Wilmington's Ghost Walk Grew From Locals' Stories Collected Since 1978
A costumed guide walks you from the riverfront to five or six haunted locations, and the route changes from night to night.
Kim Miller Hirchak began collecting Wilmington's ghost stories in 1978. She interviewed hundreds of homeowners, tenants, employees and city officials, and the encounters she recorded are still part of the walk today. Public tours followed in 1999, built directly on that research.
The research has not stopped. Guides also pass on the newest reports, including encounters that guests have described on recent tours.
Guides work in full costume, and the listing says they average seven years with the company. Tickets are USD 27 per person, and everyone from age 1 to 99 pays the same rate. This listing only takes bookings of two or more people, so the smallest order is USD 54 and a solo traveler can't book it alone. Confirmation is instant, and booking closes one hour before departure. Your name goes on the operator's guest list. Keep a copy of the ticket on your phone for reference.
Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington Haunted TourA 90-minute walk with a costumed storyteller through historic downtown Wilmington, starting at Market and Water Streets.www.viator.comA Different Route Every Night
Out of hundreds of reported hauntings, the company works from a list of its top 30 researched locations. Each group hears five or six of them, and the mix changes every night. The listing puts a typical route at 8 to 12 city blocks, all within walking distance of the riverfront.
The operator's own examples include the Latimer House, an antebellum home where employees report missing things, and the graveyard at St. James Episcopal Church, which it calls the oldest in Wilmington. The Bellamy Mansion and the New Hanover County Courthouse are on the list too. Which of them you see depends on the night.
Meet at the Sign on the Riverfront
Check-in opens 20 minutes before departure at the Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington sign, on the riverfront at Market and Water Streets. Look for the sandwich boards on the cobblestones in front of the flagpole. For GPS, the operator says to use the Black Cat Shoppe at 8 Market Street. Tours leave promptly. Late arrivals can stop at the shop, where staff know where the group will be for the first 30 minutes.
Street parking is free after 6:30 PM. The operator also lists three city parking decks a few blocks away, at 115 Market Street, 114 N. 2nd Street and 218 N. 2nd Street. A public restroom sits at the information booth next to the sign.
Rain or Shine, With a Plan for Lightning
The walk runs rain or shine. Bring an umbrella or a raincoat, or buy a poncho at the Black Cat Shoppe. When the guide judges lightning an imminent threat, the group moves into a shelter and the stories keep going until it passes. Once a tour begins, it finishes.
The operator cancels tours once NOAA issues a hurricane watch or warning. It also takes July 4, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off.
Seasons, Access and Cancellation
From March through October the walk leaves nightly at 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM. November keeps one nightly departure at 6:30 PM, and from December through February it runs only Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 6:30 PM.
- The listing ticks wheelchair access, says small children can ride in a stroller, and calls the walk suitable for all physical fitness levels. The operator's pages do not mention wheelchairs, and they describe old alleys and cobblestone streets over about a mile. The operator sends questions its FAQ does not answer to the Black Cat Shoppe at 910-772-1410.
- Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Inside 24 hours, nothing is refunded.
- The operator notes that gratuities are appreciated.
📍 The walk starts and ends at the Ghost Walk sign on the riverfront, where Market Street meets Water Street. Arrive at least 15 minutes early and check in by the flagpole before the first story begins.