As Halloween approaches, we once again turn toward Detroit’s forbidding past. This year’s all new tour invites brave guests to follow the routes that have always connected the city to the outside world—and perhaps to something beyond it.

Detroit has always been a city in motion. Ships crossed its river, trains shook its ground, automobiles carried its name around the world, and new roads and flight paths pushed its boundaries ever outward. Wherever people traveled by water, rail, road, or sky, stories followed. 

Some never reached their destination. Others never stopped moving.

From a ship’s captain still searching for lost mates to the echo of a ghost train said to shake the ground beneath Detroiter’s feet, this all-new tour explores the unsettling stories found along Detroit’s transportation routes. We’ll visit the captains and crew of the J.W. Westcott, Detroit’s floating ZIP Code; exploring their closed to the public location. Uncover otherworldly tales from the city’s premier island park; investigate a modern story already becoming a Detroit legend; examine the unlikely second lives of landmarks saved from destruction; and trace what may be the oldest tale of a ghost vessel on the Great Lakes.

Alongside your guides, you’ll discover how the city that put the world on wheels is still rolling through time. Ships, trains, mail boats, automobiles, lost crews, strange encounters, salvaged landmarks, ghostly voyages, and a historic refreshment stop await you on this all-new, three-hour Halloween bus tour.

Detroit never stops moving. Some say neither do its spirits.

THE DETAILS

Departure Location: The Detroit History Club, a former funeral home turned history lovers’ hangout, located at 3103 Commor Street, Hamtramck, MI 48212.

Street parking is available and may require guests to walk a short distance. The Club opens 30 minutes before the ticketed tour time. Guests are invited to come inside, check in, and relax before departure. Late arrivals will not be admitted. Detroit History Tours begin on time and depart without a grace period.

Because drinking and swearing come with the history, this public bus tour is strictly for guests 21 years of age and older.

The tour includes a refreshment stop at a historic bar. All food and beverage purchases are at the guest’s own expense. 

Alcohol is not permitted on the bus. Coolers, flasks, and bottles of blood will not be allowed aboard.

Complimentary bottled water is provided to all guests.

Guests should be prepared to walk up to 200 yards at a leisurely pace over uneven terrain. Comfortable, flat shoes are strongly recommended. Portions of the tour take place outside, so please dress appropriately for the weather.

Guests must be able to navigate a flight of stairs.

We will disembark from the bus two or three times during the tour, depending on weather conditions. The remainder of the tour is conducted aboard our luxury motorcoach.

Recreational photography is permitted and encouraged. Professional photography or videography is not allowed without written approval at least 15 days in advance.

The difference between daytime and nighttime tours is simply the amount of available light. The historical content is the same. Daytime tours provide greater visibility, while evening tours offer the added atmosphere of a Detroit autumn night.

This is not a ghost-hunting tour. Please leave paranormal investigation equipment at home. This is a historical tour focused on the spooky, unexplained, and macabre stories of Detroit’s past.

Your order confirmation email is your ticket (We do this to avoid you paying fees. All taxes and fees are included in the ticket price. There are no additional booking or service charges at checkout.). Nothing will be mailed to you. Please save the confirmation and be prepared to display it on your phone or present a printed copy when boarding.

Transportation is provided aboard a luxury motorcoach with leather captain’s chairs and an onboard restroom.

Tour guide tips are always appreciated but never expected. The very best tip is always a positive review.

Have a large group? Any Detroit History Tour can be booked as a private charter, with pickup available from a location of your choosing. Visit ourPrivate Tours page for additional information.