TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Those who love the paranormal and history buffs can take a guided walking tour around Tampa’s iconic Ybor City, but it’s unclear what can be seen inside some of the buildings.
The official City of Ybor Ghost Tour takes guests on foot up to six stops through Tampa’s “most haunted” neighborhood.
“We take you through all of Ybor’s social clubs which were designed by immigrants from Italy, Spain, Germany, Romania and, of course, Cuba,” said Max Herman, guide tourist and director of Official ghost tour of Ybor town.
The tour will also stop at places like Rock Brothers Brewing and Cerealholic to tell some of the “hundreds” of ghost stories around Ybor City.
The tour is the only one in Ybor City that has access inside the Cuban club, named by Travel Channel as one of its top 10 most haunted places.
One of Herman’s favorite stories is in the building built in 1917. He said it was hard to choose just one because these story stories are “all of his babies” and he is. proud to bring people into the building and talk to groups about the spirits that occupy them.
“I have one close to my heart that is in the theater,” he said of the Cuban Club. “I don’t want to go into too many details, but I’m still saving the theater for last because it’s the most haunted room in this whole building.”
There is nothing “hokey” or “cheesy” about this tour, nothing jumps out at visitors like a haunted house in a theme park, so different groups will have different experiences with “the other side”.
“People [ask] me all the time, ‘am I going to see a ghost?’ I cannot guarantee this, because there is no machine, [nothing] I can do to get him out or whatever. They’re not in cages like the Ghostbusters, ”Herman said.
He said what he does is just take his tour groups to these historic buildings and tell factual stories about what happened there, as well as some personal experiences that he himself has had. .
“Then after that, well, I pretty much let the spirits in the buildings do the rest of the talking,” he said.
As well as being the only tour with interior access to the Cuban club, Herman said the tour guides’ passion for what they do sets them apart from other tours in Ybor City and even across the country.
“Our guides are very proud of what we do here. You know, from Steve to Tom to myself, we know the whole history of Ybor, Tampa, Florida pretty well. Getting people to these haunted buildings is a dream come true for us. So every time we have a tour it’s the best job we’ve ever had, ”he said.
Tours are available seven evenings per week and capacity is limited to approximately 25 people. The walking tour lasts approximately 90 minutes. If the planned visiting hours refuel, another visit will open around 10:30 p.m.
A 10:30 p.m. tour is available every weekend in October.
“So if you’d like to come a bit later when things get a little crazier around Ybor City, I suggest you book this tour,” Herman said.
Tickets cost $ 25 for adults and $ 10 for children ages 8 to 12.
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