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(350)
The worst tour ever! Our guide had no idea what he was talking about. This was not a ghost tour. It was just a guy rambling nonsense.
Hello Amneet, thank you for bringing these issues to our attention. This tour did not meet our normal standards and we'd like to pass this along to our managers immediately. Our guides are expected to provide a professional and entertaining tour for our guests, and this is extremely disappointing. We will be in touch with you as soon as possible with a resolution. Thank you.
Phantoms, Penance, and Poltergeists. Nope. Didn't talk about this. We started off on the wrong foot. First off, you're expected to arrive at a hotel restaurant 15 minutes before start. This hotel is in a sketchy part of Portland. No better way to put it. Then the restaurant is closed. You have to enter through the hotel lobby. But the lobby is locked. So we sit on the stoop. Eventually the front desk clerk comes out and lets us in. By this time it's 3 minutes before start. Then the guide calls. Her bridge is closed so she's going to be 15 minutes late. (She lives one mile away). I guess she doesn't have to be there 15 minutes late. As she walked in the door she starts telling us what a lousy day she has and all about her panic attack. (don't care). She gave an "EMF" detector to a young couple that paid for one. Then she tells them that it's not a real EMF detector, because she has a real one. This one is just an electricians tool. Next we step outside and she spends 10 minutes talking about her daughters and a ghost tour she went on in San Diego (remember, we're in Portland). No stories about the hotel we met at. We walked several blocks before she stops at the back of a building. She tells us that we would recognize it if we went around front (don't know why we didn't go around front). She tells us about 4 types of ghosts and then we keep walking. Not sure why we stopped there. While we were walking she talks about hauntings around Portland at places we won't see. Again, not sure why. Most tours take safety very seriously. Keep the group together. Cross together. Not here. We were spread out and she kept crossing without getting the group together. We had a choice, dodge traffic or get further spread out. The tour kept going like this, but you get the gist. We actually walked out early. Just not worth the mileage.
Hello, thank you for bringing these serious issues to our attention. This guide's behavior is unacceptable and we'd like to investigate this further and correct the situation. Please reach out to guestrelations@usghostadventures.com with your booking information, so that we can pass this along to our managers. We look forward to making this right.
Sunny was informative and personable guide. We had never been to Portland before so we didn’t know what to expect of the tour. She brought us through Old Chinatown at dusk. I did not feel uneasy at any point during the tour.
It was a very good tour the hosting very knowledgeable on the history of Oregon it's amazing and I highly recommend it and I would definitely add on the extra four places it's worth it.
Thank you so much, April! We’re delighted to hear you had such a good time and that your guide’s knowledge of Oregon City’s history made the tour even more enjoyable. It’s wonderful that you found the extended experience worth every minute. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back again soon!
It was more of a history lesson than a ghost tour. So not creepy at all. A lot of interruptions by homeless individuals.
What a great experience! Brandon was so knowledgeable and such a great storyteller! The tour was a little longer than we expected, but it didn't matter because everything was so informational and fun! I highly recommend this experience, if you want a great way to discover the history of Portland and get to know about some of the hauntings!
Peter was great! Portland was full of homeless street people. Loved the Benson Hotel, very spooky. Want to come back.
Brendan, our tour guide, gave us an excellent tour, with great stories about the ghosts that haunt Portland. Since he didn't have anyone for the later tour, our tour lasted an hour and 45 minutes, and was a great way to spend the evening. We have done ghost tours in cities across the world, and this was one of our favorites.
Hi, thank you for your hauntingly wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that Brendan helped make your evening so memorable. It’s great to know you enjoyed the stories, the extra time on the tour, and the chance to explore Portland’s haunted history in more depth. Hearing that this ranks among your favorite ghost tours from around the world truly means a lot to us. We appreciate your kind words and are so glad you joined us!
Brendon was totally amazing! He kept us entertained with the stories of ghosts in the area and talked about his own experiences. My husband is a slow walker and Brendan took his time with the walks and stops so that my husband could keep up. We really enjoyed the evening. We also recommend renting one of their EMF activity detectors. We did and got a kick out of the high readings we got. Our only complaint was that we were told ahead of time to meet outside the hotel, when we could have actually sat down inside the hotel's cafe and waited. Which would have been much more comfortable. By the way, after 7 pm, there is free parking on the street in front of the hotel.
Hi Julie, thank you for your spook-tacular feedback! We’re so glad you and your husband had such an enjoyable evening with Brendon. It’s wonderful to hear that he kept the tour entertaining with his stories while also making sure everyone could comfortably enjoy the experience. We’re also happy you had fun with the EMF detector, it definitely adds an extra layer of excitement to the night! We appreciate your feedback about the meeting location and will be sure to share it with our team. Thank you for joining us, and we’re thrilled you had such a memorable experience.
Houston was an excellent tour guide. The paranormal elements of the tour were only a small part of the story. It was also a great lesson in the early history of Portland. The tour was advertised as lasting only one hour, but Houston was very generous with his time and made it three hours long. (!) That might sound overlong for some, but he was such a good storyteller that I was captivated the whole time. I do think the tour length should be advertised for closer to what it is, as people who were expecting a shorter tour might not plan ahead for that time.
Hi Dave, thank you for your hauntingly thoughtful review! We’re delighted to hear how much you enjoyed exploring Portland’s history with Houston. His passion for storytelling and deep knowledge of the city’s past truly make for a memorable experience, and we’re glad he kept you engaged from start to finish. We also appreciate your feedback regarding the tour length and will be sure to share it with our team. Thank you for joining us, and we’re thrilled the experience left such a lasting impression!
