Phantoms, Penance, and Poltergeists: Portland Ghost Tour
Description
Embark on a spine-chilling journey through Portland’s eerie streets with our engaging walking ghost tour! Guided by a seasoned local expert in haunted history, this tour leads you through historic sites rich in ghostly lore. As you wander through the historic district, you'll hear chilling tales of spirits that haunt iconic buildings, each with its own story of tragedy and mystery. Prepare for a mile-long trek through some of Portland’s most notorious haunted spots. Discover the sinister secrets of the Shanghai Tunnels, delve into the ghostly whispers at the Harlow Hotel, and feel the eerie calm of the Lan Su Chinese Garden. While we can't enter private buildings, the ground you walk on is steeped in supernatural history. Stay alert—ghostly presences might just reveal themselves as you navigate through these haunted locales. Join us for an evening of spine-tingling tales and historical intrigue, and experience the haunting side of Portland firsthand!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Once a luxurious haven for travelers, the Harlow Hotel has a dark reputation for spectral residents. Guests and staff have reported seeing shadowy figures and hearing inexplicable footsteps echoing through the halls. The hotel’s haunted history adds an eerie charm to its vintage facade.
The serene beauty of Lan Su Chinese Garden hides a ghostly presence beneath its tranquil surface. Visitors have encountered ghostly figures and heard whispers among the garden's lush landscapes. This historic garden's rich history and cultural significance are matched only by its spectral stories.
Beneath Portland's streets, the Shanghai Tunnels whisper tales of abduction and mystery. These hidden passageways were once used for illegal activities, and today they are reputedly haunted by those who met grim fates. The tunnels' shadowy corners and echoes of the past make for a chilling experience.
Old Town Pizza and Brewing sits atop a notorious brothel, where its spectral patrons are rumored to still roam. Employees and diners have reported ghostly apparitions and unexplained noises, adding a paranormal twist to their pizza night. The historic location makes it a hotspot for hauntings and ghostly encounters.
The Roseland Theater, a venue for lively performances, also hosts a different kind of audience—spectral figures from the past. Staff and visitors have reported seeing ghostly presences and hearing mysterious noises during and after events. The theater’s storied past adds an eerie layer to its vibrant atmosphere.
The Benson Hotel boasts opulent accommodations and a rich history, but it also hides ghostly tales. Guests have reported sightings of apparitions and unsettling encounters with the hotel’s former residents. Its grandeur is matched by the eerie energy that lingers in its luxurious halls.
The parking lot at this location has a grim reputation for unusual occurrences and spectral sightings. Those who have parked here late at night have reported strange sounds and ghostly apparitions wandering through the area. The lot’s history adds an unsettling atmosphere to its otherwise ordinary setting.
Kell’s Irish Pub is known for its lively atmosphere, but it also has a ghostly side. Patrons and staff have experienced strange happenings and sightings of apparitions that seem to linger from the pub's past. The blend of historic charm and supernatural activity makes Kell’s a unique stop on the haunted tour.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(360)
Brendan was fabulous-friendly and informative. We enjoyed the experience very much and can recommend it to others.
Thank you for the kind review, Patricia! We're delighted you had such a great experience with Brendan. It's wonderful to hear his friendly and informative approach made the tour memorable for you. Thanks again for recommending us, and we hope to have you back soon!
The guide was knowledgeable and entertaining and some of the stories were genuinely chilling. The tour gave a fascinating juxtaposition of modern downtown Portland and glimpses of some dark and painful moments in its past. I would recommend checking out an EMF detector; that added a lot to the stories, when the EMF detector spiked in areas which are said to be particularly paranormally active. It was interesting when the guide shared information about personal experiences and experiences by other guests on the tour. One thing I would recommend to the tour guides is that if there is particularly extreme noise pollution in the area where they're telling a story (during our tour, the problem was aggressively loud sidewalk power-washing outside the Roseland Theater), they should slightly move location rather than try to talk over the noise. It was really difficult to hear that story over the noise.
Thank you for such a thoughtful review, Alex! We're thrilled the tour gave you a fascinating look at Portland's darker history and that the EMF detector added so much to the experience. It's always fun hearing about guests' personal experiences and seeing what happens when the equipment gets involved! We also hear you on the noise issue—trying to compete with aggressive sidewalk power-washing is definitely not ideal. We'll share your suggestion with our guides so they can keep the storytelling clear and engaging. Hope to see you again!
A few things to keep in mind when considering this tour. This is not a tour of any buildings tunnels etc. You will be outside on sidewalks the entire tour. There are multiple longs stops where the tour guide is storytelling. Most of the stories have graphic or violent details. Be ready to walk, stand and listen a lot. Things that make it difficult to concentrate on the storytelling may diminish the experience. (That being said the guide was extremely animated and invested in the storytelling and history so even with the loud noise of Portland night life, it’s relatively easy to follow if you are invested.) Okay, all that stuff out of the way. The experience was great! Shawn was our tour guide and he kept his excited energy until the very end of the tour and beyond. I don’t know how he did it, 6 stars, seriously impressive. If you’re someone who enjoys history and/or any aspect of the paranormal, you will enjoy this tour. Again, the main value in this tour is being invested in the story and history itself. About equal amounts of walking/standing. Nothing inaccessible for really anyone though there are plenty of uneven surfaces on the sidewalks as well as street crossings so bring something stable and comfortable to wear. Start of the tour is right where it says, there are bathrooms and time to use them available if you show up 15 minutes early. Refreshments also available in the lobby. I won’t spoil any of the tour content just know if you don’t mind a little noise, some uneven surfaces, walking and standing for about an hour, and have any passion at all for history, paranormal, just appreciate storytelling. You will enjoy this tour if you come into it with the right expectations for the experience. Loved it, wife loved it. Definitely recommend if you’re visiting. IF YOU ARE GOING DURING SUMMER, GO AT NIGHT! IRS hot!
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a detailed review! We're delighted you loved the tour and that Shawn's storytelling, energy, and passion made the experience stand out. We especially appreciate your thoughtful advice about the walking, standing, outdoor setting, uneven sidewalks, city noise, and coming prepared to really settle in and listen to the stories. That's exactly the kind of insight that helps fellow travelers know whether this experience is right for them. We'll be sure Shawn hears about his well-earned 6 stars! And yes, if you're visiting Portland in the summer, a nighttime tour is definitely the way to go!
The tour didn’t follow the itinerary listed online. There were no real ghost stories or tales, just history, which would be fine if that were what it was advertised as. The tour also takes you through a very unsafe area with many homeless people and drug addicts. Incredibly boring, not worth the money, and isn’t even what it’s advertised as.
Thank you for sharing your feedback, Alex. We understand your concerns about the itinerary, storytelling, and the area where the tour took place. We want guests to have an experience that matches their expectations, and we appreciate you bringing this to our attention. Please email your booking ID to guestrelations@usghostadventures.com, and we'll share your feedback with our managers so they can review your experience and work toward a resolution.
Unfortunately, this tour did not meet our expectations. The tour guide was very nice but not a great story teller. I’ve been on many ghost tours and what makes them compelling is the guides ability to tell a good story, even if the story is enhanced. Our guide, while knowledgeable, simply did not know how to tell the stories that kept people interested. He stuttered a lot, which means he doesn’t have to stories down pat. We spent 30 min at the first stop in a not so nice neighborhood to hear about the Shanghai tunnels. And it wasn’t very interested. My friend and I ducked out before the last stop because it was already over an hour. The guide at the beginning did ask for permission to go over an hour in order to tell all the stories and that we would get out 10,000 steps in. Again( we barely walked and the stories were not good.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Jenn. We’re pleased to hear you found the guide nice and knowledgeable, but we understand that those qualities alone don’t make a ghost tour memorable. Strong storytelling, pacing, and atmosphere are a big part of the experience, and we appreciate your concerns about these areas. Please email your booking ID to guestrelations@usghostadventures.com, and we’ll have our managers review your feedback and work toward a resolution.
Pete was a knowledgeable tour guide who tied together the facts with the paranormal. He knows the area well and answered all our questions.
Thank you for the fantastic feedback, Michelle! We're thrilled Pete helped make your experience so memorable. There's so much fascinating history behind Portland's paranormal stories, and we're glad he was able to connect the dots while sharing his knowledge of the area. We truly appreciate you joining us and hope to welcome you back!
It really isn't all that paranormal. However the stories and history that were shared made this a fun excursion.
Thank you so much for your review, Joyce! We're thrilled you found the stories and history entertaining and enjoyed exploring Portland with us. While we understand you were expecting a little more paranormal activity, we're glad the experience was still a fun one. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back!
It was a good way to learn the history of the area. Brenden was very knowledgeable, personable and fun.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience, Jill! We're so happy Brenden made the tour informative, fun, and personable. There's so much fascinating history to discover, and we're glad you chose to explore it with us. Hope to have you back for another adventure soon!
Peter was an amazing guide! If you’re hesitant about going on a ghost tour, I highly recommend going. You will learn so much niche history of the city!
Thank you for such a wonderful review, Sarah! We're so happy Peter made you feel like a ghost tour was worth taking a chance on. There's so much unusual, hidden, and downright spooky history tucked around Portland, and we're thrilled you enjoyed discovering it! We'll definitely share your shoutout with Peter. Hope to have you back for another adventure!
Brendan was very knowledgeable about Portland’s history. I loved learning about all the ghosts and the stories behind them. I’m excited to come back to Portland and visit the Benson hotel to see if I can see any of the ghosts.
Thank you so much for the hauntingly good review, Sandra! We're thrilled Brendan made your Portland ghost tour such a memorable experience. We're glad you enjoyed learning about the city's ghosts and the stories behind them. And the Benson Hotel is definitely a fun place to keep an eye out for a ghostly encounter! We hope to welcome you back to Portland for another spooky adventure soon!
