Why “Scariest” Does Not Always Mean “Best” When It Comes to Ghost Tours
When people search for a ghost tour, they often look for the “scariest” one. But a tour being described as terrifying does not necessarily mean it is well researched, accurate or even especially interesting.
Anyone can invent a gruesome murder, add a demon to a story or claim that every building on the route is the most haunted place in America. That may create a quick scare, but it does not make the story true.
At Asbury Park Ghost Tours™, we use ghosts as a gateway to history. Ghost stories encourage people to look more closely at the buildings, streets and communities around them. They make us ask who lived there, what happened and why certain stories have continued to be told.
Our tours are meant to be entertaining. We want people to laugh, feel a few chills and enjoy themselves. But the people, places and events in our stories are real. We do not need to invent more gruesome deaths or add supernatural claims simply to make the tour sound scarier.
Asbury Park already has a long and unusual history filled with old hotels, vanished theaters, fires, storms, scandals, performers, entrepreneurs, local legends and unexplained experiences. Those stories are interesting enough without exaggeration.
A good ghost tour should leave you knowing more about the city than you did when you arrived. You may come for the ghosts, but you also learn about the people and events that shaped the community.
Asbury Park Ghost Tours™ was founded by Kathy Kelly, a real historian, a real local and a really good storyteller. She has been able to operate in Asbury Park for 19 years because she has always treated the subject, the city and the people whose stories she tells with respect. She is trusted by locals because her work is grounded in real research, local knowledge and a genuine connection to the community.
The tours are not assembled from internet searches or recycled scripts. They come from documented history, local folklore, firsthand accounts and years of paranormal investigation.
There is also a responsibility involved in telling ghost stories. Many reported hauntings are connected to real deaths, disasters and personal tragedies. The people involved were not fictional characters created for entertainment. Their stories should be told accurately and respectfully.
Asbury Park Ghost Tours™ has shared the haunted history of Asbury Park since 2008. We do not promise that a ghost will appear, but we explain why certain places are believed to be haunted and allow guests to decide for themselves what they believe.
That same approach continues inside The Paranormal Museum in Asbury Park. The museum is fully guided because the stories behind the objects are as important as the objects themselves. Guests learn where the artifacts came from, what has reportedly happened around them and what our investigations have uncovered.
Unfortunately, a national competitor has been intentionally using names and addresses similar to ours, creating confusion about which company visitors are booking with. We understand what is happening, and we are doing what we can to protect our name, our work and the reputation we have built. We also need the public’s help.
When booking, please look specifically for Asbury Park Ghost Tours™ and The Paranormal Museum in Asbury Park. Booking directly with the original local company supports the historians, investigators, storytellers, guides and small businesses that research, preserve and care about the stories being told.
A great ghost tour can be spooky, funny, fascinating and entertaining. It should also be honest, well researched and connected to the place whose stories it tells.
