Asheville Ghost Tour: Riverside Cemetery & Montford Neighborhood

Two hours through graves, a murder hotel, and the spirits people swear still walk Asheville

This is a guided ghost tour of Asheville that walks through Riverside Cemetery and the Montford neighborhood, stopping at sites tied to local hauntings and historical crimes. The tour is the only one in the city that enters a cemetery, giving you access to the receiving vault and stories about the authors buried there, the mass murderer Will Harris, and spirits said to remain. The walk takes two hours and covers moderate ground. You'll also get recommendations for restaurants and bars that fit the ghostly theme.

Step-by-step itinerary

Ghost tour at Riverside Cemetery

• Start at Riverside Cemetery
• Learn about famous authors buried
• Hear stories of Will Harris
• Enter the receiving vault
• Photograph with spirits of German POWs

The experience

You start at Riverside Cemetery, where the guide walks you through graves of famous authors and explains the stories of spirits who haven't moved on. The receiving vault is part of the route (a real structure you can enter), and the guide shares details about Will Harris, a mass murderer whose drunken rampage left marks on the city's history. There's also the chance to be photographed with what locals claim are the spirits of German POWs, if you're willing. The cemetery itself is the anchor of this tour. No other ghost walk in Asheville takes you inside one.

From there the route moves into the Montford neighborhood and beyond, hitting the sites tied to Asheville's stranger stories. You'll hear about Zelda Fitzgerald at Highland Hospital, the Pink Lady haunting the Grove Park Inn, and the pauper graves at Riverside and Erwin. The guide also covers the murder hotel and the Brown Lights (a phenomenon that has puzzled the city for centuries) plus stories connected to the Basilica of St. Lawrence. Each stop is a real place with a documented history, and the guide connects them as a thread through the afternoon.

The walk covers moderate distance over two hours, so you'll want comfortable shoes and a reasonable pace. The guide wraps up with recommendations for where to eat and drink nearby, keeping with the ghost theme: a practical touch that turns the tour into a starting point for the rest of your evening in Asheville.

What’s included

• Guided tour through Riverside Cemetery and the Montford neighborhood.
• access to the receiving vault.
• stories about famous authors, Will Harris, Zelda Fitzgerald, and local hauntings.
• recommendations for themed restaurants and bars in Asheville.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to SundayDepartures at 17:00 and 18:00Last departure this season: 29 Nov

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (19 to 59 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Youth (11 to 18 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 20

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Asheville Free Walking Tours

Is this one for you?The guide delivers stories and history as you walk, so you'll follow comfortably at a conversational pace. This works well if you want ghost stories and local history without a rushed schedule or heavy physical demands beyond steady walking for two hours.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 18 years); Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the story behind the receiving vault at Riverside Cemetery?

The receiving vault is a real structure at Riverside Cemetery that the tour enters as part of the walk. The guide explains its history and purpose as part of the cemetery's operations, and it's one of the unique stops that sets this tour apart from other ghost walks in the city.

Who was Will Harris and why is he part of the tour?

Will Harris was a mass murderer whose drunken rampage is part of Asheville's documented history. The guide covers this crime and its impact on the city as one of the darker stories woven through the cemetery and neighborhood stops.

Does the tour really visit the Grove Park Inn and Highland Hospital?

Yes. The tour includes stops at both locations. You'll hear about the Pink Lady haunting the Grove Park Inn and stories about Zelda Fitzgerald connected to Highland Hospital, though the tour walks past these sites rather than entering them.

What are the Brown Lights and where do you see them on the tour?

The Brown Lights are an unexplained phenomenon that has baffled Asheville for centuries. The guide covers the history and theories behind them as part of the Montford neighborhood section of the walk, though the lights themselves are not guaranteed to appear during the tour.

How much walking is involved and what should I wear?

The tour is two hours long and covers the cemetery and Montford neighborhood on foot, requiring at least a moderate level of physical fitness. Comfortable walking shoes are essential, and you should be prepared for outdoor conditions.

Will I get recommendations for places to eat after the tour?

Yes. The guide provides recommendations for restaurants and bars in Asheville that fit the ghostly theme of the tour, giving you ideas for where to continue your evening after the walk ends.