Midnight Assassin True Crime Walking Tour in Austin
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Quick answer
Is Midnight Assassin True Crime Walking Tour in Austin worth booking?
Midnight Assassin True Crime Walking Tour in Austin is a 2-hour experience in Austin, United States, from $10 per person. It scores 58 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 58 / 100
- Rating
- Not yet rated
- Duration
- 2 hours
- From
- $10 per person
This is the only tour in Austin focused on the Midnight Assassin, the unidentified killer who attacked residents in 1884 and 1885 and is often called America’s first serial killer. The tour was named Best Nightlife Activity in the Austin Chronicle’s 2022 Critics’ Picks. Over a 2-mile walk through downtown, including 6th Street and the historic Driskill Hotel, your guide stops at the real locations connected to the case. At each stop, you’ll hear what happened, how the city responded, and the main theories about who the killer was. The tour combines documented history with local stories, so it suits both history fans and true crime fans.
What you get
About this experience
This is the only tour in Austin focused on the Midnight Assassin, the unidentified killer who attacked residents in 1884 and 1885 and is often called America’s first serial killer. The tour was named Best Nightlife Activity in the Austin Chronicle’s 2022 Critics’ Picks. Over a 2-mile walk through downtown, including 6th Street and the historic Driskill Hotel, your guide stops at the real locations connected to the case. At each stop, you’ll hear what happened, how the city responded, and the main theories about who the killer was. The tour combines documented history with local stories, so it suits both history fans and true crime fans.
What's included
Included
- Pintours App
- Pintours Guided Tour
Not included
- Meals
What you'll see and do
Travelers start outside the Driskill, a grand hotel built by cattleman Jesse Driskill that opened in 1886, the year after the murders. Here they start the audio and hear an introduction to Austin in the 1880s, a fast-growing frontier capital, and to the killer the press called the Midnight Assassin.
10 minutes here
This corner was once East Cedar Street, where 11-year-old Mary Ramey was attacked in August 1885. Travelers stand near the site and hear how the attacks were reported at the time and how fear spread across the city. The original buildings are gone, and the area is now part of modern downtown.
10 minutes here
One block south, on what was then East Cypress Street, Eliza Shelley was killed in May 1885. Travelers hear how the early victims were mostly Black women working as domestic servants, and how the city’s response was slow until the attacks reached wealthier households.
10 minutes here
Cesar Chavez Street was once Water Street. Here, on Christmas Eve 1885, Susan Hancock was attacked in her home, on the same night as another killing across town. Travelers learn how that night set off panic, curfews, and armed patrols in Austin.
10 minutes here
Congress Avenue
Travelers walk north up Congress Avenue toward the Capitol, Austin’s main street then and now. The audio covers the suspects, the arrests, and the theories about the killer, including the speculation, still popular today, that he later became London’s Jack the Ripper.
10 minutes here
West 8th Street was once Hickory Street. Eula Phillips was killed near here on Christmas Eve 1885. Travelers hear about the trial that followed and why the case was never solved.
10 minutes here
Travelers see one of Austin’s historic Moonlight Towers, built in 1894–1895 and among the few of its kind still standing anywhere. The audio explains the popular legend that the towers were put up because of the murders, and why historians doubt it, since they came about ten years later.
10 minutes here
The Capitol was under construction during the murders. Travelers see the building from the grounds and hear how the attacks hurt Austin’s image as a modern state capital. The grounds and building are open to the public.
10 minutes here
6th Street
Travelers finish back on 6th Street, which was Pecan Street in 1884. The first victim, Mollie Smith, was killed further west on this street in December 1884. The audio closes with the open question of who the killer was.
10 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Austin
Start the audio tour outside the main entrance of the Driskill Hotel on Brazos Street, at the corner of 6th Street.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Start the audio tour outside the main entrance of the Driskill Hotel on Brazos Street, at the corner of 6th Street.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- hi, de, ru, ko, pt, cmn, fil, en, it, fr, hu, es, cs, ar, vi, ja, sk, pl, tr, nl
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Pintours
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
Good to know
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 0
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Pintours, who run 70 experiences we rank across 22 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 50.2.
See everything Pintours runsWhy this scores 58
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Midnight Assassin True Crime Walking Tour in Austin: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Austin.
How much does Midnight Assassin True Crime Walking Tour in Austin cost?
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Prices start at $10 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Austin usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Midnight Assassin True Crime Walking Tour in Austin take?
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Plan for about 2 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Austin is not rushed.
Is Midnight Assassin True Crime Walking Tour in Austin worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 58 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (0/5 across 0 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Austin, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Midnight Assassin True Crime Walking Tour in Austin?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Midnight Assassin True Crime Walking Tour in Austin suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 2-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Midnight Assassin True Crime Walking Tour in Austin?
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Around 0 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Austin can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Austin and add a light layer if any part of the 2-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Midnight Assassin True Crime Walking Tour in Austin start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Austin within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Austin?
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Austin's activity list runs on food and water: barbecue crawls to the pits that sell out by noon, Lady Bird Lake kayaking under the Congress Avenue bat colony, live music walks on Rainey and Red River, and Hill Country wine and distillery runs. We weight timing detail in the ranking, because a barbecue tour that arrives after the brisket is gone is a different product entirely. On Outty we rank every Austin experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include From Austin: Hill Country BBQ & Wine Shuttle, Best of Austin Small-Group Driving Tour with Local Guide, The Escape Game: Epic 60-Minute Adventures in Downtown Austin. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Austin?
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March to May and October to November, avoiding the triple-digit summer. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Austin?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Midnight Assassin True Crime Walking Tour in Austin?
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Included: Pintours App; and Pintours Guided Tour. Not included: Meals. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Midnight Assassin True Crime Walking Tour in Austin?
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Start the audio tour outside the main entrance of the Driskill Hotel on Brazos Street, at the corner of 6th Street. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Midnight Assassin True Crime Walking Tour in Austin offered in?
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It is offered in Hindi, German, Russian, Korean, Portuguese, Chinese, Filipino, English, Italian, French, Hungarian, Spanish, Czech, Arabic, Vietnamese, Japanese, Slovak, Polish, Turkish and Dutch. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Midnight Assassin True Crime Walking Tour in Austin?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Midnight Assassin True Crime Walking Tour in Austin wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Wheelchair accessible; Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; Transportation options are wheelchair accessible; and All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Midnight Assassin True Crime Walking Tour in Austin if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Austin. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
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