New Orleans Paranormal Investigation

New Orleans is famous for haunted tales, and this two-hour French Quarter walk gets to them quickly. You’ll begin near Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, then follow a guide through old streets, reported haunted sites, and places linked to murders, vampires, spirits, and strange sensations. An EMF meter adds a hands-on touch, though no ghost sighting is promised.

I like the tour’s friendly storytelling approach and the chance to cover a broad slice of the Vieux Carre rather than sit in one location. I also like the optional to-go cocktails, which fit New Orleans well and let you set your own spending. The main drawback is that this is an outdoor walking tour, not a private investigation inside haunted buildings, and equipment may not always work.

Key points to know before booking

• Starts at 941 Bourbon Street: Meet on the sidewalk by the courtyard gate attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, not inside the bar.
• Covers more than a dozen reported haunted locations: The route can include streets, balconies, bars, hotels, churches, cemeteries, apartments, morgues, and bathrooms.
• An EMF meter may be available: You must request and check out equipment at the start, and damaged or missing gear carries a $250 fee.
• The tour is entertainment, not a guarantee of ghosts: You may feel a cold spot or see an unusual photo, but paranormal activity is not promised.
• Optional drinks add a New Orleans twist: To-go alcoholic drinks can be purchased along the route at your own expense.
• Allow one to two hours: The walk is normally moderate paced, but bar stops and crowds can make it longer.

Walking into New Orleans’ haunted quarter

The most interesting part of this experience is its setting. The French Quarter is not a staged attraction with painted scenery. You walk through a living neighborhood, passing old buildings, balconies, bars, churches, sidewalks, and courtyards while hearing stories attached to the area.

That gives the tour a useful sense of place. A ghost story becomes more memorable when you are standing on the actual street connected with it, even if you remain unsure about the supernatural claims. The guide’s job is part storyteller, part group leader, and part paranormal host.

Ashli Fisher is one guide associated with this experience, and a particularly enthusiastic account describes her as energetic and full of stories about hauntings, vampires, murders, and the French Quarter. The company is operated by Dustin and Ashli Fisher, so the tone may feel personal rather than corporate.

The tour begins at 941 Bourbon Street. Look for the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. You do not meet inside the bar, and the tour company is not affiliated with the business at that address. Arrive several minutes early, because the guide leaves at the scheduled departure time and cannot stay behind to answer calls.

What the first French Quarter stop adds

The opening location is described as a former mass burial ground, with reports of cold spots, apparitions, and orbs. That is a strong way to start because it introduces the kind of evidence and sensation the tour will discuss: temperature changes, visual anomalies, and unexplained activity.

I would treat those reports as local folklore and personal claims, not proven facts. That does not make the stop pointless. The value is in hearing how New Orleans stories form around places, how investigators interpret a sudden chill, and how a guide separates ordinary surroundings from something that feels unusual.

The first section also introduces the EMF meter, a device used to detect electromagnetic fields. You may be allowed to handle paranormal equipment during the walk, but you need to request it during check-in and provide your name, phone number, address, and booking reference number. The equipment is marked and tracked, and a $250 fee applies if a piece is lost, damaged, or not returned.

That rule is worth taking seriously. If you want to use the meter, carry it carefully, follow instructions, and hand it back before leaving the group. The equipment is an extra feature, not a reason to expect scientific proof.

Jackson Square and the wider investigation

The route finishes in the Jackson Square area after moving through much of the 78-block French Quarter. The advertised scope is broad, with more than a dozen locations along public streets and sidewalks.

You might pass sites connected with:

• Haunted houses and apartments
• Bars and pubs
• Hotels and galleries
• Cemeteries and churches
• Balconies and sidewalks
• Morgues and bathrooms

That list tells you what kind of outing this is. You are not entering a single preserved mansion for a long investigation. You are moving from place to place, hearing short accounts and looking for odd readings or sensations along the way.

Some stops may be more atmospheric than others. A darkened side street or old church can create a stronger mood than a busy bar or public sidewalk. At the same time, the changing surroundings keep the experience from becoming repetitive. You see different corners of the French Quarter while the guide ties them together through local stories.

The tour takes place on public property. You will not gain entry to private homes, apartments, or restricted buildings, and you should not ring doorbells or trespass. That is important in the French Quarter, where residents live among the restaurants, bars, and sightseeing routes.

Storytelling is the heart of the tour

The strongest reason to book this experience is the guide-led storytelling. The route gives the stories structure, but the guide’s delivery will shape your night.

Ashli Fisher has been described as exuberant and willing to share a large number of tales during the walk. If your guide has a similar style, expect a lively mix of murder stories, vampire lore, haunted buildings, and accounts of paranormal activity. This should suit you if you enjoy a little theatrical energy and do not need every story presented as hard fact.

One important point: the tour does not promise that you will see a ghost. The company specifically states that it cannot make a supernatural being appear and that all tours are for entertainment. You may capture an unusual photo, feel a cold spot, or see an EMF reading, but you could also finish with nothing that seems paranormal.

That honest warning helps set the right expectation. Book it for the stories, atmosphere, and chance to experiment with simple equipment. Do not book it as a guaranteed encounter with a spirit.

A walking tour with an optional drink stop

The tour allows you to purchase to-go cocktails along the route. Alcoholic drinks are not included in the $35 price, so you control the extra cost.

This can make the evening feel more connected to New Orleans nightlife, but it also affects the pace. The company notes that tours usually last from one to two hours, with delays possible when bars are crowded. A stop that sounds brief on paper can take longer in a busy French Quarter venue.

You are allowed to drink during the tour, but the guide can refuse service to anyone who becomes extremely intoxicated. If your behavior leads to removal or cancellation, no refund is offered. I would keep the drink optional, take it slowly, and remember that you still need to walk with the group.

To-go windows are available for anyone who does not want to enter a bar. This is useful for under-18 participants, since not every bar permits children. Children under 18 need a parent or guardian unless a guide authorizes another arrangement.

Is $35 a fair price?

At $35 per person, the tour is reasonably priced for a guided evening walk in the French Quarter. The fee includes the local guide and admission to the tour itself. There is no hotel pickup, so you need to make your own way to Bourbon Street and from Jackson Square afterward.

The value depends on what you want. If you like ghost stories and would enjoy a broad tour of the French Quarter, $35 buys a focused introduction without committing to a long museum visit or an expensive dinner show. The optional EMF meter gives you something interactive to try.

If your main goal is a serious paranormal investigation inside historic buildings, the value is weaker. The tour stays on public property, and you should not expect extended access to private haunted locations. One unfavorable account also describes the equipment as nonfunctional after being dropped, which shows why you should think of the meter as a bonus rather than the central product.

The company caps the group at 28 people. That is not a tiny group, but it is smaller than a large open city walk. A smaller departure can feel more personal, especially if the guide has time to answer questions. On the other hand, a full group may make it harder to hear in noisy areas or get a turn with the equipment.

Pace, streets, and practical comfort

This is a moderate-paced walking tour. The French Quarter has old, uneven, and sometimes dilapidated streets and walkways, so wear shoes that give you steady footing. The company accepts no responsibility for injuries caused by the route, and you are expected to follow directions and stay with the group.

You should also prepare for New Orleans weather. The tour operates rain or shine, and the company warns that conditions can be very hot or quite cold. Dress for the forecast, bring water in warm weather, and carry rain protection when needed.

Audio and video recording devices are not allowed during the tour. Photos are encouraged, but you cannot walk away from the group to take them, and the guide cannot stop the whole route for individual photo breaks. Keep your camera ready, take quick pictures, and remain on the sidewalk with everyone else.

The route ends around Jackson Square rather than returning to Bourbon Street. That is convenient if you want to continue toward the riverfront or central French Quarter, but plan your next stop from the ending point. Since there is no hotel transportation, this is best for you if you already have plans in or near the French Quarter.

The booking rules deserve attention

The tour requires careful timing. The departure is scheduled, and late arrivals are not refunded. If you may be delayed, contact the operator before departure. The company may be able to help you join a later departure if space is available, but that is not guaranteed.

Provide an accurate working mobile number when you book. Text messages are the main way the operator sends updates about delays, cancellations, or changes. Times can shift because of traffic or local conditions.

The experience is generally non-refundable and cannot be changed for personal reasons. If the operator cancels because minimum numbers are not met, you may be offered an alternative or a full refund. If the company cancels for certain weather or other serious conditions, prepaid bookings may receive credit for a future tour. Since the terms are strict, I would not make this your only plan on a tightly scheduled evening.

One poor account describes arriving early, waiting, and receiving no tour or refund. The operator disputed that account and suggested a date, time, or meeting-point mistake. The practical lesson is simple: check the date, time, address, and phone number before leaving, and stand at the correct Bourbon Street meeting point. Booking five days ahead is the average, but the cutoff for reservations is one hour before departure, and minimum numbers can still affect a confirmed tour.

Who will enjoy this experience?

I would recommend this walk to you if you fit one or more of these descriptions:

• You are visiting New Orleans for the first time and want an easy introduction to the French Quarter.
• You enjoy ghost stories but are comfortable with a mix of folklore, entertainment, and claimed paranormal evidence.
• You prefer a moving tour over sitting in one building.
• You like the idea of trying an EMF meter without paying for a full investigation.
• You want an evening activity that can include an optional drink stop.
• You enjoy lively guides and dramatic stories about murders, vampires, and haunted places.

I would be more cautious if you need quiet, formal historical interpretation, guaranteed access to buildings, or a fully controlled indoor experience. It is also a poor fit if uneven walking, heat, cold, rain, or a strict no-refund policy would cause problems for you.

Most participants can take part, and service animals are allowed. The tour is near public transportation, but the information provided does not promise a specific vehicle arrangement or hotel transfer.

Should you book the New Orleans Paranormal Investigation?

Book it if you want a reasonably priced, story-driven walk through the French Quarter with a chance to use paranormal equipment and buy a to-go cocktail. The broad route, local setting, and energetic guide style make it a good first taste of New Orleans ghost lore.

Skip it if your idea of paranormal investigation means entering haunted buildings, using a full set of reliable equipment, or receiving proof of supernatural activity. The best way to approach this tour is with curiosity and a sense of humor. You may feel a cold spot or capture an odd image, but the guaranteed experience is the walk, the stories, and the atmosphere of the old quarter.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

Meet 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 go inside the bar to check in.

Where does the tour end?

The tour concludes in the Jackson Square area of New Orleans.

How long does the tour last?

The advertised duration is about two hours, but the company states that tours can last from one to two hours. Delays at busy bars may make the walk longer.

What is included in the price?

The $35 ticket includes admission to the walking tour and a professional local guide.

Are drinks included?

No. Alcoholic drinks are not included, but you can purchase to-go drinks along the route at your own expense.

Will I definitely see a ghost?

No. The company states that paranormal activity is not guaranteed and that the tour is for entertainment purposes.

Can I use paranormal equipment?

Yes, paranormal equipment may be available, including an EMF meter. You must request and check out the equipment at the beginning, then return it before leaving. A $250 fee applies to lost, damaged, or missing equipment.

What happens if I arrive late or need to cancel?

Tours leave at the scheduled time, and late arrivals are not refunded. The experience is non-refundable and cannot normally be changed. If the operator cancels because minimum numbers are not met, you may be offered an alternative or a full refund.