Gunslingers and Hotel Ghosts on a San Antonio Night Walk to the Alamo
San Antonio's true crime and ghost lore on one evening walk, from the Main Plaza gunfight story to the hotels on Alamo Plaza.
Walking Tours of San Antonio sells this as the walk where ghost stories meet true crime. One reviewer who compared the two found more murders than ghosts. In September 2026 they put it this way: "I would say it was more murders than ghosts, but all in all it was a great time."
The walk was founded by Jim Miles, who describes himself on the operator's site as a historian with a master's degree in Southern history and a former teacher and actor. By the operator's account, he either leads the walk himself or trains its guides personally. Guides carry tablets, and reviewers mention old photos of the stops.
It suits someone who wants downtown San Antonio's history with a dark edge, told in 90 minutes on foot.
The ticket covers the guide. Tips, food and drinks are extra, and there is no hotel pickup. On this listing, child tickets cover ages 7 to 10, everyone 11 and older pays the adult rate, and a full refund holds until 24 hours before the start.
San Antonio's Ultimate Ghost and Murder Walking Guided Tour90-minute guided walk through downtown San Antonio · Meets outside Pinkerton's BBQ · Child tickets for ages 7 to 10www.viator.comMain Plaza, Where the Gunfight Story Lives
The first half works the west side of downtown. The listing opens at the Spanish Governor's Palace with "photographic evidence of a ghost dating back to 1868." The building is far older than that photo. The Handbook of Texas says the keystone over its main entrance is carved with the year it was completed, 1749, and the National Park Service lists it as a National Historic Landmark.
Next come San Fernando Cathedral, which dates its congregation to 1731, and Main Plaza, where the guide tells the true-crime shootout involving gunslinger Ben Thompson and King Fisher. The Handbook of Texas says both men were shot dead inside the Vaudeville Theater on the night of March 11, 1884, and places that theater at Soledad and West Commerce, on Main Plaza. The operator's own page adds the Old Bexar County Jail to the route.
The listing budgets about ten minutes at most stops and twenty at Alamo Plaza.
East Houston Street, the Majestic and the Alamo Plaza Hotels
The second half crosses to the east side. The listing stops at the Majestic Theatre for "stories of tragic accidents and haunting ballerinas," pauses on a bridge above the River Walk, and retells the Battle of the Alamo as a true-crime story. The Majestic opened in 1929 and is a National Historic Landmark. The longest stop is Alamo Plaza, where the Menger and Emily Morgan hotels supply the closing ghost stories. The Menger opened in 1859. The Emily Morgan went up in the 1920s as the Medical Arts Building and has been a hotel since 1984.
The operator also lists the Gunter Hotel. The San Antonio Current reports that in February 1965 a housekeeper there found a man standing beside a blood-soaked bed. The man, identified as Walter Emerick, shot himself the next day at the St. Anthony Hotel as police opened his door. No body was ever found, and the woman seen entering the Gunter with him was never identified.
The guide does not take the group inside the Menger. The operator says restrictions keep its guides out, and one reviewer went in on their own after the tour ended. The listing also promises tips on nearby taverns for after the walk.
Dark History, and Not Every Story Is Gentle
Parents should know what the first stop covers before booking. The operator calls the walk gentle enough for everyone in the family. An October 2026 reviewer warned that the first stop includes a long, graphic account of a child's murder and a botched hanging, told with several children in the group. The operator's reply acknowledged that some details may be unsettling, particularly for younger guests.
Other families report a good night out, including one that brought teenagers for Halloween. Judge by your own children, and expect history and true crime more than scares. Another reviewer found it "more of a history tour."
Tickets, Ages and the Weather
On this booking page the youngest ticket is for age 7, so children under 7 cannot be added here, even though the operator's own site welcomes all ages with an adult. The walk runs rain or shine, and the operator asks you to bring an umbrella when rain is forecast. Wear comfortable shoes.
The listing marks the route as wheelchair accessible, while the operator's own pages publish no access statement. A 2024 reviewer described a guide choosing where to walk and cross streets for two wheelchair users in the group. Ask the operator about your own needs before you book.
📍 Meet on the lawn outside Pinkerton's BBQ, 107 W. Houston Street, San Antonio. Look for a guide in an "Ultimate Ghost and Murder Walk" T-shirt and hat.
- Arrive about 15 minutes early to check in. The operator says restrooms are available for tour guests.
- As of October 24, 2026, the booking calendar listed Monday to Saturday evening departures between 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM, and no Sunday walks. Times vary by date.
- About 90 minutes on foot, finishing near Alamo Plaza on the east side of downtown.
- Tips, food and drinks are not included. Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund.
Come early enough to eat at Pinkerton's first, then let the guide walk you toward the Alamo.