Frequently Asked Ghost Tour Questions

When should I buy my tickets? Tours sell out early, so once you know your date and time, advance purchase your tickets. You can buy them from this site or at the Black Cat Shoppe at 246 Middle Street in historic New Bern

 
Where do the tours begin? At The Black Cat Shoppe at 246 Middle Street in downtown New Bern

 
When should I arrive? Check-in begins 20-minutes prior to the scheduled start of your tour. Tours leave promptly so be sure to give yourself plenty of time to find parking, use the restroom and explore the shop. Tickets are non-refundable/exchangeable at the start of the tour (see Refund & Exchange Policy below), so you don't want to be late 

Are there public restrooms?  The Cub House is located at 223 Pollock Street near the Craven Street intersection. In a pinch restaurants will sometimes let you use their restroom BUT please be sure to frequent them later. The Black Cat Shoppe DOES NOT have a public restroom

Where do I park?  Free on-street parking is available with no limitations. There are also several city lots located throughout town with plenty of street signage to help you find one

How long is the tour? 90-100 minutes in duration and about one mile in distance

How much is the tour? $19.00 for adults, $17.00 for seniors (55+), full time students or military (active or retired). Children 6 and under are free

Do children 6 and younger need tickets? Children 6 and younger are free and do not need a ticket

What if I am running late?  DON'T WAIT!  - Once you realize you are going to be late, BEFORE the tour departs, call the Black Cat Shoppe at 252-635-1410 and find out the guide's first stop. 

What if I am already late? If the Black Cat Shoppe is closed your best bet is to split up and try to find us. We will be the only costumed guides leading a group and we typically obvious. Be sure to look down all alleys, tunnels, under trees and down side roads.  

1. PERSON 1: WALK down the alley to the right of the shop and circle the rear parking lot in a CLOCKWISE fashion, checking the alley that leads to Pollock and then the three alleys that lead to Craven Street. Exit last alley onto Craven, turn right and walk down to South Front. Peak left at South Front. Walk back up Craven to Pollock. Look right down Pollock then turn left and check the churchyard in the 300 block of Pollock up to the alleyway at 414.
2. PERSON 2: DRIVE up the 400, 500 and 600 block of Pollock. Before turning right on George Street, peak down the 700 block of Pollock. Turn right on George Street, turn right on Broad Street, turn left on Middle Street, turn left on New Street, left on Metcalf, right on Broad, left on George and left on Pollock returning to Middle Street. around the 500 block of New Street, the 500 block of Broad Street, the 300 block of George Street and the 500 and 600 block of Pollock Street

Do I need to print my tickets? No, we have a Guest List

Are tours rain or shine? Yes. If it rains you are going to get wet. Umbrellas are welcome and there are inexpensive ponchos at the Black Cat Shoppe. If you have concerns with the weather, wait to purchase your tickets until just before the tour starts (though there is a risk the tour may then be sold out).  

What About Lightning? Once the tour starts we will finish it. If at any point during the tour the guide feels lightning strikes are an imminent or immediate threat, they will seek shelter with the group until the guide determines the threat has passed. If the threat does not pass, the Guide will continue storytelling from the safety of the shelter until the culmination of the tour. Please keep in mind the guide will make the determination and will not seek shelter for rain, heat, sheet or summer lighting, or any storm that whereby lightning strikes will not be a threat to the safety of the tour. During the collection procedure of each tour, if the guide determines lightning is too severe to safely start, the guide will cancel the tour and guests will be fully refunded.

What about excessive summer heat? Remember, you are in the south in the summer and it's going to be hot and humid. Your best defense is a sound offense. Throughout the day you should be eating and hydrating, especially if you are not use to our heat. We recommend all guests bring plenty of cold water or Gatorade (or buy water at the Black Cat Shoppe). There is a water bottle refill station at the Cub House at 223 Pollock Street, or you can duck into any restaurant and purchase ice water to refill your bottles. During the tour we will seek shady, breezy areas where possible. If a heat advisory is issued that includes the start time of our tour we may cancel the tour and issue refunds, depending on the severity. 

What about hurricanes? Once the NOAA issues a hurricane watch or warning we cancel our tours and issue full refunds.   

What is your refund/exchange policy? Our policy is similar to other Live Venue Performances (like a theater, concert, sporting event, etc.). Ghost tickets are non-refundable less than 24 hours prior to your scheduled performance, and non-exchangeable less than 1 hour prior your scheduled tour performance. Once a ticket is exchanged it cannot be exchanged a second time, and Guest forfeits all future refund requests.

HOW TO REQUEST A REFUND

ETIX ONLINE TICKET HOLDERS: Because Etix is a national online ticket service, Etix ticket holders must request a refund directly from Etix. CLICK HERE to submit an "Email Etix Customer Support" form.  

BLACK CAT SHOPPE TICKET HOLDERS: Please request a refund at The Black Cat Shoppe at 246 Middle Street. Tickets must be intact and include the store receipt. 

HOW TO REQUEST AN EXHANGE

ETIX ONLINE TICKET HOLDERS: Etix ticket holders must request an exchange directly from Etix. CLICK HERE to submit an "Email Etix Customer Support" form. Be sure to include the new date/time you want to attend, and submit. 

NOTE: If it is less than 3 hours BEFORE your scheduled performance, you MUST make your Etix exchange request in person at the Black Cat Shoppe at 246 Middle Street.  

BLACK CAT SHOPPE TICKET HOLDERS: Black Cat Shoppe ticket holders must request a refund IN-PERSON at 246 Middle Street. Tickets must be intact and include the store receipt.

How else can I contact Etix? Visit Etix.com or call 800-514-3849

How do I contact the Black Cat Shoppe? Call 252-635-1410

Can I bring my dog on the Ghost Walk? Dogs are welcome, provided;  

1. They are on a leash and fully restrained by the owner at all times. NOTE: If the dog is a Service Animal, the dog must be under the control of the handler at all times 
2. If they become disruptive for any reason, the owner must lead the dog away from the tour until the dog is back under control
3. If another Guest has a fear of dogs or is uncomfortable with your dog for ANY REASON, including therapy dogs, emotional support dogs and companion dogs, you will not be permitted to attend the tour. The only exception is if the dog is a Service Animal required for a disability, or a service animal in training, according to the ADA limits and definitions 
4. ANY dog, including a Service Animal or a Service Animal in training, that shows aggression towards people or other animals, that barks, growls or whines (unless trained to do so as a warning sign to a handler per ADA Guidelines), or that is disruptive to the normal course of the tour, will be asked to leave the tour
5. If your dog is a cat, snake, pig, tiger, tiger shark or anything other than a dog, the animal is not welcome on our tour
6. Please CLICK HERE to visit NCDHHS for more information on Service Animals

Did we miss an important FAQ? If you can't find your answer on this FAQ's Page, or for additional questions, please call the Black Cat Shoppe at 252-635-1410