Whispers on Whiskey Row: Murder, Crime, & Ghost Tour w/Cocktail
Overview
Available languages
1 hour 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Step into the past on a haunting journey through the true story of the "Graveyard of the West". As the sun sets and the city’s vibrant façade fades, you'll uncover the sinister secrets and chilling tales that lurk beneath the city's storied streets.
One part ghosts, one part grisly history, this guided 1.5-hour walking tour through downtown unveils the darkest corners of Louisville’s gruesome past, where the echoes of bygone eras whisper tragic tales of the forlorn, the oppressed, the betrayed, and the ruthless.
From a ghost that still haunts a glamorous hotel to the tragic riots of Bloody Monday, you’ll trace the cursed footsteps of criminals, mobsters, bootleggers, enslavers, and murderers in the city streets they once roamed – and the spirits whose souls never left.
For thrill-seekers, true crime fans, and lovers of the macabre, this dark history & ghost tour is a journey into the stories that lie beneath Louisville’s charming exterior. Dare to listen to the shadows with us.
Additional Info
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 pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
We will make 1 stop for drinks and bathrooms.
Louisville Food Tours is proudly locally owned and operated.
This tour shares true, well-researched history, including stories of marginalized and oppressed communities, such as Black history and Louisville’s role in slavery and the Underground Railroad. Some stories are unsettling, as they reflect the difficult realities of the past. If you are not comfortable engaging respectfully with these histories or with people of diverse identities, this may not be the right tour for you.
Our tours are designed to be welcoming and inclusive for all guests. Discriminatory, racist, or homophobic behavior will not be tolerated, and guests who engage in it may be removed from the tour without a refund.
Not recommended for anyone with difficulty walking or standing for 1.5 hours
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
The Belvedere
You'll begin your tour at a statue commemorating Louisville's famous founder. But is he really deserving of his unblemished reputation? And who else might have a tale to tell about Louisville's role in our country's early days and westward expansion?
Louisville's iconic historic steamboat has seen over 100 years of history and change. What whispered stories might she tell about the murky waters of the Ohio River?
What‘s Included
1.5 miles of walking outdoors, with 2 bathroom stops
Your expert guide will provide audio headsets to help you hear each thrilling tale told on this tour.
1 Cocktail in a haunted bar (Beer & mocktails also available)
Gratuities
Transportation
Food
Actual ghosts (but if you see one let us know!)
Indoor exploration. This is a walking tour, and we will not be entering private buildings
Options
Whispers on Whiskey Row: Murder, Crime, & Ghost Tour w/Cocktail
Reviews
191 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Recommended!
T2165YGlesliel,,Jan 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fun tour! Jodi shared lots of local history and fun ghost stories. The food and drink were all good, and it was fun to be exposed to new cocktails.
Fantastic Tour
Curiosity57385945092,,Jan 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jodi was amazing and hilarious. Very knowledgeable and the tour was unique and well thought out. The destinations, drinks, food, and stories were enjoyable.
Best Time on a tour
north305,,Jan 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Hannah was perfect. She was very knowledgeable about Louisville history and all her stories were very entertaining. Loved the cocktail stop. Would highly recommend this tour.
Excellent
debracL4069MT,,Jan 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Anna was our tour guide and she was awesome. She done a great job telling the history. I definitely recommend Anna as your tour guide.
Awesome Tour
smw275,,Nov 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great time! Our tour guide was fantastic! It was fun to visit OSHEAS and we would and surely recommend this to our friends!
Interesting and fun.
Amy N,,Nov 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great history lesson. Lots of neat places to take pictures. Cool experience if you want something different than a movie bowling or other Saturday night fun
Not what we expected!
280leonardn,,Nov 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00The tour did not meet our group's expectations. We were hoping to hear about the darker side of Louisville's history and some ghost stories. However. the tour guide's narrative was quite opiniated, which made my group uncomfortable enough that we decided to end the tour early at the pub stop. Interestingly, the waitstaff at O'Shea's shared far more engaging and appropriate ghost tales and the dark history of Louisville, including stories about the The Waverly Hills Sanatorium. Additionally, while the tour included a complimentary alcoholic beverage, the selection was limited to a few specific cocktails that did not appeal to me or many of the tour participants. I recommend clarifying this in your marketing material. Overall, I believe this experience could have been enjoyable with a more suitable guide and a broader range of drink options.
Fun time but conflicting weather policy information.
U7769NHsarac,,Nov 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Interesting history and good stories! Our guide was knowledgeable. The stop in the middle of the tour was a cozy bar where the guide told us stories about the building. Some great spooky history! Our group didn't continue after the stop because it was pouring down rain and we were all soaked and cold. I checked the cancellation policy the day before the tour and it reads "This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund." I hoped the weather would clear but when it didn't I inquired about the status of the tour earlier on the day of the tour, assuming it would be canceled, because of the continuous heavy rain but the guide informed me it was "rain or shine". Our group enjoyed the first half of the tour and would have loved to have finished the tour if the weather had been better.
Poor tour guide
Michelle E,,Nov 2, 2025
- Review from Viator
1.00Hannah interjected her sexual orientation and political views into her history lessons. Never really got around to ghosts. We left the tour at O’Shea after her sobbing twice about her bad day.
Hannah
Steve K,,Nov 2, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Host was fantastic., tour was fun. Cocktails were at a nice spot. Will do the tour again. Highly recommend for coues and groups.
From US$65.00
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Operated by Louisville Food Tours