Ghosts & Gravestones Tour Key West

I had an unbelievable time in Key West, and this tour was just one of many highlights. I always like to do a ghost tour type thing in a new city, equally for the entertainment as well as the history lesson. This tour delivered on both fronts. Our tour guide was very fun, knowledgable, and engaging. We got to see all around the beautiful island and hear fun anecdotes. There were things we otherwise wouldn’t have been able to see, like the fabled Robert the doll. Who by the way is creepy AF.
This tour was time and money well spent. I recommend it to anyone looking for a unique way to check out the island.

It felt like a Southpark episode. Sit down and shut up, we’re runnin late. When we boarded trolley everyone seemed excited. The guide quickly squashed our dreams. Droned on in a low voice. Even the slightest whisper of conversation from riders quickly resulted in a kindergarten like reprimand from a teacher. Would not recommend this tour to an enemy. Most of 20 or so people bolted off at earliest opportunity before we got back.

Was expecting an entertaining dark side of key West history tour, especially after seeing the tricked out bus with cob webs, spiders and scary accoutrements… but instead, the narrator was half dead both in terms of appearance and ability to retain the interest of anyone on the bus. The tour participants began the tour lively an eager to hear ghoulish stories, but instead the narrator told people to shut up before we even started moving. The tour was mainly an historical account of the darker history of Key West, but devoid of any story telling dynamics to make the subject matter interesting. The PA system, given the narrator’s mumbling style, was largely ineffective for much of the tour. They should lose the haunted tour motif completely and just say it’s a bus tour of Key West history… enough said. One of the tour participants was reprimanded for touching objects during one of the stops, but wasn’t even doing anything of the kind. As the tour progressed, at every stop, tour participants were fleeing the tour as it was THAT bad and boring.
Avoid this tour at all costs… an utterly complete waste of money and time.

Thoroughly enjoyed our trip. Our guide was Billy, our driver Gail. We were at the 9:30 show. They were funny, engaging, and we learned a lot about the history of Key West. It wasn’t really scary, was fine for kids even though it’s rated PG13. Good family excursion if a bit pricey.

What a tourist trap! Save your money and go on a ghost walk by yourself-​get a book, read the ghost stories, and visit the places. Not scary at all. Simply a ride on a trolly with a guide telling history of some strange occurrences. The only highlights are stopping in the two old museums and seeing the old doll and pirates booty. Then, to top it off, my group decided not to get back on just before it went back to the starting place, and the guide insulted us screaming «you didn’t tip me!» For the price of 33.50/pp they should include a tip for he guide. What a rip-​off!!! $ 10 would have been an ok price, and then, maybe we wouldn’t feel lije we’ve been scammed. Do yourself a favor-​save the money and go have a few drinks or buy something you really want. TERRIBLE!!!

The tour was informative and provided a detailed history of the area. It was a good way to see a part of the island.
I’ve never been on a trolley ghost tour before and wasn’t sure what to expect. It was amusing and interesting, but I expected more of a haunted house adventure.
The Robert the Doll exhibit and history were interesting. The «hooker» guide was very good and did a great job, but wasn’t dead enough for the ghost monitor to detect him.
The trolley guide was funny and entertaining. The echo made it hard to hear part of what was said.

Kind of cheesy but fun nonetheless and a great way to see a lot of the island.

Our tour guide was Katherine and Kevin. The tour is so much fun and informative. You go to many different places in the island and hear all the interesting stories. The guides are amazing and entertaining. It is well worth the money to take this tour. You learn the history of key west. The strange and unknown.

This was a fun tour and we had a blast. Very informative about the history and craziness that is haunted Key West. We had «Katherine» as our guide and she was fantastic! It was nice to ride around instead of walk and going inside the 2 places were very nice. I don’t know what the bad reviews are about.

We had Bartholomew as a tour guide. It was fun! The theatrics weren’t too much to handle — it was actually entertaining. I wish we had a little more time in Robert’s space, but it was a good time overall.

Visited June 2012
We had a great guide names «Hooker». He was very knowledgeable & funny! It was nice that we didn’t have to do much walking althought I think it would have been a bit more scary if we did. The tour was not really scary but lots of fun. Hooker knows quite a bit of history about Key West. If you are looking for something to do this is a lot of fun.

So I wanted to update my last review. We didn’t really like our experience but someone from the company commented back about getting 100% refund back. I thought that was very professional of them to do. I did exactly what she said and got my money back. I really wish I enjoyed it but I’m giving more stars bc their customer service is amazing. Thank you so much for being understanding.

Those who give bad reviews for this obviously don’t know how to have fun. Our tour guide was great. The banter between her and our driver was fun. I don’t fee any of the «acting» was over the top. I really liked the fact that the crew had back stories. Loved learning the history and being able to see Robert the doll after the museum closed was a plus. I would totally recommend this tour to friends.

Our tour guide was Izzy, an engaging animated teller of tales. Her mix of haunted folklore and historic fact is not only entertaining but informative. Izzy, her driver Steve and Robert the dolls guardian make for an amazing trio!

I took my girlfriend here when we went to key west thinking it would be a creepy fun time. As the bus loaded the rest of the passengers, there was a group of kids led by one very rude adult who seemed to be the chaperone. The whole time on the bus they would make rude and profane comments aloud disturbing the rest of the passengers.
The tour guide threatened several times to have them kicked off the bus, but they disregarded his warnings and carried on for the whole tour (roughly an hour and a half).
The tour guide should have kicked them off the bus because they were so loud and obnoxious. Many of the other people on the bus could barely hear what was being said because they were so loud and rude. Every time the tour guide said something they would make fun of him and what he was saying. As a paying customer, I am very upset I had to put up with that the whole time. The tour may have been decent if they would have kicked them off. Will not go on again.

People must have crazy expectations because I thought the tour was informational and gave a great background about Key West. This is not a scary tour but a history tour. The lady, Esmerelda Livingston (born in the 1800’s), was a good tour guide who wasn’t overly dramatic. She provided a lot of information about Key West and the stories about the people who used to live here.
Part of the tour does take you to the Fort East Martello Museum to visit Robert. Robert is a haunted doll that is a bit creepy. When you get to Fort East Martello, another tour guide will come out and give you a tour of the property. This tour guide was also good and provided a detailed history of the fort and of Robert.
The only downside is that you don’t visit the cemetery or see any gravestones. Slightly odd since the tour is called Ghosts & Gravestones. I did expect at least to see a gravestone.
Also this is not a tour you can bring alcohol on. Just FYI for those expecting to get wasted during it, you can’t. A good tour for those just wanting some history or just want to have some mellow down time. I like history tours so this really was what I was wanting. If you are looking for a scary tour, you may want to find something else.

Before I start my review, full disclosure these types of things are not for me. I’m not a paranormal kind of guy but the lady friend is so I was tagging along like the old man at the mall holding a purse sitting on a bench. What I am is a history guy so if there is a shot at learning something or hearing a good story I’m all for it.
The tour is 90 minutes long and 30 plus dollars per person. Ok seems fair to start. Then we quickly go down hill. Before the tour starts you check in with a guy with his face painted white. I wasn’t sure at 1^st if he was trying to be a ghost or just got off work throwing pizza dough into the air. Once we were on the trolley, the guide begins to tell us he died over a hundred years ago. He said everything like a Disney movie ghost, you know things like «Spooooooky and Scaaaaaary» Basically drawing out everyword for every story. This approach is terrible as it’s not scary or funny and is just annoying.
The plus is you get to visit a museum with Robert the Doll, who I had never heard of but was somewhat interested in his story. The guide said we had to ask Robert for permission to take his picture. Apparently he doesn’t have to say anything back, it’s an understood ok at that point. My ladyfriend didn’t ask… she is now dead. Another plus is we had a nice ride across the island and I was able to find things I hadn’t seen before.
I know the Business Manager replies to a lot of these reviews so here’s my advice: Drop the characters as guides. Just hire interesting people to tell the stories as is and it would make it so much better. The history of the island is intriguing enough so there is no need for the gimmicks.

I’m going to have to agree with most of the reviews here. I really wanted to like this tour. I’m a big fan of ghost stories and a true believer in all this paranormal. This tour could have been a whole lot better with a few changes.
1. Drop the scary accents. We just want to be spoken to in regular, adult voices. The accents caused me to loose interest early on in the tour.
2. Where were the gravestones? I love graveyards and was looking forward to at least driving through a cemetery.
3. Robert the doll was the highlight but you can tour the museum without this tour and get other history lessons with it. Those on this tour usually know the history of this doll but for 5 mins we had to hear this girl in a her scary voice talk about it. She would raise her voice at times to make you jump in fear. I couldn’t follow her story because I was too annoyed with her voice. They hand you a K II meter to detect the energy that spirits tend to give off. Mine was lighting up like crazy, more than the others. But only near Robert. Makes you wonder if it was rigged. And I’m a true believer in K II meters.
I’m regretting not trying a walking tour instead. This tour is pricy for what you get.
General manager: don’t message me. I know I can get my money back. That’s not my style. I’d just love to see this tour improve.

Whatever you do, GET THE MALE TOUR GUIDE. He is a FIVE. The LADY TOUR GUIDE IS A ONE.
Seriously. The guy was great. Older, knew his stuff, fun, funny, and interesting. The young woman tour guide is given way too much to memorize and just will make your experience miserable for her screeching, unpleasant, and irritating performance.
I averaged both and got a three. You decide. (sound of creepy music and evil laughter)…

We had a great time on this tour and try to either take a tour of this type or look into ghost/​haunting history and tales in most places we travel. It was a brisk 90+ minute tour and there weren’t many long stops.
The guide, «Grimsby Tucker», was a great storyteller, and the stops at particular attractions were just right.
The stop at the East Martello (sp.?) Fort was great. A second «spirit» guide, Ben Jonah walked us through the grounds and into the museum. The combination of just after dusk on a breezy night just across the road from the ocean in a civil-​war era fort… perfect to set the tone, and once inside, Robert the Doll… I’ll just say «Thank you, Robert» for fear he’ll curse me!
The story of «Count» Carl Tanzler has always been creepy since I first heard of it on HBO’s «Autopsy» and had forgotten it was a Key West tale.
Seems most of the reviews for this ghost tour center around either one tour guide or distractions while the trolley is in the Duval St. area. What’s wrong with its resemblance to Scooby Doo? A great time for a first time visitor to Key West who enjoys ghost stories and tours like these!