New Orleans Cemetery and Paranormal Investigation Bus Tour

Cemeteries at night in New Orleans feel electric. This bus tour stitches City Park atmosphere to nighttime cemetery wandering, with live guidance and tools for a hands-on paranormal attempt. You’ll also hear why Hurricane Katrina still shapes the city, not just its skyline.

I love that the stops focus on specific New Orleans burial styles—especially the Masonic look—rather than a vague ghost story loop. I also like how guides such as Roy and Kendall (and others like Henry and Trish) tend to mix humor with real context, so the night stays fun while you learn what you’re actually seeing.

One drawback to watch: the experience can feel short if you want multiple cemetery entries, deeper historical names, or long investigation time. A few people have also noted moments when the bus part felt more like music than narration, so you may want to choose this if you’re okay with a lighter, guided-and-spooky approach.

Key Highlights Worth Booking For

• Masonic Temple Cemetery #2: A distinctive triangular layout tied to Masonic square-and-compass symbolism.
• After-dark access: Walking in a cemetery at night changes how the whole city feels.
• Paranormal tools on board: You’ll be given equipment for communication attempts (often an EMF-style approach).
• Katrina memorial stop: The tour doesn’t treat tragedy like trivia; you’ll have a chance to pay respects.
• Small group size: A maximum of 24 people keeps the vibe more personal than the mega-bus tours.
• City Park prelude: That mossy, historic park start helps you ease into the spooky mood.

City Park Before the Spooky Stops

Your night usually starts with a stop at City Park, an outdoor break from the street noise that still feels very New Orleans. It’s a huge 1,300-acre green space that’s been enchanting locals since 1854, so even if you only have a short window, the setting matters.

Expect an easy change of pace: you’re not rushing from tomb to tomb right away. For me, that calm start is a smart move, because it makes the darker cemetery atmosphere hit harder once the bus rolls again. Also, City Park’s old oak and moss canopy vibe sets the tone without needing heavy storytelling up front.

Masonic Temple Cemetery #2: 1865 Tombs With Square-and-Compass Shapes

The core stop is Masonic Temple Cemetery #2, founded in 1865 by the Grand Lodge of the State of Louisiana for Free and Accepted Masons. This cemetery has a different feel than the Catholic cemeteries you’ll see across New Orleans, and you can tell fast: the tombs look more communal and built for groups.

Here’s what makes the place visually special. The cemetery sits across two oddly shaped city blocks, with Conti Street bisecting it, and the overall footprint is triangular. Walkways also follow the geometry—like an emblem of a square and compass—and the whole layout is designed around movement through rows.

You’ll also notice details that help you read the cemetery like an outdoor museum. Cast-iron picket fences separate sections, while oak allées line the edges. Inside, tombs are arranged compactly in rows, with a wide paved promenade running down the center to connect smaller paths.

That center walkway matters for your experience. It tends to keep the group moving and helps the guide manage the timing, especially at night when footing and lighting are more limited.

A fair expectation on time

In the provided outline, this cemetery stop runs about 30 minutes. So if you want slow, solo wandering and lots of photos per tomb, plan to treat this as a guided hit—not a full, self-paced cemetery day.

How the Paranormal Hunt Works on the Bus and in the Dark

This tour isn’t just history with a spooky soundtrack. You’ll have tools to communicate with the paranormal, which is where the EMF-style approach comes in (the tour info specifically mentions an EMF reader).

The big practical point: paranormal tool use is only fun if you can operate it. If someone tells you to download an app or use a device, I recommend asking right away how it works and what to do when the readings change. Also, keep your phone charged if you’re given any digital setup instructions—night tours can make battery life a real bottleneck.

You’ll also hear discussion of voodoo and New Orleans religious traditions as part of the spooky-culture side of the night. The tone can vary by guide; one reason ratings swing is that some guides lean into sensational wording or skip key context. If religion-and-supernatural topics are a big part of why you’re going, look for a guide who focuses on culture respectfully and keeps the facts clear.

Sound and group size can affect your night

Some people have had trouble hearing during parts of the bus ride, especially when the volume is up. If you’re sensitive to noise, bring earplugs. It’s a small step that can make the difference between feeling included in the story versus just watching the scenery drift by.

And yes, because this is a bus tour with a group (up to 24), your experience is also social. A good guide will keep the group engaged so the investigation time feels like a shared event, not a rushed queue.

Katrina Memorial: Paying Respects Through Story

One stop you can’t treat like background is the Hurricane Katrina memorial area. The tour includes an explanation of how Katrina changed the city and you’ll be able to pay respects at the Hurricane Katrina Memorial Cemetery.

This is where the tour has more weight than you might expect from a ghost-hunting title. Guides who share personal Katrina stories tend to make the impact feel direct—like the tragedy is still present in daily life, not locked away in a history book.

You should go into this with the right mindset. Expect a solemn moment mixed into a night of tombs and tales. If you’re mainly hunting thrills and fear, the memorial stop may feel slower. If you like your spooky tourism with a conscience, it’s one of the best reasons to book.

Which Cemeteries and Stops You Might See on This Night Loop

The route is built around multiple cemetery areas, plus a few extra points for context and mood. The tour info says the route may include places such as Charity Hospital pauper’s field, Masonic Temple Cemetery #2, St. Louis Cemetery #3, and the Holt Cemetery, along with other sites depending on the day.

There’s also a mention of Odd Fellows Rest, described as a stop tied to a society. If you’re the kind of traveler who likes symbolism and unusual burial traditions, these side stops can add variety without you having to plan separate cemetery tickets.

A quick note on Marie Laveau: this tour does not include her tomb. The provided FAQ says her tomb is in St. Louis Cemetery 1, which is not included on this route. So if Marie Laveau is your main goal, choose a different itinerary.

What to do if you want more than one cemetery

Because the total duration is about 2 hours, you may not get long time at every site. A few people have felt the night didn’t include as many cemetery entries as they expected. To avoid disappointment, treat this tour like a curated intro night: you’ll learn how New Orleans burial culture works, but you won’t finish a complete cemetery marathon.

Price, Timing, and Group Size: Is $30 a Good Deal?

At $30 per person for about 2 hours, this tour aims at a sweet spot: enough time to get you into a major cemetery at night and enough bus storytelling to give meaning, without charging the price of a private guide.

Here’s how I’d judge value. If you want:

• nighttime cemetery access,
• a guide to help you read the tomb styles,
• and a fun attempt at paranormal tools,

then $30 is a reasonable way to get all three in one outing.

But if your priority is:

• multiple cemetery entries with long visits,
• lots of named historical individuals in depth,
• or a heavy, instruction-led investigation,

then this may feel short. That’s not because the company is trying to cheat you—it’s because two hours limits how much walking and time you can realistically get.

Timing can also change the flow

The tour is weather dependent, and night walking is always easier with stable conditions. If you’re booking this as part of a tight itinerary, keep a buffer day in mind.

Also, the tour uses a mobile ticket, and the group is kept small (max 24 travelers). That small size helps the guide manage stops, but it doesn’t eliminate the basic reality: you’ll spend some time riding between locations.

Who This Tour Fits Best (and Who Might Want a Different Night)

This tour is a good fit if you like a blend of history, spooky stories, and a little science-ish paranormal equipment. It’s also a solid choice if you want a guide to handle the how-and-why of what you’re seeing, including Masonic cemetery design and the Katrina memorial context.

It’s also worth it if you care about entertainment quality. Names like Roy and Kendall show up repeatedly in positive feedback for keeping things light, funny, and engaging. When you get a guide who can balance the mood, the night feels like more than a checklist.

You might want to skip or adjust expectations if:

• you expect three or more cemetery entries in the exact way the title suggests,
• you prefer deeper historical biographies over scene-setting,
• or you’re easily annoyed by app setup and tool instructions that aren’t explained clearly on the spot.

A practical tip from the mixed experiences: if you want more “investigation,” arrive ready to participate. Ask how the EMF reader is used, where readings happen, and what counts as a meaningful signal. Then you’re not stuck guessing while the group moves.

Booking Your New Orleans Cemetery Night: Should You Book This Tour?

I’d book this tour if you want a fun nighttime sampler of New Orleans cemetery culture: Masonic design, Catholic-adjacent burial contexts you’ll see through the route, a chance to pause at the Katrina memorial, and a guided paranormal attempt using provided tools.

I wouldn’t book it if your top goal is a long, quiet, self-guided cemetery experience or a deep dive into every notable person buried there. This tour is time-boxed, and the best results come when you treat it as a guided night out with a mix of story and participation.

If you’re on the fence, here’s the easiest decision rule: if you’ll enjoy a lively guide and don’t mind that the night focuses on a few key stops, $30 is a fair price for the overall package. If you want maximum cemetery time per stop, look for a longer-format cemetery tour instead.

FAQ

FAQ

What is the duration and price for the New Orleans Cemetery and Paranormal Investigation Bus Tour?

The tour runs about 2 hours (approx.) and costs $30.00 per person.

Where do you meet for the tour, and where does it end?

The meeting point is Voodoo Tavern and PoBoys at 1140 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116. The tour ends back at the meeting point.

Which cemetery areas does this tour include?

The tour info states it typically visits places such as Charity Hospital pauper’s field and Masonic Temple Cemetery #2, along with other stops like St. Louis Cemetery #3 and Holt Cemetery.

Does this tour include Marie Laveau’s tomb?

No. The FAQ says Marie Laveau’s tomb is in St. Louis Cemetery 1, which is not included. The tour will instead visit tombs and resting places of several other prominent people.

Is Hurricane Katrina part of the tour?

Yes. You’ll have an explanation of Katrina’s lasting effects and the chance to pay respects at the Hurricane Katrina Memorial Cemetery, along with a visit to Odd Fellows Rest.

Is the tour family friendly, and what age range is recommended?

The FAQ says it is appropriate for ages 6 and above, though it does include morbid tales that may be scary for younger children.

Do you need to use stairs or can the bus accommodate wheelchairs?

The bus used is not wheelchair accessible, and all participants must be able to walk and navigate a few steps to board and exit.