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Revenue managementDynamic pricingChannel managementOTA managementBooking.com managementListing optimizationVacation rental marketingExplore the historic Old City Jail on a 90-minute guided walking tour — hear chilling tales of notorious criminals and visit the refurbished cells from 1802 to 1939.
This guided 90-minute walking tour takes you through the Old City Jail, a site that housed some of Charleston’s most infamous criminals and Civil War prisoners from 1802 to 1939. Located on Magazine Street, the jail’s first floor has been restored to reflect its original design, complete with air conditioning for your comfort.
Led by Bulldog Tours, the tour invites guests aged ten and older to explore the cells, hallways, and rooms where the incarcerated endured harsh conditions. You'll hear spine-tingling stories, including that of Lavinia Fisher, America's first female serial killer. The combination of history and eerie narratives makes this tour a fascinating experience for both history buffs and those intrigued by the supernatural.
Reviews
This tour was fantastic! We always take similar tours during our vacations, and this was definitely among the best. Sarah was an excellent guide—funny, informative, and an engaging speaker. I highly recommend it.
The highlight of this tour was definitely our guide; it felt like being part of a gripping horror film. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Charleston. Participants ranged from about 10 to early 60s, and everyone had a great time sticking together in the dark.
Sarah was an outstanding guide. Her passion for her work is evident. We would have appreciated the chance to go upstairs, but we understand that it’s not permitted on the tour.
Sarah was fantastic, sharing great stories with wonderful energy. My 12-year-old son really enjoyed it.
For those with a background in spirituality, this experience is definitely worthwhile. It has some eerie moments that I found intriguing. Our guide Sarah was very pleasant.
I had a fantastic experience. Zoe was a wonderful guide with extensive knowledge. I highly recommend this tour.
We arrived about 15 minutes early to check in, hoping to use the restroom before the tour, but found the bathrooms closed. While I understand that issues can arise, customers should be informed beforehand. As someone pregnant, not having access to a restroom was not only inconvenient but also uncomfortable and concerning. The tour itself was quite underwhelming. Having visited several historic jails before, I found this one to be the least informative. Instead of focusing on history, operations, or real inmate stories, the emphasis was largely on exaggerated spooky narratives, making it feel more like a theatrical performance than an educational experience. To make matters worse, there was a nearby party playing loud modern music, which made it hard to hear the guide and disrupted the atmosphere. The guide also focused significantly on trying to frighten the group, which was not what we had hoped for. Moreover, the tour only included a few rooms on one floor, rather than covering the entire building as one might expect. Overall, I feel that for $45, this experience did not provide the value or quality we were looking for. I would not suggest this tour if you're seeking something meaningful, informative, or well-organized.
The staff was friendly and polite. The tour began promptly, and Jack proved to be an entertaining and knowledgeable guide. While we were somewhat let down that the tour was limited to the first floor with representative props and displays—essentially an indoor ghost storytelling walk—Jack still managed to make it engaging and enjoyable, giving us a few chills along the way. Overall, we found it to be a worthwhile and fun experience.
The guide was exceptional, rating a perfect 10/10 for his insightful explanations of the jail’s history, which included personal stories. However, at $45 per person, it felt overpriced since only four rooms are accessible and most items are replicas, making the overall experience not worth $90. While the guide’s performance was commendable, the value for money is questionable.
We arrived 25 minutes early and tried to enter, but no one responded. We went back to our car due to a disturbance in the neighborhood. While the area seemed safe, we didn’t want to take any risks. The historical information was compelling, and the guide was knowledgeable about the history and ghost tales. However, the tour was limited to the first floor since the upper levels are now event spaces. It felt incomplete, and we didn’t experience any paranormal activity during the tour, despite the guide showing photos from previous tours claiming to depict ghosts. Additionally, there was a disruptive intoxicated guest in our group who made inappropriate comments throughout the tour. Although the guide managed the situation well, the experience was negatively impacted.
Reviews are paraphrased traveller feedback sourced from Viator. Original ratings and sentiment preserved.
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