Looking for a unique way to explore Portland’s rich history while getting some spine-tingling thrills? Try a walking downtown Portland ghost tour! It’s the perfect time for it in the fall, of course, but ghosts don’t rest the other days of the year. So take one of these tours any time. In fact, you just might be safer taking one on a warm, sunny day!
We took our tour in Portland, Oregon, but the company, US Ghost Adventures, offers ghost tours in more than 100 cities. They will even book a stay in a haunted house for you.
Our tour happened to be led by the energetic guide Sunny. The tour winds through Portland’s oldest neighborhood, where every old building seems to hold a story. Starting at the historic Harlow Hotel (established 1882), you get a chance to purchase a cup of coffee or hot cocoa for the walk. We were lucky that on our tour night it wasn’t raining nor was it too cold, but if you’re not familiar with Portland in the fall, be prepared for rain and chilly nights. As soon as the tour got underway, Sunny transported us to a Portland of yesteryear, when the streets told very different tales that what we see today.
Using an EMF detector on the Benson Bubblers outside of the Benson Hotel in downtown Portland, Oregon.
One of the tour’s highlights is the famous Old Town Pizza & Brewing, housed in what was once the Merchant Hotel from 1880. Here, Sunny told the story of Nina, a spirit whose presence is said to be announced by the unexplainable scent of roses. While some might find ghost stories scary, Sunny presented them in a way that focuses more on historical intrigue than fear. She kept telling us to take photos along the way, and check the photos later, because sometimes spirits will reveal themselves in photos that you don’t see when you’re standing there in real life. Sunny even showed us examples of some spooky photos she had on her phone from past tours.
The tour revealed pieces of Portland’s history that I never heard about, even though I’ve lived in the area for years. She told us about the “Shanghai Tunnels,” which were a series of underground tunnels and chambers under the city that were used for nefarious purposes. We also heard about “crimpers” who once lurked near the area and why, and I also learned that National Geographic ranked this area among their top 10 most haunted places in America.
Some of Portland’s most iconic landmarks take on new meaning during the tour. I learned about the past of Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub, one of Portland’s most well-known establishments. There’s a history here of both a friendly, helpful spirit and a spirit that is much more sinister. The elegant Benson Hotel, known for its luxurious accommodations, has its own ghostly resident in the stairwell. Don’t forget to stop at one of the famous Benson Bubblers along the way – according to Sunny, spirits are known to use these bronze drinking fountains in their own interesting ways! The first stop on our downtown Portland walking ghost tour was a popular pizza place, which you can see in this post’s header image. Sunny took us to a parking lot with its ancient story, and an old brick wall, the site of a terrible fire, that is supposed to sometimes feel hot to the touch and appear to “melt” people’s faces when they are photographed.
An old brick wall at the site of a fire. The wall reportedly feels hot to the touch on occasion, and may make a person’s face seem to “melt” when they are photographed in front of it.
As an add-on to the tour, participants can rent EMF detectors. These devices light up throughout the tour. In fact, there were some areas of the tour where everyone’s EMF detectors were showing activity.
Here are my tips for a walking tour like this, whether you take it in Portland or one of the many other cities where ghost tours are offered:
- The tour lasted about 2 hours, so wear comfortable walking shoes.
- Bring light jackets (the evening air can get chilly, especially near the Willamette River)
- Cameras are welcome – you never know what you might capture! Videos were not allowed.
- The tour is suitable for school-age children, but parents should use their judgment for very young or sensitive kids.
We took the “Portland Ghosts: Poltergeists and Psychopaths” tour. Other tour options include the “Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl” and the “Ultimate Dead of Night” tour. For the “Poltergeists and Psychopaths” and “Ultimate Dead of Night” tour, participants have the option of adding on 4 additional haunted stops. We didn’t do that, so when our tour was over, we had to walk several blocks back to where we parked by the Harlow Hotel. It was fine, but this is a neighborhood where I wouldn’t recommend anyone walk alone, especially at night, so keep that in mind if you’re thinking of going as a single person.
Kells Irish Pub is a stop on the ghost tour. It is one of Portland’s most well-known establishments.
While the supernatural elements are entertaining, the tour offers much more than spooky tales. It’s an engaging way to learn about Portland’s history, architecture, and the colorful characters who shaped the city. If you’re a skeptic, this tour might not convince you that ghosts are real. But if you go into it as believer, you’ll have a lot of new stories to tell. Whether or not you believe in ghosts, this walking tour offers families a unique adventure that combines education, entertainment, and just enough eerie atmosphere to make for an unforgettable evening.
