New Orleans Ghost Hunters 101 with Electronic Field Meter

New Orleans Ghost Hunters 101 turns an evening walk through the French Quarter into a paranormal investigation, with stories about haunted houses, a mass burial ground, local vampires, and Voodoo. You’ll carry a real Electronic Field Meter at selected moments, but no one can promise it will detect anything beyond a change in the meter’s reading.

I like the mix of ghost lore and neighborhood history, and the chance to try the meter rather than only listen to spooky stories. At $20, it is an affordable way to spend an evening on foot, especially if you enjoy a little theatrical shiver with your history.

One thing to keep in mind: this is a walking tour of public streets, not a tour inside a row of haunted buildings. Bar stops can stretch the schedule, the group may be large, and the tour’s own terms say paranormal activity is never guaranteed.

• The meter is shared equipment: You may be invited to use an EMF meter, but the tour does not promise one per person.
• Stories cover more than ghosts: Expect local history, vampire lore, and New Orleans Voodoo alongside accounts of hauntings.
• The route is outdoors: You visit public streets and sites, with no guaranteed access to private or haunted buildings.
• Drinks cost extra: You can buy a drink along the route, including a to-go drink, but it is not part of the $20 ticket.
• Timing can shift: The walk usually lasts one to two hours, though bar waits can make it longer.
• Arrive on time: Meet at the sidewalk gate beside Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar at 941 Bourbon Street, not inside the bar.

A Ghost Hunt on French Quarter Streets

The tour’s appeal comes from the contrast between the French Quarter’s familiar streets and the unsettling stories attached to them. You walk after dark with a guide who connects historic sites to tales of apparitions, cold spots, and paranormal activity.

This is not a theatrical haunted house with actors waiting behind doors. The guide leads an outdoor investigation, explains the history and legends of selected locations, and may let you use an Electronic Field Meter. The focus is on listening, looking, and deciding for yourself what a reading or an odd sensation might mean.

The advertised route includes a mass burial ground associated with cold spots, apparitions, and orbs. That kind of stop gives the tour a stronger sense of place than a string of generic ghost stories. Still, the tour does not promise that you will encounter anything supernatural, and the route can change without notice.

The tour also covers New Orleans vampire lore and Voodoo. Those subjects help give the stories a local frame, though they are not a substitute for a dedicated history or cultural tour. If you want a broad introduction to the French Quarter’s past, you may find the ghost stories a lively way into it. If you want a careful, in-depth study of Voodoo, this is not described as a specialist class.

What the Electronic Field Meter Adds

The meter is the tour’s hands-on feature. A guide may pass it to someone in the group and explain how to watch its readings while the group investigates a location. That small bit of participation can make the walk more engaging, particularly for children and anyone who likes trying equipment rather than just hearing about it.

Expect a shared device, not a personal meter for every ticket holder. One attendee expected everyone to have a reader and was disappointed when the guide gave it to a single person. If handling the equipment is important to you, arrive early and ask at check-in whether you can use it.

Treat the readings as part of the entertainment and investigation, not scientific proof of a ghost. One reported reading went above 15, but the guide reportedly said the meter often did that at that location. That is a useful reminder: a number on a device can prompt a story or a question, but it does not establish what caused the reading.

The tour’s terms say equipment must be checked out and returned to a staff member before you leave. If you borrow it, handle it carefully. The operator states that lost, damaged, or missing equipment can bring a substantial replacement charge.

Stories Behind the Stops

The route is built around categories of places rather than a guaranteed, fixed sequence of named buildings. The guide may lead you past haunted houses, apartments, morgues, bathrooms, bars, pubs, cemeteries, balconies, galleries, hotels, streets, sidewalks, and churches.

That broad list sounds like a lot for a one-to-two-hour walk. In practice, you should expect a selection of stops, not a visit inside every type of site. The route may change, and the tour takes place on public property. You do not gain access to private homes or other private locations, so much of the experience is hearing the story from the street.

The mass burial ground is singled out as a notable stop. Its association with cold spots and sightings gives the guide a chance to connect a particular place with the ghost-hunting theme. Do not expect a long visit or a private investigation inside a cemetery or building. The tour is designed to keep moving through the neighborhood.

At each stop, the guide supplies context and a story. The strongest guides seem to balance spooky narration with everyday New Orleans details. Coty and Cody are named in tour experiences, as is Ashley, but guide assignments can vary. People especially valued Coty’s local history and practical food tip, as well as Ashley’s engaging manner. Those details suggest the tour can be more than a parade of ghost claims when the guide brings the wider city into the conversation.

A Walking Tour, With Possible Bar Pauses

The meeting point is the sidewalk gate at the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, 941 Bourbon Street. The tour does not meet inside the bar, and the operator is not affiliated with the business. Plan to arrive a few minutes early, check in with the guide, and be ready to leave at the scheduled time.

You walk at a moderate pace on old, uneven streets and sidewalks. Wear shoes that can handle rough paving, and keep an eye on your footing while listening. The operator asks the group to stay together, avoid obstructing sidewalks, and respect residents’ privacy. This is a neighborhood, not a stage set: do not trespass, ring doorbells, or wander off to take a picture.

The tour allows stops at bars along the route, where you can purchase a drink, including a to-go drink. Drinks are not included in the ticket price. Some bar waits can delay the walk, so the advertised two hours is not a firm finish time. If you have dinner or a show afterward, leave a generous buffer rather than booking the next activity tightly.

Alcohol is permitted, but the operator reserves the right to refuse service to someone who appears extremely intoxicated. The tour is not a pub crawl in the usual sense; the main activity remains a guided ghost walk, with bar purchases optional.

Is $20 a Good Value?

At $20 per person, the price is modest for a guided evening activity in the French Quarter. You get a local guide, a walking route, stories about haunted sites and local lore, and the chance to handle an EMF meter. For an inexpensive way to add a different angle to a day of sightseeing, that is a reasonable package.

The value depends on what you expect. If you want a fun, social outing with history and spooky atmosphere, the price makes sense. If you expect admission to haunted buildings, a private investigation, a personal meter, or a guaranteed encounter with a ghost, you are likely to feel shortchanged. The tour explicitly makes no promise that paranormal activity will occur.

The stated maximum is 99 participants. That is a large possible group for a walking tour, and the experience may feel less personal when attendance is high. There is no promised group size below that maximum, so do not book on the assumption that you will have a small, intimate investigation.

The tour is often booked about 19 days ahead, on average. That is a useful planning clue, not a guarantee that you need to book exactly that early. Minimum numbers apply, and the operator may cancel if too few people sign up. If you are building the tour around a fixed evening, keep a backup plan.

Who Will Enjoy This Evening Walk

I’d choose this tour if you enjoy ghost stories but also want a guide to put them in a local setting. The history, vampire tales, Voodoo references, and French Quarter walk give it more variety than a simple spooky-story session. The meter adds a playful activity, particularly for a family with older children who are curious about ghost hunting.

Children must be with a parent or guardian, and children under 18 are not admitted without one unless a guide authorizes it. Some bars along the route do not allow children inside. To-go drink windows are offered for people who do not want to enter a bar, but that does not guarantee that every stop will suit every age.

This is less suitable if you have difficulty walking on uneven surfaces, need a strict end time, or want access to buildings. It is also not the right choice if you expect a formal investigation with lots of equipment. Photos are allowed and encouraged, but audio and video recording are not permitted. Do not plan to film the guide’s narration.

The tour is offered in English, and a mobile ticket is available. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to make your own way to the French Quarter meeting point.

Practical Notes Before You Book

The tour usually lasts one to two hours, but the actual length can depend on bar waits and other delays. Departure times may change because of local traffic conditions, and the operator says it sends updates by text or email. Make sure the phone number and email on your reservation are accurate and check for messages before heading out.

Arriving late is a real risk. The guide leaves at the scheduled time and may not be able to answer calls once the tour has started. If you are running behind, contact the operator before departure; the terms say late arrivals are not refunded, though staff may try to help with a later tour if space is available.

The cancellation wording deserves a careful read. The booking terms describe tickets as nonrefundable if you cancel or request a change. For a cancellation by the operator because of weather or insufficient numbers, the stated booking policy offers a different date or a full refund, while another part of the operator’s terms refers to future-tour credit for weather cancellations. Because those statements differ, confirm the remedy directly before booking if it matters to your plans.

Should You Book the French Quarter Ghost Hunt?

Book it if you want an affordable evening walk that blends local stories with a small dose of ghost-hunting theater. The strongest reason to go is the combination of French Quarter history, vampire and Voodoo lore, and a chance to try an EMF meter. Good guides can make the walk informative even if the meter stays quiet.

Skip it if you need guaranteed access to haunted buildings, a small group, a fixed finish time, or a supernatural encounter. Go with comfortable shoes, an open mind, and realistic expectations. For $20, it can be a lively end to a day in New Orleans, provided you value the stories and the walk more than proof of ghosts.

FAQ

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $20 per person. Drinks and gratuities are not included.

How long does the tour last?

It usually lasts about one to two hours. Bar waits can make it longer.

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. The tour does not meet inside the bar.

Is the Electronic Field Meter included?

The tour includes use of a real EMF meter, but it does not promise a separate meter for every person. Ask at check-in if you would like to handle the equipment.

Does the tour go inside haunted buildings?

No entry into private locations is included. The tour takes place on public property, and the route may pass haunted sites without entering them.

Are drinks included in the ticket price?

No. You can buy drinks along the route, including to-go drinks, but you pay for them separately.

Can children join the tour?

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Children under 18 are not admitted without a parent or guardian unless a guide authorizes it, and some bars do not allow children inside.

Can I take photos or record the guide?

Photos are allowed and encouraged. Audio and video recording are not permitted during the tour.

What happens if the tour is canceled?

If the operator cancels because of poor weather or too few participants, the stated booking policy offers another date or a full refund. The operator’s separate terms describe weather cancellations differently, so confirm the available option if this affects your plans.