Flagstaff’s ghosts order a drink. This guided pub crawl threads you through the town’s eerie downtown landmarks while you hear the stories behind the robberies, murders, suicides, and tragedies that shaped it. If you like history with teeth, you’ll enjoy the walking pace and the bar-hopping rhythm that keeps the night (and your attention) moving.

I love how Steve turns old-town rumors into clear, story-shaped moments you can actually picture. I also like the smart combo of historic architecture and real drinking stops, especially the Weatherford Hotel area and the Zane Gray Bar stop.

One thing to consider: the tales get very dark, so if you prefer light-and-funny entertainment, this one might feel heavy. Also, it’s a walking tour through downtown, so plan for comfortable shoes and expect a steady stroll.

Key highlights worth clocking before you go

• A guide who brings the stories to life (Steve’s narration is the kind you remember)
• Weatherford Hotel + Zane Gray Bar stop where the setting matches the mood
• Three historic downtown pub stops with time to sit, sip, and listen
• Orpheum Theatre and other haunted-sounding buildings you pass on foot
• Flagstaff’s tragic cases on the route, including the Marie Walkup story
• Easy meet-up at the train station track side, with a guide in southwestern gothic attire

First Stop: South Side Train Station and a Gothic Meet-Up

Your night starts on the south side of the train station, track side. You’ll want to look for your guide dressed in southwestern gothic attire. It’s a small detail, but it matters because it helps you find the group fast, and you waste less time standing around trying to guess who’s with the tour.

From a practical standpoint, this meet-up location is also easy to orient around. Downtown Flagstaff is walkable, and starting at the train station puts you close to the historic district without needing complicated directions or extra transport.

The tour is live and in English, run by Freaky Foot Tours. That matters because the stories are built for spoken delivery, not just a static plaque-and-phone experience. If you’re the type who likes to ask questions, a live guide like this is a big part of the value.

Walking Flagstaff’s Haunted Downtown Without Feeling Lost

This is a 2.5-hour guided walking pub crawl through the historic downtown district. You’ll move along a route of well-known buildings and street corners tied to Flagstaff’s older days, when it was a railroad settlement at the base of Mount Humphreys. The walk itself is part of the show: you’re seeing the shape of the district while the guide connects each site to a story.

The pacing is built around short stops. You’re not stuck listening the entire time while walking past everything. Instead, you get moments to sit outside, sip a drink, and hear the next set of tales before continuing on. I like that because it breaks up the night into “story chapters,” not one long lecture.

You’ll also pass landmarks that anchor the tour’s mood. The Orpheum Theatre is near the Weatherford Hotel, and that whole cluster of buildings gives you a strong visual sense of why people in town still talk about the supernatural.

If you’re sensitive to heavy themes, go in knowing the tour covers robberies, murders, and suicides, plus a specific tragic case involving Marie Walkup and her murdered children. That’s not background noise. It’s central to the story the guide tells.

Weatherford Hotel and the Zane Gray Bar Pour

One of the best parts is the stop in the Weatherford Hotel orbit, followed by a drink at the historic Zane Gray Bar. This is the kind of setting where the building and the story match. John Weatherford’s imagination shaped both the Weatherford Hotel and the adjacent theatre, so you’re not just drinking in a random spot. You’re in a place that already feels like an artifact.

The Zane Gray Bar stop also fits the tour’s theme without turning into a gimmick. You get a drink as the guide describes what made this era of Flagstaff intense—people moving through town, fortunes rising and falling, and the darker consequences that sometimes followed.

Even better, the tour builds in time to sit outside and listen. That outdoor patio moment is where the whole experience clicks for me. You can watch the street life around you while your guide continues the seedy, unnerving tales tied to the buildings nearby. It creates a contrast: everyday downtown sounds, layered with stories that don’t sound so normal.

Three Historic Downtown Pub Stops, One Story Thread

You’ll stop for a drink at three different historic downtown pubs. The wording matters: it’s not just a single tasting stop. It’s a sequence, and each venue is used as a stage for a different slice of the town’s past.

That structure is a big reason this tour feels fun instead of grim. You’re getting a variety of stories and settings in a short window. If one tale hits hard, the next stop can shift the mood into eerie but more conversational territory, all while keeping the same central thread: the way early Flagstaff characters and events shaped the town’s reputation.

I also like that you get a moment to pause at each location. During a walking tour, that pause is where you reset. You can hear the next part clearly, ask questions, and keep moving without feeling rushed.

One practical note: the tour includes guided stops where you enjoy a drink, but the information provided doesn’t spell out whether drinks themselves are included in the $50. If you want certainty, plan on paying for your own drinks unless the operator confirms otherwise when you book.

Orpheum Theatre and the Supernatural-Sounding Landmarks Along the Route

The Orpheum Theatre is a key visual landmark on this crawl, sitting next to the Weatherford Hotel. When a tour builds its route around nearby historic buildings like that, it helps you understand the neighborhood layout instead of treating each stop like a random pickup point.

Along the way, you also hear about other notable structures tied to supernatural reputation. The 1926 train depot and Hotel Monte Vista come up as known hotspots. That’s useful context because it explains why these buildings show up again and again in ghost talk, local legends, and tall tales.

Another detail I found especially interesting is how specific figures in the town’s early days get woven in. Kindly Dr. Raymond, an eccentric beloved town physician, built his home and offices on Leroux St. Specific street ties like this make the stories feel grounded in real geography, not just vague folklore.

This is also where the architecture matters. On a pub crawl, you’re usually focused on drinks. Here, the buildings keep pulling you back toward the theme: you’re walking through a district preserved enough that you can look at the streetscape and think, yes, this could have witnessed everything the guide is describing.

The Stories You’ll Hear: Robberies, Murders, Suicides, and Marie Walkup

The tour doesn’t shy away from dark topics. You’ll learn about the robberies, murders, and suicides that rocked Flagstaff and helped form its haunted reputation. You’ll also get a chilling reminder tied to the 1930s: the tragic story of Marie Walkup and her murdered children.

I appreciate that the guide doesn’t treat this like random shock value. The details are tied to the broader picture of how a small railroad settlement grew and attracted both opportunity and danger. When you hear the stories placed next to the buildings connected to them, the tour feels less like spooky entertainment and more like a grim neighborhood memoir told with a drink in hand.

That said, it’s still not a light outing. If you prefer ghosts that are more playful than painful, this isn’t built that way. I’d treat it like a themed walking history night that happens to use bars as the pause points.

Price and Value: Is $50 Fair for a 2.5-Hour Haunting?

At $50 per person for a 2.5-hour guided experience, you’re paying for three things: a structured route, live narration, and curated stops in historic downtown locations. That’s not just “a walk with a story.” It’s a timed program that uses the bars as part of how the tour works.

The best value comes from the fact that the guide’s storytelling matters. People remember tours where the narration is sharp and specific. Here, the guide is described as knowledgeable and able to bring both ancient and not-so-ancient stories to life, and the pace is said to fly by in a good way.

The main thing to watch is drink cost clarity. The tour description says you’ll enjoy a drink at historic places during the route, but it doesn’t state that drinks are included in the price. If you drink modestly, $50 may feel like a fair deal for the walking guidance and stops. If you plan to have more than one or two drinks, factor in additional costs when budgeting.

Also, you get free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance and a reserve now & pay later option, which can reduce risk if your Flagstaff schedule is still firming up.

Who Should Book This Pub Crawl (and Who Might Skip It)

This works best if you want:

• A guided way to learn Flagstaff’s historic downtown feel without studying maps first
• A lively group atmosphere centered on storytelling, not museum pacing
• A walking experience that mixes sights with breaks at historic pubs

It may not be ideal if:

• You want only light, funny ghost stories
• You don’t like heavy topics like murders, suicides, and child-related tragedies
• You need a fully seated, low-movement activity

It’s also not suitable for people under 21, and you should bring a passport or ID card.

The tour is wheelchair accessible, which is a helpful detail if you want to attend and still expect accommodations beyond the basic “good luck, stairs ahead” approach.

Should You Book Spirits With The Spirits? My Take

If you’re choosing between a standard ghost walk and something more social, this one is a strong pick. I like that it’s not only about chilling stories. It uses real historic downtown venues—Weatherford Hotel area and the Zane Gray Bar, plus multiple pub stops—to turn the whole district into an active set.

The deciding factor for me is the guide. When Steve’s storytelling is the main event and the route is built around recognizable landmarks like the Orpheum Theatre and the Weatherford cluster, the 2.5 hours feel worth it. Add in the fact that the tales include specific Flagstaff tragedies like Marie Walkup’s case, and you get an experience that lingers in your mind afterward.

Book it if you’re in the mood for dark, place-based storytelling with a drink break structure. Skip it if you want gentle spooks or you’re uncomfortable with the tour’s heavy subject matter.

FAQ

How long is the Spirits With The Spirits haunted pub crawl?

It runs for 2.5 hours. Starting times depend on availability.

Where do I meet the guide?

Meet your guide on the south side of the train station (track side). Look for the guide dressed in southwestern gothic attire.

What’s included in the $50 per person price?

The price includes a guided haunted pub crawl through downtown Flagstaff’s haunted history, an experienced live guide, and learning about downtown Flagstaff’s history.

Is it suitable for anyone under 21?

No. The tour is not suitable for people under 21.

Do I need an ID?

Yes. Bring a passport or ID card.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, it’s listed as wheelchair accessible.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes, the live tour guide speaks English.

What if I need to cancel?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

What if I want to pay later?

You can reserve your spot and pay later, which keeps plans flexible.