Knoxville Ghost Tours
TENNESSEE'S FIRST CAPITAL • A TOWN DIVIDED BY THE CIVIL WAR • HISTORY, LEGENDS, AND REPORTED HAUNTINGS
The front of the Bijou Theatre on Gay Street was never meant to be a theater. It's the Lamar House, a hotel finished in 1817, and in November 1863 the Union army was running it as a hospital. On November 18, Brigadier General William P. Sanders was shot while his cavalry held off James Longstreet's advance west of town. He died in the hotel's bridal suite the next day. The fort he'd been defending was named for him, and ten days later Confederate infantry attacked it and were stopped in the ditch beneath its walls.
A lot of Knoxville's history sits that close together. The town began as James White's fort in 1786, was named for Secretary of War Henry Knox in 1791, and served as the capital of the Southwest Territory and then of the new state of Tennessee. In 1861 Knoxville voted to secede while much of East Tennessee stayed loyal to the Union, and neighbors spent the war on opposite sides. That split, and the siege that followed, left stories that are still told within a few blocks of each other downtown.
We're finalizing our Knoxville tours now. Once they're listed here, each one will tell you who it's for, what kind of stories it tells, and what the evening feels like, so you can choose the right one. In the meantime, our Haunted Knoxville guide has the longer stories.
Happy Guests
Trusted for Over a Decade
Cities Across the U.S.
Browse Every Knoxville Ghost Tour
Explore every experience we run in Knoxville and find the one that fits your trip.
No Tours Available
Tours for Knoxville will be added soon.
Book with Confidence
100% Money Back Guarantee
The only ghost tour company that offers one.
Flexible rescheduling
Plans change? Reschedule anytime.
Booking ahead recommended
Evening tours frequently sell out during peak season.
Why Take a Ghost Tour in Knoxville?
The stories behind streets you've already walked
Plenty of people go to a show at the Bijou without knowing that its front rooms were a Union hospital, or that a railroad man, his son, and a banker shot each other dead on the same street in 1882. Knoxville doesn't advertise much of this. You have to know where to look, and what you're looking at.
Every Ghost City Tours experience is a walking tour led by a professional Ambassador, who tells you what the record shows, what people have reported, and where the two part ways. Here are a few of the stories that make Knoxville worth the walk. They're a sample of the city's history, not a list of tour stops.
A General in the Bridal Suite
Brig. Gen. William P. Sanders died at the Lamar House, now the front of the Bijou Theatre, on November 19, 1863. Local lore says he's still in the building.
Fort Sanders
On November 29, 1863, Confederate infantry attacked the fort named for him and were stopped in an eight-foot ditch. Nearly 800 became casualties; the Union lost about 100.
Three Dead on Gay Street
In 1882, Joseph Mabry and the banker Thomas O'Conner killed each other in a downtown gunfight that also killed Mabry's son. Mark Twain wrote it up.
A Barricaded Door
In June 1863, Union raiders shot Dr. James Harvey Baker through the bedroom door he'd barricaded. Two years later a mob lynched his son.
The Lady in White
A woman in white was reported in North Knoxville as early as 1889. The deaths behind the legend are in the newspapers of the day.
History First
We tell you what's documented, what's legend, and what's simply been reported, and we never invent a death to give a ghost a backstory.
Ready to Discover Knoxville's Haunted Secrets?
Join thousands who have experienced the paranormal side of Knoxville. Whether you're a skeptic or a true believer, our tours will leave you with unforgettable memories.
Real places · Documented history
Knoxville's Haunted Places
Real places, documented history
Our Haunted Knoxville guide tells the longer stories: the Lamar House, Bleak House, the gunfight on Gay Street, Old Gray Cemetery, and the old asylum grounds at Lakeshore Park, with the documented history and the legends kept apart.
Why Is Knoxville Haunted?
Our guide to Knoxville's individual haunted places is on its way. In the meantime, discover the history and the ghost lore that make Knoxville haunted.
Why Knoxville is hauntedResearch you can hear in the storytelling
Why Choose Ghost City Tours in Knoxville?
Ghost City Tours has run walking ghost tours since 2012, and every one of them starts with the history. In Knoxville that means the Tennessee Encyclopedia, the National Park Service's account of the siege, the McClung Historical Collection, and the newspapers of the day, before a single ghost story gets told.
Original Research
When we tell you Sanders died in the Lamar House's bridal suite, or that the Lady in White legend grew out of an 1879 shooting, it comes from records you can check.
Professional Ambassadors
Our Ambassadors are selected and trained as storytellers, so the evening moves like a good story, not a history lecture.
Respectful Storytelling
Many ghost stories begin with real loss. Knoxville's 1919 riot and the execution of Maurice Mays are history about real people, and we never make ghost stories out of them.
Storytelling, Not Gimmicks
No actors jumping out of doorways and no staged paranormal activity. Just historic places and strong stories.
Money Back Guarantee
Complete your tour and didn't love it? Let us know within 24 hours and we'll give you your money back.
Best Price Guarantee
Book directly with Ghost City Tours and get our best price.
Trusted by Millions of Ghost Tour Enthusiasts since 2012
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about Ghost City Tours in Knoxville? Here are some answers.
Is Knoxville haunted?
Knoxville has been a frontier fort, a territorial and state capital, and a Civil War town under siege, and its history includes a general who died at the Lamar House, the failed assault on Fort Sanders, and a three-man gunfight on Gay Street. That history has gathered ghost stories, from reports at the Bijou Theatre to the Lady in White legend of Old Gray Cemetery. Some are tied to documented events; others are local legends or accounts from people who say they experienced something. Whether the city is haunted is something you can decide for yourself.
Which Knoxville ghost tour is right for me?
We're finalizing our Knoxville tours now. Once they're listed on this page, each tour's description will tell you its tone, who it's for, and any age guidance, so you can choose the one that fits.
Are the stories true?
Our research begins with the actual history of a place. We don't invent murders, deaths, or hauntings, and we'll always tell you which parts of a story come from the historical record and which come from legend or reported encounters.
Do I need to believe in ghosts?
No. Skeptics and believers both come away knowing more about Knoxville. The history is real either way, and you can make up your own mind about the rest.
Are these walking tours?
Yes. All Ghost City Tours are walking tours led by a professional Ambassador, so you experience historic places the way they were meant to be experienced.
What should I wear?
Comfortable walking shoes and clothing for the weather. Knoxville summer evenings are often hot and humid, so bring water. Winter nights can turn cold, so bring a jacket, and an umbrella if there's a chance of rain.
What is your Money Back Guarantee?
If you complete your tour and don't love it, let us know within 24 hours and we'll give you your money back. The guarantee applies to tours completed in full; it doesn't cover no-shows, early departures, or a tour being scarier (or less scary) than expected. We also offer a Best Price Guarantee when you book directly with us.
Where do the tours meet?
You'll receive exact meeting point details in your confirmation email.
Still Have Questions?
Our Guest Services team is here to help 7 days a week from 7 AM to 11:30 PM.
Ready to Explore Knoxville's Dark Side?
Don't miss out on the #1 rated ghost tour experience in Knoxville. Book your adventure today!
Why Book With Ghost City Tours?
Multiple Tour Options
Choose from family-friendly, adults-only, or pub crawl experiences.
Top-Rated Experience
From the world's #1 ghost tour company.
Tours 7 Days a Week
Rain or shine, we run tours every single night of the year.
Money-Back Guarantee
Love your tour or get a full refund - that's our promise!
Tours Sell Out Daily
Knoxville is a popular destination. Book now to guarantee your spot!
Book Your Ghost Tour Today
Book Online Now
SAVE TIME- Choose from all available tour times
- Instant email confirmation
- Secure, encrypted checkout
- 100% Money Back Guarantee
Prefer to Call?
Our Guest Services team is available 7 days a week to help you book the perfect tour.
CALL 855-999-04917am - 11:30pm Daily