Historical Ghost Lantern Tour Downtown Traverse City
Recommended by 94% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Traverse City, USA
- 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
This private ghost tour lets you discover the haunted side of Traverse City, and learn some history along the way. Using real ghost-hunting equipment, your guide will take you to the most haunted sites in Traverse City including the Whiting Hotel, Traverse City Opera House, the Perry Hannah House, and the Hannah Park.
- Ghost tour of Traverse City: Uncover the city's haunted side
- Entertaining way to learn about the history of Traverse City
- Do some ghost hunting of you own with real equipment
- Private tour: Ensures your guide's full, undivided attention
What's Included
- Ghost Hunting Equipment for OPTIONAL intro to ghost hunting
- 100% Outdoor Walking Tour
- History of Traverse City
- Ghost Stories at reported haunted locations in downtown Traverse City
- Haunted Traverse Tour Co.'s Tours are hosted by experienced local guides
- No restroom stops that are organized but you can pop into local biz' restrooms we walk past.
- Bug Spray-The last 5 minutes of the tour walk through a wooded park with flying insects
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 313 E Front St, Traverse City, MI 49684, USA
Haunted Traverse Tour Company starts this tour OUTSIDE Higher Self Bookstore located at this address. Please arrive 10 minutes prior to the tour to meet your guide and check in. Please use a restroom prior to meeting at this location-it does not have a public restroom.
End point
- Perry Hannah Plaza and Statue260-298 S Union St, Traverse City, MI 49684, USA
This tour will end just a few blocks south of downtown Traverse City's Front Street at Perry Hannah Circle. This is a great spot for photos and to speak with your tour guide after the tour concludes.
Itinerary
1
E Front Street
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 122 reviews
Cindy_A, Oct 2025
Tour guide was very knowledgeable but she talked too fast. A bit hard to keep up.
Would recommend this tour to anybody.
Alison_P, Aug 2025
Travel to various spots in town to hear a lot of history. Kind of lite on the ghost stuff compared to other ghost tours I’ve been on. But I like local history so it was interesting.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for the kind thoughts Alison. I named this the HISTORICAL Ghost Lantern Tour because it does have a lot of history in it. Each stop does go into the ghostly encounters. The ghost tales on this tour are ones experienced by myself or the locals-no fluff. To truly understand the haunting, history of the location is essential. If guests just want spooky ghost stories and not so much history, I recommend Haunted Traverse's Old Towne Ghost Tour. More emphasis on the ghost stories and less history. Thank you for coming out. Wishing you and yours a spirited Fall. ~Dez
Jim_M, Aug 2025
Desirae was fantastic!! She was was funny and very knowledgeable! Top notch.! She’s a lifelong resident and has family roots here really identifies well with the local culture. She even offered some ghost hunting at the end of the night tons of fun.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you! Please tell my family. :) My roots are indeed settled here in GT County. My home. So glad you saw my passion for my home on my tour. Happy to host you and thank you for the kind thoughts. Wishing you and yours a spirited adventure. ~Dez
Diana_P, Aug 2025
Des is great, entertaining, educational and funny. She provided a great history of the start of Traverse City.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Tell my family! Thank you, I have fun hosting guests on this tour. Lots of history, some of which does not directly correlate to the ghost stories such as the origin history of TC. But it sounds like my hopes of entwining the history with some fun came through. So happy that you enjoyed your tour Diana. Until our paths cross again, wishing you a spirited end to your summer. ~Dez
Michael_P, Aug 2025
A lot of walking so wear proper shoes. Not difficult though. Learned a lot about the buildings and town
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you. This tour is a .9 miles so a little under one mile of walking on sidewalks, grassy or dirt paths (in a park) and navigating one stairwell going down but do not have to go up. The tour can accommodate those that cannot navigate the stairs. Also, I do have guests that just walk the Front Street area with me and then hop off the tour when we walk to 6th street. An option for those that might not to stay on their feet for the whole 90 minutes. I hope this information was helpful for those that read it. Thank you for the kind review Michael and wishing you and yours spirited travels. ~Dez
Ruthie_M, Jul 2025
Every thing is explained in the booking. Very interesting and informative. Weather was an issue for our tour.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
It sure was! Thank you for being a trooper. I think that had to have been the most unique, challenging tour I have ever hosted. But we made it through and I appreciate you coming out and enduring a storm that was in a bigger hurry than the weather forecast said it would be. Wishing you and spirited end to your summer. ~Dez
Gabriella_B, Jun 2025
Our tour guide was so fun and bubbly. She introduced herself individually to all of us and I really appreciated that. She got to know us all a little bit and helped us feel more comfortable. She definitely taught us a lot about the history or traverse city. We really enjoyed walking around with her and learning about its spooky past and present!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for the kind review and it was my honor to host you on my tour of downtown TC. I do like to chat ahead of time and meet new people. Plus, I am always taking notes on which ghost tours I should hop on too:) So happy you had fun. Until next time, Dez
Joseph_B, Jun 2025
A great tour both historical and ghostly. Des was friendly, courteous and very funny! She is a credit to the business and to Traverse City.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for the kind words. Credit to TC huh!? Tell my family! :) I appreciate what I do and my goal is to have fun and get others seeing life in a fun, spooky, informative, and kind way. I hope our paths cross again and until then, wishing you a spirited summer. ~Dez
Becky_T, Oct 2024
My friends and I were up in T.C. for a 50th birthday getaway. Although it was nice to see some of the history of the town, the tour seemed a bit like a sales pitch for different businesses around the town rather than actual hauntings.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thank you Becky for your comment. Happy 50th birthday. The tour should have been based on the topics of history of Traverse City and the locations we stop at as well as the ghost stories associated with the businesses and locations in the downtown Traverse City area. If we speak about the business, it's because a haunting and ghost story is associated with that location. I hope this is helpful for future guests. ~Desirae
Ingrid_E, Oct 2024
A fun tour. Definitely recommend. In addition to the ghost/haunting stories our guide was knowledgeable about local history.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thank you! Lots of history topics on this tour. A good understanding of the history of the location is key for a good ghost story or paranormal investigation. Thank you for spending your time with me in Traverse City! ~Dez
Matt_T, Aug 2024
Loved the tour! It was a great combination of history and paranormal... I highly recommend! Dez was an awesome guide and very passionate which made the tour even more enjoyable.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Thank you so much for the kind words Matt! And thank you for coming out and letting me host you on the tour. I have fun and it sounds like you did too! So happy to hear this. It was my honor to be your guide through haunted downtown Traverse City and I hope you have a spirited summer! ~Dez
Amanda_E, Aug 2024
It was supposed to start at 8:30 per my original booking and was changed to 8 pm without telling me. Therefore we did not get to do it and I lost my money. Thanks for nothing.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Dear Guests,
Thank you for your feedback. I want to clarify a few points to ensure everyone has the best experience with our tours.
Firstly, please make sure to double-check the tour start time listed in your booking confirmation. I run only one Historical Ghost Lantern Tour per night, and spots fill up quickly during summer weekends. I will ALWAYS notify you if there is any change to the tour time. In the case mentioned by Amanda and Brandon, the tour time was never changed. It was scheduled for 8 PM on August 3rd, as confirmed in our logs.
It is important to note that no-shows are charged because our tours have limited spots, and I often have a waiting list of eager guests. If you think your party can't make it, please reach out in advance. We can often work out a solution, especially if you give at least 24-hour notice. This allows me to offer your spot to someone on the waiting list.
If you arrive late or need to rebook, please communicate with me as soon as possible. I am usually able to accommodate changes if I have some notice. Unfortunately, in the case of Amanda and Brandon, they arrived 30 minutes after the tour started without any prior communication, which limited my ability to assist them.
I strive to provide a memorable experience for all our guests. Thank you for understanding the importance of timely communication and punctuality. I am always here to help and ensure you have a fantastic tour experience.
Best regards,
Dez
Owner and Tour Guide
Haunted Traverse Tours
hauntedtraverse.com
Jeremy_A, Jul 2024
Dez was a great guide, very charismatic and knowledgeable. Her stories were well crafted and the humor fun, exactly the kind of thing you want from this sort of tour. Would absolutely recommend.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Thank you Jeremy! It was my honor to host you out for a fun night. I really appreciate the review and thank you so much for the kind words. ~Dez
passfamily, Jul 2024
Our tour guide told us numerous facts about Traverse City, weaving history with ghost stories. She was personable, knowledgeable, and a lot of fun!!
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Thank you! I am so happy to hear you had fun! That is what it is all about:) Have a fun summer and I appreciate you taking the time for the kind thoughts and review. Until next time, wishing you another spirited adventure soon! ~Dez
Diane_S, Jun 2024
Des is great! She is clearly super knowledgeable and interested in the topic. She is also a wonderful story teller and kept the entire experience interesting!
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you for the kind review and it was an honor hosting you out on the Historical Ghost Lantern Tour. I wish you a spirited summer!! ~Dez
Melissa_H, Jun 2024
Very boring felt like I was in history class not a scary ghost hunt. Couldn’t hear the Tour guide speak either What a Waist of money
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you for your feedback. I'm sorry to hear about your experience and would like to apologize for any disappointment. For some clarification for future readers of this review. This is not a ghost hunt but the Historical Ghost Lantern Walking Tour. Our team, including Jennifer, strives to provide a fun and engaging Historical Ghost Lantern Tour that blends history, local ghost stories, and the stunning architecture of Traverse City's 1800s buildings. Your input is invaluable, and we are committed to improving our tours for future guests. If you could provide the date of your tour, it would greatly assist us in addressing any specific issues. We appreciate your time and hope to see you again in Traverse City. Thank you for joining our tour. ~Dez
Nancy_G, Jun 2024
the stories especially like the home Of Perry Hannah and how he is still there. Liked all the stories and the history of why the ghosts were still inhabiting the sites they were seen in.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you! It was a pleasure hosting you. Wishing you more spirited adventures! ~Dez
Andrea_S, Jun 2024
Learning the history of this amazing city and having the EMF reader go off by the old cemetery. Dez is an amazing story teller.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you so much for the kind review! I appreciate you taking the time to leave such kind thoughts about the tour I passionately designed and guide. Thank you! ~Dez
Courtney_F, May 2024
A fun way to learn a little history of Traverse City! Des did a great job orating and leading our group through the streets. She had some fun stories of the area. I highly recommend this tour - the perfect amount of time, the perfect distance, and so much fun :) the ghost hunting at the end was some silly fun for the kids!
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you for your kind thoughts! Fun is my goal and I am so glad I could share the history and fun to be had in Traverse City. I hope our paths cross again, and until then, wishing you a spirited summer! ~Dez
Dwayne_M, May 2024
This was a fantastic walking tour through downtown Traverse City. Des, the ghost tour guide, was very knowledgeable about the history of the area. She narrated the cities ghost stories at multiple stops along the tour. You could tell that she did her research into the history and continues to do so. It was a great evening of walking through downtown.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you for the fantastic thoughts! So kind of you to leave a wonderful review like this. I wish you a spirited summer and thank you again for your support and for letting me host you through Haunted downtown Traverse City. ~Dez
Claire_A, Apr 2024
Our guide gave us a great history of Traverse City and recounted the experiences she and other people had inside and outside the city’s historical buildings. We had a good time laughing with our guide, walking through the city, and learning about common ghost hunting equipment and how to NOT disturb spirits in their resting places.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you for the kind review. I love hearing that my tour was fun for the guests I host in Traverse City. I hope you have a spirited summer full of more adventures. ~Dez
Baivab_M, Sep 2023
A lot of stories about ghosts presumably present in various establishments but was taken INSIDE any. Whether they are stories or urban legends don't know. Not 1 bit scary and in fact was to an extent hilarious instead. At the 1st point (radio station) next day accidentally met the guy who worked there and asked him to comment. He laughed and offered to take us down and in a very politically correct way said few things which can be summed up with 1 word I guess: "Suckers". Well the price wasn't that high, so was fine I guess.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you for the review. A ghost tour is always an interesting tour to provide to guests because of the nature of weaving local lore with history while also hosting those who do not believe in the paranormal with those who do. I know that there are skeptics in this world that may define those that believe as "suckers." This tour is always for entertainment purposes only and not to prove that spirit exists. I designed a tour around the local legends, folklore, history, and ghost tours. Discovering if the paranormal is real or not is for everyone to find their way to. This tour is designed to be funny, entertaining, historically informative, and relay the ghost stories and lore in the area. I also market this tour as a 100% outdoor tour and state this clearly on my Viator/Trip Advisor listing. I am so sorry this was overlooked but I do not know how to be clearer than stating that is a "100% outdoor walking tour". I designed my tour to explore with my guests beautiful downtown Traverse City and see hidden gems in the area such as the Hannah Mansion, Carnegie Library, and one of the last Victorian Opera Houses in the entire state of Michigan, the City Opera House. Thank you so much for coming out on my Tour. Wishing you many more spirited adventures! ~Desirae
Julieanne_D, Sep 2023
Des was great! Very knowledgeable and made learning history interesting! She threw in some dramatic flair which made it much more fun! Would highly recommend!
Robert_O, Aug 2023
Great history of Travers City. Wonderful stories of hauntings. Looking for the boy with the ball. It was great.
Burt_W, Aug 2023
The guide was very nice but unfortunately she is not an experienced orator, the stories were not very interesting and there was really no coherent theme. Give it a miss.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you for the review. I am so sorry that you didn't enjoy this tour. I strive to host guests who want to know more about the area and explore the haunted side of Traverse City. I would love to hear more about how I can improve my tour, especially your observations on not having a coherent theme. If you have a moment, I hope we can chat. Desirae owner and tour guide of Haunted Traverse Tours. hauntedtraverse@hotmail.com
Carolyn_M, Aug 2023
Loved the history and Architecture was incorporated into the tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable. She was also interested to learn about experiences everyone on the tour had. First ghost tour where we were given ghost hunting tools to check for paranormal activity. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Thank you Carolyn for coming out and enjoying a paranormal adventure with me:) ~Des
Laura_M, Jul 2023
Desiree is a fantastic guide. The tour is a perfect mix of history and ghost stories. We loved it!
One small drawback - we were forewarned that parking would be very difficult to find so we decided to take a Lyft which was great, however there was no return Lyft available when the tour ended at 9:30 pm. The evening ended with an unplanned 3.5 mile hike back to our AirBnb.
So definitely take the tour but bring your car!
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Thank you so much for coming out on my tour. Parking is best and easiest at the Hardy Parking Garage right across where we meet. Traverse City closes early on nights. It can be a challenge to find services late at night. Thank you so much again and I wish you more spirited adventures! ~Des
darren_a, Jul 2023
Des is absolutely amazing! Best tour we have been on. She is very knowledgeable, funny, and very interactive with people on the tour. Such a great time and fun experience!
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Wow! Thank you. I really appreciate these kind and thoughtful words.....hmmmm.....I do think I am funny;) I can't thank you enough. I know everyone is busy and really appreciate the time taken to offer these kind words. I will use them to fuel up my...errr...spirit to do my next tour!! ~Des
Russ_M, Jul 2023
Nice to here the local history tied in with ghost stories. And that funeral home mansion was amazing. Wish we could have toured inside.
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Thank you so much for the kind words. This tour is a 100% outdoor walking tour. Thank you so much for coming out!! Wishing you another spirited adventure soon! ~Des
Kelley_S, Jun 2023
Dez was great! A punny delivery of the paranormal history of Traverse City. She was quite knowledgeable and shared some of her own ghostly experiences.
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Hi Kelley! Thank you so much for taking the time for the review. I appreciate the kind thoughts and am so happy that you enjoyed the other kind of spirits in Traverse City! Wishing you many more spirited adventures. Please don't be a stranger if you come back this way. ~Des
Likely to Sell Out
From $38.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Attractions in Traverse City, USA
More attractions near Traverse City, USA