spirit, angel, demon, or any other nonhuman entity.

The EMF meter and the paranormal side

The EMF meter is the tour’s most hands-on feature. An EMF meter detects electromagnetic fields, and the guide uses it as part of the paranormal presentation. You may request the equipment at check-in, then use it during the walk.

There are strict rules. You must provide your name, phone number, address, and booking reference before checking out the equipment. Each item is marked and tracked, and you must return it to a staff member before leaving. The operator lists a $250 charge for equipment that is lost, damaged, or missing.

That fee is not a small technical footnote. If you want to handle the meter, hold it carefully and do not pass it around casually. Photos are encouraged, but audio and video recording devices are not allowed during the tour.

The EMF meter adds a game-like layer to the ghost stories. It gives you something to watch while the guide talks, and it can make a familiar building feel more engaging. It does not prove that a ghost is present, so keep your expectations sensible. The tour is entertainment, local lore, and a walk through old streets, not a scientific investigation.

Haunted houses, vampires, and public streets

The route includes what the operator describes as the city’s most haunted house, along with locations tied to reported vampire sightings and police documentation. You will hear stories about buildings, murders, unexplained events, and places where supernatural activity is said to occur.

These tales are likely to appeal most to fans of New Orleans ghost walks and horror-themed city stories. The French Quarter’s old buildings and late-night atmosphere do much of the work. You are walking through real streets, not entering a staged attraction.

The tradeoff is that access is limited. The tour does not enter private property, and the operator cannot promise a sighting or paranormal event. If you need theatrical effects, actors, or a guaranteed scare, this may feel understated. If you enjoy deciding for yourself what sounds plausible, the format gives you room to do that.

Keep the group together. The operator asks people not to walk off for photos, block sidewalks, or leave the route. The French Quarter is a working neighborhood, so residents and other pedestrians share the same narrow streets.

Bars, drinks, and the social mood

The French Quarter has more than 200 bars, and this walk passes many of them. The guide may lead you toward friendly and historic places along the route, but drinks are not part of the $35 fee.

You can purchase drinks along the way, subject to each bar’s rules. The operator allows alcohol during the tour but reserves the right to refuse service to anyone who becomes extremely intoxicated. If your behavior ends the tour, there is no refund.

That policy makes sense for a moving group on crowded streets, but it also tells you what kind of evening this is. The tour works best when you treat drinking as optional, not as a contest. One drink can add to the relaxed mood. Too much can make you miss the history, lose the group, or create a safety problem on uneven pavement.

Families should check the age situation carefully. Children under 18 need a parent or guardian unless a guide authorizes otherwise, and not every bar permits children inside. To-go windows are available along the route for people who do not want to enter a bar.

What the reviews reveal about the guides

The strongest pattern is clear: the guide can make or break this experience. Cody, or Coty, receives repeated praise for his local explanations, humor, patience, and practical suggestions. His style seems especially useful for a first evening in New Orleans because he points out places you might want to revisit later.

One particularly useful detail is that he stayed in contact with a group delayed by an incorrect rideshare drop-off and helped them reach the start. Other comments describe him handling repeated questions from a tipsy group without losing patience.

The positive comments also praise the tour as a good first-night activity. That makes sense. You get a basic map of the Quarter, hear stories that help the streets feel less anonymous, and finish near Jackson Square.

But the overall rating is 3.6 from 23 reviews, and the negative side cannot be ignored. Several people reported that the guide never appeared, that the tour departed before they joined, or that the booking was canceled shortly before departure. One person described arriving without a clear check-in point, while others reported difficulty getting answers.

Because of that mixed record, I would not schedule this as the one and only activity of a special birthday night or a tightly timed evening. Keep a backup plan, save the operator’s contact information, and make sure your mobile number is correct so you receive text updates.

Walking conditions, weather, and timing

The walk is described as moderate pace. French Quarter streets and sidewalks can be old, uneven, and crowded, so wear shoes with steady soles. Most people can take part, and service animals are allowed.

New Orleans weather can change the comfort level quickly. The tour operates in rain or shine unless the operator cancels or reschedules. The supplied booking terms also state that poor weather or failure to reach the minimum number can lead to a new date, another experience, or a refund, while the operator’s own terms emphasize strict no-refund conditions in many situations.

The safest approach is to read the cancellation terms at booking and keep your phone available for texts. The booking policy allows a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded. If the minimum number is not met, the tour can be canceled close to departure, so do not build an expensive evening around it.

Who should book this tour?

I would consider it a good match for:

• Friends who want history with a party atmosphere
• First-time visitors seeking a short French Quarter orientation
• People who enjoy ghost stories without needing proof of the supernatural
• Visitors interested in Marie Laveau, voodoo lore, and New Orleans folklore
• Couples who want a casual evening walk with optional drinks
• Pop culture fans who enjoy hearing how familiar places appear in films and local stories

I would be cautious if you need a guaranteed departure, a small group, quiet conversation, or a highly academic treatment of voodoo. I would also choose another plan if you dislike walking on uneven streets or cannot arrive early at an unclear meeting point.

Should you book the New Orleans Drunken Voodoo tour?

Book it if you want an affordable, social introduction to the French Quarter and you are happy to take the ghost material as folklore. The price is reasonable for a guided walk, especially when the guide is as engaging as Cody and the stories connect major landmarks with local legends.

Before paying, accept three conditions: the drinks cost extra, the supernatural activity is not guaranteed, and the departure logistics have drawn serious complaints. Arrive early, confirm the exact meeting point, keep your phone on, and maintain a backup plan.

For the right group, this can be a fun first-night walk that gives you history, voodoo lore, bar suggestions, and a few spooky stories to carry into the rest of your New Orleans stay. Just book it for the experience of exploring the Quarter, not for a promised ghost encounter.

FAQ

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $35 per person. Drinks and gratuities are not included.

How long does the tour last?

The walk lasts approximately one to two hours. The length can change if the group waits to enter busy bars.

Where does the tour meet?

Meet 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 or at a street corner.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends in Jackson Square, in the heart of the French Quarter.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The tour is offered in English.

Can I use the EMF meter?

Yes, paranormal equipment is available to use, but you must request it at check-in, provide your name, phone number, address, and booking reference, then return it before leaving. Lost, damaged, or missing equipment may result in a $250 charge.

Are drinks included?

No. Drinks are available to purchase along the route. The operator may refuse service to people who become extremely intoxicated.

Can children join the tour?

Children under 18 must attend with a parent or guardian unless a guide authorizes otherwise. Some bars along the route do not allow children inside, though to-go windows are available.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded. If the operator cancels because of poor weather or insufficient bookings, you may be offered another date or experience, or a refund.