Dark Tales of Bucktown: A Self-Guided Chicago Walking Tour
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Discover the dark side of Bucktown with this self-guided Chicago tour that reveals its most unsettling stories. Walk through the neighborhood and hear true tales of murders, hauntings, and mysterious disappearances that will send chills down your spine.
Starting at the former Lincoln Tavern, where a 1980 robbery ended in multiple deaths, you'll visit sites linked to ghostly sightings and tragic events. Along the way, you'll encounter the ghost of a pub owner still tending bar and see where a young boy was struck by a train in 1902—residents claim to still feel his presence.
The tour concludes at Club Lucky, where bullet holes mark the spot of a 1967 tragedy involving a Polish immigrant named Walter. This experience offers a fascinating glimpse into Bucktown’s darker history, all at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Dark Tales of Bucktown tour take?
The tour lasts between 40 minutes and 1 hour and 20 minutes, depending on your pace.
Is this tour suitable for children?
Yes, it's recommended for adults aged 6 to 98. Infants and small children can ride in strollers or prams.
What do I need to participate?
You’ll need a smartphone with the app installed, and headphones if you prefer. The tour is self-guided, so you explore at your own pace.
Are there any physical accessibility options?
Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible, making it easier for everyone to enjoy the experience.
What’s included in the tour?
You get lifetime access to the tour in English, offline access to audio, maps, and geodata, plus directions to the starting point. It’s available on both Android and iOS.
What’s not included?
You’ll need your own smartphone and headphones, plus transportation, food, drinks, and any admission fees not covered during the tour.
Free cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reserve now
Check a date here, then finish booking with our partner. Payment options are confirmed at checkout.
Duration 40 minutes – 1 hour 20 min
Check availability to see start times.
Guided experience
English
Key facts
What's included
Included
- Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
- Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
- Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
- App for Android and iOS
- Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start
Not included
- Smartphone and headphones
- Transportation
- Food and drink
- Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour
Itinerary
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Stop 1
You'll pass St. Mary of the Angels, a Romanesque church run by the secretive Opus Dei, the only one they operate in the entire country. Please note that admission to the church interior is not included in this tour.
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Stop 2
Visit the site of the Bucktown Pub, haunted by its former owner Wally, a cantankerous man who shot himself upstairs. Discover the ghostly stories that still surround this former neighborhood watering hole.
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Stop 3
End your tour at Club Lucky, an Italian restaurant where three bullet holes still visible in the bar mark the spot where a Polish immigrant named Walter met his unfortunate end in January 1967. Take in this chilling final stop on your journey through Bucktown's darker history.
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Stop 4
Pass by Drummond Montessori Magnet School, a 117-year-old building that became Chicago Public Schools' first public Montessori program in 2004. Take in this hulking neighbourhood landmark, one of the area's older surviving structures.
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Stop 5
Pass by Bucktown Market, a longtime neighbourhood corner store on Wabansia Avenue serving the community for decades. Take in this everyday fixture of local life amid the neighbourhood's more unsettling history.
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Stop 6
Walk along Wolcott Avenue past the Bloomingdale Trail overpass, where a 12-year-old boy named Otto Scholk was killed by a train in 1902. Discover why residents still report signs of his presence here today.
Meeting point & pickup
Meet at the starting point
This tour starts at Former Lincoln Tavern. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.
Open in Google MapsCancellation & confirmation
Free cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- 100% refund if cancelled at least 1 day before
- 0% refund if cancelled less than 24 hours before
Instant confirmation
Your booking is confirmed immediately after checkout.
From $11.99 per person
- Free cancellation
- Secure checkout with our booking partner
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