River City: Spirits & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl

San Antonio’s haunted past comes with a drink in hand on this compact downtown walk. You’ll hear how Crockett Tavern was built on a battlefield, learn about a woman buried in wet cement at the Sheraton Gunter Hotel, and pause at places where phones and doors are said to act on their own.

I like the small group limit of 20, which should make it easier to hear the guide in busy downtown streets. I also like the mix of old hotels, theaters, and bars, plus guides such as Paul and Amorette, who bring humor, drink suggestions, and plenty of stories.

The main drawback is simple: your drinks are not listed as included, so the $36 price covers the guide and storytelling, not a full evening of cocktails. The tour also moves through several stops in about two hours, so anyone hoping for a long sit-down pub visit may find the pace brisk.

Key points to know before you book

• Six haunted stops in about two hours: You’ll move through downtown San Antonio, with roughly 10 to 15 minutes at each location.
• Crockett Tavern starts the story: The first stop connects the bar to a battlefield and sets the tone for the night.
• The route includes famous downtown buildings: The Emily Morgan Hotel, St. Anthony’s Haunt Bar, the Majestic Theatre, the Esquire Tavern, and the Sheraton Gunter Hotel all add different styles of ghost lore.
• Paul and Amorette are named guides: Paul is praised for humor and storytelling, while Amorette is noted for drink recommendations and an informal approach.
• Drinks cost extra: The experience includes an experienced guide and historical stories, but no drinks are listed among the inclusions.
• You return to the starting point: Meet at 320 Bonham at 6 pm, then finish back there after the crawl.

Why this haunted crawl works in San Antonio

The best feature here is the setting. You are not hearing ghost stories in a dark room built only for tourists. You are walking past real downtown buildings, stopping at old hotels, theaters, and drinking spots that already have a strong sense of place.

The supernatural claims are part of the fun, but the tour also gives you a reason to notice San Antonio’s older architecture after sunset. I like that the route does not rely on one haunted building. It moves from a battlefield-linked tavern to a hotel, a theater, and several bars, so the evening has some variety.

At $36 per person, the value depends on how much you want a guide to organize the night. You are paying for about two hours of company, local stories, and access to a planned route through several downtown locations. If you would rather buy drinks and explore on your own, the price may feel less attractive. If you want a ready-made evening with a guide and a small group, it is a fair rate.

The tour starts at 6 pm and ends where it begins. That makes planning easy. You can meet at 320 Bonham, enjoy the route, and avoid arranging a ride from a distant final stop. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability, and the maximum group size is 20.

320 Bonham and the battlefield tavern opening

The first stop is Crockett Tavern at 320 Bonham. This is where the evening begins, and the story centers on the claim that the tavern was built on a battlefield.

That detail gives the guide a strong opening. A tavern built over contested ground naturally invites stories about violence, loss, and restless spirits. You get about 15 minutes here, which is enough time for the guide to explain the setting without letting the first stop swallow the whole tour.

I would pay close attention during this opening section because it establishes the style of the crawl. This is not presented as a formal history lecture. It is a blend of local history, haunted accounts, and bar stops, delivered in a social setting.

Paul has been singled out for being funny and entertaining, so he sounds like a particularly good match for a night that needs energy from the start. You may also get another guide, including Amorette, whose style is described as informal and helpful with drink recommendations.

The Emily Morgan Hotel and small signs of activity

The route next reaches the Emily Morgan Hotel at 611 South Presa Street. You’ll spend about 10 minutes here, hearing stories about a phone that may ring and doors that may open on their own.

This is a shorter stop, and that works in its favor. The story is built around small, unsettling events rather than a long dramatic tale. A ringing phone or moving door leaves room for your imagination, especially when you are standing outside or near a functioning hotel.

The Emily Morgan stop also shows the range of the experience. Not every story involves a tragic death or a theatrical ghost sighting. Some rely on ordinary objects behaving in an unusual way. That gives the crawl a change of pace after the battlefield story.

Because this is a working hotel, you should treat the stop as a storytelling visit rather than an invitation to roam around freely. The provided details do not promise private access or a special hotel activity. You are there to hear the account, take in the building, and continue with the group.

St. Anthony’s Haunt Bar and the Lady in Red

At 300 East Travis Street, the group reaches the Haunt Bar at St. Anthony’s. This stop lasts about 15 minutes and adds a direct drinking element to the evening.

The featured story concerns a woman who took her own life after being left at the altar. The Lady in Red cocktail is named after her, giving the tale a menu connection rather than leaving it as a story told and forgotten.

You can order the cocktail if you want to make this stop part of your evening out, but the drink is not listed as part of the $36 booking. I would plan on paying separately for anything you order at the bars.

This is one of the more distinctive moments on the route because the story and drink are linked. It gives you a clear choice: listen to the legend and move on, or order the named cocktail and linger over the theme. The schedule allows about 15 minutes, so do not assume you will have time for a full meal or a long bar session at every stop.

The Majestic Theatre and old-stage spirits

The Majestic Theatre at 224 East Houston Street is one of San Antonio’s oldest theaters, and the tour presents it as a place with many spirits. You’ll spend around 10 minutes here.

A theater is a natural setting for ghost stories. It already has backstage legends, performers, audiences, and generations of people passing through the same rooms. The appeal here is less about ordering a drink and more about looking at a major downtown landmark through a darker lens.

The short stop keeps the route moving, but it also limits how much historical detail the guide can cover. If the Majestic interests you as a building, you may want to return separately for more time. On this crawl, it functions as one chapter in a larger evening rather than a full theater tour.

I like the change in mood. After the personal tragedy behind the Lady in Red, the Majestic shifts attention toward the building itself and the spirits associated with a long-running performance venue.

The Esquire Tavern after Prohibition

At 115 East Commerce Street, the crawl reaches the Esquire Tavern. The bar opened the day after Prohibition ended, and its long run has attracted plenty of patrons, along with the spirits associated with them.

This stop lasts about 15 minutes. The Prohibition connection gives the guide a useful historical hook, and it also fits the pub-crawl format better than a random bar stop would. You are not simply pausing for a drink. You are hearing why this particular place matters to San Antonio’s drinking culture.

The Esquire is a good place to think about the difference between historical fact and haunted tradition. The opening date after Prohibition is a concrete detail. The stories about spirits belong to the tour’s supernatural side. I appreciate that combination because it gives the evening some solid context beneath the ghost lore.

Again, budget for your own drink. The tour information names the guide and historical stories as included, but it does not list beverages, food, or admission charges as part of the booking.

The Sheraton Gunter Hotel and the wet-cement story

The final listed stop is the Sheraton Gunter Hotel. Here you’ll hear the story of a woman buried in wet cement, followed by claims of continuing spiritual activity.

This is the most striking story on the route. It has a grim, physical image that is easy to remember, and it gives the final stop a strong finish. You spend about 15 minutes here, enough for the guide to explain the story and describe the activity said to have followed.

The Sheraton Gunter also fits the crawl’s pattern of using places with different identities. You have seen a tavern, a hotel, a cocktail bar, a theater, and another historic drinking spot. The final hotel story brings the focus back to a building rather than a drink.

The supplied information does not promise a ghost-hunting session, equipment, photographs, or a guaranteed sighting. You should book this for the stories and atmosphere, not for proof of anything supernatural. That keeps expectations in the right place.

What the guides add to the night

The guide can make or break a walking pub crawl. You need someone who can keep the group together, explain the history clearly, and maintain a light tone when the stories become bleak.

Paul is specifically praised for being funny and entertaining while telling the stories. That matters because a two-hour crawl needs more than facts. You want a guide who can handle pauses, keep the mood social, and make each stop feel connected to the next.

Amorette is noted for creating an informal atmosphere, offering drink recommendations, and sharing a large amount of information. If you want help deciding what to order, her approach sounds useful. Still, the guide you receive depends on the date and staffing, so you should not assume a specific person is guaranteed unless confirmed directly.

The strongest guide style for this tour is probably one that treats the ghost stories as entertainment while still giving the buildings and streets some context. The positive comments about both humor and education suggest that the experience aims for that balance.

Timing, group size, and walking comfort

The crawl lasts about two hours and begins at 6 pm. The listed stops range from 10 to 15 minutes, so the pace is organized and fairly brisk.

The route is on foot through downtown San Antonio. The information does not give a total distance or detailed accessibility notes, so you should be prepared for a walking activity rather than a seated bar tour. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed.

A maximum of 20 people is a useful limit. It is not a private tour, but it is small enough that the guide should be easier to hear than on a large bus-style outing. If you have trouble keeping up with a group, need frequent rest breaks, or prefer long meals, this format may not suit you.

Public transportation is nearby, which helps if you do not want to drive into downtown. The activity ends back at 320 Bonham, giving you a fixed point for the rest of your evening.

Who will enjoy this experience most

I would choose this crawl if you like local stories, historic buildings, and a bit of theatrical fright. It suits couples, friends, and anyone who wants a planned evening that mixes sightseeing with bars.

It also works well for people who prefer ghost stories with a sense of humor. The themes include death, suicide, battlefield violence, and disturbing legends, but the guide style appears social rather than solemn.

You may want to skip it if you are looking for serious paranormal research, long visits inside each building, or drinks included in the ticket. The experience is a guided walk with stories and optional bar purchases, not a full dinner or a private investigation.

The free cancellation policy gives you flexibility if plans change. Cancel at least 24 hours before the 6 pm start for a full refund. Inside that window, the amount paid is not refunded, and changes are not accepted.

Should you book the River City Spirits and Spirits crawl?

Book it if you want an easy two-hour introduction to San Antonio’s haunted side, with a few historic bars and downtown landmarks along the way. The mix of stories is strong, the group cap is reasonable, and guides such as Paul and Amorette bring the humor and practical drink advice that this format needs.

Before booking, remember that the $36 covers the experienced guide and historical stories, not listed drinks. Bring money for cocktails or other purchases, wear comfortable shoes, and expect a moving route with short stops.

For a social night of ghost lore, old buildings, and optional drinks, I think the experience offers good value. For a slow pub evening or a serious hunt for paranormal evidence, choose something else.

FAQ

Where does the haunted pub crawl start?

The crawl starts at 320 Bonham, San Antonio, Texas 78205.

What time does the experience begin?

The start time is 6 pm.

How long does the tour last?

The activity lasts approximately two hours.

Where does the crawl end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point at 320 Bonham.

Are drinks included in the price?

Drinks are not listed among the inclusions. The included items are an experienced guide and historical stories.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 20 people.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.