Ghost Tour Explores Chicago Landmarks Of Tragic Innocence Lost

CHICAGO — SOLD OUT. With the pandemic pretty much wiping out ghost tours in 2020, Graveside Paranormal is making up for lost time by offering spring and summer tours. Paranormal investigator Neal Gibbons has put together the Tragic Innocence Tour, from 1 t0 5 p.m. May 8.

The tour will focus on the notorious stories well known to haunt the Chicago area. Guests will visit the following landmarks by bus, including:

• The Haunting of the Forge Investigation
• Archer Woods Cemetery
• The Grimes Sisters Murder
• The Miracle Child of Chicago - Mary Alice Quinn
• Resurrection Mary
• Chet’s Melody Lounge
• Archer Avenue
• Butcher of Palos Park
• The Tragedy of Emmett Till
• The Feral Boy of Sacred Heart Cemetery

Gibbons takes the stories of people whose lives were tragically cut short by violence or illness, such as the Grimes Sisters, an unsolved double murder from 1956. Barbara Grimes, 15, and her 12-year-old sister, Patricia, took the bus from their McKinley Park home to the now closed Brighton Theater on Archer Avenue to see Elvis Presley in “Love Me Tender.” The sisters never made it home. At first, police thought the girls ran away to Memphis to visit their idol, Elvis. After the largest manhunt in Chicago history — even the king of rock 'n roll pleaded for the girls to go home on national radio — the sisters’ bodies were found Jan. 22, 1957 on German Church Road in Burr Ridge.

“I take the stories of people who lost their lives too early,” Gibbons said. “I make a documentary of each place we visit, so you have the full story. Everyone knows what they’re walking into and people see the evidence.”

Graveside Paranormal will also provide equipment to guests to do their own paranormal investigations, or bring your own personal equipment. Guests will catch the bus at 115 Bourbon Street, 3359 W. 115th St., Merrionette Park.

The tour will follow CDC guidelines. Gibbons has chartered a limo bus from M&M Limousine. The bus allows for spacious seating to follow guidelines for ensuring the safety of guests. Guests are asked to wear a face mask.

The tour is $35. If you’ve been cooped up all year self-quarantining, then this tour is for you. Seats go fast so reserve today at EventBrite Tragic Innocence Tour.