If your evening routine currently involves a cosy blanket, a fresh cuppa, and losing three hours to the dark, twisty world of Netflix, you aren’t alone. True crime dramatisation has gripped us all once again with Ryan Murphy’s latest anthology instalment, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.
The Lizzie Borden House – Copyright Lizzie Borden House
Between the suffocating Victorian atmosphere, the family secrets, and Ella Beatty’s chilling portrayal of America’s most infamous hatchet-wielding suspect, it’s practically impossible not to get sucked into the drama. Over 130 years after Andrew and Abby Borden were murdered in their Fall River home, the mystery remains completely magnetic.
But while armchair sleuthing from the comfort of the sofa is great, a growing number of us are looking for something a bit more immersive. Enter the world of dark tourism and historic ghost tours, where the stories step off the screen and straight onto the pavement in front of you.
The Enduring Spell of Lizzie Borden
The Lizzie Borden House – Copyright Lizzie Borden House
Most of us grew up hearing the macabre playground rhyme about forty whacks and hatchets, but the real story behind Lizzie Borden is far more intriguing than schoolyard gossip.
The unsolved nature of the 1892 double murder, the high-society whispers, and the stifling atmosphere of 19th-century New England created a case that prosecutors simply couldn’t close. Even after Lizzie was acquitted, the public never truly let it go.
Watching the narrative unfold in high-definition drama is one thing, but standing inside the very parlour where Andrew Borden was discovered on the sofa is another entirely. That’s the magic driving modern travel trends: fans of historical mysteries aren't just content watching actors play out the scenes. They want to see the real spaces, touch the original woodwork, and soak in the atmosphere for themselves.
Walking the Floorboards: The Rise of Haunted History
For a long time, the words "ghost tour" might have conjured up images of cheap plastic skeletons, jump scares, and tour guides jumping out from behind bushes in rubber masks.
Today, the experience has evolved into something far more compelling: haunted history.
High-quality ghost tours focus heavily on thoroughly researched local lore, authentic municipal archives, and atmospheric architecture. Instead of cheap theatrics, you get master storytellers leading late-night walks through historic cobblestone quarters, forgotten alleyways, and grand heritage homes.
It turns an ordinary city break into an unforgettable deep dive into the lives, scandals, and tragedies of the people who shaped it. Whether you’re a complete sceptic or someone who gets chills every time the floorboards creak, there is something undeniably captivating about learning a city’s history under the amber glow of streetlamps after dark.
Would You Dare Stay the Night?
For true crime devotees who want the ultimate bucket-list experience, places tied directly to historic mysteries take things one step further.
Take Fall River, Massachusetts, for example. The house where the Borden murders occurred isn't a film set or a demolished memory; it still stands preserved in time. In fact, courageous visitors can actually book daytime visits, evening investigations, or even spend the night at the Lizzie Borden House. If you don’t live close enough, there are other haunted houses where you can spend the night, such as the McInteer Villa in Atchison, Kansas, the Brickhouse Inn in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, or the infamous Villisca Axe Murder House in Villisca, Iowa.
Sleeping in the Victorian bedrooms, walking the narrow staircases, and hearing the documented paranormal activity firsthand turns a passive Netflix binge into a full sensory adventure. It’s historical preservation with an eerie, unforgettable twist.
Why Spooky Tourism Deserves a Spot on Your Next Itinerary
If you’re planning your next holiday itinerary, whether it’s exploring historic American cities like Boston, Savannah, and New Orleans, or wandering the ancient closes of Edinburgh and York, adding an evening walking tour is one of the best ways to get your bearings.
A completely fresh perspective on travel: Exploring after hours lets you see iconic sights without the daytime crowds and tourist bustle.
Stories you won’t find in the guidebooks: Mainstream city tours cover the monuments and dates, but ghost walks uncover the human drama, eccentric characters, and local legends.
The perfect blend of thrills and heritage: You get all the excitement of a gripping mystery coupled with real architectural and cultural history.
So, once the credits roll on your latest Netflix binge and you’ve debated every theory with anyone who will listen, ask yourself: are you brave enough to step into the history for real?
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