With a history dating back to 1784, the waterfront village of Mystic, Connecticut is filled with spine-tingling tales.
Photo: Downtown Mystic Ghost Tour / Courtesy Viator.com
Ghost tours are an entertaining activity that offer a unique blend of history, culture and spooky storytelling. Mystic is a village steeped in history and its ghost tours offer a blend of local legends, folklore and historical facts. Visitors to Mystic can immerse themselves in the historic charm of the waterfront town while gaining insights into stories that have been passed down through the generations. All the tours on this list are operated by Seaside Shadows Haunted History Tours, a company that hosts spooky tours in Mystic and Westerly, Rhode Island. In addition to the three tours below, they host seasonal holiday tours, including a Haunted Christmas tour and a Bloody Valentine tour.
Downtown Mystic Ghost Tour
This tour has it all–from literary ghosts to the restless victims of massacres to friendly spirits. The two-hour walking tour fills the ears of participants with the dark, sordid and supernatural history of the New England seafaring village. Tales range from 17th Century warfare, turn-of-the-century murders, lost seafarers and scandalous happenings. The guide will regale guests with stories about Revolutionary War heroes, Civil War soldiers and industrial revolution figures–and which ones still haunt their hometown. It’s a tour that travels from the 17th through the 20th century and all around downtown revealing terrifying tales and remarkable history. You’ll visit the Mystic River Park, Anthony J’s Bistro, the Mystic River Bascule Bridge, Mystic Sweet Shop, Bank Square Books, 15 Water Street, Captain Daniel Packer Inne, and 12 Water Street. It’s a great way to learn about both history and the supernatural legends of this New England town. From $30 per person.
Mystic Moonlit Graveyard Tour
Photo: Moonlit graveyard tour in Mystic, Conn. / Courtesy Viator.com
For those looking for a chill as they learn their American history, they can hear the stories of fear, sickness and war in the Mystic, Conn. graveyards–and maybe even witness a haunting or two–on this moonlit graveyard tour. Gather at the Whitehall Burial Ground to learn about war heroes, abolitionists and even vampires who showed up during epidemic scares. Participants will learn about some of Mystic’s most famous residents. The guides have collected stories of bloody deaths, brave resistances and frightening accounts of trials and tribulations. The graveyard has been reputed to be the source of such hauntings as echoing footsteps, disembodied voices and full-bodied apparitions. The tales can be frightening and even gory, so they don’t recommend bringing children under the age of 11. They do recommend wearing comfortable, weather-appropriate clothes and bringing insect repellent and a flashlight. From $30 per person.
Paranormal Pub Crawl Beer Tour
Photo: Paranormal Pub Crawl in Mystic, Conn. / Courtesy GetyourGuide.com
Do you find paranormal stories a bit hard to swallow? Perhaps a mug of beer will ease the consumption. The 2.5-hour Paranormal Pub Crawl provides an evening of haunted stories and local beers. In the waterfront town of Mystic, even some of the pubs are haunted. Visit Bank & Bridge Brew Pub, Friar Tuck’s Tavern and Captain Daniel Packer Inne. While participants drink themed local beers, the experienced guides will share true ghostly tales and dark histories of downtown Mystic, including tales of the pubs and taverns themselves. Guests will get to sample a different flavor of Barley Head brews at each pub–with three beers (along with tax and tips) being included in the cost of the tour. The guide is equipped with a voice amplifier to make it easier to hear them as they explain why the specters still haunt this waterfront town and have done so since the 1700s. Wear comfortable shoes and make sure you bring an id card to prove you are of age. Pregnant women and those under 21 should pass on this tour. From $70 per person.