Not every Door County legend involves a ghost. The Murder and Mayhem Trolley Tour turns instead to true crime, retracing the steps of some of the peninsula's most notorious criminals, past and present. According to the Door County tourism board, the tour covers six crimes, including the Canal Shack Killing and the Furnace Murder, and the operator's own tour page describes it as a ride of roughly three and a quarter hours with expert guides telling the stories. For visitors who think of Door County only as a place of cherries, lighthouses and quiet villages, the tour is a surprise: it shows that the peninsula had its share of violence, scandal and trouble in the days of working harbors, lumber camps and long, isolated winters. The format is the familiar one for the operator's evening tours. You board the old-time trolley at the Door County Trolley Station on Highway 42 in Egg Harbor, settle in for a narrated ride and travel to places connected with each case. The guides handle the material with a mix of history and showmanship, giving the background of the victims and the accused, the evidence that was gathered and the way each case was resolved or left unresolved. It is a lively, storytelling-based experience rather than a grisly one, and it is aimed at adults and older teenagers who enjoy mysteries and true-crime podcasts. For anyone who has already done the ghost tour, it is a good second evening, because the subject matter, the stops and the tone are different.
Planning the tour
The tourism board lists the Murder and Mayhem Tour as running five days a week from June through October, and the operator lists a duration of about three and a quarter hours. Exact days and start times vary, so check the tour page when you are planning, and book in advance, as seats on the evening tours are limited and fill quickly in July, August and October. Like the other trolley tours, tickets are non-refundable and cannot be rescheduled, and there may be age limits, so read the details on the tour page before you buy for a group that includes teenagers or children.
What to expect
Because this is a story-led tour, the pleasure comes from the guide. The cases range from the early days of the peninsula to more recent history, and the guides place each in its setting, whether that is a harbor, a village street or a lakeshore road.
You will hear about the people, the motives and the aftermath, and you will see the locations as they look today. Expect a conversational pace, a few stops to step out and look, and plenty of time on the trolley between them, so wear comfortable shoes and a layer for the evening air.
Making it count
The tour pairs well with dinner before the departure, and with the Ghost Trolley Tour on a different night for a full dose of the peninsula's darker side. If you are traveling with a group of friends, it is an unusual alternative to a wine tasting. If you are traveling with children, the Family Ride or the Narrated Scenic Trolley Tour are better choices.
Fans of local history can combine the tour with a visit to the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay, where the peninsula's working maritime past gives helpful general context. Whatever your plan, arrive at the station in Egg Harbor a little early, bring a jacket and be prepared to be surprised by how much trouble a quiet peninsula once saw.
What to expect
The experience
A narrated trolley tour of about three hours that revisits six crimes from the peninsula's history, with guides telling each story at or near the place it happened.
Best time
A summer evening or an autumn evening, when the stories fit the atmosphere, on a weekday if you want fewer crowds.
How long
Roughly three and a quarter hours from departure at the Egg Harbor station.
Tips
Book early, check the age guidance on the tour page, wear a layer, and remember that tickets are non-refundable.
Quick picks
- Best for
- True-crime fans, history lovers and adults looking for an unusual evening on the peninsula.
- Families
- Better suited to older teenagers and adults than to young children; choose the Family Ride for little ones.
- Couples
- A fun date-night alternative to a tasting, with plenty to talk about afterward.
- Pair with
- The Ghost Trolley Tour on another night, a fish boil dinner or the Door County Maritime Museum.
- Time needed
- A full evening, with dinner beforehand.
Good questions
What crimes does the Murder and Mayhem Tour cover?+
The tourism board says it covers six crimes, including the Canal Shack Killing and the Furnace Murder, told by expert guides.
How long is the Murder and Mayhem Tour?+
The operator lists it as about three and a quarter hours, including the ride and the stops.
When does it run?+
The tourism board lists it five days a week from June through October. Check the operator's page for current days and start times.
Where does it depart?+
Trolley tours leave from the Door County Trolley Station at 8030 Highway 42 in Egg Harbor.
Is it suitable for children?+
The subject is true crime, so it is best for adults and older teenagers. Check the tour page for the current age guidance.