Asheville Ghost Tour: Spirits of Depression & Prohibition

Five stops tour: Basilica architect, Battery Park murder, Flatiron footsteps, Pritchard fire, Depression ghost

A guided walking ghost tour through downtown Asheville after dark, led by a local historian who takes you to five haunted sites: the Basilica of St. Lawrence, Grove Arcade, Battery Park Hotel, Flatiron Building, Pritchard Park, and the Legal Building, where spirits tied to Prohibition, the Great Depression, and the Gilded Age are said to linger. Every tale is researched and documented history, not invention. You'll stand on the ground where these stories happened, though you won't enter private buildings. The tour runs 60 or 90 minutes depending on which option you choose.

Step-by-step itinerary

Asheville haunted walking tour

• Visit Basilica of St. Lawrence
• See Battery Park Hotel
• Stop at Grove Arcade
• Pass Flatiron Building
• Explore Pritchard Park
• Visit base of Legal Building

The experience

The tour starts in downtown Asheville after dark, moving through the Arts District on foot with your guide. You'll hear the story of the Basilica of St. Lawrence's architect, whose obsession with completing the building apparently didn't end with his death: visitors and staff have reported his presence still at work. At the Battery Park Hotel, the guide recounts the 1930s murder of a young woman killed during a storm, her spirit said to wander the halls in blood-stained pajamas. Each stop layers another chapter onto Asheville's hidden history.

The Grove Arcade, opened in 1929, sits at the center of the tour with its ornate architecture and a reputation for mystery that goes deeper than its elegant facade suggests. Nearby, the Flatiron Building carries reports of heavy footsteps, a wet rattling cough when no one is there, and a man's figure moving between floors and appearing in street-facing windows at night. Pritchard Park, the site of Asheville's former post office, holds the memory of a fire victim whose ghostly figure is said to wander late into the night. At the Legal Building's base, the guide connects the Great Depression to a spectral presence that lingers: a victim of that dark economic chapter whose story remains tied to the place.

Your guide is a seasoned local historian who has researched every account on the tour. The stories span Prohibition, the Gilded Age, and the Great Depression, grounding each ghost in documented history rather than folklore. Cobblestone and grassy areas appear along the route, and the tour is wheelchair and stroller accessible, though uneven surfaces are part of the downtown landscape. You choose between a 60-minute or 90-minute version at checkout.

What’s included

• Guided night-time walking tour led by a professional, knowledgeable local guide.
• visits to five haunted sites including the Basilica of St. Lawrence, Battery Park Hotel, Grove Arcade, Flatiron Building, Pritchard Park, and the Legal Building.
• researched and documented stories tied to Prohibition, the Great Depression, and the Gilded Age.
• choice of 60-minute or 90-minute tour length.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 19:00, 20:00 and 21:00

Book up to3h before

GroupUp to 35

Live guideEnglish

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.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Colonial Ghosts By Us Ghost Adventures

Is this one for you?Choose the 60-minute tour if you want the core haunted sites and stories in a single evening. Pick the 90-minute extended version if you prefer a slower pace through downtown and deeper dives into each location's history. Either way, you're walking with someone who knows Asheville's past and can answer questions as they come up, rather than following a recorded audio or reading plaques alone.

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Top questions

What happened at the Battery Park Hotel that makes it haunted?

A young woman was murdered in the Battery Park Hotel during a storm in the 1930s, and her spirit is said to wander the halls wearing blood-stained pajamas. The guide recounts this documented tragedy as one of the tour's central stops.

Is the Grove Arcade actually one of the stops on this tour?

Yes, the Grove Arcade is a major stop. Opened in 1929, this iconic Asheville landmark with ornate architecture is featured for its rich history and the mysteries beneath its elegant exterior.

Can I choose how long the tour lasts?

The tour comes in two lengths: a 60-minute version or a 90-minute extended version. You select which one suits your schedule when you book.

Will we go inside the buildings where these hauntings happen?

No, you won't enter privately owned buildings. The tour takes you to the exterior of each site (the ground, the streets, the parks), where the stories are rooted, and your guide tells the history from there.

What kind of physical fitness do I need for this walking tour?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The route covers downtown Asheville on foot with some cobblestone and grassy areas, though the tour is wheelchair and stroller accessible overall.

Are the stories on this tour based on real history or just local legends?

Every tale told on the tour is intensely researched and documented history, not invented folklore. The guide draws from Asheville's real past during the Great Depression, Prohibition, and the Gilded Age.