Gold Country Ghost Tours celebrates 10 years of Auburn history, mystery and the macabre

Gold Country Ghost Tours is celebrating its 10th anniversary this October with two very different ways to experience the darker side of Auburn's history: A live stage show and the return of its popular walking tours through historic Old Town Auburn. For the past decade, Gold Country Ghost Tours has brought local history to life by sharing the stories of the real people who helped shape Auburn - along with the tragedies, crimes, mysteries and legends they left behind. One must not forget that Auburn was once a part of the real wild, wild west. The 2026 season begins Oct. 2-3 with Ghost Tour on Stage at the historic Odd Fellows Hall. The theatrical production brings some of Auburn's most fascinating characters and unsettling stories together for two spirited nights of history, humor and the macabre. Audiences will meet figures from Auburn's past, including notorious murderer Adolph Weber, Alma Bell, the legendary Fire Queen Emily Casement and many more. The show also travels beyond Auburn's streets and into the courthouse, the graveyard and other places where the past may not be resting as quietly as we think. The traditional Gold Country Ghost Tour walking tours return Oct.17 and Oct. 24. Beginning at the historic Auburn Courthouse, guests will make their way through Old Town while costumed characters share true stories of murder, misfortune, mystery and some of the people who never completely left. "This is our 10th year, and we wanted to celebrate this amazing event!" said Gold Country Ghost Tours founder Melany Paul-Hall. "Three reasons this tour matters - it preserves our history, enriches our town with visitors from far and wide and the money raised gets donated straight back to the non-profit organizations who make this possible. In the last three years we've also added a stage show. Both are fun, a little spooky and unmistakably Auburn." The stories presented by Gold Country Ghost Tours are grounded in local history and supported by years of research. "I was born and raised in Auburn and I thought I knew everything until I started this tour. Heck no! There's so much more to Auburn's history and it's important we keep it and the memories of the past alive", says Paul-Hall. The production is made possible with help from the Placer County Museums, Placer County Archives, museum staff, local historians, docents and volunteers who work hard behind the scenes to help preserve Auburn's haunted history. Since its beginning in 2016, Gold Country Ghost Tours has also raised more than $100,000 for local nonprofit organizations, making every ticket part of something much larger than one spooky night. Tickets are $40 and go on sale Saturday, Aug. 29, at 11 a.m. at the Placer County Visitor Center in Downtown Auburn or online. Space is limited, and tours have traditionally sold out quickly. For tickets and additional information, visit historicgoldcountryghosttours.com.