What Waits in the Dark Adults Only Tour
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
1.5/5
Based on 2 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is What Waits in the Dark Adults Only Tour worth booking?
What Waits in the Dark Adults Only Tour is a 1.5-hour experience in Franklin, United States, from $35 per person. It scores 53 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 1.5/5 rating across 2 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 53 / 100
- Rating
- 1.5/5 (2)
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- From
- $35 per person
What makes this experience truly unique is its adults-only approach to Franklin’s haunted history - unfiltered, immersive, and rooted in real events. Unlike typical ghost tours, Echoes of Death blends historically accura
What you get
About this experience
What makes this experience truly unique is its adults-only approach to Franklin’s haunted history - unfiltered, immersive, and rooted in real events. Unlike typical ghost tours, Echoes of Death blends historically accurate Civil War storytelling with chilling paranormal accounts, revealing the darker side of Franklin’s past. Guests explore locations that once served as field hospitals, homes, and gathering places during one of the bloodiest battles of the war - where more than 10,000 lives were forever changed. Experience a gripping narrative built on documented history, local legends, and firsthand accounts of unexplained phenomena - from shadow figures and disembodied voices to lingering “residual energy” tied to real human tragedy. Designed for mature audiences, the experience embraces the eerie, emotional weight of these stories in a way that’s both thought-provoking and deeply unsettling.
What's included
Included
- All taxes, fees and handling charges
- 90-minute adults-only haunted walking tour of Franklin, TN
Not included
- Gratuities
What you'll see and do
Known to locals as Cherry Manor, the Perkins-Howarth House carries a reputation that’s hard to ignore, and even harder to explain. Once a Civil War hospital and later a school and nursing home, the home has witnessed generations of life, death, and turmoil. Many who stand before it describe a heavy, almost oppressive feeling, as if the past hasn’t quite let go. Stories of moving objects, ghostly figures in military dress, and a lingering female presence have made this one of Franklin’s most chilling locations. Some guests don’t stay long, whatever resides here doesn’t always welcome company.
10 minutes here
Not all hauntings come with shadows and footsteps. At the McPhail-Cliffe Office, the presence is quieter, but no less powerful. This former home witnessed a love story born during the Civil War and ended in unimaginable loss. Belle Cliffe Brownlow, her husband, and their children all died within a short span of time, leaving behind a space filled with sorrow and memory. Guests often describe a lingering heaviness here, as if the building itself remembers. It’s a different kind of haunting, one rooted not in fear, but in heartbreak.
10 minutes here
At first glance, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is peaceful, almost serene. But beneath its historic beauty lies a far darker past. During the Civil War, the church was transformed into a makeshift hospital, filled with the sounds of suffering and death. Many believe that energy never left. Guests have reported hearing footsteps echoing through empty spaces, spotting shadowy figures near the graveyard, and feeling an unexplained presence watching from just out of sight. Some even claim to have seen a ghostly soldier still wandering the grounds, as if the war never ended.
10 minutes here
This marker honors the soldiers who fought and fell during the Battle of Franklin, a conflict that transformed the entire town into a battlefield. The violence didn’t stay contained, it spread through homes, churches, and streets, leaving behind a legacy of unimaginable loss. Visitors often describe a strange stillness here, as if time briefly pauses. It’s not a place of loud hauntings, but of quiet remembrance, where the past feels closer than it should.
10 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Franklin
Meet by the center circle inside the park.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Tour concludes at Our Confederate Soldier Marker.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 12 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Ghost City Tours Franklin
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
Traveler reviews
2 verified traveler reviews for What Waits in the Dark Adults Only Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Knowledgeable Guide, but the Tour Needs More Polish
Whenever I visit a new city, I enjoy taking a ghost tour—it’s an engaging way to learn local history. After booking my trip to Franklin, I researched options and chose Ghost City Tours based on its reputation and positive reviews. The evening started poorly due to unclear, misleading directions for the meeting location. Thankfully, customer service was excellent—I reached a patient, helpful representative who stayed on the phone until we found our guide. My kid and I eventually met up with the guide, arriving about 15 minutes late due to the confusion. Fortunately, we were the only participants. The guide was polite, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about Franklin’s history. However, the delivery felt inexperienced. While the stories were interesting, the lack of engaging storytelling and theatricality made them less compelling. I paid about $69.00 for the two of us, and the experience felt like it was led by someone still developing their presentation skills. During the tour, we learned Ghost City Tours had only begun operating in Franklin in May 2026—just two months before our July visit—which explains the lack of polish. I wish the company well as it establishes itself, but there are clear areas for improvement, especially with meeting instructions and guide training. If I return to Franklin, I would likely try a different ghost tour company.
via Tripadvisor
Scam Beware
We weren’t able to experience the tour. The meeting place is PRINTED on the Viator App as 413 W Franklin. After speaking with the tour operator, the correct meeting spot is somewhere in a park, which unless you are from Tennessee would have no idea that that park is not at the provided address. Instead of accepting responsibility for errant instructions, the tour operator attempted to help us race through the streets in the dark to find the tour already in progress, while we’re refusing to provide us direct contact with the tour guide. We were unable to join the tour and the tour operator refused to approve Viator’s l refund of the $139 cost of the tour.
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 1.5 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
- 1
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 53
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
What Waits in the Dark Adults Only Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Franklin.
How much does What Waits in the Dark Adults Only Tour cost?
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Prices start at $35 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Franklin usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does What Waits in the Dark Adults Only Tour take?
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Plan for about 1.5 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 Franklin is not rushed.
Is What Waits in the Dark Adults Only Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 53 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (1.5/5 across 2 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Franklin, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule What Waits in the Dark Adults Only Tour?
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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 What Waits in the Dark Adults Only Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 1.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book What Waits in the Dark Adults Only Tour?
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Around 1 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 Franklin 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 Franklin and add a light layer if any part of the 1.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does What Waits in the Dark Adults Only Tour 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 Franklin 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 Franklin?
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Franklin, TN packs its best experiences into walkable neighborhoods, local food, and day trips nearby. Outty ranks every bookable tour and activity in Franklin by rating quality, review depth, booking demand and value, so you can see the standouts before you book. On Outty we rank every Franklin experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include 4 Hour Back Country Can-Am Experience, 3 Hour Back Country Can-Am Experience, 4 Hour Can-Am Experience to Hampshire Wineries. 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 Franklin?
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Spring and fall bring the best weather and lighter crowds in Franklin, while summer has the widest choice of tours and evening activities. 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 Franklin?
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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.
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