Ft. Lauderdale: Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl

Fort Lauderdale’s ghost stories come with a side of barroom lore on this two-hour crawl. You’ll hear about the haunted King Cromartie House, the mob-linked past of Old Coyote Ugly, and spirits said to wail around Esplanade Park. I like the mix of local history and pub stops, and the chance to hear the stories from a live guide rather than a recorded tour.

The guide can make or break an evening built around storytelling, and guides Jesus and Joe have earned warm praise for their humor and command of the tales. One thing to plan for: the route and stop lengths vary by day and season, and drinks are not listed among the included items, so set aside extra money for your own order.

The tour at a glance

• Starting point: Bodega Taqueria y Tequila, 21 W Las Olas Blvd. Look for a guide in a black US Ghost Adventures T-shirt carrying a lantern.
• Length: Two hours, with up to four bars or watering holes and haunted stops.
• Possible stops: King Cromartie House, Old Coyote Ugly, Original Fat Cats, and Esplanade Park. The lineup can change.
• Price: $30 per person for the tour. Drinks are not listed as included.
• Guide: Live narration in English, with local ghost stories and historical background.
• Practical note: Wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. The activity is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

Meeting at Bodega Taqueria y Tequila

The crawl begins at Bodega Taqueria y Tequila, at 21 W Las Olas Blvd in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Your guide will be wearing a black US Ghost Adventures T-shirt and carrying a lantern, a useful landmark in a busy evening setting. You meet the guide there for a drink, but the price does not list drinks as part of the tour, so expect to pay separately for anything you order.

Starting at a bar sets a casual tone. You can settle in, meet the guide, and get a first taste of the evening’s mix of spirits: the kind in a glass and the kind in the stories. If you’re meeting friends, arrive with enough time to find the address and your guide before the tour starts. Transportation is not included, so make your own way to the meeting point and plan how you’ll get home afterward.

The tour is offered in English and lasts two hours. That’s a compact outing, not an open-ended pub night. It gives you a guided framework for hearing local tales, with time at a selection of stops, but it is not designed to linger for a long meal or several rounds at each bar.

King Cromartie House and the haunted-history angle

The King Cromartie House is one of the tour’s headline haunted stops. Its notoriety gives the guide a chance to set the evening’s tone with a story rooted in a specific Fort Lauderdale place, rather than relying only on generic haunted-house lore. Expect accounts of the house’s past and its reputation for ghostly activity, told as local stories.

That distinction matters. A ghost tour is best enjoyed with curiosity and a little skepticism in the same pocket. The stories are part of the city’s folklore, not a promise that you’ll witness anything supernatural. I like this kind of outing most when the guide can give a tale its local setting and let you decide what to make of it.

The itinerary does not guarantee a fixed order or a visit to every named location. Stop selection can vary with the day of the week and the season, so treat the King Cromartie House as a possible stop rather than a certainty. If this is the one place you most want to see, check the route details before booking rather than assuming it will be included on your date.

Old Coyote Ugly, where bar lore meets mob history

Old Coyote Ugly adds a different flavor to the route. Here, the interest is not only the bar itself but the mob-related history associated with it. That shift from haunted-house tales to criminal lore keeps the crawl from feeling like one long string of ghost stories.

A bar stop also gives you a chance to pause and take in the atmosphere while the guide fills in the backstory. The tour allows between 15 minutes and one hour at each destination, depending on the stop and the route. That range is wide, so don’t count on a specific amount of time at Old Coyote Ugly or plan your evening around a guaranteed drink break of a certain length.

The crawl’s name suggests a party, but it is still a guided history tour. You’ll get the most from it if you listen closely and ask questions where there’s room, rather than treating every stop as a chance to order another round. Since drinks are not included in the stated price, keep your spending expectations realistic.

Esplanade Park and the wailing spirits

Esplanade Park brings the stories outdoors. Spirits are said to frequent the park, including reports of wailing. That makes this stop a change of scene from the bars and offers a more atmospheric setting for a ghost story, especially if the group pauses to listen rather than rushing through the tale.

Still, don’t arrive expecting a staged scare or special effects. The point is the story and the setting, with the guide connecting the two. You may hear a tale that makes the park feel different on your next visit, but there is no guarantee of a paranormal encounter.

The park is one of several possible stops, not a fixed part of every outing. The route varies by day and season, and the time spent at each stop can range from a short visit to an hour. That flexibility can keep the tour fresh, but it also means you should book for the overall pub-and-ghost-story format rather than one specific location alone.

Original Fat Cats and other possible stops

Original Fat Cats is another possible watering hole. The tour description does not promise a particular story or activity there, so think of it as one potential piece of the evening rather than a guaranteed highlight. The same goes for the other locations: the guide selects from a roster that may include bars, haunted sites, and Esplanade Park.

One participant also recalled learning about a fire station during a tour. That suggests the guide may bring in local details beyond the best-known haunted stops, though the fire station is not listed as a guaranteed destination. If you enjoy the small historical side roads that emerge during a good walking tour, that kind of extra context can be a pleasant bonus.

What you should not expect is a rigid itinerary with the same sequence every night. A route shaped by the day and season can be useful for a lively pub crawl, but it makes advance planning less exact. If you need a particular stop, confirm whether it is scheduled for your date.

Guides who bring the stories to life

The strongest element of this tour is its human scale. Jesus has been praised for a warm, easygoing manner and clear enthusiasm for the stories. One person on his tour even fact-checked the historical details afterward and found them accurate, a good sign for anyone who wants more than a campfire tale dressed up as fact.

Joe has also been described as a fun guide who made a solo outing worthwhile. On that occasion, only one person joined the tour, and the guide still made time to show them around and share what he knew, including information about a fire station. A small group can make it easier to hear the stories and ask questions, though group size is not guaranteed and your own guide may be someone else.

Guide names are useful clues, not promises. You may get Jesus, Joe, or another member of the team. What you can expect from the activity itself is a live English-speaking guide, researched history, and local ghost stories. If a guide’s energy matters to you, go in ready to engage: ask questions, respond to the tales, and give the guide a chance to shape the evening.

What $30 buys, and what it does not

At $30 per person, the price covers a two-hour guided pub crawl, a friendly guide, historical background, and local ghost stories. For an evening that combines several stops with narration, that can be fair value if you enjoy guided storytelling and the social side of visiting bars. You are paying for a hosted route and context, not just admission to a set of venues.

The cost does not include transportation or a guide tip. Drinks are not listed as included either, so budget separately for them. That matters: a modest tour price can turn into a more expensive night once you add your orders and any transport you need.

The value also depends on how much you like the format. If you want a clear historical account with a guide who can add character and local color, this is a useful way to spend two hours. If you mainly want a long, leisurely bar visit, the changing stop durations may feel too brief or unpredictable.

Comfort, timing, and who should book

Wear comfortable shoes and clothing suited to the weather. The crawl moves between bars and outdoor stops, and the itinerary can change, so a little flexibility is more useful than dressing for one fixed venue. Smoking and video recording are not allowed.

This activity is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. The tour includes multiple destinations, and the supplied details do not give route distances or specific accessibility provisions. If mobility is a concern, ask the operator for current route information before booking rather than assuming the stops will be easy to navigate.

I’d recommend the crawl to couples, friends, and solo visitors who like local history with a playful edge. It works especially well if you’re curious about Fort Lauderdale’s haunted reputation but also want the evening to feel social rather than like a formal lecture. The ghost stories are a bonus for the curious, not a reason to expect proof of ghosts.

You may want a different plan if you need a fixed sequence, want to visit a particular site at a guaranteed time, or prefer an outing with drinks included. For a flexible, two-hour blend of bars, local lore, and ghost stories, though, the format is easy to understand and the guide’s personality can make it memorable.

Should you book the Boos and Booze crawl?

Book it if you want a guided night out that puts Fort Lauderdale’s ghost stories alongside bar and mob history. The $30 price is reasonable for two hours of hosted storytelling, provided you remember that drinks, transport, and a tip are extra. The best reason to go is the combination of specific local tales and a guide who can make them feel lively.

Skip it if you need guaranteed access to a particular stop or want a predictable amount of time at each bar. The route changes, and the tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. If you’re comfortable with that flexibility, bring good shoes, a weather-ready layer, and a little curiosity about what might be lurking in the city’s past.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

Meet at Bodega Taqueria y Tequila, 21 W Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. Your guide will wear a US Ghost Adventures T-shirt and carry a lantern.

How long does the pub crawl last?

The tour lasts two hours.

Which stops might be included?

Possible stops include the King Cromartie House, Old Coyote Ugly, Original Fat Cats, and Esplanade Park. The lineup varies by day of the week and season.

Are drinks included in the $30 price?

Drinks are not listed among the included items. The stated inclusions are the two-hour tour, guide, historical information, and local ghost stories.

What language is the tour in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes and clothing suited to the weather.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.