Haunted tours tie in history for heightened experience
Television shows focusing on paranormal phenomena continue haunting the airwaves. If that’s any sort of boo barometer, then it’s safe to say many of us are suckers for a good ghost story.
But you don’t have to have remote in hand to get a feel for the zeitgeist of poltergeists. Several area ghost tours offer interactive experiences, pairing local history with reports of haints that haunt.
LAWRENCEVILLE
Lawrenceville, GA Ghost Tours at Aurora Theatre
The folks behind this popular walking trek turn it up a notch for ghost tour aficionados. Some haunted history buffs plan their vacations around ghost tours. And since Lawrenceville isn’t necessarily a booming mecca for tourism, the powers-that-be at Aurora Theatre give the tour an extra oomph to help bolster its reputation. A costumed storyteller, typically in turn-of-the-century duds, leads the group, adding an element of humor and entertainment into the mix. Many of the characters have an undead quality about them. Actor Andrew Puckett portrays a zombie reporter with a knack for macabre history. He’s a vegetarian, so no need to worry about him noshing on brains. The barefoot undertaker, played by Bill Pacer, knows his share of Lawrenceville lore, because he’s been stomping around for hundreds of years. Guests follow each guide around Lawrenceville square and listen to tales related to various spots. One such stop, the Old Jail, looks as it did in the 1800s and is known for things that go bump in the night. The tour lasts approximately 90 minutes. Although it’s not a strenuous stroll, those who’d rather ride can opt for the Ghost Trolley. This tour takes place only Friday nights in October. It visits some of the greatest hits from the walking tour, as well as some additional spots not as easily accessible by foot. Get the willies when visiting historic Lawrenceville Cemetery, a favorite destination for paranormal investigators. And the trolley stops at the Lawrenceville Female Seminary where the spirits of school girls can allegedly be found scampering on the stairs. After Halloween, the Lawrenceville, GA Ghost Tours goes on hiatus until May.
Lawrenceville, GA Ghost Tours: 7:30 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays. 7 and 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. $9-$15. Lawrenceville Ghost Trolley: 8 p.m. Fridays in October. $25. Aurora Theatre, 128 Pike St., Lawrenceville. 678-226-6222, www.scarystroll.com .
MARIETTA
Scary-etta, Ghosts of Marietta, the Haunted Pub Crawl and Spirits and Spirits at the Historic Marietta Trolley Co.
A total of four different tours depart from here. At night, the Marietta Trolley Co. goes Gothic for a 90-minute cruise through Marietta. A narrator dishes out stories of specters, including those who supposedly call the Kennesaw House home. The tale of the city’s most famous spook, the Lady in Black, is told as guests take a short walk through Marietta City Cemetery. The trolley ride runs approximately 90 minutes and includes about two blocks of walking. The Ghosts of Marietta Walking Tour is a separate 90-minute tour, which weighs in at less than a mile. The Spirits and Spirits Tour begins at the Marietta Wine Market. Those 21 and older get one glass of wine for this ghostly gathering, which includes a one-hour walk around the square. The latest tour of the bunch, the Haunted Pub Crawl, is scaring up popularity. Groups visit a total of three of the bars around Marietta square, all of which are reportedly haunted. A costumed tour guide, with a lantern in hand, leads each group. Although the tours are more frequent in October, the Ghosts of Marietta tour takes place 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays throughout the year. The other tours take place monthly. Reservations with payment must be made by calling.
Scary-etta: 7, 9 and 11 p.m. Oct. 29-31. Ghost of Marietta: 7, 8, 9 and 10 p.m. Oct. 29. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 p.m. Oct. 30 and 31. Haunted Pub Walk: 8:30 p.m. Oct. 29 and 30. $25 for Scary-etta; $15 for all walking tours. Historic Marietta Trolley Co., 131 Church St., Marietta. 678-290-9193, www.ghostsofmarietta.com .
ROSWELL
Roswell Ghost Tour at Roswell square
This tour is owned and operated by the founders of Roswell Georgia Paranormal Investigations. It’s actually affiliated with the Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS), made famous on the Syfy reality series “Ghost Hunters.” Husband and wife, Joe and Dianna Avena purchased the Roswell Ghost Tour approximately 6 years ago. Dianna penned the book “Roswell: History, Haunts and Legends,” and the couple takes their spooks seriously. So the Roswell Ghost Tour is more of a straight-faced approach. Its guides bypass the costumes and relay reports of paranormal activity, most of which have occurred within the past 10 years. A majority of the tour guides are trained paranormal investigators. Each group meets at the bandstand on Roswell square. Guests are encouraged to bring flashlights, good walking shoes and a camera. If there’s a chance of rain, bring an umbrella, because the tour takes place entirely outdoors. This includes a stroll through Founder’s Cemetery, where town co-founder Roswell King is buried. Dianna Avena says it’s common for electronic equipment to go haywire in the cemetery. Another goose bump-inducing spot along the way, she says, is an abode that was once home to Roswell’s town hang man. Tour-takers will see this and more across at least two hours. Those who share the Avena’s enthusiasm for ghosts are welcome to bring their own ghost-hunting gear. Interested specter seekers should make a reservation online or by phone. Tours take place all year, but times vary. Call or check website for schedule.
October hours: 7, 8, 9 and 10 p.m. Oct. 29. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 p.m. Oct. 30. 8 and 9 p.m. Oct. 31. $15; $10 ages 12 and younger. Roswell square, 617 Atlanta St., Roswell. 770-649-9922, www.roswellghosttour.com .
