Old Towns Most Haunted

This was the first time I have ever been on a ghost tour in my entire life and the experience was not all that great. We first were talking about the past and what had happened and walking around and that was pretty much it on that part. Then we started walking to the Whaley house but we could not go inside but we did go behind it and they were talking about a vortex in that area for spirits. I didn’t feel any vortex or static electricity or anything of that nature, then we headed to the cemetery which was very weird. The last stop was to the Cosmopolitan Hotel and we stayed there for about an hour and 45 minutes and it was interesting but at the same time it was very weird. In the hotel it was dark but the exit signs glowed green and we were holding an Electric meter that displayed electromagnetic energy in the area and it did go off a few times. It was not worth the $ 40 per person by the way!

My boyfriend and I went on the 11pm private tour. We loved it. It was a very hands on experience and he provided us with ems meters. Michael explains the differences of type of paranormal activities and take you to different locations. It was a bit spooky when I felt stuff occurring but pretty thrilling.

I went on this tour a few years back but it’s something I haven’t forgotten about. The tour itself was interesting but even if ghosts do exist, you can’t force them to make appearances. This of course could lead to an uneventful tour, but that’s pretty much a ghost tour.
We walked around various parts of Old Town while Michael gave insight into reported activity in some places. It was a typical ghost tour, except for the fact that the guide is in fact a real life ghost hunter. I did like his passion and enthusiasm for what he does.
The most interesting part of the tour was at the end when we were taken to the vortex on the Whaley House lawn. He claimed the vortex was like a portal to another dimension or something like that. I think it was likely more an energy vortex perhaps like the ones in Sedona, Arizona. That said, what happened next is why I’m writing this review.
The guide said that some people can feel it while others can’t. He located the vortex with an EMF meter and said that if you put your hands over it, you’ll feel a tingle and a warmth. To my surprise, my hands started tingling and it felt like my hands were experiencing a hot flash. But most interesting was the fact that I actually felt the energy itself! Every time I pressed against it, it resisted me firmly. It felt like the equivalent of someone else’s hand’s pressed against mine pushing back equally as firm. I continued pressing my hands towards the ground but no matter how hard I pressed down, the resistance in the thin air forced them back. So there I was, standing in the middle of the Whaley House lawn after mid-​night, interacting with this invisible force of energy. I kid you not, this literally happened.
So maybe you’ll feel something or maybe you can’t. But overall, it was quite memorable because I did.

It was my first time on a ghost tour and I really enjoyed it. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and answered a lot of questions. I was to go again and also try the his ghost hunting tour. I can’t wait to come back.

Didn’t go in expecting a lot. Just some weekend fun with friends. It could have been better if the guide was a little more engaging. At times he came across as irritated and condescending.

Awesome tour! If you want to dive into the haunted history of Old Town this is the tour for you! Michael Brown is an amazing guide and is very knowledgable of the haunting a of old town. I HIGHLY recommend his tours!

Don’t waste your time but more importantly, don’t waste your money. Several years ago we went on the haunted history tour in Old Town where the guides dress in period clothing, that one was AWESOME. We came back and wanted to do another ghost tour because the last one was so great, so we chose this one. BIG MISTAKE. There was no information of substance and nothing exciting and half the time he didn’t take the time to explain what he meant. I must have heard the phrases «if you watch the ghost hunting shows…» and «10 years ago I took a whole bunch of pictures over there …». Save your money and pick a different tour.

He was very knowledgable and included both personal experiences and history.

My husband and I and our 2 children really enjoyed this fascinating top quality tour. We were particularly impressed by the professionalism, seriousness and expertise of our tour guide, Michael. The experience in the Whaley courtyard was fascinating. Also impressive was Michael’s audio and video presentation at the conclusion of the tour. We highly recommend this experience.

Terrible — we met some out of town friends who bought the deal on LivingSocial. You basically walk around Old Town and he tells you a lot of what other people have said, but he did not in fact see himself. We were part of a group of 20-​ish, and waited for the stragglers at every stop.
If you want to see for yourself — just linger along the perimeter and listen to what he says. The only part you’ll miss is where he makes the group form a circle to see his magnetic reading machine. Not worth the full price… not even worth the half price, but it was great to see my out of town friends and have a laugh or two.

My boyfriend and I took this tour on Sunday night after getting a LivingSocial deal for it. There were 22 other people on the tour, which was nice, a few little kids but no one was annoying. We enjoyed the tour, learned some new things about Old Town, saw the vortex, etc. We thought the EVP stuff at the end was pretty cool. Throughout the tour, we kept saying, «we need to come back on our own during the day at in the middle of the night to see if see the same things.» So yeah, we’ll go back, on our own with the things in mind that we heard about. There’s no need to go on the tour again, though. But one time is interesting.

It’s mostly like a history class with some spook to it. The vortex by the Whaley House was neat at most. I thought we were going to go inside these places. You walk about four blocks up the street and back and listen to his experiences. Then go back and look at about six different pics of orbs w/​faces in them. RIP OFF… sorry about it but, there are way better ghost tours in San Diego. I thought this was one of them and it defiantly was not. I give two stars for the history lesson and um, yea that’s about it.

This is a very informative and historical tour with a good amount of personal experiences told.
The tour guide is very authentic with no BS stories and os very believable. He is very intriguing and enjoyable to be around.
I recommend this tour for anyone who wants to have a good time in old town to expierence it’s history.

So here is what you need to know, there are a lot of people that died in this area. The tour is not scary. What you need to do is go with the tour. Then revisit each spot at night alone or with smaller group of people. Then you can get a slight thrill. I do not know if it is really work 20 bucks a head to do this tour. I would not go on it again. IF I ran the tour I would just lie and make up super awesome grizzly stories and pay friends to hide in places and make noises. That would have been fun. I dont really need to believe in ghosts and neither do you, but you can fool your mind into it and have a good time. Just try to get a coupon or something, or if you have more time just look up the haunted places and go by yourself. Also it helps if you walk around and say «OOOoooOOOOOooooOOO» to yourself.

I got a groupon for this for 9 bucks so thought itd try it out. The tour was a walking tour of old town and all of the places where he has seen paranormal activity. The tour was on time and he did a good job with being loud enough for all of us to hear and the stories were pretty good. It was something different and I would go on the tour again. Thanks Michael!

This guy is a genius! I’m sure he’s pulling in over $ 1000 per night for… well, nothing. I have more entertaining/​scary/​believable stories about Old Town! Seriously, an example of one of his «ghost» stories goes something like this: «I was here in the plaza, taking random pictures. I went to sit on the porch of the general store, and I heard footsteps! I took pictures, but nothing showed up — but I definitely heard something!» Or «All I can tell you about this place is that, sometimes, people’s cameras malfunction.» Really!!! We were all so bored, we left the tour early. A huge waste of time and money.

My review is accurate, and I was definitely on this tour. See the «thank you» note that Tamara L left on my profile: «I have to agree with your review of the „ghost tour.“ I took my boyfriend on a mystery date last week and included this tour. What a waste! I have a feeling all of the „positive“ reviews are by people he probably knows. The tour was completely cheesy and we wound up walking out of it and leaving towards the end.»

So, me and my husband went on this tour at 9pm. Well, the only bad thing was all the little kids. I couldnt believe parents would bring their little kids on this tour so late at night, unbelievable.
Anyways, on with the review:
I would have to say that I loved it! We had never been on anything like this before, so it was interesting. He was very knowlegable about the Old Town area it was not only educational, but entertaining. With the only thing in mind is an entertaining walk with some info about the strange goings on in Old Town, we experienced some unexplainable things. First, at the back/​side of the Whaley House when we were shown a ‘vortex’ (found by a hand held device). In the ‘vortex’ I felt my hand start to tingle, then a ‘pins n needles’ feeling in my hand then I started to feel dizzy, nauseous and light headed! I could not explain what was going on at all. Once we continued out of the property and up the street the feelings went away, never to return again since.
I would definately reccomend this tour if your in the SD area! I would like to do it again the next time I am back in SD.

I went on this tour last weekend I have done a lot of ghost hunts and tours. There were a couple of things «tugging» at me on this tour. and I don’t mean spirits.
Michael lead us to a few places, but didn’t wait for everyone to catch up and said «I saw this here, that there,» kinda casual like. He seemed angry in some instances and I know he had a lot of the information about the buildings all wrong. I did a history paper on San Diego many years ago and before Ms. Powers came along and rebuilt Old Town square.
I have been on the historical tour given by the State and well, some of the things he says, just aren’t possible.
Someone said in a previous post he was certified by the state parks? I think I missed him saying that but there is no certification so I think that was a misunderstanding because he has keys to some buildings.
But onward. Because i was just trying to get another point of view I let it pass, and geez if i didn’t lose him and miss something he said. then I noticed he was using the mob hysteria tactics that fake mediums use, but it was so sneaky, he was so casual.
You see, he will get excited about something and you get excited but don’t know why, then he will tell you what it means and prove it to you by his standards until you think you see and hear and feel things. That is what was wrong. but to each his own. Got to see the sights of old town, got to see the equipment used. it was ok.
Would I go again, probably not. Do I regret it, nah. it was ok.

Nina and I have been doing this Ghost Tour thing for years, matter of fact we always make it a point when we visit a new city to check in and see if they have a walking ghost tour. It is a great way to see the sites and it helps that you have a local telling you all the myths and legends that accompany the sidewalks that you are walking on.
When Nina and I were in New Orleans in 2005, 3 weeks after Hurricane Katrina we had our first ghost experience while staying in the French Quarter. With that in mind, we decided to look up long time Paranormal and Ghost aficionado Michael Brown. We met him at the Water Fountain outside Plaza Del Pasado inside the Old Town State Historic Park in Old San Diego.
The price is fair for the experience, I would say it is definitely a must do.
Strangely enough, I felt a strange connection as we walked by the Whaley House, I felt like something was watching me. I couldn’t wait to get out of that part of the tour; generally it takes a lot to get me freaked out. But there I was walking along the stone path; I could feel the death permeating up from the soil and through my Olukai flip flops. Maybe I should wash them.
Nina even felt like throwing up. Weird.
Michael is very passionate about what he does; I admire that. Consequently I doubt that he is not telling the truth. Understand, I am a born skeptic. From law school to my business, I am always wary. But for whatever reason, when it comes to the afterlife and the cross between then, now and the future, I have had a hard time thinking that there is a clear one directional line from the past to present. Maybe there is some overlap? Maybe that is why so many people around the world have either felt like they have encountered a ghost or have been influenced by something that can’t be explained?
Fun times.