New Orleans: 2-Hour Paranormal Investigation Tour

New Orleans has no shortage of ghost stories, but this two-hour walking investigation adds a hands-on twist. You follow a local guide through the French Quarter with an EMF meter and paranormal detector, stopping at old burial grounds, haunted buildings, pubs, cemeteries, and streets. I like the chance to handle the equipment yourself, and I like that the tour uses the French Quarter as its setting rather than keeping you inside a theater or attraction. The main drawback is reliability: one booking ended with no guide showing up, while another group was told the tour would be storytelling only, not an actual investigation.

I also like the low $24 price, especially if you want a short evening activity that combines local history with spooky fun. At the same time, the mixed reports and conflicting cancellation terms mean I would confirm the departure details before you leave for Bourbon Street.

Key points at a glance

• Start outside Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop: Meet on the sidewalk at the courtyard gate at 941 Bourbon Street, not inside the bar.
• Use real investigation equipment: The guide brings an EMF meter and a ghost or paranormal detector for the group to examine and handle.
• Visit the French Quarter’s older, darker corners: The route can include a mass burial ground, haunted houses, pubs, cemeteries, and public streets.
• Expect a walking tour, not a haunted attraction: Stories, local context, and group investigation are the main ingredients.
• Plan for about 70 to 78 blocks: The exact wording varies, but you should expect a substantial walk through the Vieux Carré.
• Check the booking terms carefully: The information includes both free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and a separate all-sales-final policy.

Starting at Bourbon Street’s legendary blacksmith shop

Your meeting point is easy to find but easy to misunderstand. Meet your guide on the sidewalk at the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, 941 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70116.

Do not go inside the bar to check in. The bar staff do not work for the tour operator and are not expected to answer questions about the tour. I would arrive a little early, stand near the courtyard gate, and look for the guide rather than asking a bartender for help.

This is a useful location for a walking tour because you begin in the French Quarter itself. You do not need a bus or taxi transfer to reach the first neighborhood stops. You do, however, need to be ready to walk in a busy nightlife area. Bourbon Street can be noisy, crowded, and distracting, so keep your attention on the meeting point and your phone available in case the operator contacts you.

The tour is offered in English with a live guide. The information does not name a regular guide, but past bookings specifically mention Cody as an entertaining and well-informed guide. Another booking described a guide who answered questions and made the experience work for a mixed-age group. Guide assignments can change, so you should not assume Cody will lead every departure.

A mass burial ground sets the tone

The investigation begins at a mass burial ground associated with cold spots, apparitions, and orbs. This is a smart opening for the tour because it immediately places the ghost stories in the context of New Orleans burial customs and the city’s old urban fabric.

The point is not simply to hear a spooky tale and move on. Your guide introduces the EMF meter and paranormal detector, then gives the group a chance to watch the readings and handle the equipment. If you have never used this kind of device, you can ask what it measures and how the guide interprets changes.

Keep your expectations sensible. An EMF meter is a tool used during the activity, not proof that a spirit is present. The fun comes from testing a location, comparing readings, and deciding how convincing you find the experience. I appreciate that the equipment gives you something to do besides listen, but I would treat any result as part of the entertainment and discussion.

The mass burial ground may also be one of the more emotionally serious stops. Burial sites deserve respectful behavior, and the tour’s spooky theme should not turn into loud or careless conduct. Your guide should set the tone, but you can help by staying with the group and keeping voices down when appropriate.

Following the French Quarter’s old streets

The route is described as covering more than 70 blocks of the Vieux Carré, with one description referring to 78 blocks and another referring to more than 70. The route may not follow every block in one continuous sweep, but the wording makes one thing clear: this is a substantial walking tour, not a quick stop outside one haunted building.

You follow the head investigator through parts of the French Quarter that most people might pass without noticing. Stops can include haunted houses, pubs, cemeteries, streets, and other locations connected to local paranormal stories. The precise order and number of stops may vary, since the experience is conducted outdoors in an active neighborhood.

The tour is advertised as visiting the top 10 haunted locations, while the highlights also refer to a dozen locations. I would read that as an approximate range rather than a promise of exactly 10 or exactly 12 investigations. The value is in seeing several different types of places, from burial grounds to bars, rather than expecting a formal admission to a set list of buildings.

The walking itself matters. You get a broad look at the French Quarter while moving between stories, and you can better understand how closely old homes, businesses, courtyards, and burial sites sit together. The route also gives you a chance to see the quarter after dark, when its old walls and narrow streets naturally suit the subject.

You should wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to remain on your feet for much of the two hours. The information confirms wheelchair accessibility, but the route includes public streets and a long walk, so it is worth confirming current route conditions directly if you have particular mobility needs.

What the EMF meter adds

The equipment is the feature that separates this outing from a standard ghost-story walk. You do not simply stand in front of a building while the guide talks. The group can use the EMF meter and paranormal detector during the investigation, and one past booking specifically noted that the guide welcomed participants to see, hold, and ask questions about the handheld meter.

That hands-on approach works especially well for families and curious first-time participants. A young person can focus on readings and the mechanics of the device, while adults can listen for the history and local stories behind each stop. One earlier booking described an age range from 12 to 50 and found the activity suitable for a family group.

Still, this is not a scientific field study. The supplied information does not describe controlled tests, technical instruction, or a formal method for confirming paranormal activity. Think of the meter as a conversation starter and a prop for group participation. If you enjoy deciding for yourself what a strange reading means, you will get more from it than someone expecting hard evidence.

I would also ask your guide questions. What does the device detect? Can ordinary electrical sources affect it? Has the reading appeared at this location before? The best version of this tour gives you room to be curious instead of simply telling you what to believe.

Stories, pubs, and the limits of the experience

The guide leads you to haunted houses, pubs, cemeteries, and streets while explaining local paranormal lore. This mix keeps the walk from feeling repetitive. A cemetery offers a different mood from a crowded pub, and a house story can feel different again when you are standing outside the building in question.

You may be allowed to stop and buy drinks during the tour. That can be convenient, but it also means the group may pause at places with different age policies. Some bars allow children inside and some do not, so families should not assume every drink stop is suitable for younger members of the group.

The phrase paranormal investigation deserves careful attention. One booking from 2019 describes a serious mismatch: the participants expected to investigate but were told after reaching the third location that the guide would only tell stories. They left because they had already taken another conventional ghost tour.

That complaint matters because the central promise is not just haunted history. You are paying for a participatory investigation with equipment. Before departure, I would confirm that the current tour includes the EMF meter, paranormal detector, and group investigation described here. This is especially important if you have limited time or have arranged a special outing around the activity.

The experience can still work if you mainly want stories. A well-told account of New Orleans history, told while you walk through the French Quarter at night, has its own appeal. But you should not book it expecting a private building investigation, restricted-access cemetery visit, or guaranteed paranormal encounter. None of those features is promised.

Guide quality can shape the whole evening

The strongest part of this experience is likely to be the person leading it. Past bookings describe guides who were entertaining, polite, willing to answer questions, and well informed about the city and its past. Cody is named as a guide who made the tour fun and shared useful local context.

Those qualities matter more here than on a simple sightseeing walk. A paranormal guide has to balance stories, equipment use, group control, safety, and the mood of the neighborhood. A guide who invites questions can make a quiet reading interesting. A guide who rushes through the stops can make the same equipment feel like a gimmick.

The group may include families, couples, and people who take the subject seriously. A good guide should leave room for different reactions. You can enjoy the stories without claiming every cold spot is supernatural, and you can be open-minded without being pressured to believe.

There is one serious operational concern. One booking reported that the guide did not show up. The tour operator also notes that a departure may be canceled after confirmation if there are too few participants. If that happens, you may be offered another tour or a full refund, and contact can come by phone, text, or email during the hour before departure.

For that reason, I would avoid scheduling this immediately before an important dinner, show, or flight. Keep your phone on, check messages near departure time, and make sure the operator has the correct contact details.

Is $24 a fair price?

At $24 per person, this is priced as an affordable walking activity rather than a major attraction. The fee includes the local guide, the two-hour route, the stories, and access to the investigation equipment. There is no mention of transportation, food, drinks, or admission to private sites, so plan to pay for those separately if needed.

I think the price is fair if you want a social evening walk and enjoy the idea of using an EMF meter. You are getting a longer route through the French Quarter than a quick 60-minute story session, and the equipment gives the group a shared focus.

The value is weaker if you want a polished theatrical production, a guaranteed private interior visit, or a serious paranormal research session. The route is public and story-based, and the exact stops can vary. In that case, the modest price does not remove the risk of disappointment.

Private groups are available. That option could make sense for families, friends, or a birthday outing that wants a more personal pace. The supplied details do not state the private-group price or whether the full route changes, so ask before booking.

Practical details before you book

The tour lasts two hours and operates in English. Starting times vary, so check availability for the date you want. The route is on foot through the French Quarter, and the published description suggests a walk of more than 70 blocks.

I would wear supportive shoes, bring water, and carry only what you want for an evening walk. Since you may stop for drinks, keep in mind that not every bar allows children. The tour operator can refuse service to anyone who appears extremely intoxicated, and there is no refund if someone is removed for intoxication.

The cancellation information needs special care. One set of terms says you can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and another says all sales are final with a 100 percent cancellation penalty for any reason, including weather or other unexpected events. Because those terms conflict, confirm the exact policy attached to your booking before paying.

The same caution applies to the departure itself. Tickets are described as first come, first served, and the operator may cancel if too few people book. I would save the operator’s contact information, [email protected], and check your phone before heading to Bourbon Street.

Who will enjoy this French Quarter investigation?

I would recommend it to you if you enjoy ghost stories but also want something hands-on. The EMF meter, the paranormal detector, and the chance to ask questions make it more active than a standard storytelling walk.

It also suits families with older children and teenagers, provided everyone is comfortable with cemeteries, burial grounds, haunted stories, and nighttime walking. The earlier family booking included participants from age 12 upward, but no minimum age is stated for every departure. Confirm age rules if you are booking for children.

The tour may suit first-time visitors who want to see a broad section of the French Quarter while hearing unusual local tales. You get a neighborhood walk and a themed activity in one package. I would be more cautious if you have already taken a conventional New Orleans ghost tour and want access to locations that are genuinely new or private.

Most of all, book it for the atmosphere and participation, not for a guaranteed supernatural event. The experience gives you tools, stories, and places to examine. What you make of the readings is up to you.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if $24 feels like a reasonable gamble for a two-hour French Quarter walk with a local guide, ghost stories, and hands-on equipment. The strongest signs are the positive accounts of entertaining guides, clear answers to questions, and a family-friendly group experience.

I would confirm three things first: that the current departure includes the paranormal investigation rather than stories alone, that the guide will meet you at the courtyard gate outside Lafitte’s, and which cancellation policy applies. If those points are clear, this is a good-value choice for curious visitors who want a playful, participatory look at New Orleans after dark.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

Meet your guide 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.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts two hours.

What language is the tour offered in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

What equipment is used?

The guide uses an EMF meter and a ghost or paranormal detector. Participants may be able to see, hold, and ask questions about the handheld meter.

How many haunted locations will the tour visit?

The experience is described as visiting the top 10 haunted locations, while another description refers to a dozen locations. The exact number and order may vary.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. Because it is a long walking route through public streets, confirm current route details if you have specific mobility concerns.

Can children join the tour?

The information says some bars on the route allow children and some do not. A past family booking included ages from 12 to 50, but no universal minimum age is stated.

Can I cancel for a refund?

The activity information says you can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. A separate notice says all sales are final with a 100 percent cancellation penalty, so confirm the policy attached to your booking before purchase.