Memphis, Tenn. (April 24, 2024) – When thinking about Memphis, a few things may come to mind - our legendary music scene from our blues, soul and rock 'n' roll, to our world famous barbecue, to the Mississippi River - and beyond. But being a city that's over 200 years old, Memphis has plenty of spooky tales and haunted history just waiting to be shared. 

Spooky travel is having a moment, and we'd love for Memphis to be considered as a destination to visit to explore our haunted history. A few spots worth exploring include:

• Earnestine and Hazel's - is a quintessential dive bar located in Downtown Memphis, that's known for its live music just as much as it is for its haunted tales - as it used to be a working brothel and supposedly has a couple of ghosts haunting the various rooms. It was named the fourth most haunted spot in America by Yelp in 2021. 
• Elmwood Cemetery - is on the National Register of Historic Places, with over 100 years of Memphis' history. Beneath the ancient elms, oaks and magnolias lies the most famous and infamous. Generals, senators, governors, mayors and madams rest in this 80-acre cemetery. Established in 1852, Elmwood consisted of 40 acres but was expanded to 80 acres after the Civil War. Elmwood is the final resting place to over 75,000 inhabitants and is a classic example of a garden cemetery with its park-like setting. See monuments from the Victorian area that feature angels, flowers and plants. The walking tours at Elmwood Cemetery get you up close to the deceased without the expressed implication that they're still walking among us.
• Memphis Ghost Tour - A tour that runs through the South Main Arts District, the city's most notoriously haunted neighborhood. Hear the eerie legends while seeing some of Memphis' oldest sites.
• Orpheum Theatre - Part of the Orpheum Theatre Group, the historic Orpheum Theatre has been the Mid-South home of touring Broadway productions since 1977, dazzling patrons with crystal chandeliers, gold leaf, original 1928 fixtures, a Mighty Wurlitzer organ and architectural beauty. It is said to be home to the ghost of a 12-year-old girl named Mary who regularly attends the show's performances, and has been seen by many cast, crew and theater guests. The Orpheum is said to be home to other spirits as well.

We hope you'll consider exploring Memphis' spooky history and pay our destination a visit this year. 

ABOUT MEMPHIS TOURISM 

Memphis Tourism, a 501(c)(6) membership organization, serves as the official destination marketing and tourism organization for Memphis and Shelby County. The Memphis Tourism sales staff covers the convention, sports and tourism sales market segments and is supported by a marketing department that includes advertising, digital marketing, research, public relations and membership. Memphis Tourism also has representatives for the destination working in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Japan and the United Kingdom. Each year thousands visit two Memphis Tourism owned and operated visitor centers in Whitehaven and Arlington, along with a third downtown center that is operated in partnership with the state of Tennessee State Department of Tourism. Memphis Tourism's commitment to workforce and economic development efforts are managed through its 501(c)(3) affiliate, Welcome to Memphis, which works to ensure tourism and hospitality professionals are equipped with customer service skills and destination knowledge to create a positive visitor experience. The Memphis Sports Council operates within Memphis Tourism and works to bring a variety of large and small sporting events to Memphis and Shelby County each year, in addition to supporting annual sporting events. Memphis Management Group (MMG), a subsidiary of Memphis Tourism, operates both the Renasant Convention Center and The Cannon Center for the Performing Arts. For more information about Memphis Tourism, visit www.memphistravel.com.