Ghost Tours Return for New Season

Now prepping for its fifth year, the Norcross Ghost Tours are returning Oct. 7 with a new collaboration with Lionheart Theatre Co., along with fresh stories and more.  

Historian and Ghost Tours veteran Sally Toole has taken over as director of the tours after original producer Kim Brame moved to North Carolina.

As the new director, Toole said the biggest change is the tours' collaboration with Lionheart this season. Lionheart's Producing Artistic Director Tanya Caldwell said the theatre always wanted to work with the Ghost Tours, but because of time constraints, they weren't able to do anything until now. 

"Lionheart is very much a part of the Norcross community," said Jason Caldwell, actor and husband of Tanya Caldwell. "We enjoy doing it, and this is just a natural extension of that."

The couple will be storytellers on the tour: Tanya Caldwell will act as a moonshiner's widow, talking about a mysterious murder in town, and Jason Caldwell will be a gravedigger at the Doris Day house. 

Jason Caldwell was also one of the actors who tried out during the tours' first-ever open auditions, held this past Saturday at Lionheart. One actor in particular, Alpha Trivette, wowed Toole and the others with his audition.

"He auditioned and told us a story that he just read over last night," said Toole, adding that he remembered specific details of the story, too. Trivette, whom most people would know him as the former on-air personality from the Kelly & Alpha show on B98.5 FM, will be playing the new role of a World War II navy seaman.  

Four to five storytellers and guides are expected to do the rounds of storytelling at this year's Ghost Tours, which will last about an hour and a half for each group. Most of the stories are new and will be based on tales in "Souls of Norcross," a book written by Toole and Norcross Paranormal ghost hunter Will Aymerich that was released earlier this year. 

There's also a partnership with the new Holiday Inn Express on Jimmy Carter Boulevard which will be offering a "stay and play." Guests can purchase packages which will include tour tickets and an overnight stay at the hotel. 

While some things have changed, there have also been many that tour goers will recognize this year, too. The famous fictional character of Effie Nash will be returning, an old-fashion Coca-Cola lover who checked into the Brunswick Hotel around 1889 while waiting for her husband but "doesn't remember ever checking out," said Toole.

Brame had originally performed as Effie but second-season storyteller Sarah Petermann will take the role. As a Halloween events veteran, Petermann has directed Fright Fest for Six Flags over Texas and Six Flags St. Louis, in addition being married on Halloween. 

Norcross Paranormal will have a presence during the tours, so people can observe what they're doing and the ghost hunters can discuss what they do. Norcross Paranormal ghost hunts will also be available, but hunts are separate from the tours: The tours will be centered more on the weekend while the hunts take place during the week. 

Assorted authors, psychics and other guests are expected to make an appearance on the tours, too. The cemetery tours haven't been officially added yet, but Toole assured it will be added if there's enough demand for it.

"They have a lot of famous headstones over there like the Medlocks, the Nashes, the Nesbits," said Petermann. 

The first night of tours will be Oct. 7 and run on the weekends throughout the month. Starting times for the tours will typically start at 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for those under the age of 12, but bring two canned goods for the canned food drive and receive $1 off an adult ticket. 

For the full calender and to reserve your spot, check out the Norcross Ghost Tours ticket page.