A review of the Portland Ghost Tour: Poltergeists and Psychopaths
I do love a good ghost story. And Portland, Oregon is full of them. Once one of the most dangerous port towns in the world, the city was rife with crime in the mid to late 1800s. Gambling, drinking, brothels, and murderâŚthatâs all the makings of a good ghost story right there.
A ghost tour is one of my favorite ways to get to know a place. Itâs a unique and fun way to learn the history of a city, albeit a bit darker side of history.
We recently took US Ghost Adventuresâ Portland Ghost Tour: Poltergeists and Psychopaths, and we were not disappointed. Hereâs my review of this walking tour, along with all the tips you need to experience it for yourself.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. However, all opinions are my own.
This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
A Review of the Portland Ghost Tour
Before the Portland Ghost Tour, I had been on various other ghost tours in Germany, Canada, and Salem, Oregon. And each of these tours had their own unique flair.
What stood out to me about the Portland Ghost Tour was how interactive it was. Like other tours, our guide began by telling us the tragic stories behind these Portland ghosts. Some of these spirits were friendly, yet sorrowful, while others were more menacing.
Then, our guide shared with us signs of their hauntings. A mysterious rose scented perfume and the sound of swishing skirts, screaming in the dead of night, tipped glasses when no one else is in the roomâŚthese are just a few of the experiences of locals, employees, and previous tour participants.
Lastly, our guide suggested ways we might interact with the spirits. An invitation for us to take a photo, or to touch a wallâŚa polite request to a spirit to show oneself, or to effect the lights or a water fountain nearbyâŚI was a little shy at first. But with a nudge from my husband, I asked one of the ghosts to reveal herself to me.
No, I didnât see a ghost that night. But I learned several things about Portland I wasnât aware of before, even as a local. And just because I didnât see a ghost, doesnât mean you wonât see something when you take the tour yourself!
âď¸Click here to book your Portland Ghost Tourâď¸
Where are Portlandâs most haunted locations?
The Portland Ghost Tour covers some of the most haunted locations in downtown Portland, between Glisan and Ash. We started at Harlow Hotel and ended at Kellâs Irish Pub, walking roughly a mile one direction.
Portlandâs underground tunnels run under this area, from the waterfront to about 18 or 19 blocks back. Originally intended for the transport of goods, their hidden location quickly invited darker deeds and intentions. And from its dubious past came many of the hauntings highlighted in this tour.
This tour does not venture down to the underground. Many of these passages have been blocked off or filled in over the years, while a few remain, privately owned. But our footsteps traced over the tops of these haunted, hollow spaces.
Some of the locations covered in the tour include
- Harlow Hotel
- Old Town Pizza
- Roseland Theater
- Benson Hotel
- Kellâs Irish Pub
There were a few other stops along the way, as well as an optional half hour extended tour. We did not take the additional extended tour (although I wish we would have!). And so at Kellâs, the majority of us parted ways with our tour guide, Sunny.
Getting back to your car
We did have to find our way back from Kellâs to Harlow. However, our guide gave us good directions, and it wasnât that difficult. And those not familiar with the area had the other tour participants to find their way back with if needed.
The walk back to Harlow Hotel was only about 15 minutes. But we decided to hop on a couple of Portlandâs electric scooters and were back to our car within 5 minutes.
A safety note: The scooters are great fun. However, if you decide to take an electric scooter back, ride at your own risk.
The scooters go decently fast, and some of Portlandâs roads are in rough repair. Helmets are required; hereâs details on where you can rent one/get a free one.
And do not ride under the influence. I have seen people get injured on these scooters. Portlandâs e-scooters are not affiliated with the Portland Ghost Tour.
Who is the Portland Ghost Tour meant for?
I highly recommend the Portland Ghost Tour, for both skeptics and believers alike. (We had one of each in our group of two!) If nothing else, itâs an entertaining way to learn a little bit of Portland history.
We found this particular tour to be highly inclusive, with minimal restrictions. The tour is fully ADA accessible. The majority of the tour is outdoors, so we passed over side walks and cross walks.
The most difficult part was finding wheelchair access into Harlow Hotelâs cafe where we met at the beginning of the tour, and really all that took was asking hotel staff. On the Glisan side, there are two or three steps up into the hotel and cafe. Wheelchair access is located around the side on 8th Ave.
The tour is also fairly kid friendly. Although it touches on some darker topics, none of the details are too gruesome. When deciding if this tour is appropriate for your kids or not, keep in mind it covers topics including gambling, drinking, prostitution, human trafficking, and murder.
Personally, I felt my tween-age kids would have enjoyed the tour, but it might be a bit much for some younger children. Note that children 13 and under receive a discount, and children under 6 tour for free.
This is also a dog friendly tour, so long as your pup is a friendly dog! One lady brought her dog on the tour the night we went. Her pup was so sweet, and just generally happy to be along for the walk.
âď¸Click here to book your Portland Ghost Tourâď¸
What to bring and what not to bring
Thereâs not much you need to bring for this tour. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and appropriate clothes for the weather. We went in the fall and lucked out that it didnât rain on us, as I forgot our umbrellas at home! I also recommend taking a camera or phone for photos. And donât forget cash to tip your guide!
We didnât need flashlights on the tour, as the way was well lit by city lights and surrounding businesses. And please, no smoking on the tour.
When is the best time to go?
Really, thereâs no bad time to go on the Portland Ghost Tour. My personal favorite time of year is during the darker months of fall and winter. The chill in the air adds a chill down your spine, setting the mood just right.
Of course, a ghost tour is an excellent and spooky way to celebrate Halloween in Portland, which is when we went. And the Portland Ghost tour carries on in true PNW fashion, regardless of the rain.
Yet the warmer months of spring and summer have their benefits too. Between the higher temperatures and less chance of rain, summer basically sells itself!
A few tips and notes regarding the Portland Ghost Tour
Are the EMF detectors worth renting?
Itâs believed that spirits emit their own electromagnetic field (EMF). So the theory is that by using an EMF detector, we can tell when thereâs a ghost nearby.
Our EMF detector didnât show as much activity for the start of the tour as I had hoped. It occasionally flickered yellow or orange as we passed parking lots and intersections, or as the tram drove by.
My husband insisted that was due to the electromagnetic fields of the various vehicles we passed. Maybe he was right. But I staunchly pointed out that our detector didnât show a consistent reaction to the vehicles.
Perhaps the ghosts kept their distance that night because they could sense a skeptic among us. That is, at least until we got to Kellâs Irish PubâŚAt Kellâs, everyoneâs EMF detector lit up a solid red, without a waver. And they stayed red until we left.
Was that proof the ghost of the honest firefighter from down the street was having a drink at Kellâs that night? Or that a more sinister spirit was lurking in the basement cigar shop? I left the tour wondering if weâd see the same results with our detectors if we were to come back another night.
The EMF detector wasnât enough proof to turn a skeptic into a believer. But skeptic or not, having the EMF detector certainly made the tour even more fun and interactive.
But hasnât Portland kind of gone downhill the past couple years?
The city of Portland has seen a few rough years through the pandemic. But itâs trying to make a come back. That being said, itâs important to take the regular safety precautions you would in any big city. For example, watch where you step, and be aware of your surroundings.
Portland does have a large homeless population, which you will see during the tour. Our guide addressed the topic at the start of the tour with transparency, professionalism and nonchalance. âThey usually keep to themselves, at most they may say something weird to us.â
And she was right. We did hear a few odd comments. However, I never felt unsafe during the tour.
Where to eat nearby
The confirmation email for the tour suggests showing up 15 minutes early to get snacks and drinks at Harlow Hotelâs cafe. A warm drink to carry along on a cold night does sound rather comforting.
However, I would recommend showing up 30 minutes early if youâre wanting a drink to take along. It seemed our barista had stepped away for a fifteen shortly before our tour, and unfortunately, we werenât able to order drinks and snacks there.
If youâre feeling hungrier than a coffee and a snack though, consider coming an hour or two early for dinner at one of Portlandâs downtown restaurants. And this way you can get a peek inside one of the restaurants on the tour, Kellâs Irish Pub or Old Town Pizza.
Kellâs has a delicious Bangers and Mash, Iâm still day dreaming about today. And Old Town Pizza offers some great pizza combos, far more than your basic cheese and pepperoni. I particularly liked their Margherita pizza.
âď¸Click here to book your Portland Ghost Tourâď¸
Final thoughts on the Portland Ghost Tour
The Portland Ghost Tour was everything I hoped it would be and a little more. We learned of Portlandâs dark and dangerous history, from its earliest days, when it was full of lumber jacks and sailors.
We heard old, bone chilling ghost stories that got our imaginations spinning and our hearts racing. And I was surprised, there was even a modern day ghost story along the way. Lastly, our guide made the tour far more interactive than I had anticipated. And I absolutely loved it.
So if youâre in Portland, either in residence or just passing through, I recommend checking out the Portland Ghost Tour: Poltergeists and Psychopaths. Itâs both a fun and very unique way to get to know the city.
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