Memphis haunts for Halloween

There’s nowhere quite like Memphis, even more so during the spookiest day of the year.

The city of Memphis is a great place to be during Halloween with a host of haunted locations, some of the country’s best pumpkin patches, and spooky fun for kids.

Great haunts

When a city is as steeped in history as Memphis is, it’s no surprise that a few locations are considered by many to be haunted. For travel fans who love history and a bit of ghostly fun, there are a few Memphis haunts that even sceptics agree are a bit spooky.

Earnestine & Hazel’s, now a cool dive bar and a former brothel, has long been recognised as one of the city’s most haunted buildings and has even been named as one of the US’s most haunted locations (#4 in fact). Believed by many to be the home of several ghosts, the bar also houses a haunted jukebox which is said to randomly come on time to time to play music that is weirdly aligned to happenings in the bar.

Other impressively spooky places to visit include The Orpheum Theatre where the ghost of “Mary” has haunted performances since 1921; the Victorian-era manor Woodruff-Fontaine House, which is home to numerous known ghosts including Mollie Woodruff, who has appeared frequently to house guests; and Blackwell House where it is said a family died just two nights after moving in. No subsequent resident has been able to stay for more than a month because their spirits now roam the house.

Ghostly tours

If you prefer safety in numbers, exploring the city’s haunted heritage with the likes of Backbeat Tours is a great way to see the city’s haunted hotspots. Offering a range of ghost tours through the South Main Historic District, the city’s most haunted neighbourhood, tours take in notorious locations including Ernestine & Hazels’, the old Morris Cemetery, and Woodruff-Fontaine House. Some tour options also include after-hours access and opportunities for ghost hunting.

Spooky fun for kids

If you like your scares a little less intense, the Memphis Zoo always delivers on holiday fun, and Halloween is no exception. Their annual Zoo Boo is taking over the zoo and encourages kids to dress up and trick or treat as well as offering theater shows, magicians, Dracula Disco, maze, a pumpkin hunt, and a Mad Scientist Lab.

For kids that want the fun without the fright, Memphis’ Priddy Farms and Jones Orchard both offer pumpkin picking as well as mazes and other interactive farm activities.

For big kids and those not able to get to Memphis, the virtual Monster Market touts itself as the “virtual pop up shop for weirdos” and will kick off on 3 October. An in-person launch on 1 October will offer spooky cocktails and a range of themed treats at the mini-market sampler of the online event.

About Memphis

Tennessee’s second largest city is famous for its music, great food and its significant place in America’s history of civil rights. Explore more of Memphis here: https://www.memphistravel.com/