Friday the 13th Tarpon Springs Ghost Tour: Haunted History and True Crime

The original Tarpon Springs ghost tour. So good it was copied. Led by Ace Chapman, and long story short, it never is.

Tarpon Springs is known for its rich Greek heritage, but after dark, downtown tells a different story. Silent Slayer Ghost Tours won Best Tour in the St. Pete-Clearwater Area at Visit St. Pete-Clearwater’s 2026 Besties Awards and holds a 4.9-star Google rating.

Ace Chapman is a screenwriter and longtime local guide who has been trying to move into one of the haunted buildings downtown for years. He has led this 90-minute walking tour of historic downtown Tarpon Springs for more than three years. The history is real, researched and specific, and it’s never embellished or sold as a paid upgrade.

Guests hear the true crime story of Marshal Ruben Jones, a lawman who won a disputed election near Spring Bayou, served for years, and met a mysterious end in 1921 that was never solved. The route passes the Cheney House, an old dry goods store that later became a funeral parlor, and the Old Saloon Building, where a 1953 film shot its famous fight scene using the original back bar, which still stands.

Guests use dowsing rods on the platform of the historic Train Depot, and many have heard their own names come through the spirit box. Then there’s Mary, a regular presence downtown who has been documented on video responding to Ace. Her full story is saved for the tour.

No fake equipment. No scripted theatrics. No paid upgrades. The original Tarpon Springs ghost tour. Still the best one.

Select nights at 8:00 PM / Meet at Spring Bayou / Ages 13+ / Limited to 15 guests / From $35 per person / This tour is not wheelchair accessible

Book at silentslayertours.com