My crew wanted to try out a ghost tour in Manteo, NC while we were visiting the Outer Banks at the end of September 2025. The Pirate City ghost tours by U.S. Ghost Adventures run nightly and when we booked, they were offering two tours per night. Per their website, they sometimes offer one, two, or three tours nightly, depending on the date. We chose the earlier time. Since the days are now shorter, it was dark before the tour started. I think the shroud of darkness may add to the ghostly feeling of the tour. If you are traveling with younger kids, you might consider an earlier tour before dark when the days are longer; however, if you are traveling with older kids, they might opt for the later, darker time slot. I recommend arriving about 15 minutes early. Bathrooms are located in a building where we met at the the start of the tour.
Our excellent tour guide, Ann, carried a lantern throughout the tour but also encouraged participants to use phone lights any time if needed for safety. The hour long tour is an outdoor walking tour; we walked about one mile along several quiet roads and a pier in Manteo. The walking surfaces were paved except for the pier, which had wooden slats. From what I saw, it looked like the tour could be navigated by people with mobility issues. We did go from the road to the sidewalk and back to the road a couple of times, but I think we only saw about one car on the road, so someone in a wheelchair or scooter could probably opt to stay on the side of the road safely without navigating to the sidewalk if they preferred.
This ghost tour included quite a bit of history of the area, which I enjoy. The educator in me is always looking for interesting ways to learn about places, and if you are homeschooling kids, a tour like this can be a great way to learn about history while having fun. Ann mentioned that many people claim to have had paranormal experiences in this area of town, including herself. Participants can take a tour like this whether or not they believe in ghosts. I think it is fun to participate in activities with an open mind and just see what happens. Ann had an authentic vibe and was a great storyteller, which all of my group appreciated.
What is a ghost tour without traipsing through an old cemetery after dark? This was one of the first stops, and Ann provided some relevant historical information and a photo that we found to be intriguing. Three people on our tour had EMF readers including one with our group, and all of the devices tended to light up in similar areas, but at times some of them would light up more than others. EMF readers detect electromagnetic energy. Some might say the lights indicate the presence of spirits in the area while others have different explanations for the lights. Our group found the readers to be interesting nonetheless.
We had the opportunity to look at various buildings as we walked along the sidewalk or road. Stained glass windows at the Methodist Church were particularly riveting for several of us, and many of us took photos as we walked and stopped at various locations along the tour. We respectfully turned off the flash to keep from ruining the vibe for anyone else. My camera does not take great photos in the dark, but one of my daughters also took some photos of which I have included in these ghost tour articles.
One stop, a B&B called the White Doe Inn had connections to Virginia Dare. North Carolina's coast is shrouded by the mystery of The Lost Colony, a group of colonists that was left while others went overseas for supplies. When the rest of the group returned, the entire colony had disappeared, remaining a riddle to this day. Virginia Dare was the first baby born within the colony. Many believe her spirit visits this area. We also learned of numerous happenings inside the bed and breakfast that would be hard to explain scientifically.
We walked by the Roanoke Island Inn that claims to house the spirit of a former owner who suffered much grief in his later years. Perhaps many people today could relate to the idea of being edged out of a job in which one dedicated oneself for many years. The stories associated with these homes certainly had the makings of heartache if nothing else.
Our group also ventured to a pier at Roanoke Sound and learned more about the area. The North Carolina coast was known to host Blackbeard as well as many vessels that fell victim to those shallow waters that unfortunately became known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Those interested in more details about this area might visit the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras. A replica of a merchant ship known as the Roanoke Island Ghost ship can be found a short distance from the pier.
A building that now houses art pieces used to house the the town's jail with a sordid history. Ghost tour participants can learn about the jail's history and its ties to a famous actor from North Carolina.
I had some weird things to happen to several pieces of my equipment that I highlighted in my article about this ghost tour on my Travel NC with Kids blog - see the link at the bottom of this article if you are interested in reading that article as well.
My group thoroughly enjoyed the Outer Banks ghost tour in Manteo and would readily do another ghost tour in the future. Ann did a great job of balancing history and mystery without sounding cheesy. She also did a great job of mixing heavy and light subjects throughout the tour. I really appreciated her authentic vibe and pacing throughout the tour.
Visit the U.S. Ghost Adventures Outer Banks Ghost Tour website for lots more information about the tour, area history, a video, and a link for booking a tour.
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