Twenty years ago, Al Hunter took his first group of haunted history buffs on a walk through what is, arguably, the most haunted historic district in Indianapolis. Rain or shine, the tours have gone on throughout October in Irvington, and the crowds have grown larger, and Al and Rhonda Hunter’s team of volunteers and helpers has grown with them. On beautiful evenings, over 200 people may be seen following Al around the sights of Irvington.
This year, the Irvington Ghost Tour begins Friday, Sept. 30 and will be held every Friday and Saturday throughout October. Tours begin at 7 p.m. at the corner of Johnson Ave. and East Washington St. Tickets are $20 (cash only) per person, and include an official Tour Guide book and more. Proceeds from the tour are donated back into the Irvington community. Advance ticket sales are available at the Magic Candle, 203 S. Audubon. Call 317-357-1101.
The tour is about a mile and half long over sidewalks that are sometimes broken or uneven. Please be prepared for weather, as the tours are rain or shine. There are no refunds. Expect about two hours of walking in the dark, so bring a flashlight.
The Irvington Ghost Tour is about 90 percent history and 10 percent ghost stories. No one will leap out from the bushes to frighten you, but some of the stories will definitely give you the chills. Irvington has been home to artists, writers, and leaders, but it is also where serial killer H.H. Holmes committed one of his last murders, where the Grand Dragon of the Indiana KKK wielded power (and lost it), and where a young punk named John Dillinger practiced his robbery skills. Other stops include the former Children’s Guardian Home, Irving Circle, the Bona Thompson Memorial Center, and the tale of the Lincoln train. Many Irvington residents have been on the tour and were surprised by the rich history of the place they call home.
Al is proud of the fact that the Ghost Tours have brought people from all over to Irvington to experience its history up close. Several people who have gone on the tour have come back later to shop or eat, or for the Halloween Festival (this year, the week of Oct. 23 and culminating with the Street Fair will be held Oct. 29). Some have even gone as far as buying homes in the historic neighborhood.
