Chattanooga started as Ross's Landing in 1839, grew up along the Tennessee River, and got pulled hard into the Civil War, with the Battle of Chickamauga fought nearby and Lookout Mountain within a short drive. Fires, floods, disease and war leave stories behind, and this town has guides who know how to tell them. Here are six Chattanooga ghost tours worth your evening, from a family-friendly walk to a cemetery ghost hunt.
1. ChattaBOOga Ghost Walk Tour in Chattanooga
The straightforward city stroll. A guide walks you through downtown's spookier side, connecting haunted tales to the fires, floods, disease and war that shaped the city, with landmarks like the Fireman's Memorial Fountain and the Hamilton County Courthouse along the route.
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2. Cursed in Chattanooga Haunted Walking Tour
The adults-only option, and the darkest of the bunch. This guided walk leans into tragedy and legend: talk of dark spirits, monsters, blood-soaked ground and a centuries-old curse the guides save for the right corner. Leave the kids at the hotel for this one.
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3. Ghost & Booze Tour of Chattanooga - 21+ Over
A 21-and-over pub hop through the Historic District, trading between taverns said to be haunted and the back alleys between them. The route also passes what guides describe as the largest unmarked mass graveyard in town, which lands differently after the second pint.
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4. Family-Friendly Ghost Tour in Chattanooga
The one to book with kids in tow. This walking tour visits historic sites tied to the Civil War and other strange chapters of local history, working toward May's Urban Mansion and the Aquarium, with the scares kept at a level everyone can enjoy.
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5. Murder & Mayhem Haunted History Walking Tour
A 1.5 to 2 hour walk through the darker side of the city's storied past, led by a local guide who treats the history as seriously as the hauntings. If you want the true-crime angle with your ghost stories, start here.
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6. 1.5-Hour Cemetery Ghost Hunt in Chattanooga
The hands-on pick. This ghost hunt at Citizens Cemetery hands you temperature guns, laser grid lights and an Ovilus X, then turns you loose to look for whatever might answer. Not recommended for children or anyone of a sensitive disposition, per the operator, which is either a warning or an invitation.
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Questions people ask
Is Chattanooga haunted?
It has more claim than most river towns. Fires, floods, disease and the Civil War all passed through here, with the Battle of Chickamauga fought nearby, and the local hauntings trace back to those chapters. The guides connect the reports to the record, then let you decide.
Are ghost tours in Chattanooga worth it?
Yes, if you match the tour to your group. Families should take the family-friendly walk, night owls the pub crawl, and anyone who wants to hold the equipment should book the cemetery ghost hunt. Fall dates fill early, so book ahead.
What is the most haunted place in Chattanooga?
Citizens Cemetery draws the most serious attention; it is where the ghost-hunt operators bring their gear. Downtown, the blocks around the Hamilton County Courthouse and the Historic District's old taverns carry the bulk of the walking-tour stories.
Are Chattanooga ghost tours okay for kids?
One of them is built for it: the Family-Friendly Ghost Tour keeps the stories thrilling without going grim. The Cursed in Chattanooga walk is adults-only, the pub crawl is 21 and over, and the cemetery ghost hunt is flagged as unsuitable for children.
Keep reading
If your travels ever swing Southwest, Freaky Foot Tours runs walking tours in three Arizona towns; see our locations page.
