New Orleans goes creepy after dark. This Unsolved Mysteries walking tour uses real tools and real legends to turn familiar streets into an evening mystery.

I especially love the hands-on EMF meter element. It makes the tour feel more like an interactive hunt than just a story lecture, and it’s part of what you’re paying for at $35. I also like that the tour is run as a small operation (family-run by Dustin Fisher and Ashli Fisher) with a professional guide leading you through the dark.

One thing to think about: this is entertainment, not a guaranteed paranormal show. They’re also strict about the meeting point and timing, so if you’re late, you may miss the start.

Key things to know before you book

• Meet at 941 Bourbon St (the courtyard gate): Tours start at the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafittes Blacksmith Shop Bar, not inside.
• Real EMF meter use: Equipment is checked out at the start and must be returned before you leave.
• French Quarter ghost stories: Marie Laveau, the Sultan’s Palace tale, and Madame LaLaurie are core stops.
• Big-name landmarks: You’ll pass St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square, plus end at Beauregard-Keyes House.
• Bar stops are part of the flow: You can grab a to-go drink along the route, but it can affect pacing.
• Group stays moderate: Max 28 people, and the walk is moderate paced for about 1–2 hours.

Bourbon Street start: where you actually need to be

The tour kicks off on Bourbon Street at 941 Bourbon St, but the detail that matters is the exact meeting spot: you meet at the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafittes Blacksmith Shop Bar. Tours do not meet inside the bar, and they also do not meet at a street corner.

That sounds picky, but it’s exactly the kind of thing that can turn a fun night into a frustrating one. The tour starts at the scheduled time, and the guide can’t stick around after departure to find late arrivals. I’d treat this like a live performance: show up a little early, find the gate, and do your check-in so your night doesn’t start with stress.

Also note the practical stuff: you get a mobile ticket, you’re near public transportation, and service animals are allowed. The tour caps at 28 travelers, so you’re not crammed in like some large bus tours.

The EMF meter experience: fun tech with real limits

The “Unsolved” angle here isn’t just spooky talk. The tour includes a real EMF meter/ghost-paranormal detector, and you’ll use it during the walk.

That’s the good news. It adds a hands-on layer to the night. It also gives you something to do besides just listen, which helps when you’re walking through the French Quarter’s dark streets where it’s easy to get distracted.

Here are the limits you should know so expectations stay realistic:

• There’s no guarantee you’ll encounter anything paranormal. The tour is entertainment, and they explicitly say they can’t promise supernatural sightings on demand.
• Equipment is treated like equipment. If the paranormal equipment is lost or damaged, there’s a $250 fee, and you have to check it out and return it to the guide before you leave the tour group.
• Audio/video recording is not allowed during the tour, but photos are encouraged.

My tip: if you want your photos to actually look good, plan to take them during your best moments. The guide stays on schedule, and the group keeps moving.

French Quarter at night: Marie Laveau, the Sultan’s Palace, and LaLaurie

This tour’s engine is the French Quarter, and the stories are designed to make the streets feel charged. Your first stretch focuses on the spooky side of New Orleans legend, with a guide who keeps the pace moving and the laughs coming when the mood allows.

Marie Laveau and the Voodoo Queen storyline

You’ll hear about Marie Laveau, often called the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans. Even if you’ve heard her name before, the tour frames her story inside the city’s myths and the ways people in New Orleans have long understood luck, healing, and fear.

What I like about this kind of storytelling is that it’s not just scary-for-scary’s-sake. It helps you connect names and legends to places you can actually stand near, which is what turns a “ghost tour” into a New Orleans experience.

Sultan’s Palace: murder, massacre, and a bad night

Next, you’ll hear about the Sultan’s Palace, described as a mansion with a sensational story tied to murder and massacre. This is the part where the tour leans hard into the theatrical, “don’t look away” feeling.

Practical note: you’re walking through public streets. The tour doesn’t include entering private places, so you experience the story from outside—how the building sits in the dark matters more than any inside access.

Madame LaLaurie: one of the city’s best-known haunted names

The tour brings you to the orbit of Madame LaLaurie, a long-standing haunted-house legend in the Crescent City. You’ll hear the tale as part of your first French Quarter segment, and it comes up again later.

If you want to understand New Orleans, you have to understand what it does with its past: it talks about it, dramatizes it, and makes it part of nightlife. LaLaurie is one of the most infamous examples.

St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square: legends beside the classics

After the French Quarter stories, you move to a couple of New Orleans heavy hitters: St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square.

St. Louis Cathedral and Pere Dagobert

At St. Louis Cathedral, the tour includes a spooky possibility: the apparition of Pere Dagobert. Even if you don’t buy into the supernatural piece, it’s a great way to experience a landmark at night, when the atmosphere changes and the surroundings do a lot of the work.

Also, this is the kind of stop where you can get distracted by the sheer beauty and scale of the area. Keep your eyes up for the guide’s cues, and don’t lose track of the group while you’re admiring.

Admission is noted as not included for this stop, so if you’re hoping for any special access inside, plan on that not being part of the ticket.

Jackson Square: another LaLaurie moment

You’ll also spend time at Jackson Square. The tour returns to the Madame LaLaurie story here, which can feel like repetition—until you realize what it’s doing. It keeps the theme consistent while giving you a new visual stage. Jackson Square’s open, iconic layout makes the ghost legend feel different than it does on the cramped French Quarter streets.

Beauregard-Keyes House: the Civil War haunt finale

The final major stop is the BK Historic House and Gardens, commonly associated with the Beauregard-Keyes House. This is where the tour shifts from voodoo and mansion legends into Civil War-era haunt material.

The framing is clear: you’ll walk alongside spirits of the Civil War at this legendary haunt, tied to the namesake Confederate general Beauregard. The tour ends here and then finishes back in the French Quarter.

What makes this finale work is the contrast. Earlier, you’ve been in story mode—murder, massacre, and household horror legends. Here, you get a different kind of eerie: a historical property with a reputation for ghostly lore. You’re ending with something that feels more grounded in a specific era.

And because the finish is back in the French Quarter, you’re not stuck in an awkward middle-of-nowhere location after the walk ends. It’s easy to continue the night on your own terms, whether you want food, another drink, or a slower stroll with fewer scary stories.

Duration, pacing, and the bar-stop factor

The tour typically runs about 1 to 2 hours, on a moderate walking pace. One reason it can run long is that the route includes optional bar stops where guests are allowed to stop in bars and purchase a to-go drink before the group moves on.

That’s fun, but it affects pacing. Some bars may be busy, and waiting eats time. If you have a tight dinner reservation after, I’d give yourself a buffer.

Alcohol is allowed during the tour, and the operator reserves the right to refuse service if someone shows signs of extreme intoxication. So if you’re thinking of treating the tour like a party, keep it moderate and stay aware of the walking component.

My practical advice:

• Wear comfortable shoes. The French Quarter streets aren’t built for slick soles.
• Bring water. Even at night, humidity can hit.
• Charge your phone. The tour says they use text/email for updates if timing changes.
• Don’t count on recording video. Photos are encouraged, but audio/video recording isn’t allowed.

Value check: is $35 a good deal for this kind of night?

For $35 per person, you’re paying for three things: a professional guide, an interactive EMF meter component, and a focused night route through major haunted and landmark zones.

Compared with typical “just walk and listen” ghost tours, the EMF meter use is a meaningful inclusion. Compared with bigger city-night activities, the price is relatively lean because it’s a walking tour with a controlled group size and a tight schedule.

Still, value depends on what you want. If you’re chasing a guaranteed supernatural encounter, this isn’t designed to deliver that. The tour itself makes it clear there’s no promise you’ll see anything. If you want atmosphere, stories tied to real New Orleans places, and a fun guided night, the value makes more sense.

And if you just want a short way to get oriented in the French Quarter after dark, this also helps. In a city where the streets can feel like a maze, a guided walk is a shortcut.

Who should book this tour, and who might skip it

This tour is a good fit if you:

• Like ghost legends but also want them connected to specific places in New Orleans.
• Enjoy a bit of participation, especially the EMF meter element.
• Want a guided, laugh-friendly night route that keeps moving through the French Quarter.
• Are comfortable walking at night and staying with the group.

You might consider a different option if you:

• Want guaranteed paranormal results. The tour specifically says it can’t promise sightings.
• Hate strict meeting-time rules and hate feeling like you need to be on schedule.
• Prefer full inside access to major attractions. This tour stays on public property and doesn’t include private entry.

Also, keep in mind bars are part of the experience. Some stops are set up so you can get a walk-up to-go drink, but the tour notes that not all bars allow children inside.

Should you book Unsolved Mysteries of New Orleans?

I’d book it if you want a fun nighttime walking experience built around New Orleans legends, guided through the French Quarter, with an EMF meter adding a playful twist. At $35, you’re not overpaying for the privilege of hearing spooky tales—you’re buying a guided route, live storytelling, and a specific interactive tool.

I’d be more cautious if you’re the type who worries about meeting points or hates tight timing. This is one of those tours where showing up at the correct courtyard gate at 941 Bourbon St matters, because the group departs on schedule and late arrivals aren’t handled with a “no worries, we’ll wait.”

If that sounds manageable, it’s a solid way to spend 1 to 2 hours after dark in one of America’s most theatrical cities.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

It meets at the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafittes Blacksmith Shop Bar at 941 Bourbon Street, New Orleans. The tour does not meet inside Lafittes Blacksmith Shop Bar and it does not meet at the corner of the streets.

How long is the walking tour?

The tour lasts about 1 to 2 hours, depending on the pace and possible waits at bar stops.

Is the EMF meter included?

Yes. The tour uses a real EMF meter/ghost-paranormal detector during the experience.

What happens if the paranormal equipment is lost or damaged?

There is a $250 fee for lost or damaged paranormal equipment. Equipment must be checked out at the beginning and returned to the guide before you leave the tour group.

Are drinks part of the tour?

Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase along the route, and guests may stop in bars for a to-go drink before the group heads to the next location.

Is there a guarantee you’ll see a ghost or apparition?

No. The tour is realistic and for entertainment purposes only, and there is no guarantee you will encounter paranormal activity.

Is it canceled if the weather is bad?

The tour is rain-or-shine. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.