You can take creepy lantern tours of a haunted historic site in Toronto

Creepy lantern tours of a bloody historic site are happening this week in Toronto, and you’ll want to make sure you aren’t afraid of the dark if you plan on taking one.

Lantern tours are now happening at Toronto’s historic Fort York after the sun goes down and darkness sets in.

Journey around the 200-year-old site while learning about its brutal history, all while being guided by the light of a flickering lantern. There are more paranormal mysteries hiding amongst the historic buildings overshadowed by the hustle and bustle of Toronto’s busy streets.

On the tour, you’ll learn about the history of violent events like the Battle of York that took place on those very grounds hundreds of years ago, a War of 1812 battle. The battle saw an American force brutally capture the provincial capital by vastly outnumbering the people there and then commit acts of arson and looting, pillaging the area. Hundreds were killed.

The lantern tour will also cover Gibraltar Point Lighthouse, which is said to have been haunted by its first keeper who was murdered there back in the 1800s. The legendary local ghost story goes that he was actually murdered by soldiers from Fort York, who had come to get a taste of his bootlegged beer. When a fight broke out, the soldiers ended up chillingly murdering the lighthouse keeper.

It’s even said that after murdering the lighthouse keeper, the soldiers attempted to conceal their ghastly crime by chopping up his body and hiding the remains.

Aside from some of these most famous ghost stories and gory historical happenings that are well known to be associated with Fort York, there are also many, many historical anecdotes of ghost sightings, hauntings and paranormal activity taking place at the old site. People have personally reported eerie sightings of everything from soldiers to strange women and dinner parties appearing in the windows.

People have also reported hearing noises and feeling strange supernatural feelings and presences, as well as spotting things moving as if on their own.

Tours are recommended for visitors ages 12 and up. Tickets for lantern tours are $25 and must be pre-booked online.

Lantern tours take place at Fort York National Historic Site at 100 Garrison Rd. and begin promptly at 7:30 p.m., and last about two hours until 9:30 p.m.

Tours will be taking place from Oct. 16 through 18, and Oct. 23 through 25.