Phantoms, Penance, and Poltergeists: Portland Ghost Tour

Underwhelming Experience

The good: The meeting location was easy to find and directions were clear. Our tour guide (T) was punctual and made all guests feel welcome. The not so good: before the tour even began, T casually mentioned a stabbing by an unhoused person the previous night. We are unsure if this was a part of their schtick or an actual safety concern. Our group included 20 people and at the first stop, even when standing near T, it was difficult to hear. This is to be expected to some extent on a city street, however, a large contributing factor was their delivery, which continued to be an issue for the duration of the tour. Each stop included true crime facts, but T’s storytelling lacked the suspense and intrigue which one might expect on a ghost tour. T mentioned at one point that they had “thrown out the script,” and that was evident. At our last stop, a parking lot, devices were handed out. There were three for the 20 participants. Having been on several ghost tours before, I know that these devices detect paranormal activity. However, no context or explanation was provided by T. Conclusion: the reviews for this tour were promising, but our overall experience was disappointing.

via Viator

Brendan was...

Brendan was fabulous-friendly and informative. We enjoyed the experience very much and can recommend it to others.

Response from the operator: Thank you for the kind review, Patricia! We're delighted you had such a great experience with Brendan. It's wonderful to hear his friendly and informative approach made the tour memorable for you. Thanks again for recommending us, and we hope to have you back soon!

via Viator

Glimpses of Dark and Painful Pasts

The guide was knowledgeable and entertaining and some of the stories were genuinely chilling. The tour gave a fascinating juxtaposition of modern downtown Portland and glimpses of some dark and painful moments in its past. I would recommend checking out an EMF detector; that added a lot to the stories, when the EMF detector spiked in areas which are said to be particularly paranormally active. It was interesting when the guide shared information about personal experiences and experiences by other guests on the tour. One thing I would recommend to the tour guides is that if there is particularly extreme noise pollution in the area where they're telling a story (during our tour, the problem was aggressively loud sidewalk power-washing outside the Roseland Theater), they should slightly move location rather than try to talk over the noise. It was really difficult to hear that story over the noise.

Response from the operator: Thank you for such a thoughtful review, Alex! We're thrilled the tour gave you a fascinating look at Portland's darker history and that the EMF detector added so much to the experience. It's always fun hearing about guests' personal experiences and seeing what happens when the equipment gets involved! We also hear you on the noise issue—trying to compete with aggressive sidewalk power-washing is definitely not ideal. We'll share your suggestion with our guides so they can keep the storytelling clear and engaging. Hope to see you again!

via Viator

Loved it! As long as you know what to expect…

A few things to keep in mind when considering this tour. This is not a tour of any buildings tunnels etc. You will be outside on sidewalks the entire tour. There are multiple longs stops where the tour guide is storytelling. Most of the stories have graphic or violent details. Be ready to walk, stand and listen a lot. Things that make it difficult to concentrate on the storytelling may diminish the experience. (That being said the guide was extremely animated and invested in the storytelling and history so even with the loud noise of Portland night life, it’s relatively easy to follow if you are invested.) Okay, all that stuff out of the way. The experience was great! Shawn was our tour guide and he kept his excited energy until the very end of the tour and beyond. I don’t know how he did it, 6 stars, seriously impressive. If you’re someone who enjoys history and/or any aspect of the paranormal, you will enjoy this tour. Again, the main value in this tour is being invested in the story and history itself. About equal amounts of walking/standing. Nothing inaccessible for really anyone though there are plenty of uneven surfaces on the sidewalks as well as street crossings so bring something stable and comfortable to wear. Start of the tour is right where it says, there are bathrooms and time to use them available if you show up 15 minutes early. Refreshments also available in the lobby. I won’t spoil any of the tour content just know if you don’t mind a little noise, some uneven surfaces, walking and standing for about an hour, and have any passion at all for history, paranormal, just appreciate storytelling. You will enjoy this tour if you come into it with the right expectations for the experience. Loved it, wife loved it. Definitely recommend if you’re visiting. IF YOU ARE GOING DURING SUMMER, GO AT NIGHT! IRS hot!

Response from the operator: Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a detailed review! We're delighted you loved the tour and that Shawn's storytelling, energy, and passion made the experience stand out. We especially appreciate your thoughtful advice about the walking, standing, outdoor setting, uneven sidewalks, city noise, and coming prepared to really settle in and listen to the stories. That's exactly the kind of insight that helps fellow travelers know whether this experience is right for them. We'll be sure Shawn hears about his well-earned 6 stars! And yes, if you're visiting Portland in the summer, a nighttime tour is definitely the way to go!

via Viator

False advertisement and a dangerous area

The tour didn’t follow the itinerary listed online. There were no real ghost stories or tales, just history, which would be fine if that were what it was advertised as. The tour also takes you through a very unsafe area with many homeless people and drug addicts. Incredibly boring, not worth the money, and isn’t even what it’s advertised as.

Response from the operator: Thank you for sharing your feedback, Alex. We understand your concerns about the itinerary, storytelling, and the area where the tour took place. We want guests to have an experience that matches their expectations, and we appreciate you bringing this to our attention. Please email your booking ID to guestrelations@usghostadventures.com, and we'll share your feedback with our managers so they can review your experience and work toward a resolution.

via Viator