When US Ghost Adventures reached out and offered us a complimentary tour of Tulsa’s most haunted locations in exchange for an honest review, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Their “Heartland Haunts: Tulsa Ghost Tour” promised to reveal the dark history behind the city’s charming Arts District façade, from the tragic Tulsa Race Massacre to haunted music venues and ghostly coffee shops.
For those unfamiliar with US Ghost Adventures, they operate walking ghost tours in cities across America, focusing on local history, true crime, and paranormal encounters. Their Tulsa tour takes visitors on a one-mile journey through downtown, highlighting six haunted locations and the spirits that supposedly linger there.
We met at 8:00 p.m. at Guthrie Green on the first Friday of May and THANK GOD we decided to get there 30 minutes early because parking was impossible. What neither of us realized was that it was the First Friday Art Crawl in the Arts District and there was a performance by the Inspyral Fire Circus at Guthrie Green that had the entire area packed.
I drove 13 blocks looking for free street parking before finally giving up and paying $5 to park behind McNellie’s over in Blue Dome District. I probably could have found a much closer parking lot if I wanted to but by that point I was tired of sitting in downtown traffic and wanted to just take a Lime scooter the rest of the way (feel the wind in what’s left of my hair).
I spotted our tour guide thanks to her lantern and soon I was joined by Dave, who thankfully found a much closer spot by the Tulsa Theater. We had two tour guides: Tammi and Bri. Bri took the lead with her outgoing and super friendly personality, while Tammi added lots of historical context and was incredibly knowledgeable about local lore.
Quick Links
- The Haunts of Tulsa’s Arts District
- Detention Centers and Divas
- Musical Spirits and Oil Barons
- Dave’s Take
- Tips for Your Tulsa Ghost Tour
- Frequently Asked Questions
The Haunts of Tulsa’s Arts District
Our first stop was the Bob Dylan Center, where Bri shared Dylan’s encounter with a canine apparition at an abandoned house in England. Here in Tulsa, she told us about a boy named Alex who had his own unexplainable experience at the center after sneaking off by himself on a field trip and discovering a glowing book in the archives that snapped shut when he touched it.
From there, we moved to the historic Boston Apartments building, constructed in 1900. Now home to the 21 1/2 Boutique Hotel and Caz’s Pub (one of my old stomping grounds), this building harbors stories of two devastating fires and numerous ghostly encounters reported by both hotel guests and former residents.
The elegant E.L. Fox building, built in 1906 and now housing The Tavern, was our next destination. The impressive ghost signs advertising the Fox Hotel and Smith Hardware Company remain in remarkably good condition, making this one of my favorite buildings downtown.
According to our guide, an artist named George Baker frequented the hotel restaurant in the early 20th century, carrying on an interracial love affair with a woman who became the subject of one of his paintings. Before completing his work, Baker was killed in the Tulsa Race Massacre, and his lover was forced to flee town. To this day, patrons report sightings of a man in 1920s attire sitting alone in a booth, only to vanish when they look back.
Detention Centers and Divas
We continued to the imposing Tulsa Theater (formerly Brady Theater), built in 1914 by Tate Brady, a prominent businessman with KKK ties. Learning that the theater served as a detention center for Black residents during the Race Massacre cast a somber shadow over the ornate architecture. Coincidentally, my friend Jacob Dement was performing inside that same night as part of the Leon Live event honoring Leon Russell.
Bri recounted the legend of opera singer Enrico Caruso, who allegedly performed at the theater in 1920 during his North American tour. The story goes that after walking to the performance in pouring rain, he contracted pneumonia and died months later. Although this contradicts historical records (Caruso suffered an on-stage injury at The Met in December 1920 and died of peritonitis the following August in Italy), the legend persists that on rainy nights, his ghostly voice echoes through the theater halls.
Tammi shared her personal experiences in the theater, including hearing mysterious singing in the hallways, disembodied voices while hanging out there as a teenager when her friend’s father owned the building, and even feeling her shirt being tugged while climbing a staircase.
Musical Spirits and Oil Barons
Next up was Cain’s Ballroom, originally built in 1924 as a garage for Tate Brady before becoming the heart of Tulsa’s western swing scene. Tammi’s connection to the venue added a fascinating layer—her husband is actually the grandson of Leon McAuliffe, one of the original Texas Playboys, who has a star on the sidewalk outside.
The ballroom’s spectral residents supposedly include a woman in a transparent ball gown, a cowboy attempting to order ten-cent popcorn at the concession stand, and even Bob Wills himself. We also heard about an artist who was mysteriously pushed off stage during a sound check.
Our final destination was Gypsy Coffee House, housed in the 1906 building that originally belonged to the Gypsy Oil Company. The building’s resident ghost is reportedly Phillip, a Norwegian geologist who worked for the oil company. After suffering a heart attack, he supposedly slipped on the stairs, breaking his neck in a fatal fall. The coffee shop owner reports packages of tea flying off shelves, and patrons of the dispensary in the same building have their own eerie tales to tell.
Dave’s Take
“I had a fun time on our Tulsa Ghost Tour Experience, learned a few new things along our tour and found our guides to be very welcoming. I only wish it was a little darker outside when our tour took place, and could definitely see this tour being a lot more fun during the Fall months, closer to Halloween.
It was definitely unfortunate that First Friday was happening that night and definitely subtracted from the overall experience just due to the sheer amount of people who were at every location we visited.
My recommendation for anyone considering this tour would be to make sure you have a group of at least 4 people and check for downtown Tulsa events before booking your tour. For maximum spookiness, you want an off night, where not too much is going on downtown.
This tour would be a great way to enhance a night out if you’re heading to downtown Tulsa for dinner, or even a concert. I’d also recommend starting at the Gypsy instead of ending there so that you can grab some of their great food or coffee before starting your tour.”
Tips for Your Tulsa Ghost Tour
It was unfortunately difficult to hear our guides at times when we were near the event at Guthrie Green. If you’re hard of hearing, I definitely recommend confirming there aren’t competing events before booking. Both guides mentioned it was the busiest and loudest they’d ever seen downtown.
For maximum spookiness, consider booking on a weeknight when there are fewer people around. I’d also recommend the extended tour option. We did the one-mile, one-hour version, but I think the experience would feel more immersive with additional stops.
My one suggestion for US Ghost Adventures would be finding a way to incorporate going inside at least one of the buildings. Perhaps starting the tour inside Gypsy Coffee House (so participants could grab a beverage before setting off) and making a stop at The Tavern for a drink would add another dimension to the experience.
Overall, the tour provides an engaging blend of local history and paranormal stories that both tourists and longtime Tulsa residents can appreciate. It’s a perfect way to spend an evening learning about the darker side of T-Town’s past—just remember to arrive early for parking!
If you decide to book your own Tulsa ghost adventure, be sure to use our affiliate link here so they know we sent you! 🙂
What’s particularly impressive is the scope of US Ghost Adventures – they operate in more than 200 cities across America. Their parent company also offers a cool app called “Junket: Explore Your World,” which helps travelers embark on self-guided ghost tours, historical walks, movie/TV filming location tours, art and architecture explorations, and more—available as both walking and driving experiences. If you’re traveling to other cities and want to explore them on your own time, it’s worth checking out.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much walking is involved in the Tulsa Ghost Tour?
The standard tour covers approximately one mile over the course of an hour. There’s also an extended tour option that includes additional haunted locations.
Do we get to go inside any of the haunted buildings?
Currently, the tour is exterior-only. You don’t enter any of the privately-owned buildings, but the guides provide detailed stories about what happens inside. You can of course visit them on your own time as they’re all open for business.
Is the tour appropriate for children?
The tour discusses historical events like the Tulsa Race Massacre and other violent incidents. Parents should use discretion, but there’s nothing overly graphic described.
What happens if it rains during the tour?
The tour proceeds rain or shine, so bring appropriate weather gear. Who knows—you might even hear Caruso singing at the Tulsa Theater during a downpour!
Is downtown Tulsa safe at night?
The Arts District is generally well-lit and populated, especially on weekends. However, as with any downtown area, stay aware of your surroundings and consider using the paid parking options closer to the tour route. Since the tours start at 8:00 p.m., you should be done long before the bar crowd hits maximum inebriation.
How much does a ghost tour cost?
US Ghost Adventures charges $26 for adults, $17 for children ages 6-13, and children under 6 are free. Add on up to three additional locations for $7 apiece or rent an EMF detector for $7. Make sure to check their website for up-to-date pricing, and be sure to tip your tour guide!
