Macabre Death Tours

For all you folks who love the creep factor, we have a few recommendations just for you. Some are somber memorials, some are rumored to be haunted, some are collections of morbid stuff, and some are sites of death, but all are due respect to those that have been lost.  All you American Horror Story and Stephen King fans and history buffs may share an appreciation of these sites.

1) Zak Bagan's Haunted Mansion, Las Vegas, Nevada

While I was out in Las Vegas with my lady, We took the tour of Zak Bagans' Haunted Museum in downtown LV. One of the many artifacts at the haunted museum was Jack Kevorkian's VW Microbus where he performed all of his assisted suicides with a replica of the machine that administered the lethal injections. They had him playing flute music in the background which was on a tape he played while killing folks to help them relax. The list of all the intensely personal and high-profile creepy shit that Zak B has is long indeed. There was a good collection of John Wayne Gacy paintings, a recent shipment of Charles Manson stuff, a cauldron that Ed Gein used to boil the skin off of corpses etc, a piece of art from what's his face from Marilyn Manson's band that died of a heroin overdose with his heroin works encased inside entitled "break in case of emergency," some of Michael Jackson's left over skin bleach, some fun Anton LaVey goblets and correspondence including a pic of his christening a new naked witch with what appeared to be a big fake cock between his legs, and many, many more objects. One of the rooms that our guide said was possessed and that many do not like to enter was a room with a large blinky eye doll in the center. We were instructed to greet and say goodbye to the doll. There was another “haunted room” in the basement where we were not allowed and at the bottom of the stairs the doll was placed peeking out of a crack in the door while seated in a rocking chair. They told us many times that we were playing with intense spiritual energy by being there although the forces are supposed to be a balance of light and dark energy, but cynic I am, I was the first to enter a lot of rooms and feel fine to this day including having had no nightmares about any of it. The place was a blast though. It smelled amazing. They use this vampire blood incense which I bought as well as piping in things like the aroma of cotton candy and popcorn into the circus/freakshow rooms and other nuances. Our tourguide was this freaky goth attired, likely hibristophile lady who kept talking about how she likes body parts the most and made sure to wax immortal about all the severed pieces of corpses and human skulls they have. Still have yet to see the show, I doubt I will have much faith in the supposed impact of all the witchcraft they've done with those objects in that house, all the dolls that have been possessed by spirits, and the like, but I highly recommend the place just on entertainment value alone...

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2) Century 16 Movie Theater, Home of the "Batman massacre" Aurora, CO

At the Century 16 movie theater in Aurora, Colorado 12 people were killed and 70 others were injured by a gunman who opened fire on a crowd of theater goers during a showing of The Dark Knight Rises in 2012.  In the aftermath, masses of people avoided going to see a movie in theaters for fear of a copycat. Indulging in our appreciation for the macabre, we sought out the theater. We learned that the shooting took place in a part of the building that has since been radically rebuilt and is now a large XD stadium seating room.  We struggled with how to tactfully ask where the theater was without seeming deranged or insensitive. We knew the shooting happened in screen 9, but they changed the numbers into letters instead (surely because of freaks like us). There is no longer a screen 9 or I, as they have undergone remodeling. I could not bring myself to ask, so I had Chris do the Dirty Work. He chickened out twice in our search for answers and we found the staff were clearly not forthcoming. Thanks to the internet, we discovered the area is now the XD screen. We watched "Sully" in the partially filled room and could not help but check the exit areas a few times. We had a disquieting moment as we left the theater. Just after we left the lot a swarm of flashing police lights appeared in all directions blocking the door so we could not move. For the first minute it was just us and the swarms of police cars. The thought occurred to me "did they hear about the freaks asking about the shooting at the theater and now we are suspects?" or "Did something happen again?" After 5-10 minutes they re-opened the road to let us pass, but we never figured out what the hell was happening.

3) The Killing Fields  Phenom Pehn, Cambodia

This place is astonishing and perfect for those with a taste for history of the macabre. The killing fields look astonishingly serene from a distance with rolling hills and rich green grass, but the truth of this painful memorial exists literally just beneath the surface. The hills are actually mass graves with tattered remains of clothing, bone fragments, and teeth that continue to seep up from the ground and wash through the foot paths and tell the real story of what once happened there. There is a small ossuary there as well with piles of skulls on display. It is not a very large area, easy to walk, but there are many, many people touring.  It is hot and you will need water. You can buy a bracelet to attach to a memorial "hanging tree" where kids were once killed.

Mass grave of Khumer Rouge victims

Bone, teeth and clothing fragments washing up near the mass graves

4) ​Abandoned Missouri State Penitentiary Jefferson City, MO
Opened in the mid 1800's and closed in 2004, They say more people have died at this prison than any other. You can take a day your or an evening haunted Ghost Tour of this abandoned prison and execution chamber. We walked through the tiny pitch black isolation rooms, stood in the cells covered in graffiti created by former inmates, sat in a gas chamber, and viewed a display of homemade shanks taken from inmates.  A lot of the original prison has been demolished, but the parts that remain are interesting.  We chose the 2 hour history tour option, although there is also a 3 hour tour or ghost tour option. The tour was guided by a former guard who liked to tell stories, was quite a character, and not very politically correct for humor purposes (just be forewarned, especially if you belong to a marginalized group). Because it was a guided tour there was not much time on our own to explore or take pictures, so if you are a big photog, you may want to call ahead and inquire about the best options for you. The tour was very large, with close to 30 people. The information provided was very interesting with great experiential pieces. They could do a lot more from a historical perspective to add signs with information and inmate histories and dates that could improve the place. As it stands, it seems like they are still questioning what to do with the place and how long before they raze it. The tour guides do not even have keys to the cells, so if you close yourself in, it could take up to 6 hours for them to locate someone able to let you out (how they can do public tours daily knowing this is completely beyond me, especially since they said it has happened 3 times). There is also an execution chamber on site that you can tour where they used to do executions by gas chamber and a viewing area. Really fascinating stuff and interesting history. The staff were very nice and obviously dedicated to preserving the history of the place. You do need to do a lot of walking or standing, so wear comfortable shoes. There are stairs to get into several of the buildings. There are porta-potties on site. The cost is cheap, but you will want to reserve your tickets in advance because they sell out so fast. I would recommend people check this out..

​5) Eastern State Penitentiary Philadelphia, PA
This is probably one of the most fascinating museums we ever visited. This former Penitentiary opened more than 180 years ago and was designed to make the prisons feel Penitent about their crimes, it was closed in the 197o's.  In a guided tour hosted by the voice of Steve Buscemi (seriously, what could be better?) you will hear all about the sorted history of prisoners put into isolation with bags over their heads and not allowed to speak. They could have no contact with other prisoners. They were housed in sound proof rooms, so essentially the only sound they ever heard were the guards footsteps, and even that was minimized. The place looks like every creepy asylum you ever saw in a movie. The old wire beds can be seen through slats in the small wooden doors. It is fascinating to see the wreckage of the walls, but the wooden benches that are precariously left standing in their place (a testament to old craftsmanship?) . Through intricately  detailed iron bars you will find see shadowed hallways of peeling paint and abandoned materials left from long ago.  You can view one of AL Capone's poshly decorated former cells, see the whole in the wall created by a prisoner who escaped and later returned to the prison and begged to be let in after finding himself cold and hungry in the outside world.  You can read about the largest prison riot in history, as well as reading about the history of women and cat murdering dogs held in the prison. If you are into photography, this place is a dream. The stories, history, and architecture were unlike anything we had ever seen.

Al Capone's suite

​6) Mutter Museum, Philadelphia, PA
Philly is a town that has a lot to offer, especially for the weird and creepy folks. This place isn't for everyone, but this museum of medical oddities does offer a few things that you are unlikely to see anywhere else: the human skin leather bookcovers and bindings that are supposed to honor the dead, lots of conjoined twins and fetus' with band syndrome preventing the development of the lower half of the body, skulls with damaged holes from syphilis, another skull with repeated sword/axe fractures, a foot damaged by severe Chinese foot binding, a rib cage damaged by a corset, a dead body turned into soap. After a while your eyeballs may glaze over from all the skulls, but there are unique and cool things in between. There is lots of reading, so you will need to take your time to fully appreciate this exhibition. One of the most unique aspects is the feature of folk tales like that of the Brothers Grimm and discussion of their origin as it relates to medical oddities.
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7) Museum of Torture, Temporary exhibit San Diego, CA
Years ago San Diego featured an exhibit dedicated to torture instruments through the ages. It included old electric chairs, breaking wheels, an iron maiden, crows nests, racks, various flogging devices and cat o'nine tails with shards of glass attached the whip, shaming masks, stocks, and various devices used to torture the genitals. After viewing the history of mankind, I can see we are a much gentler people than our forefathers. The book "The Better Angel's of our Nature" by Stephen Pinker comparatively highlights this transformation across the ages. Although I don't think this exhibit is still there, I believe it travels and is worth seeking out somewhere else.

8) Lemp Mansion, St. Louis, MO

Once an active Brewery, the Lemp mansion is now considered one of the most haunted places in America. Three members of the wealthy Lemp family killed themselves along with one of their dogs in the house. Other family members were said to be cursed and died untimely deaths. Our visits here have included dining in their restaurant and taking tours, experiencing the Mystery Dinner Theater, as well as attending the annual haunted Halloween bash. You can rent a room for a creepy night in the haunted hotel where the family once slept, but we have yet to experience that creepy fun.

9) Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, CA
Another famous haunted spot is the Winchester house, formerly owned by the eccentric heiress of the Winchester Rifle fortune.  This kooky lady continued to build onto her house in a manner that baffles architects and laymen alike. The 160 room house had  stairs, doors, and hallways that lead to nowhere, mini steps, and windows in the floor. The place has long been rumoured to be haunted by the ghosts of people killed by the Winchester rifle, and many of the architectural changes Mrs. Winchester made to the house were to accommodate and interact with these spirits. Our visit here was a tad disappointing seeing as though the place has been covered by a thick yellow paint like and signs like you see on the walls at Disneyland. There is however a few rooms that retain the furniture from the period which are fascinating as well as the  stockpile of decorative ceiling tiles in the storage room awaiting the next room to be built. They could take a hint from Zak Bagan's to really give this place the creepy vibe it deserves with proper lighting. No photos allowed here, but I snuck a couple with an old low res blackberry..

road runner door to nowhere off the 2nd story

10) Cuervo, New Mexico Ghost Town

(Edited to add this in) We came across this ghost town along route 66 and it was complete with mutilated rattlesnakes, tarantulas, burned up ouija boards, obliterated glass and abandoned houses. Totally looked like a horror movie set and probably the creepiest place we've ever seen. Check out our Sept 2018 post for the pics and deets.

11) Columbine Memorial, Littleton, CO

Just around the corner from Aurora is Columbine High School, site of the Columbine massacre. Behind the school is a beautiful memorial park built to honor the lives of those killed.  There are long winding pathways, quotes from various victims, and plaques designated for each of the deceased built in a circular center of the memorial. It has a quiet beauty amidst the weighted sadness.

12) COPE Rehab Center, LAOS
This museum is dedicated to victim of UXOs left from the US bombings during Vietnam in the "secret war" in Laos.  The COPE rehab center assists victims of these landmines that were left behind long ago and continue to kill hundreds every year, with thousands of others losing limbs. The museum is filled with prosthetic limbs creatively arranged as modern art, deactivated bombs dangling from the ceiling or lined up along tables, and features a movie about the survivors.  It serves as a somber memorial to the ongoing victims of this tragedy.

​13) Lorraine Motel, Memphis, TN

Adjacent to the National Civil Rights Museum you will find the motel where Reverend Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated while standing on the balcony.  The motel room where he died is still preserved as it was when he was killed, including the blood on the bed. A somber memorial to this amazing figure. 

14) Manson Family truck, Ballarat Ghost Town, Death Valley, CA

Deep in the valley of death lies an old ghost town.  Founded in 1897 as a supply point for the mines, but then quickly faded when the mine closed in 1917, it was a true form of a ghost town; ragged bedraggled, with signs of an interesting history from its former glory. I especially appreciated that it has not been re-created or painted over in a Disney fashion for tourists. It's decrepit state tells the true history of the faded town in the middle of Death Valley. You will find a broke down truck said to have been abandoned there by the Manson family after getting stuck, frames of decrepit homesteads, the local jail and hotel with a noose hanging from the ceiling, abandoned rusted out jalopies, items riddled with bullet holes, and an old cemetery where people were often burried by their pets. There is also a currently running motor-home park for camping and a general store. The caretaker of the property is an interesting fellow, but you should be warned, it is NOT a family friendly environment inside the store. It is decorated with highly visible nude centerfold pictures of women in various sexual poses throughout the store. The caretaker lives in the store and though he may have some interesting stories, as a woman I felt pretty uncomfortable being in the store with him, given his clear lack of socially appropriate boundaries with the pornography, and he is kinda rough looking to boot, though friendly and talkative. It actually seemed like something you would see in a horror movie when the unwitting teens bump into the eccentric caretaker of the town they are about to enter just before someone comes out to torture them for the next hour and half onscreen. 

The most difficult thing about the visit was getting there, the signs are pretty unclear and not marked well. You may have to double back a couple times before you find it, but don't give up! It is worth it. It is down a long dirt road and to the far back by the mountains. You will think you are driving to nowhere when you will turn and see the tiny town and signs of life. It is fascinating to see the dessert mirage of water from the intense heat...it is just like in the cartoons. Don't forget to bring your camera, and if you are worried about becoming a victim like in a horror movie, be sure to pack your safety gear too!

​15) Jeffrey Dahmer's Residence, Milwaukee, WI

If you venture out to Milwaukee, you may be interested in seeking out the former residence of famed cannibalistic serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. The apartment building that once stood there has now been demolished and in its place stands an empty field with overgrown weeds and fence that runs around the perimeter. Standing in the street you can imagine the dark echoes of the past.

16) Day of the Dead Celebration, Ensenada, Baja CA, Mexico

One of the interesting trip we took was to celebrate Dia de Los Muertos with the locals in Mexico. We spent time touring people's homes and school to see how they each honored the dead with art made of rice, homecooked food arranged on alters, We  had a lovely driver who invited us into his home to meet his family. Next we headed off to the cemetery to take part in the celebration there. We bought flowers to set on the graves as hundreds of other did the same and mariachi bands played around us. The cemetery was so beautiful and colorful. a rainbow appeared in the sky over the cemetery just before the sun started to set.  A positively beautiful was to spend an evening.

17) Consolations of Mourning Tour, Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis, MO

The Mourning Society of St. Louis hosts annual Death and Mourning in the 19 the Century tours. Various characters dressed in 19th century garb take you to different tombs while they talk about the history of burial rituals, funereal practices, and things people died of like cholera. There is even a mock burial service held at the chapel. It is a free tour and very entertaining. 

For more interesting sites visit our Cemetery Life page.

​~TomorrowlandTrekkers