Providence Ghost Tours: Phantoms, Poltergeists, & Pestilence

Had a really enjoyable, interesting, and informative tour with Nicole. The tour lasted about 1.5 hours and showcased several historic and “spooky” connections to Providence. Nicole provided a relaxed and fun atmosphere but she certainly knew her facts! I would definitely recommend a tour with her.

Riley was very knowledgeable and provided interesting insights. We enjoyed our time with him and would book another tour if we come back.

The guide spoke too much about Lovecraft, the author who is from Providence. It was mor of a review of the stories Lovecraft may have based on certain site in Providence, but no stories of ghosts. Very disappointed.

This was not only a great way to see the city of Providence, but to learn about it's history. There were a few steep hills, but the majority of the trip was flat or down hill. Beautiful city, fun information and ghost stories!

It was a chilly autumn night in eldritch old Providence. A rough dozen strangers were drawn to Memorial Park, some from vast distances, hard by a pillar consecrated to lost and lamented souls. We eyed each other uncertainly; where would we be taken? What strange and eerie tales would we hear? Then out of the darkness appeared a young woman with a lantern, Nicole, who would lead us into the night. She handed some of us devices to detect spirits. Soon Nicole held us spellbound with the story of Providence’s medically certified vampire. She had our hearts pounding as we trooped uphill to the Athanaeum, where Edgar Allan Poe found and lost his love, and where H.P. Lovecraft passed his days between bouts of madness. We pressed on as Nicole wove history and legends into a mesmerizing evening. (She researched the locations and wrote the script for the tour herself.) She was as warm and lively as the night was dark, answering our questions and speaking loudly enough that even the most aged among us (me, I think) heard every word. By the end, when she took a smaller group into downtown for an extended tour, age and infirmity held us back from following her to hear more weird tales from beyond the grave. (Knee and foot problems, darn it.) I dare not think of the stories Nicole told amid the dark towers across the river. That way madness lies. But the parting was sad for me and my wife. Nicole had cast her spell in the both of us. We are far away now, many leagues away, but we can urge you to follow Nicole into the Providence night. You will be delighted.

This is a very informative, fun-filled event that is historical, beautiful and even a little spooky. The tour does include several hills which may be difficult for those with orthopedic issues.

I was expecting a far more creepy tale of ghost stories but this was way more heavy on horror writers like HP Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe. It was still interesting but I was more looking for my hairs to stand up on the back of my neck. Our tour guide admitted to having ADHD sort of the beginning of our tour which I didn't think anything of until each different stop she was getting distracted by a bunny or another group walking by. It kind of made it hard to follow along and focus. I will say the biggest gripe I had is that this is NOT a moderate tour in terms of physical activity nor is this wheelchair friendly. I'm not sure who put that as an option but they need to update it. We had a group of older women who were otherwise in good health but really struggled with the constant amount of up hill and downhill walking. No wheelchair other than maybe a motorized one could do this tour safely. Overall it was okay but if I were you I would splurge the money and go on a slightly more expensive tour with better reviews.

This walking tour focused a lot on authors who spent time in providence and the tour guide pointed out historical buildings, however, there was only one true ghost story mentioned at the end. Although some things discussed were macabre in nature, I definitely would not call it a ghost tour.

Heavy on the hp lovecraft, light in the haunting lore of providence. Would’ve liked a more dramatic and engaging tour than facts.

Great tour, the guide gave in-depth review of literature of Rhode Island and mysteries. Well structured tour. New things to learn about Rhode Island.