GRAND RAPIDS GHOST TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Walk the East Side After Dark with Julie Rathsack — Grand Rapids’ Original Ghost Tour
A two‑hour, one‑mile evening walk led by Julie Rathsack that blends Grand Rapids history and local hauntings; this guide explains what to expect, where the tour goes, and how to prepare.
Walk the East Side After Dark with Julie Rathsack — Grand Rapids’ Original Ghost Tour.
Experience Grand Rapids’ haunted east side with Julie Rathsack, co‑author of Ghosts of Grand Rapids, as she mixes local history and paranormal lore on an evening walking tour that begins and ends at the Grand Rapids Public Library and covers just over a mile in roughly two hours.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Led by a local author and historian
Julie Rathsack — co‑author of Ghosts of Grand Rapids — leads the tour, bringing historical research and character portrayals to the stories she tells along the route.
True‑to‑place hauntings and tragedies
Hear the chilling accounts behind sites such as the Women’s City Club (the story of Desdemona Sweet), the former Wellington Flats (a bathtub death), and the Browning Hotel as part of the tour’s roster of haunted locations.
A compact, walkable evening route
The Ghosts of Grand Rapids Walking Tour covers just over one mile in about two hours, beginning and ending at the Grand Rapids Public Library and stopping at multiple historic and reportedly haunted sites in the east side of the city.
What the day feels like
What the tour feels like
This is an evening walking experience that blends researched history with the paranormal; Julie may portray a member of Grand Rapids’ past to heighten the historical atmosphere as the group moves between sites over a roughly two‑hour, one‑mile loop that starts and finishes at the Grand Rapids Public Library.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this tour suits — and who should think twice.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Tours run rain or shine — please dress for the weather.
This is an outdoor evening walk; wear comfortable shoes for roughly one mile of walking.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the tour?
Approximately two hours.
Where does the tour meet?
The Ghosts of Grand Rapids Walking Tour begins and ends at the Grand Rapids Public Library.
Do I need to register in advance?
Yes — all tours require advance registration and payment; if any tickets remain the day of the tour, they will be available on site.
Will the tour operate in bad weather?
Yes — tours run rain or shine; participants should dress for the weather.
Who leads the tour?
The tour is led by Julie Rathsack, co‑author of Ghosts of Grand Rapids, who incorporates historical research and character portrayals into the walk.
How far will we walk?
The route covers just over one mile.