Did you know that Butch Cassidy was once imprisoned in St. George’s old jailhouse? Or that, according to him, he wasn’t alone? He claimed that someone — or perhaps something — was dragged screaming from his cell every night?
If you’re unfamiliar with the haunting tale, there’s only one place to hear it: St. George Ghost Tours.
Hosted in the very same jailhouse Cassidy lost sleep in, St. George Ghost Tours offers a bone-chilling experience perfect for the spooky season, guiding tourists through some of St. George’s paranormal landmarks.
The company was founded in March of this year by owners Grady and Kallie Hartman, whose passion and interests in the paranormal birthed this unsettling, 90-minute excursion. After several paranormal investigations, the Hartman’s team crafted a unique experience through St. George’s unexplainable history.
“It [the tour] really connects you to St. George,” said Jonny Lightheart, a tour guide from Medford, Oregon. “[The tour] gives you a view both into what St. George is and was as a city, and also lets you enjoy [the] haunted aspects, the paranormal spookiness of the area.”
The tours start at the Old Jailhouse and take visitors through various areas around town, including Brigham Young’s Winter Home, Mulberry Inn and The Bentley House. During these stops, visitors are told stories of haunted dolls that cry when covered, trees where criminals were hung, and spirits wandering the houses they never had the chance to enjoy.
“I think a lot of people think of our town as a boring little Mormon town, and there’s a lot of cool stuff here,” Lightheart said. “It’s really fun to be able to share that.”
Between destinations, tour guides offer riddles, personal encounters and spooky-themed jokes. Tourists are also warned to be on the lookout for Wet Willy, a ghost known for tripping people during the trek. The ghost earned its nickname when it first appeared during a tour and reportedly stuck a finger into the ear of one of the tour guides. According to Lightheart, the ghost has been haunting them ever since.
Celest Pantoja, from Layton, said this was her first ever ghost tour. As a fan of horror and ghost stories, she was excited about the experience; however, she didn’t expect to have her own possibly paranormal experience.
“When we went to the boutique where they said they closed the attic, that was actually kind of weird,” Pantoja said. “Like, I felt a lot of pressure on my head, and then when I tried to take a picture, my phone wouldn’t flash. I took like three or four, and it wouldn’t flash.”
Pantoja attributes this incident to a possible paranormal experience during her tour and encourages others to try the tour themselves.
“Especially if you’re new to St. George,” Pantoja said. “I definitely recommend it.”
If you’re interested in booking your own 90-minute tour and chancing an encounter with a spirit along the way, you can find St. George Ghost Tours on their website, Facebook and Instagram. Tours start at 7 and 9:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and will continue throughout the year. Tickets are priced at $15 for children under 13 years old, and $25 for adults and teens.
“Come find out. Come see history, see the ghosts that we have out here. It’s a great time, a great activity at night to get out and get to know St. George a little bit better,” Lightheart said. “There’s a lot of cool things to be found in the city itself, and I like sharing that.”
