*These tours are only offered to school groups and other youth organizations.

Houston history is an important part of any Texas student’s curriculum. Nightly Spirits has a way to extend that lesson beyond the classroom and bring your students to the place where Houston began. We strive to balance educational content with entertainment as we share Houston’s rich history in an unexpected way…with ghosts!

The Haunted History Tour of Houston’s Buffalo Bayou is a spooky outdoor walking journey that dives deep into the history of H-Town. Groups will meet their costumed guide at Market Square Park, which once served as a home to City Hall as well as a buzzing open-air market. You can take a look at some remnants of the past that have been preserved in the park while learning how Houston began and continued to grow into the massive metropolis that it is today. We’ll share tales of some of the oldest buildings in the city, as well as the Houstonians who still haunt these historic sites. From there, your guide will lead you down to Buffalo Bayou where, along the way, you’ll hear about Houston’s founding members and maybe meet one of them in ghostly form. We’ll even show you a secret crypt hidden beneath the Franklin Street Bridge! Don’t worry, most of the spirits are friendly, but just in case you want to avoid any ghostly encounters, your guide will be equipped with an EMF Reader, so we know exactly where the ghosts are lurking.

We share your passion for your students’ education. We want them to leave our tour having had a great, memorable time, and having learned more about our city’s history. Nightly Spirits Houston Haunted History Tour is a unique experience that your students will never forget.

When
Field Trips for school groups and camps can be arranged Monday through Friday between 9 am to 4:30 pm. We can accommodate groups of 5-100. We have multiple trained tour guides for an entertaining and informative tour, for children and chaperones alike.

Guides
Our tour guides are passionate storytellers who are experts in Houston history and the paranormal. Many of them have a background in Children’s Theatre throughout the greater Houston area. All guides have had thorough background checks.

Age Range
At this time, our Haunted History Walking Tour is only recommended for ages 9 and up. If you have a younger group, we can arrange for one of our guides to visit you! They will arrive in historic costume and cater the stories and games for your age group. We are aware of the potentially frightening nature of our stories, so we can adjust what stories we tell, and in what detail, for groups of smaller children.

Price

For groups of 11 or fewer: $150 flat rate + 15% service charge

For groups of 12-25: $13/student + 15% service charge

For groups of 25-50: $10/student + 15% service charge

For groups over 50: $8/student + 15% service charge

Nightly Spirits requires one chaperone/10 students and will provide those tickets at no cost. Any other adults are $15 each.

Weather
Tours proceed rain or shine and much of the tour takes place outdoors. Participants should wear comfortable walking shoes and dress appropriately for the weather. Please be aware that extreme weather conditions may necessitate the cancellation of your tour. More detailed terms and conditions can be found here.

Accessibility
Nightly Spirits seeks to provide programs for individuals of all abilities. With prior knowledge, we will work with you to accommodate those with special needs. Special assistants to the disabled are admitted free.

Additional Resources For Your Haunted History Tour

-Want to include lunch? Market Square Park does provide room to spread out if students bring a bagged lunch. It is equipped with seating, restrooms, and some cover from the sun or rain. Niko Niko’s also has a small market location with food and drink for purchase.

-Want to make this an interactive tour? Nightly Spirits can send you a Teacher Resource Guide with our Historical topics and our guides can quiz the students along the route.

-Want to combine your tour with another great downtown activity? We recommend the following, that are all within a safe walking distance from our tour routes. We can even arrange to have your guide meet you and lead the group to Market Square Park.

• Check out the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern, one of the city’s early underground reservoirs, built in 1926!
• Visit the Houston Aquarium, a 500,000-gallon aquatic wonderland, home to over 300 species of aquatic life from around the globe.
• Catch a great show at The Houston Ballet, The Houston Grand Opera, or The Alley Theatre!

Recommendations for Bus Drivers

-Click here for a map of parking recommendations.

-Click here to see a list of options for your bus drivers to pass the time. Bus Drivers will not be charged if they wish to join the tour.

Financial Assistance
-Educate in Action and Scholastic Travel have some great resources for grants and financial assistance.

Celebrating a birthday or a wedding? Contact us for additional options to make your tour extra special!

If you would like to anonymously sponsor a tour for a Title One school, please contact us at 844-678-8687.