Austin Murder Walk
Description
Voted by the Austin Chronicle 2022 Critic's Choice "Best Nightlife Activity." In the year 1885 America’s first serial killer stalked the streets and alleyways of the young, emerging city of Austin. More terrifying than any ghost story, this monster brutally and systematically hacked eight women to death using an ax. For one calendar year, he terrified a city and came to be known as the “midnight assassin”. He was never captured and his identity remains a mystery or does it...? This tour is our longest at 1 hour 45 minutes and covers 2 miles of historic Austin including West 6th street, Guy Town, the Warehouse District and a drink stop at the iconic Driskill Hotel. The pace is leisurely and, in addition to a drink stop at the Driskill, (drinks not included), there are short rests along the journey. Join us on this exceptional true crime walking tour investigating exact crime locations and the various theories surrounding the midnight assassin. It’s a “killer” tour.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our expert guides will explain in detail how the iconic Driskill Hotel fits into the story of the "Servant Girl Annihilator". Built in the very year of the murders, 1885, you will be able to tour the lobby of this magnificent hotel and view the impressive portrait of its creator, Colonel William "Jessie" Driskill. (This stop is subject to the Driskill's rules and hours of operation and is available most, but not every night. However, all tours will see up close this beautiful hotel and learn of its history.)
Our expert true crime storytellers will escort your group through parts of the historic 6th street district in downtown Austin. Watch 6th street come to life as you view old photographs of how the street appeared during the time of the murders in 1885.
The Speakeasy Tavern at 412 Congress Avenue is a crucial stop to understanding one of the possible suspects of the servant girl murders. Our expert guides will escort you inside and explain how this location weaves into the tapestry of this true crime mystery. While at the Speakeasy, you have an opportunity to grab a drink from the bar and enjoy the history of the tavern. (Drinks not included)
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Not recommended for ages under 13.
Reviews(337)
The tour was excellent, we learned a lot of things on the history of Austin as well as enjoyed a good story telling about the midnight assassin.
Thank you so much for the great review! We’re thrilled you enjoyed learning about Austin’s history and the storytelling surrounding the Midnight Assassin—it’s one of our favorite stories to share. We’re so glad you had an excellent experience and hope to see you again on another tour soon! Best regards, Walking Tours of Austin
Our tour guide Will was amazingly knowledgeable and interesting. But be ready to walk and keep up! We had a group who showed up late, could not keep up, and would not read the room that they were repeatedly delaying the entire experience. A super interesting (and appropriately timed) two hour tour took three hours because of them. Our tour guide accommodated to the detriment of all other participants. If you cannot show up on time and walk 2 miles at a reasonable pace in the Austin heat, choose another tour so as to not negatively impact those who can.
Hi, Dara - Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re glad you found the tour interesting overall, though we’re truly sorry to hear that delays from other guests impacted your experience. We always strive to keep the tour moving at a comfortable pace and on schedule, while also being as accommodating as possible. That said, we appreciate you highlighting this—it helps us reinforce expectations around punctuality and group pace for future guests so everyone can enjoy the full experience as intended. We hope you’ll consider joining us again for a smoother experience next time. Best regards, Walking Tours of Austin
Jude was fantastic. It was super interesting and he was a great story teller
Thank you so much for the kind words! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the tour and that Jude made it such a memorable experience with his storytelling. We’ll be sure to pass along your compliments to him. We truly appreciate you joining us and hope to see you again on another tour soon! Best regards, Walking Tours of Austin
Great trip. Captain Max was friendly, easygoing and knowledgeable. Great weather, pretty sunset but also saw a lot of birds as well as the gorgeous homes around the lake. Would definitely book again.
So glad you enjoyed your tour, Jan! Best regards, Walking Tours of Austin
Tyler was amazing! He had us trying to figure out who the murderer was the entire time.
Thank you so much for the great review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a fun and engaging experience with Tyler—he loves keeping guests guessing and bringing the story to life. We really appreciate you joining us and hope to see you again on another tour soon! Best regards, Walking Tours of Austin
Tyler did a great job and I really enjoyed learning about Austin history through the context of this murder spree in 1885.
Thank you so much for the kind review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed Tyler’s storytelling and the way he connected Austin’s history to the events of 1885. He really enjoys bringing those stories to life, and we’re glad it made the experience memorable for you. We appreciate you joining us and hope to see you again on another tour soon! Best regards, Walking Tours of Austin
Jude was an excellent tour guide! I enjoyed listening to his English accent as he led us through the eight murders that took place in Austin in the late 1800s. He took us through the chronology of events, describing the scene and events in detail, yet without being unnecessarily graphic. He explained several different theories related to the killer’s identity and why he was never caught. Even though the weather wasn’t cooperative or pleasant, Jude made the evening both interesting and enjoyable. Highly recommend!
Thank you so much for joining us on Murder Walk Austin and for taking the time to leave such a detailed review! We’re thrilled to hear Jude made the tour so engaging and that you enjoyed his storytelling, historical detail, and thoughtful approach to the cases. We’re also glad he was able to keep the experience enjoyable despite the weather not cooperating—our guides always do their best to make the night memorable no matter what. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again on another tour soon! Best regards, Walking Tours of Austin
Tyler was so well-versed in the history of what happened here in Austin in the 1880s and he was very animated in his presentation. We got hit with pop up thunderstorms and a little wet but Tyler looked for places to stay as dry as possible and made the tour work even in the rain.
Thank you so much for joining us on Murder Walk Austin and for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful review! We’re thrilled to hear Tyler was so knowledgeable and engaging, and that he brought Austin’s 1880s history to life in such an animated way. We’re especially glad to hear he handled the pop-up thunderstorms so well and made sure the group stayed as comfortable and dry as possible while keeping the tour going smoothly. We truly appreciate your support and hope to see you again on another tour soon! Best regards, Walking Tours of Austin
Will did an excellent job in telling ghost stories. My son and I had signed up for the Murder Tour which got cancelled. We were offered the ghost tour...I don't believe in ghosts, but Will made th tour fun and interesting! It was filled with history and interesting facts. He also took the time afterwards with no prompting from us and have us information from the murder tour! This was extremely interesting. Thank you, Will! You did an awesome job!!
Thank you so much for joining us on the Ghost Walk Austin and for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful review! We’re thrilled to hear Will made the experience so fun and informative, and that he was able to bring Austin’s history and stories to life for you. We’re also glad he was able to share additional information from the Murder Tour afterward—he truly goes above and beyond for our guests. We appreciate your support and hope to see you again on another tour soon! Best regards, Walking Tours of Austin
Just a fantastic experience. Tyler was soo knowledgeable and passionate. Really brought the experience to life
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a fantastic experience. Tyler truly loves sharing his knowledge and passion, and we’re so glad that came through and helped bring the experience to life for you. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to him. Hope to welcome you back again soon! Best regards, Walking Tours of Austin
