Ghost tours in Eureka Springs come in two kinds. One roams the streets, and the other goes inside the hotels that made the town's reputation. The tourism board points visitors to ghost tours at both the 1886 Crescent Hotel and the Basin Park Hotel, and between them the two buildings cover the whole range of the town's haunted lore. The Crescent crowns a ridge above downtown, a limestone Victorian resort that opened in the 1880s, later served as a college and then, in the 1930s, as a so-called cancer hospital run by a charlatan named Norman Baker. The Basin Park sits in the heart of the historic district, a tall brick hotel built against the hillside so that different floors open directly onto different streets, a quirk that has fed plenty of stories of its own. These tours are an unusual pleasure for history lovers as well as ghost enthusiasts, because they are anchored in documented events rather than pure invention. The Baker chapter at the Crescent is a real episode in the history of medical fraud, and the guides tell it carefully before the legends begin. Whether or not you believe in the spirits, the buildings are fascinating, the stories are well told and the settings reward a slow walk.
The Crescent
The hotel's own program is a long-running feature of the property, and visitors have been walking its corridors with guides for years. Expect a tour through historic rooms and public spaces, with stories of a stonemason said to haunt one famous room, a nurse with a gurney on an upper floor and a basement area connected with the hospital era.
Schedules, ticket types and tour themes vary with the season, and some tours are offered to non-guests as well as overnight visitors, so check the hotel before you plan around a specific evening. Children's rules and content levels also differ by tour.
The Basin Park
This hotel's tours cover the building's layered history and its odd architecture, with stories of past guests, fires and the unusual way the upper floors connect to the street. The mood is lighter than at the Crescent, and the location makes it easy to combine with dinner, a walk through Basin Spring Park and an evening in the downtown bars and galleries. Again, confirm the current tour offerings and any requirements directly with the hotel.
Planning
October is the peak month for Eureka Springs ghost tours and for hotel stays in general, so book rooms and tours well ahead. Wear sturdy shoes, because both buildings have stairs, uneven floors and steep approaches. If you want the full experience, stay in one of the hotels and take the tour as part of an overnight; if you are only passing through, a street-based ghost tour is more flexible.
Be respectful of other guests, who are sleeping on the same floors you are touring, and treat the sober parts of the Crescent story with the seriousness they deserve. A pairing with the Eureka Springs Ghost Tour, which covers the town from the outside, gives a rounded view of why this little Ozark resort has such a haunted reputation.
What to expect
The experience
In-house ghost tours at two historic hotels, covering documented history alongside local legend.
Best time
Evenings year-round, with October the busiest by far.
How long
Usually one to two hours depending on the tour; check with each hotel.
Tips
Reserve early, wear sturdy shoes and ask about age limits and non-guest access when you book.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Visitors who want their ghost story inside a real historic building.
- Families
- Varies by tour; ask the hotel about age guidance and content.
- Couples
- Stay overnight in the hotel and take the tour as part of the weekend.
- Pair with
- The street-based ghost tour, a spa visit and dinner downtown.
- Time needed
- An evening.
Good questions
Do I have to stay at the hotel to take the tour?+
Often not, but policies change with the season and the tour type. Check with the hotel for current access.
What is the Crescent's history?+
It opened in the 1880s as a resort, later served as a college and was run in the 1930s as a so-called cancer hospital by Norman Baker, a story the hotel tells directly.
What is special about the Basin Park?+
It is built into a hillside, so different floors open onto different streets, which adds to its stories.
Is it too scary for children?+
Content varies. Ask the hotel for age guidance for the specific tour you are considering.
When should I book?+
As early as possible for October and for summer and holiday weekends.