San Diego Gaslamp Ghosts and True Crime Walking Tour

4.9 (29 reviews) San Diego, USA
  1. Home
  2. Activities
  3. San Diego
Duration1h 30m
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Group sizeUp to 20 travelers

Overview

Discover the dark side of San Diego on this ghost and true crime walking tour of the historic Gaslamp Quarter: the crime, the scandal, and the ghost stories that outlived them.

With a small group, walk the old Stingaree, San Diego's red-light district, where gambling halls, brothels, and bought-off cops ran the show. Visit some of the most haunted places in San Diego, including Room 309 at the Horton Grand Hotel, the Balboa Theatre where unexplained movement is reported in the basement, and a block that was once the city morgue.

The night ends at the Davis-Horton House, downtown's oldest building and the county's first hospital, where visitors report symptoms of long-gone diseases. It's widely considered the most haunted building in the Gaslamp.

Perfect for history buffs, paranormal fans, true crime lovers, and anyone looking for a spooky date night in San Diego.

Options

90 Minute Tour Option

Public Tour Option: San Diego's highest rated public tour that runs daily uncovering the Ghosts and True Crime stories of the cities past.

Private Tour Upgrade

Private Tour: A tour exclusively for you and your group. This option is perfect for large families and corporate events.

What's included

  • Local recommendations
  • Professional storytelling guide
  • Gratuities

What to expect

  1. Horton Plaza Park
    20m
    Meet your guide at Horton Plaza Park in downtown San Diego, beside the 1910 Broadway Fountain. The plaza sits at the north edge of the Gaslamp Quarter and is easy to reach from the trolley and nearby parking. We start with how this neighborhood went from a frontier town to the Stingaree, San Diego’s old red-light district.
  2. Balboa Theatre
    10m
    The Balboa Theatre opened in 1924 and is one of the Gaslamp Quarter’s grand old landmarks, and it still hosts shows today. People who work there at night talk about voices in the basement dressing rooms when nobody is down there, and a few crew members have refused to go back. We stop outside to hear their stories.
  3. Yuma Building
    10m
    The Yuma Building went up in 1888. It’s one of the oldest brick buildings in the Gaslamp, and it once ran as a brothel in the heart of the Stingaree. Here we cover the 1912 police raid that put the district’s women on a train out of town. We also get into the crooked cops, politicians and madams who kept the place running for decades.
  4. 10m · Admission ticket not included
    From the sidewalk, Prohibition Lounge looks like a law office, but behind the unmarked door is one of the best speakeasy bars in the Gaslamp Quarter. Local lore says this spot was San Diego’s city morgue in the 1860s, and bartenders closing up late say they never feel alone. We stop outside. Drinks aren’t included, but it’s a great place to come back to after the tour.
  5. 20m
    The Horton Grand is a Victorian hotel from the 1880s and one of the most haunted places in San Diego. Most of the activity is in Room 309, where guests report shaking beds, wardrobe doors swinging open and lights turning on by themselves. The ghost is said to be Roger Whittaker, a gambler killed in the 1800s, and we’ll tell you why he never checked out.
  6. Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House
    20m · Admission ticket not included
    The tour ends outside the Davis-Horton House, the oldest surviving building in downtown San Diego. It was built in 1850, became the county’s first hospital and is now the Gaslamp Museum. Many locals call it the most haunted building in the Gaslamp Quarter.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Your tour guide will be waiting to the east of the Broadway Fountain closer towards the sidewalk — 900 4th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101 (corner of 4th & Broadway). Open, well-lit public square, easy to find after dark.

End point

Your tour will end near the Gaslamp Museum, a very well lit and central area a couple blocks from where the tour started.

Additional information

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Specialized infant seats are available
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Unfortunately, we will not be entering any building

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

4.9 (29)
From
$29.00 per person
Check availability & book
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts
  • Instant confirmation
  • You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.
Operated by Fable Hospitaity · Booked through Viator
More activities in San Diego
From
$29.00 per person
Check availability