Gettysburg Ghost Tours: A Spirited Guide to America's Most Haunted Town
When the last cannon fell silent on July 3, 1863, Gettysburg had changed forever. Over three days, more than 50,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, or went missing across these rolling Pennsylvania fields. It remains the bloodiest battle ever fought on American soil. Is it any wonder that more than 160 years later, visitors from around the world still report encounters they cannot explain?
Gettysburg has earned its reputation as one of the most haunted towns in America. From candlelit walking tours through downtown streets to hands-on paranormal investigations inside abandoned buildings, there is a ghost tour here for every level of curiosity. Whether you are a skeptic, a history buff, or a seasoned ghost hunter, here is your guide to the best Gettysburg ghost tours.
Why Gettysburg Is So Haunted
During the Battle of Gettysburg, nearly every building in town was converted into a field hospital. Homes, churches, and shops were overrun with wounded soldiers. Many died where they lay. Local lore holds that the sheer scale of suffering left an imprint on the land itself, and that the spirits of soldiers, civilians, and nurses still walk these streets.
Some of the most famously haunted sites include the Farnsworth House Inn on Baltimore Street, the Jennie Wade House, and Devil's Den on the battlefield. These locations appear on nearly every ghost tour in town, and each carries its own chilling stories.
The Best Ghost Tours in Gettysburg
Ghosts of Gettysburg Candlelight Walking Tours
Founded in 1994 by historian and author Mark Nesbitt, Ghosts of Gettysburg is the original ghost tour company in town. Nesbitt spent years collecting paranormal accounts from residents, park rangers, and visitors, publishing them in his nine-book Ghosts of Gettysburg series. The tours bring those stories to life.
Their 90-minute candlelight walking tours wind through downtown Gettysburg, stopping at haunted buildings, historic churches, and sites of documented paranormal activity. Guides are well-versed in both the history and the hauntings, blending solid Civil War scholarship with genuinely eerie tales. Tickets are affordable, and children seven and under go free, making it a great option for families.
Gettysburg Ghost Tours
Gettysburg Ghost Tours offers candlelit walking tours and full ghost hunting experiences year-round. What sets them apart is their hands-on approach: their Ghost Hunts give you access to reportedly haunted abandoned buildings, where professional paranormal investigators teach you to use real equipment like EMF meters, spirit boxes, and dowsing rods.
If you have ever wanted to try ghost hunting for yourself rather than just listening to stories, this is the tour for you. They also offer themed walks through downtown Gettysburg, including routes that pass the Jennie Wade House and other landmark haunts.
Farnsworth House Inn Ghost Tours
The Farnsworth House Inn, built in 1810, is one of the most famous haunted buildings in Gettysburg. During the battle, it served as a field hospital, and bullet holes from Confederate snipers still pockmark its brick facade. Named one of USA Today's top haunted hotels, the inn offers multiple ghost tour experiences.
Their Haunted Cellar Tours take you into the building's dark, stone-walled basement, where visitors have reported unexplained footsteps, voices, and apparitions. For the more adventurous, the inn also hosts ghost hunts with paranormal equipment. Even if you skip the tour, stepping inside this historic building for a meal or a drink is an experience in itself.
Ghostly Images of Gettysburg
Ghostly Images of Gettysburg specializes in 90-minute tours of Gettysburg's most notoriously haunted buildings, including exclusive access to the Jennie Wade House and the Haunted Orphanage. Their guides focus on documented encounters and historical records, making the paranormal feel grounded in real events.
They also offer a popular late-night combo tour that visits multiple haunted locations in a single evening. If you want to go deep inside actual haunted buildings rather than walking past them on the street, Ghostly Images is your best bet.
What to Bring on a Gettysburg Ghost Tour
Most ghost tours in Gettysburg run rain or shine, so dress for the weather. A few essentials will make your experience better:
- Comfortable walking shoes — tours cover several blocks of historic brick sidewalks and uneven streets.
- A light jacket — evening temperatures drop quickly, especially in the fall and winter months.
- A camera or smartphone — many visitors capture unexplained orbs, mists, and shadows. Even if you do not catch a ghost, the nighttime photos of historic Gettysburg are stunning.
- An open mind — whether you believe in the paranormal or not, the stories are rooted in real history, and the atmosphere is unforgettable.
When to Go
Ghost tours run year-round in Gettysburg, but the experience shifts with the seasons. Summer evenings are warm and busy, with a lively downtown atmosphere. Fall brings crisp air, falling leaves, and peak spooky energy, especially around Halloween, when tour companies add special events and extended hours. Winter tours are quieter and more intimate, with fewer crowds and darker, eerier streets.
Whenever you visit, book ahead. Ghost tours are one of Gettysburg's most popular attractions, and tickets sell out quickly, particularly on weekends and in October.
Plan Your Haunted Getaway
After an evening of ghost stories and paranormal investigation, you will want a comfortable place to rest your head, hopefully one without its own resident spirits. The Baladerry Inn offers elegant boutique accommodations in the heart of Gettysburg, just minutes from the battlefield and downtown. With beautifully appointed rooms, personalized service, and a peaceful setting, it is the perfect home base for your haunted Gettysburg adventure.
Book your stay, grab a lantern, and step into the shadows of history. Gettysburg's ghosts are waiting.