I waited in the wind in front of the Railroad Museum near The Strand. The website for Ghost Tours of Galveston had said that I should arrive fifteen minutes early, so I did. I’m the most punctual person you will ever meet. Not another living soul was there. The minutes ticked away, as I wondered if this was going to be a “bust.” A few people started arriving just before the tour time. But, where was this Dash Beardsley character, decked out in his black duster coat, who was supposed to lead the tour?
As the tourists got restless, a quiet and unassuming young woman stepped up and said, “I’m Stacey. I’ll be your tour guide.” My initial reaction was disappointment … I mean on the website it makes it seem like this very outlandish man was going to be leading the tour. That sounded like fun! Quite frankly, I didn’t think this child would live up to the hype.
That’s what I get for thinking!
Stacey was a wonderful guide and a darned good storyteller. She told us right off the bat that this was a “story” tour, and we probably would not be accosted by ghosts. Since I didn’t expect to see ghosts in a crowd, that was alright with me.
She began with the chilling history of Galveston from gruesome accounts of the days when the Karankawa Indians (who were reported to be cannibals) lived on the island to the tales of the pirate Jean Lafitte. Then began the tales of The Great Hurricane of 1900, which was one of the worst tragedies in this neck of the woods. We needed all that history in order to understand the ghost tales she would later tell us as we walked down the streets of Galveston.
The tour material is copyrighted, so I couldn’t use my Flip camera to video. In the dark I didn’t take many pictures. And, I don’t want to spoil the tour for any of you who might go on it by telling about any of the ghosts. Suffice to say, it was a delightfully engaging experience.
I had my Ghost Radar application on my iPhone, and just before each stop (where Stacey would tell another ghost story) the red dots began to flare on that radar screen. It made the trip more “chilling.” Again, I don’t know if that application is “real,” but you might want to look at some of the comments people have left on the post about Ghost Radar. They are telling me about their experiences with it.
As for Ghost Tours of Galveston, it’s supposedly rated the number two ghost tour in the United States. I haven’t been on enough ghost tours to verify that, but it was well worth my $15.00. Put it on your “bucket list,” if you enjoy this kind of activity.
Have you been on this tour before? Is there another haunted tour you’d recommend that I put on my bucket list? I’m going back onto the streets of Galveston tonight alone to visit the sites again. There is one place she told us about that we didn’t visit: a haunted bathroom in a local bar. I think I could manage to visit that bar … just for research purposes, of course.
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The only ghost tour I’ve ever been on was in London. It was the London Ghost Walk and was a very enjoyable tour. I might remind you it was the ‘original’ ghost walk. One would not want to confuse their ghosts.
After dark on cobble stones street, I could almost hear the stalking in the shadows of Jack the Ripper. That was one. I won’t share anymore for it is a most spine chilling tour.
.-= Anita´s last blog ..Sunny Saturday =-.
That’s one tour I would dearly love to take. But, I’d want to have someone with me. Jack the Ripper would frighten me!
Haven’t been on any Ghost Tours but it seems almost every single place I’ve travelled to has one. Hope it didn’t rain in Galveston like it did in Houston all morning long.
.-= Elizabeth´s last blog ..Seven Lakes HS Garage sale – L & R Designs is there! =-.
Not exactly a “ghost tour” but the “Real Mary King’s Close” in Edinburgh http://www.realmarykingsclose.com/ is very near the same thing as you tour beneath the “old city” with an entire “new city” above you.
.-= Jamie´s last blog ..5 On Friday – Bonnie Raitt =-.
Sounds like a fun one, too!
Saw this today, and knew you would enjoy it :
Five Dollar Friday
Blog readers send 950 ShelterBoxes to help disaster survivors
.-= Colorado Bob´s last blog ..3 Months Since the Fault Slipped =-.
I do like that one, Bob. Maybe I’ll get a chance to pass it along.
We are very flattered, Shelly, for the wonderful review!! Dash was, unfortunately, stuck in England during the Icelandic volcano eruption or else he would have been honored to have you on his tour with him personally!! Please give him a call in his office via his website http://www.ghosttoursofgalvestonisland.com and come as his guest for the most recently launched tours – “The Restless Spirits Tour” (the second tour on the Strand — a bit more dark and ghostly) and “The Mystery Island Tour,” a newly developed tour which includes partnering with Galveston Historical Foundation and their tram (holds 12 people each tour) which travels all over the island for spooky Galveston history. Looking forward to hearing from you soon!! — Staff of GTOG
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