Avalon gets dark fast, in a yellow cart. This driving ghost tour uses real Catalina landmarks plus paranormal history, and it’s set up so you’ll be rolling through the streets and hills with story after story. I like how the guide’s focus stays on the island’s recognizable places, not just generic spooky talk.

I also like the small-group feel—this runs with a maximum of 5 travelers, so the stories and questions land better. One possible drawback: you only have about 90 minutes, so if you’re hoping for long stops and walking time at every site, this is more of a drive-and-tell experience than a wander-at-your-own-pace one.

Key highlights before you go

• Small cart, max 5 people: easier to hear the guide and keep the vibe personal
• Avalon, by golf cart: you’re covered without hopping buses or walking between scattered viewpoints
• Real haunted stops: Casino area, Steamer Tug Boat House, Wrigley sites, and a pet cemetery stop are part of the route
• Paranormal storytelling with local landmarks: the tour leans into history tied to specific locations
• Good value for a guided ride: one flat price for an organized loop that ends where you start

Getting in the Yellow Cart: Clarissa Ave Check-In

Your tour starts at 121 Clarissa Ave, Avalon, CA 90704, about one block from the beach. Look for the big yellow building with green awnings—that’s your landmark for meeting up and boarding. The tour also ends back at the same meeting point, which makes the logistics simple if you’re pairing it with other Avalon plans.

This kind of meet-up matters more than it sounds. Avalon is compact, but the late-day timing on a short tour can make directions stressful. Having a single, fixed start/end point near the waterfront helps you keep your evening schedule clean.

Also note the tour uses a mobile ticket. That’s one less thing to manage on island time.

Price and Timing: Is $65 Worth 90 Minutes?

At $65 per person for about 1 hour 30 minutes, the price is mainly paying for three things: a guided route, access to the story stops around Avalon, and the fact that it’s in a small cart. If you like guided sightseeing, this format usually feels fair because you’re not paying for a long day or a maze of transfers.

The short duration is a double-edged sword. On the plus side, you get a full spooky storyline without losing most of your afternoon or evening. On the downside, the route is best for people who are happy with brief viewing moments while the guide does the heavy lifting with the narrative.

A practical tip: book early if you can. The tour is commonly booked about 8 days in advance, and there are limited spots on the cart. If you’re traveling in busy season, don’t wait for a last-minute impulse.

The Big Idea: What a Driving Ghost Tour Does Better

A walk-only ghost tour can be great, but it limits what you can cover in a set amount of time. This golf cart format solves that. You’re able to see multiple famous Avalon areas and landmarks while the guide keeps you moving through the story.

The experience also sounds built for a specific payoff: you’ll be hearing paranormal history while getting a view out over Avalon’s streets and hillsides. That combination is what makes this feel like more than just a list of haunted places. The route turns the setting into part of the atmosphere.

One more point: because the group is capped at 5 travelers, you’re less likely to get drowned out. In a small group, a guide can tailor pacing and repeat details when people miss something. That’s a big deal for a story-based tour.

Stop-by-Stop: Avalon’s Spooky Landmarks and What They Mean

The route is built around a set of iconic spots in and around Avalon. Here’s what you should expect, and how each stop shapes the overall vibe.

Catalina Island Casino

Your tour gets rolling with a stop at the Catalina Island Casino. Even if you don’t plan to go inside for long, it’s a smart starting point because it’s a well-known anchor in Avalon. The stop info also lists Admission Ticket Free, so this part of the visit is designed to keep things easy while the guide sets the tone.

This first stop is also where you learn how the guide will frame the rest of the route—less vague haunting, more location-specific storytelling.

Steamer Tug Boat House

Next up is the Steamer Tug Boat House. This is the kind of place that naturally fits haunting stories because it ties into Catalina’s working past and the island’s connection to boats and arrivals. If you like ghost stories that feel grounded in real island life, this kind of stop is usually the highlight.

The drawback here is simple: if you came for heavy visual sightseeing, you might find the atmosphere comes more from the story than from walking around at length. That’s normal for a drive-and-talk tour.

Conservancy Trail Head Center

You’ll also pass by the Conservancy Trail Head Center. This works in the tour’s favor because it adds a shift from built landmarks to the surrounding landscape and the idea of trails, preservation, and time passing. In ghost tours, contrast helps—quiet, natural edges make the tales feel sharper.

If you’re someone who enjoys photos, you may want to have your camera ready for quick sightlines rather than expecting long photo sessions.

Helicopter Port in Pebbly Beach

The Helicopter Port in Pebbly Beach is a more unusual stop, and that’s exactly why it helps the tour feel varied. It adds a modern touch to the route—an unexpected “how did we get here?” moment that can make the stories feel even stranger.

Because this is a themed tour, the payoff is what the guide connects to the location, not just the location itself.

Wrigley Mansion

No Avalon haunted route feels complete without the Wrigley name. The tour includes Wrigley Mansion, and this stop is a strong candidate for your favorite moment if you enjoy grand property stories and the feeling of old wealth and long shadows.

A quick consideration: mansion-themed stories can skew more dramatic and narrative-heavy. If you prefer lighter, folklore-style tales, you’ll still enjoy it, but don’t expect it to be just spooky gossip.

Pet Cemetery

Then comes the Pet Cemetery. This is one of the stops that often hits differently because pet memorials carry a real-world emotional weight. In a ghost tour setting, these places tend to feel less like movie-magic horror and more like human (and animal) memory.

If you’re traveling with anyone who finds cemetery stories intense, consider that this is likely to be the most emotionally heavy site on the route.

Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden

The tour ends the story arc with Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden. This pairing makes sense. You get the reflective memorial setting, and you also get the calmer mood shift of a botanical space.

It’s a good final note because the tour leaves you with something to think about after the spook factor fades.

How the route feels as a whole

Taken together, these stops give you a wide mix: sea-connection sites, trail and nature transition points, a more unusual transport-related location, big-property lore, and memorial places. It’s a route that covers the “Avalon you recognize,” then uses the guide’s storytelling to put a haunted lens on it.

The Guide Factor: Stories That Stay Clear and Informative

The biggest compliment tied to this tour is simple: the guide is outstanding and extremely informative. For you, that matters because ghost tours can go two ways—either you get spooky noise, or you get clear, site-specific stories you can actually follow.

Here, the praise suggests you’re getting more than just chills. You’re getting context tied to the places you’re seeing, which is what makes the 90 minutes feel full instead of scattered.

There’s also a timing-related detail that’s worth noting. One highlight mentions the guide being gracious about waiting when there’s a boat connection. If you’re arranging your day around harbor schedules, that kind of flexibility can reduce stress.

Group Size and Comfort: What the Maximum of 5 Means

A maximum of 5 travelers changes the “tour feel” more than you might expect. You’re not in a bus with competing conversations. You’re in a cart where you can hear the guide and actually track which location you’re at.

This matters most for ghost tours, where details are part of the fun. When the guide can talk to a smaller group, the stories tend to land better and you have more chance to follow along.

It also means you should show up ready to board on time. With limited spots, the tour can’t endlessly wait for late arrivals without affecting the schedule.

Mobile Ticket and Easy Start/End: Less Hassle, More Time

You’ll have a mobile ticket, and the tour starts and ends at the same 121 Clarissa Ave address. That’s a practical win in Avalon, where it’s easy to burn time walking in circles trying to find the right check-in spot.

Another plus: the tour notes service animals allowed and that it’s near public transportation. Most people can participate, and the format doesn’t require long stretches of walking—though you should still be prepared to sit during the ride.

Cancellation and Peace of Mind (Quick, Practical)

If your plans change, this tour offers free cancellation. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the cut-off is based on local time.

For most travelers, that means you can book without feeling trapped—especially if you’re still deciding what to do on Catalina day.

Who This Tour Fits Best (And Who Might Want Something Else)

This haunted golf cart tour is ideal if you want:

• A short, guided story loop around Avalon
• Paranormal storytelling tied to specific landmarks (not just vague legends)
• A small-group vibe that keeps the guide’s voice and details clear
• A way to see multiple famous spots without building a long self-guided plan

It may be less ideal if you want:

• Long on-foot exploring at every site
• A tour that feels like a museum visit or deep walk through interiors
• A flexible route where you hop on and off wherever you want

Should You Book Haunted Catalina Golf Cart Tour?

Book it if you want a fun, structured way to experience Avalon after beach time, with a guide who’s strong on both information and storytelling. The small cart size and the route through recognizable sites—Casino area, Steamer Tug Boat House, Helicopter Port in Pebbly Beach, Wrigley locations, the Pet Cemetery, and the Memorial/Botanical Garden area—make this a good “one-and-done” activity for the right mood.

If you’re on the fence, here’s the simplest decision rule: if you like ghost stories that make sense because they’re anchored to real places, you’ll likely enjoy this. If you prefer lots of independent exploring and quiet self-pacing, you may want a different format.

FAQ

Where does the Haunted Catalina Golf Cart Tour start?

The tour starts at 121 Clarissa Ave, Avalon, CA 90704, USA.

How long is the tour?

The duration is about 1 hour 30 minutes.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $65.00 per person.

Is there assigned seating, or how many people are on the cart?

There is a maximum of 5 travelers for this activity.

Do I need to print a ticket?

No. This activity uses a mobile ticket.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount you paid is not refunded.