Solvang: Ghost Hunting Tour with Real Paranormal Tools

Summary

Solvang ghost tour with hands-on paranormal tools and haunted tales

You’ll walk Solvang’s cozy streets after dark with real ghost-hunting gear in hand — EMF meters buzzing, dowsing rods twitching — while your guide shares eerie tales from locals and history alike. Listen for voices on the Spirit Box near haunted bakeries and finish with a simple closing ritual that leaves you feeling oddly connected to this side of Solvang most people never see.

What’s the experience like?

We met right by the Solvang Visitor Center — you can’t miss it, all those Danish rooftops and that faint smell of pastry in the air. Our guide, Mariah, was already holding a tangle of dowsing rods like she’d just come from some other century. She handed me an EMF meter (which buzzed in my hand — not sure if that was nerves or batteries) and told us about the founder’s ghost who apparently still lingers around these streets. I tried to picture him among all the tourists buying butter cookies. It’s weird how quickly you start noticing shadows once someone mentions ghosts.

We wandered down those neat little lanes, half-listening for footsteps that weren’t ours. The old Spanish Mission loomed in the distance — Mariah said it’s supposed to be one of the most haunted places here, but we didn’t go inside. Still, just seeing it in the dusk made my skin prickle a bit. At one point she pulled out this Spirit Box thing and let us listen as static crackled through the air; I swear I heard something that sounded like “leave” but maybe my brain was playing tricks. Someone else said they smelled pipe smoke near a bakery where nobody was smoking anything at all.

I liked how Mariah mixed up history with these wild stories — like a brothel upstairs from what’s now a wine bar, or how some restaurant staff still set an extra place for a guest who never shows up. There was laughter too (especially when I tried to pronounce “hygge” and totally failed), but sometimes we’d just go quiet together, listening for whatever might be out there. By the end, we did this little ritual to “close things up,” as she put it — nothing dramatic, just respectful. I’m not saying I believe in ghosts now, but walking back through Solvang after dark felt different than before. You know?

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Ghost hunting and historic Solvang tour

• Meet next to Visitor Center
• Hear ghost of Solvang founder
• View old Spanish Mission from outside
• Explore main streets of Solvang
• Pass by various historic sites
• Use ghost hunting tools on tour
• Hear haunted stories from locals
• Complete closing ritual

Top questions

Is this Solvang ghost tour suitable for kids?

The tour is recommended for ages 12+ due to mature themes like true crime and brothels; it’s not advised for children under 9.

Do we actually use real ghost hunting equipment?

Yes, you’ll get hands-on experience with EMF meters, dowsing rods, and a Spirit Box during the tour.

Does the tour enter any buildings or haunted sites?

No buildings are entered; you’ll explore Solvang’s main streets and view locations like the old Spanish Mission from outside.

Is this ghost hunting tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces on the tour are wheelchair accessible; transportation options also accommodate wheelchairs.

Where does the Solvang ghost tour start?

The group meets next to the Visitor Center in downtown Solvang.

Are service animals allowed on this tour?

Yes, service animals are permitted throughout the experience.

What’s included

Your evening includes use of dowsing rods at a haunted spot in Solvang, hands-on time with EMF meters as you walk historic streets, and a session using the Spirit Box with Estes Method led by your local guide before wrapping up with a gentle closing ritual together.