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(343)
Amazing! Our tour guide was a gentleman from London that was so educated on the topic It felt like an interactive movie. It’s a great way to walk around and get familiar with the city. Would highly recommend!!
The best guide there is!!! Very knowledgable and he (Will) went above and beyond when he didn't have to. My kids and I had a wonderful experience and I’d recommend the tour for any murder mystery enthusiasts!
Jude was amazing. It was very informative and thought provoking.
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear Jude made your experience so enjoyable. His passion for storytelling and Austin's history shines through, and we're glad you found the tour both informative and thought-provoking. We truly appreciate your support and hope to see you again on another Walking Tours of Austin adventure! Best regards, Walking Tours of Austin
This was such an interesting experience! Will, our guide, was incredibly knowledgeable about the history of Austin and the murders that took place in the 1880s. The walk was long but not bad at all. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes!
Thank you so much for your review! Our true crime, special, Murder Walk Austin, covers the events of 1885, when America's first serial killer stalked the streets of Austin. It's a little known, but very important event in Austin's past. We are thrilled that you enjoyed your tour and we agree. Will is fantastic :-) please come back and see us again soon! We do appreciate your review so much.. Best regards, Touratx.com
Our guide was wonderful! Learned so much and our guide was so into what he’s was talking about that it was very engaging. Really enjoyed the little stop half way through at a hotel to cool down and grab a drink
Thank you for the wonderful review, Brenda! We're so glad you enjoyed Murder Walk Austin and had such a positive experience with your guide. Our guides truly love sharing Austin's history, and it's great to hear their enthusiasm made the tour engaging and memorable for you. We're also happy you enjoyed the midway stop at the hotel. That break gives guests a chance to cool down, relax, and enjoy a drink while taking in a unique piece of Austin history before continuing the tour. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to see you again for another evening of fascinating stories! Best Regards, Walking Tours of Austin
It was a fun, unique experience, and we learned a lot of Austin history and fun facts about Texas while walking to the sites of these horrible murders. It's not quite as morbid as it sounds, but it's not for the young or the sensitive because the crimes were really terrible. Our guide was Will, and he was great!
Thank you for the fantastic review! We're so glad you enjoyed Murder Walk Austin and found it to be a fun and unique way to explore Austin's history. The stories on this tour are certainly dark, but we strive to present them with historical context, fascinating details, and respectful storytelling. We're glad you enjoyed learning about Austin and Texas history along the way. We'll be sure to share your kind words with Will. His knowledge and passion for storytelling help bring these true stories to life in a memorable and engaging way. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to see you again on another Walking Tours of Austin adventure! Best Regards, WTA
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
