Ghost Tours of Harpers Ferry
Welcome to the official website of The Original, "Ghost Tours of Harpers Ferry," now conducted by................. "O' Be JoyFull" Historical Tours
Ghost Tours of Harpers Ferry by "O' Be JoyFull" Historical Tours has been rated the #2 Tour/Activity in 'Historic Lower Town' of Harpers Ferry, WV on TripAdvisor.com! (Our daytime Historical Tour is #1!)
Ghost Tours of Harpers Ferry is the oldest Ghost Tour in America, NOW AN INCREDIBLE 53 YEARS OLD!, has also been rated as the
#1 Ghost Tour in America by TripAdvisor.com (Based on customer ratings)! Check it out at: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/tripadvisor/42931/
"O' Be JoyFull's" Historical Walking Tour is rated by TripAdvisor.com as the #1 Historical Tour/Activity in Harpers Ferry, WV!
Click here for more information on Walking Tours!:http://www.obejoyfull.com/
------------------------------------------
Updated: Friday, June 7th, 2024
RESERVATIONS ARE STRONGLY SUGGESTED: (We would not turn you away without a reservation, BUT, if no one reserves a tour 'Off Season' and/or 'Midweek,' we do not drive into town to conduct The Ghost Tour! And, on busy nights it's very helpful to know if a second tour guide would be good.)
Best to reserve by calling 304/725-8019 by 6 PM the day you would like to attend.
Listen to information, leave First Name, # of people, Contact (cell) Phone Number.
Please do not expect a return confirmation phone call, we only call you back 'IF' there is a problem with your reservation.
It is a single line phone, so if you get a '# Not Available Message,' please try back in a few minutes.
We collect cash or check, no Credit/Debit Cards, when you arrive, and have change on hand. See below for more information.
ATTENTION:
On April 1st, 2022, New Pricing went into effect for first time in several years:
$18 Per Person anyone over 12 years of age
$14 Per Person anyone 8 to 12 years of age
No charge for anyone under 8 years of age
We will attempt to keep a pretty full schedule this year, however as I continue to deal with 'Post Covid Fatigue Syndrome/Long Covid' there are good days, not so good days, and bad days. It is best to call 304/725-8019 to make a reservation and be sure to leave a contact phone number in case we need to call you. (My wife does fill in for me on occasion.)
During 2024 we will be closed on:
Closed on Memorial Day, Monday May 27th
(We wll have a Sunday night, May 26th Ghost Tour instead!)
Closed on most Wednesdays but open:
Wednesdays' in June, July & August
Last three (3) Wednesdays in October.
Open Wednesday, October 16th, 23rd, & 30th in October.
Closed on Labor Day, Monday September 2nd
(We will have a Sunday night, September 1st Ghost Tour instead!)
Closed on Columbus Day, Monday October 14th
(We will have a Sunday night, October 13th Ghost Tour instead!)
Closed on Thanksgiving Eve & Thanksgiving Day
Closed on the follwoing days in December...
Closed December 6th, 7th, 8th, 13th, 14th, & 15th.
Closed on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day
Closed on New Years Eve & New Years Day
We are open year 'round and usually offer tours Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays
(Please scroll down to see more Daily Schedule and Reservation Information)
Tours begin at 8 PM Sharp!
(Please be sure to arrive to St. Peter's Church by 7:45 PM to check in.)
NOTE: Please remember that when the sun goes down it can get chilly at night, even during some of the warmer months, so check the forcasted temperature and dress appropriately.
In the colder months you should be sure to dress very warmly! It's colder out at night! Especially in the late fall and winter, unless you are very warm blooded, extra layers, long johns, wool socks, etc. will make your experience more enjoyable! *
* PLEASE NOTE: In the event of really bad weather, heavy rain and/or lightning and thunder, and/or when the temperature is 40 degrees, or below, include Wind Chill, we go inside to the Beautiful and Historic Sanctuary of St. Peter's Chuch, where you will hear the same historically based ghostly stories, while viewing pictures of the same haunted sites, plus as an extra bonus you will get to see the Beautiful Sanctuary of St. Peter's, as well as some Historical Artifacts and hear about some of Harpers Ferry's Church History! Then after the Stories Session you can spend as time as you would like at those sites (all located within a few blocks of the church and parking lot on Potomac Street) to take pictures, EVP's, etc.
With many years experience we have found that when the temperatures is 40 degress or colder, people find themselves freezing cold, especially their feet, within the first 30-45 minutes of the tour, making the experience less enjoyable because you are not walking around that much to create body heat, you are standing still listening to the stories.
Additionally, feedback from customers tells us that hearing the same historically based ghostly stories, while viewing pictures of the same haunted sites, in the Historic and Beautiful Sanctuary of Historic St. Peter's Church, provides a very enjoyable night of ghostly entertainment, especially when you can then walk just a few blocks to see those sites right after the warm and comfortable Ghostly Sanctuary Stories Session. (Plus, you will have walked by most sites on your way to St. Peter's Church and will most likely recognize the sites in the pictures. You can also go back to those sites after the stories to hang out, take pictures, etc.!)
"My Fiancee' and I planned a weekend getaway and chose to add the ghost tour to our evening plans. I had called 4 days prior to schedule our evening. The night of the tour, there were wind chills of -4. Rick called us a few hours prior and suggested we go for Parlor Ghost Stories (Before I worked from St. Peter's Church I had a small shop) by the wood stove instead to which we happily agreed... Being a historian, Rick was able to paint an excellent picture of the town in the days of the war. We would definitely attend this tour again, rain or shine!"...Shaunee, Glen Burnie, MD, January 4th, 2010.
Amelia - Guide & Storyteller for...
The One, The Only, The Original...
Ghost Tours of Harpers Ferry
The oldest ghost tour in America!!!
Circa. 1970, is now...
Ghost Tours of Harpers Ferry
by
"O' Be JoyFull" Historical Tours
We are open year round and always conduct the Ghost Tour or Sanctuary Ghost Stories, Rain or Shine!
You can "click" on:
"Cusomter Reviews/Comments/Forums" Page
to see more of what people have said about our tours!
------------------------------------
We meet at:
The Piazza (Front Patio) of
St. Peter's Catholic Church
100 Church Street, Harpers Ferry, WV.
(One long block up Public Way from the
intersection of High Street & Public Way.)
Please be sure to arrive by 7:45 PM to Check In.
We do start Promptly at 8 PM!
Scroll down for very important Parking Information/Instructions...
Cost...(See top of page for new pricing that will go into effect on April 1st, 2022.)
The cost for the approximate 1 & 3/4 hour Ghost Tour is $18.00 per person, $14.00 for children 8 to 12 years of age, and there is no charge for well behaved children under 8 years of age. See above for new pricing starting April 1st, 2022.
(Children who are not well behaved will be given a sugary and caffeine loaded snack at the end of the tour, along with a free puppy for their parents to care for, plus they'll also be sent home with a very cranky ghost to keep you awake every night for at least the next week!) (Just kidding! Or are we?)
We accept cash and checks only and we will have change on hand. (We apologize for not having the ability to take credit cards.)
There are group discounts available for groups of over 10 or more. Call for more information and pricing. (Groups discounts are not available, or offered for any nights in October and the 1st weekend in November.)
Important Parking Information!
There is no parking at or next to St. Peter's Church!
Warning!: Parking in the very small lot next to the church, or in any driveway near the church, or anywhere on the street near the church, risks as much as a $175.00 Federal Parking Ticket and/or having your vehicle towed at your expense, and there are no exceptions for handicapped plates, handicapped stickers, or for veterans, V.I.P.'s, etc!
THE SAFE PLACES TO PARK ARE:
1) AT THE AFMTRACK TRAIN STATION ON POTOMAC STREET. (There is no fee when the National Park is closed, 5 or 6 PM depending on the season, and/or if you are not visiting any of the National Park's Exhibits or 'The Point,' where the rivers meet because the fee is an 'Entrance Fee' to the National Park and NOT a 'Parking Fee.')
If the Train Station Parking Lot is full, then proceed back out to Potomac Street and look for parking:
2) ALONG THE STREET ON POTOMAC STREET IN DESGNATED PARKING SPOTS. (It is 'Pay By The Hour' parking, via your smart phone or cell phone up until 6 PM, then it's free parking.)
If there is no parking on Potomac Street, proceed back to Shenandoah Street and make a right onto Shenandoah Street, go one short block and make a right onto High Street and drive up the hill 4/10's of a mile (High Street turns into Washington Street) and park:
3) ALONG THE STREET ON WASHINGTON STREET IN DESIGNATED PARKING SPORTS. (As you drive up the hill on High Street the street turns into Washington Street where there is a lot more "Pay By The Hour' parking, via your smart phone or cell phone up until 6 PM, then it's free parking.)
The address for the Amtrak Train Station on Potomac Street is:
120 Potomac Street, Harpers Ferry, WV, 25424, which is approximately 6 blocks down the hill from St. Peter's Church.
It's best to check out MapQuest.com or Google.com/maps for directions because GPS systems do not always work well here.
(IMPORTANT NOTE ON DIRECTIONS: It has recently come to our attention that MapQuest.com and/or GPS systems are sometimes incorrectly routing/directing people to take Bakerton Road to arrive to the Potomac Street Train Station, which is wrong and ends in a DEAD END road with no access to Harpers Ferry. Only enter Harpers Ferry by either N. Washington Street, Union Street, or Shannendoah Street. DO NOT TAKE BAKERTON ROAD.)
--------------
Regular Schedule
We offer Ghost Tours or Sanctuary Ghost Stories Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights all year round (OPEN LAST THREE WEDNESDAY NIGHTS IN OCTOBER)
We also offer Sunday night tours on some 3 day Holiday Weekends (We then are closed on that Monday night), and we also offer 6 PM Sunday night tours during last 2 weekends in October. (Scroll down this page for more information.)
During the months of April through September, Ghost Tours are conducted every Friday & Saturday nights at 8:00 PM. Please arrive by 7:45 PM as the tour starts promptly at 8PM, plus tours are also conducted Monday through Thursday nights at 8:00 PM, by reservation, which must be called in to 304/725-8019 or 732/801-0381, by 6:00 PM on the day that you would like to take the tour. (YOU CAN ALWAYS TAKE THE CHANCE OF JUST 'SHOWING UP' AND WE WILL NOT TURN YOU AWAY, BUT IF NO ONE CALLS FOR A RESERVATION, I/WE MAY NOT BE THERE TO CONDUCT THE TOUR FOR YOU.)
(NOTE: If you leave your reservation on our answering machine by 6:00 PM, please be assured that your message will be received and that you can then simply arrive to St. Peter's Church for your tour. You do not have to and most likely will not receive a call back from us for as we are often just not able to call back with such confirmations, but again, please be assured that we will be there for you.)
Again, from April through September, Friday & Saturday night Ghost Tours do not require reservations* (*EXCEPT FOR DATES CLOSED AS SPECIFIED NEAR THE TOP OF THIS PAGE) and will leave from The Piazza (Stone Patio) of St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, 100 Church Street, Harpers Ferry, WV, PROMPTLY at 8:00 PM. (Arrive by 7:45 PM to check in)
Note: During the very busy month of October, and during our "Off Season," from November 1st through March 31st, tours are available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights by reservation only, and reservations must be called in by 6 PM on the day you'd like to take the tour or experience Sanctuary Ghost Stories.
OCTOBER & HALLOWEEN NOTICE - Because October is our very busiest month, we do ask for reservations in order to know how many people to expect and you have to anticipate being a part of a large group on Friday & Saturday nights, especially during the last 2 to 3 weekends of the month.
October is not a time to expect a small and intimate tour group. During the last two weekends of October, we will offer tours both at 6 PM and 8 PM on Saturday nights, as well as, a 6 PM tour on the last two Sunday nights of October.
From October through March we offer tours, or Sanctuary Ghost Stories inside St. Peter's Church, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights at 8 PM. We do need you to call us for a reservation, by 6PM the day of the tour to make sure we will be there for you!
(All Ghost Tours, or Sanctuary Ghost Stories, start at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church and start promptly at 8 PM, so please make sure to arrive for your tour by 7:45PM, or earlier!)
Call...
304/725-8019
(Please carefully listen to the instructions and then leave a message! Note: We do not call back to confirm a reservation, we only call if there is a problem with your reservation.)
Scroll down the page to see on which Sunday nights that we will also conduct Ghost Tours:
(We are normally closed on Sundays)
Sunday night tours...
We are normally closed on Sunday nights and do not offer tours, however if you have a group of 10 or more people, we will gladly conduct a Sunday night tour for your group (Pre-payment is required and discounts are not offered). Please call us for more information, including pricing, if you would like to arrange for a Sunday night tour.
Pre-scheduled Sunday night tours that you can join in with (Please call to let us know you'll be joining us) will be conducted on...
(These Sunday night Tours will start at 8 PM)
Sunday, May 26th, 2023 (Memorial Day Weekend)
Sunday, September 1st, 2023 (Labor Day Weekend)
Sunday, October13th, 2021 (Columbus Day Weekend)
(The following Sunday night Tours will start at 6 PM)
Sunday, October 20th, 2023
(Tour will start at 6 PM)
Sunday, October 27th, 2023
(Tour will start at 6 PM)
Cost...(See top of page for new pricing going into effect on April 1st, 2022.)
The cost for the approximate 1 & 3/4 hour Ghost Tour is $18.00 per person, $14.00 for children 8 to 12 years of age, and there is no charge for well behaved children under 8 years of age. (Children who are not well behaved will be given a sugary and caffeine loaded snack at the end of the tour, along with a free puppy for their parents to care for, plus they'll also be sent home with a very cranky ghost to keep you awake every night for at least the next week!) (Just kidding! Or?)
We accept cash and checks only, and we will have change on hand. (We apologize for not having the ability to take credit cards.)
There are group discounts available for groups of over 10 or more. Call for more information and pricing. (Groups discounts are not available, or offered for any Sunday night tours, or in October, and the 1st weekend in November.)
If you call by 6:00 PM for a tour, we'll be there for you at The "O' Be JoyFull" Center, at 7:30 PM, for an 8:00 PM tour! (Just be sure to always check below under "Closed On The Following Days..." to make sure we are open and offering tours on that day immediately prior to calling as these dates can change from day to day!)
Note: You do not have to hear back from us to know that we'll be there to conduct your tour! If you leave a message for a tour by 6:00 PM, please be assured that we will be there by 7:30 PM, to conduct your tour at 8:00 PM. However, due to other professional committments, we may not be able to call you back with a confirmation.
When it's really cold, we bundle up with lots of layers, long johns, wool socks, etc., and we still conduct the nightly Ghost Tour for those hearty souls who long for the tales of Harpers Ferry's lost souls!
BUT, when the weather is just too cold (30's or below) or too bad, when it's just too rainy or snowing, you can still plan on a special evening of Harpers Ferry Ghost Stories told in the warmth of the beautiful sanctuary of St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church!
You will enjoy all the same great Harpers Ferry Ghost Stories, while viewing color pictures of the town's same haunted sites! (We conduct the tour outdoors in most light, or moderately steady rains, unless it is just too cold.)
Otherwise, the tour will be conducted outside, so in cooler weather make sure to bundle up! Extra socks, warm shoes, layers, long johns, etc. will enhance the enjoyment of your tour! Keep in mind that it gets much colder at night after the sun goes down!
"My Fiancee' and I planned a weekend getaway and chose to add the ghost tour to our evening plans. I had called 4 days prior to schedule our evening. The night of the tour, there were wind chills of -4. Rick called us a few hours prior and suggested we go for Parlor Ghost Stories (Before I worked from St. Peter's Church I had a small shop) by the wood stove instead to which we happily agreed... Being a historian, Rick was able to paint an excellent picture of the town in the days of the war. We would definitely attend this tour again, rain or shine!"...Shaunee, Glen Burnie, MD, January 4th, 2010.
Rick Garland, of "O' Be JoyFull" Historical Tours, the owner/manager of Ghost Tours of Harpers Ferry, is a Historian, Licensed Tour Guide, Musicologist, Vocalist, Pianist and Historical Story Teller, who conducts historical tours of Harpers Ferry, WV, as well as several Historical Songs & Stories Shows (Historical Stories, Singing and Piano Playing!)
Rick's website for "O' Be JoyFull" Historical Tours & Historical Songs & Stories Concert Shows is http://www.obejoyfull.com/.
<ISML TYPE="counter" OPTION=graphic_odometer>
Owner & Living Historian Rick Garland
The tour is a 'Family & Dog Friendly' Spooky Stories experience appropriate for most people of all ages (see a more detailed description on page 2 of this website, labeled 'Tour Information'). We do not attempt to contact, talk to, or 'Hunt,' any ghostly spirits, however we do allow and encourage picture taking!
The stories are based on the 1977 book, pictured above, "A Ghostly Tour of Harpers Ferry."
Shirley Dougherty, the author, had opened up a popular Harpers Ferry restaurant in 1968, "The Old Iron Horse." Although Shirley did not believe in ghosts when she opened the restaurant, she and others soon experienced a number of unexplainable ghostly phonomenon that caused her to start asking questions about the history of the building and Harpers Ferry hoping to find explanations that might account for, or explain the strange things that were happening.
Not only did Shirley learn about some of her building's past history, but local people also came to her with stories about many of the other buildings in the historical "Lower Town" section of Harpers Ferry, which she subsequently published in her book and began to tell on nightly tours, which she had combined with other stories, including some that were told on tours that the National Park used to conduct themselves.
Today, the tour continues to tell both the stories originally recorded by the National Park, as well as those compiled and told by Shirley Dougherty herself on what is now the oldest ghost tour in America!
<div id="eXTReMe"><a href="http://extremetracking.com/open?login=hfghost"> <img src="http://t1.extreme-dm.com/i.gif" style="border: 0;" height="38" width="41" id="EXim" alt="eXTReMe Tracker" /></a> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- var EXlogin='hfghost' // Login var EXvsrv='s11' // VServer EXs=screen;EXw=EXs.width;navigator.appName!="Netscape"? EXb=EXs.colorDepth:EXb=EXs.pixelDepth;EXsrc="src"; navigator.javaEnabled()==1?EXjv="y":EXjv="n"; EXd=document;EXw?"":EXw="na";EXb?"":EXb="na"; EXd.write("<img "+EXsrc+"=http://e2.extreme-dm.com", "/"+EXvsrv+".g?login="+EXlogin+"&", "jv="+EXjv+"&j=y&srw="+EXw+"&srb="+EXb+"&", "l="+escape(parent.document.referrer)+" height=1 width=1>");//--> </script><noscript><div id="neXTReMe"><img height="1" width="1" alt="" src="http://e2.extreme-dm.com/s11.g?login=hfghost&j=n&jv=n" /> </div></noscript></div>
