(This experience was generously sponsored by US Ghost Adventures, who provided two tickets and EVP detector rental in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and chills are my own.)
A few months ago, I joined the Nashville Ghosts: Haunting of Music City tour—a fun and fascinating walk through the city’s darker side. We heard chilling tales of restless spirits and long-forgotten stories here in the heart of Music City. But as the night ended, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was still more to uncover.
Our guide had hinted that if we asked the bartenders along Broadway, we’d hear even more of Nashville’s ghostly stories—firsthand accounts of unexplained footsteps, flickering lights, and things that go bump in the honky-tonk night. So when US Ghost Adventures reached out again to invite me on another experience, I knew exactly what I wanted to do: their Haunted Pub Crawl.
This time, I was ready to dive even deeper into Nashville’s haunted past—one story (and one pint) at a time. It was a perfect way to finish off the Halloween season- with some spirits and Spirits.
Nashville Ghosts : Boos & Booze Haunted Pub Crawl
We began our evening in Printer’s Alley — once known as Nashville’s “Gentlemen’s Area.” During its heyday, this narrow street was lined with speakeasies, jazz clubs, and burlesque shows that operated in the shadows of Prohibition. It’s the perfect place to begin a haunted tour, as this is one of the city’s oldest districts and home to plenty of lingering legends.
We met our guide outside the iconic Skull’s Rainbow Room, where we were each given an EMF detector — and, as a fun surprise, a little ghost plush to take home. Armed with our detectors, comfortable shoes, and an adventurous spirit, we set off to uncover the spooky stories and spectral sightings hidden in some of Nashville’s most famous pubs.
Skulls Rainbow Room
Our first stop was the legendary Skull’s Rainbow Room. The moment we stepped inside, we were greeted by chandeliers adorned with waxy skulls and glass cases filled with curious bottles and oddities. We asked if the eerie décor was just for Halloween, but our server smiled and said, “Nope—this is how it always looks.”
First opened in 1948 by David “Skull” Schulman, the bar quickly became the heart of Printer’s Alley. Its famous checkered stage has hosted a long list of music icons, including Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, and Bob Dylan. The place practically hums with history.
But that history took a dark turn when Skull was found murdered in his own bar. The crime went unsolved for years, and even after the culprits were caught, the story left a mark—literally. The stage had to be extended to cover the bloodstains that refused to fade.
Many say Skull never really left. Staff members still tell stories of doors that open and close on their own and glasses that seem to move across the bar without a hand to guide them. Standing there in the dim light, it wasn’t hard to imagine his presence still watching over the place he built.
Alley Taps
Our next stop was Alley Taps, tucked into the heart of Printer’s Alley. Back in the early 1900s, this narrow stretch was lined with paper and publishing businesses, along with a few local restaurants and saloons. But when Prohibition hit, those saloons transformed into speakeasies, and Printer’s Alley became one of the most vibrant underground nightlife spots in Nashville.
When the ban was finally lifted, Alley Taps emerged as a place for rising musical talent. Its stage has seen more than a few legends begin their journeys—including, as local lore has it, Jimi Hendrix, who was discovered here while serving as a cadet at nearby Fort Campbell.
We pulled up a chair and listened as the bartender shared some of his own eerie experiences within those walls. He spoke of sudden cold spots that appear out of nowhere, objects that seem to shift on their own, and fleeting moments when he’s certain someone is standing nearby—only for the space to be empty when he turns around.
Today, Alley Taps still carries that same creative spark, mixing the spirit of its musical past with whispers of the supernatural that linger in its dim corners.
Tootsies Orchid Lounge
Our final stop of the night was the iconic Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, one of Nashville’s most beloved honky-tonks. Opened in 1960 by Hattie Louise Bess, affectionately known as Tootsie, this vibrant purple landmark quickly became the unofficial green room for performers at the Ryman Auditorium next door. It was said that you could be sipping your drink at Tootsie’s at 7:58 and be on stage at the Ryman by 8:00.
When the Grand Ole Opry later moved to a new location, Tootsie’s lost much of its built-in crowd, and Nashville lost a little piece of its magic when Tootsie herself passed away a few years later. Yet her spirit seems to linger. Many claim to have seen a woman in a purple dress—Tootsie’s signature color—roaming through the bar late at night, keeping watch over the place she loved.
Over the decades, Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge has seen everyone from country legends to rising stars grace its tiny stage. Today, its multi-level mix of live music, neon lights, and nonstop energy makes it a must-visit spot for both locals and visitors.
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, it’s easy to feel that the soul of Nashville still hums between these lavender-painted walls.
Broadway
We ended our tour on Broadway, the neon-lit heartbeat of Nashville. Music spilled from every doorway, and the streets pulsed with the sound of guitars, laughter, and the buzz of a city that never seems to sleep. With bars lining both sides of the street, visitors have endless options for soaking in Nashville’s legendary nightlife.
But few realize that beneath all the flashing lights and honky-tonk tunes lies a much darker past. During the Civil War, this same stretch of Broadway was lined not with bars but with morgues and coffin makers. Families from across the country traveled here searching for news—or remains—of loved ones lost in battle.
With so much grief and unrest rooted in these streets, it’s no wonder ghost stories still whisper through the music and mingle with the crowds.
Boos & Booze Tour Information
This ghostly adventure was made possible by US Ghost Adventures. US Ghost Adventures offers tours throughout the country, with tours in 170 different cities. If you’re not up for a ghost tour, then you can consider a variety of food tours, walking tours, and cultural tours that they offer.
We did the Nashville Ghosts : Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl – a night of spirits and Spirits through the downtown of Nashville.
- TICKETS: Tour tickets need to be purchased in advance. Tours are offered every day of the week, a couple times a night.
- $29/adult, those under 21 cannot participate
- drinks are not included
- if you would like the optional EMF activity detector, it is $7/detector
- if you would like a souvenir shot glass for the experience, it is $4
- DURATION & DISTANCE: The tour goes for about 2 hours, walking close to a mile from one haunted pub to another
- WHAT TO BRING: Because tours go everyday, no matter the weather, you want to dress for what will be comfortable.
- TIPPING: Tips for your tour guide are appreciated.
If you are really brave, then you can go and spend the night in the famous haunted Lizzie Borden House. And for other ghost tours around Nashville, check out Nashville Ghosts. You are in a fun and spooky time no matter the tour you choose.
What I love about these ghost tours is the way they reveal a completely different side of Nashville. Beyond the bright lights, the music, and the constant buzz of Broadway, there are layers of stories and histories that these tours help keep alive. The ghost tales may be eerie, but they’re also an important part of the city’s soul—woven into its streets just as much as the songs that fill the air.
If you’re looking for a spirited night out, the Boos and Booze Tour is a great way to experience Nashville’s haunted history with a lively twist. But if you prefer a deeper dive into the city’s past and its haunted alleyways, I’d recommend trying the Haunting of Music City Tour instead. Either way, you’ll leave with a new appreciation for the stories that make Nashville what it is today.
This spooky adventure exploring the haunted side of Nashville was made possible by US Ghost Adventures, who covered our tour and EMF rental. While this post is sponsored, all thoughts, experiences, and chills are my own.
Thanks for coming along on this Haunted Pub Crawl through Nashville. May you find deep history and glasses of spirits.
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