Before this experience, I’d never been on a Ghost Tour before. Having grown up a short distance from Galveston, TX, one of the most haunted places in Texas due to the 1900 Storm, I’d had many the opportunity, but I’d always been a bit skeptical. I watched way too many horror movies while growing up, so I’d be lying if I said the idea of walking around at nighttime, searching for lost souls that haunt the earth didn’t scare me.
However, I moved to New York City this summer and in recent years I’ve become very open to trying new things. That said, I decided to give NYC Ghost Tours a shot. And to my surprise, I actually loved it!
The tours take place essentially all nights of the week, just as long as enough people have booked the same slot. I opted for a Friday night tour and dragged my husband along with me, who was equally skeptical at first. Prior to this tour, we’d spent only a little bit of time in Greenwich Village, but mainly just during the daytime. The meeting spot was under the arch at Washington Square Park, which we’d been to twice before. Our tour guide, Robert, was very easy to spot; he was wearing a “US Ghost Adventures” t-shirt and was holding a lantern, just as the email confirmation had described.
Now here’s where things get interesting: Robert started the tour by giving a very detailed history of Washington Square Park and how it directly relates to the ghost sightings in the nearby area. Immediately, I knew this was going to be an excellent adventure! As a recent transplant here after spending my entire life living in Texas, there’s a lot of history I have yet to discover in the Northeast, especially in NYC. I love history, learning, architecture and walking, so my excitement quickly grew as we set out for our first official destination.
While listening to Robert tell us about the haunted history at Washington Square Park, he casually whipped out an iPad that featured a slideshow of images to share with us while he spoke. This truly made the tour so much more enjoyable as he was able to provide us with visuals to help us get a better understanding of what he was discussing. These visuals included illustrations from the 1600 and 1700s as well as occasional images dating as far back as the late 1800s. It was really cool!
The first stop we headed to was a National Historical Landmark, one with significant and important history. Back in 1911, a tragic fire broke out on the top three floors of this building which resulted in 146 deaths. So awful! Now I don’t want to spoil the story or give too much away, so I’ll just leave it at that. However, Robert went on to explain a very important detail… Although there was a fire here, the building itself was not completely destroyed nor was it ever torn down – meaning that the building you see today is the one that actually caught fire in 1911. Personally, this struck me as odd because if it were up to me, I would’ve immediately bulldozed that place down and built something brand new. I mean, come on! 146 people died here… Why would you want to keep the building fully intact?!
Robert then proceeded to tell us about the ghost sightings that have occurred ever since, noting that New York University (NYU) now owns the building and it’s a science lab of some sort. Apparently, many NYU students have encountered paranormal activity; whether that be smelling fire while there, in fact, was no fire at all or seeing ghastly figures floating around late at night or just getting eerie, creepy feelings while being inside the building. As he told these detailed accounts, I literally got goosebumps!
I’m not going to share all of the locations we stopped at as I don’t want to spoil the adventure for you, but I will say that there were some very cool and important historical spots that are known to have paranormal activity. The combination of historical events and ghost stories was ultra-intriguing, and something I’d never experienced before.
What’s more, Robert shared some photos taken by past tour participants at a few different stops that actually showcase some of these ghastly figures! He would start by telling us the history of the home/people who lived there, which is very important to understand why a building might be haunted. Next, he dived into the stories told by people who’ve experienced paranormal activity there throughout the years. Lastly, if we were lucky, he would show us a photo featuring an eerie figure of the person known to haunt the place, then point to the exact spot on the building where the photo was taken. Definitely chilling!
Looking back, I chuckle at myself for being too scared to go on one of these Ghost Tours in the past. Horror movies and mainstream media gave me a completely different impression, one that was misconstrued. In the end, I found this tour to be fun, exciting and super interesting! I’m ready for my next Ghost Tour, aiming to discover the infamous Salem, Massachusetts – America’s most haunted city.
If you’re heading to NYC this spooky season, don’t miss the chance to walk the haunted streets of Greenwich Village. Not in the Big Apple? No worries! You can find a US Ghost Adventures Tour location near you and see what spirits are lurking in your own backyard…
About the Author
Bailey Reber Thakore is passionate about exploring the world with her husband, Monish, by her side. Together they’ve wandered the streets of Paris, soaked up the sun in the Dominican Republic, adventured through Thailand, and embraced the vibrant colors of Incredible India – just a few of the many beautiful places they’ve explored. Bailey loves sharing heartfelt stories, insider travel tips, and the do’s and don’ts she’s learned along the way. Whether she’s discovering hidden gems across the United States or experiencing new cultures abroad, Bailey’s goal is to inspire fellow travelers to explore with curiosity and joy. Follow along for more travel adventures, tips, and inspiration!
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