San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter glows with charm, but behind the restored facades and neon lights lies a history steeped in vice, violence, and spirits that refuse to rest. The Specters & Sinners Tour is a 90-minute adults-only ghost walk into the true story of the Stingaree district—a place once known for being more dangerous than the bay itself.
You’ll visit saloons that doubled as brothels and opium dens, hear tales of ghostly cowboys at historic bars, and meet the lingering spirits of madams, gamblers, and murder victims. From the haunted armoire of room 309 in the Horton Grand Hotel to the infamous Montijo Building morgue, every stop is steeped in the gritty legacy of San Diego’s past.
This tour goes beyond ghost stories—it dives into San Diego’s forgotten Chinese fishing industry, political corruption, sex work history, and its disturbing record of serial killers. You’ll meet spirits like the ghostly projectionist of the Grand Theatre, a World War II spy haunting the Davis-Horton House, and the terrifying presence said to stalk the El Chingon restaurant where bodies were once embalmed.
Told with irreverence, wit, and historical accuracy, this is the tour for anyone who wants to know the side of San Diego that rarely makes the brochures. Expect ghosts, grit, and a few stories you’ll never forget.
Guide: English