Welcome back, thrill-seekers and late-night snackers! Normally, I’m your Foodie-in-Chief, but today we’re slipping into the shadows, because this fall, SoIN Goes Upside Down.
@gosoin For just one Hamilton ($10), you can unlock Jeffersonville’s Haunted History! 👻 Jeffersonville Haunted History: A Boo 812 Experience digital passport is a self-guided video walking tour that explores the city’s eerie past. Click the link to purchase & download yours today! https://www.gosoin.com/things-to-do/digital-passports/ #GoSoIN #fyp #hauntedhistory #creatorsearchinsights ♬ original sound - Go SoIN
SoIN Tourism and Boo 812 have teamed up to create something that feels like you’ve stepped into another dimension, Haunted History Jeffersonville: A Boo 812 Experience. This digital passport is a video-guided walking tour right on your phone. Ten bucks, one passport, nine stops, and suddenly the familiar streets you have walked a hundred times do not feel so familiar anymore.
Once you purchase the passport, you’ll unlock 25 minutes of video featuring nine different locations within a 1-mile radius of the downtown Jeffersonville area. Walk or ride to each location and check in to access exclusive videos on your phone that share the history and rumored haunts of each stop.
Now, don’t worry, I won’t spoil the haunted stories themselves. You have to take the tour for that. What I can do is guide you through how I experienced it, two days of food, drinks, and places where the line between history and something darker feels pretty thin. Because everyone has a story, and on this tour, it is up to you to listen. Follow along as I cover the boos, bites, and brews of Haunted History Jeffersonville.
Day 1
While you can visit locations on the passport in any order, it is suggested you start at the Southern Indiana Visitor Center. The staff here are as friendly as can be and can share tips for the haunted quest you are about to experience. While you are there, take a look at their gift shop for some Indiana-themed souvenirs. It feels like the safe prologue to a much creepier book. (Stranger Things are afoot at the Visitor Center through November 26, 2025.)
The Alcove is that perfect combo of chill vibes and surprising food from their on-site food truck (Thursday - Saturday). Their brisket tacos are my number one pick, but do not sleep on the smoked tofu tacos. They will win over even the biggest meat eater. The Papustada, basically a Mexican pizza, is another solid option, and the loaded fries are exactly what you need if you are fueling up for more exploring. Bonus points, pinball machines! The lights on those machines sometimes flicker like they are powered by more than electricity.... It is the kind of spot that feels casual and fun, until you remember the walls here have their own stories, too.
What started as a grocery store in the 1890s is now one of the best Irish pubs in SoIN. Their motto is “It’s All Good,” and honestly, they are right. Grab the Guinness beer cheese with pretzels to start, then go classic with the Fish & Chips. But the real surprise is their chicken tenders. They are easily some of the best around, and I will die on that hill. Whether you are here for a pint, a quick bite, or to swap stories with friends, H.M. Franks delivers every time. If ghosts hang out here, it is probably for those tenders.
I have said it before and I will say it again; Red Yeti is easily in my top five restaurants in SoIN. Out front you will spot the bright red yeti statue but inside is where the real magic happens. The Buttermilk Fried Chicken with bourbon rosemary syrup is one of the best dishes I have ever had in my life. Dip it in the kale and grits and thank me later. For appetizers, the Baba Ghanoush is my go-to. For entrées beyond the chicken, the Kentuckiana Hot Brown on a baguette is a killer local twist. Pair it all with their cocktails, and you will see why even the ghosts probably stop here for dinner.
And before you move on, don’t forget downtown Jeffersonville is a DORA (designated outdoor refreshment area), so yes, you can legally take that drink with you as you walk. It adds a little something to the atmosphere when you are strolling with a cocktail in hand, especially once the sun starts dipping and the shadows get long. View DORA Map
In the daylight, Warder Park feels like a charming green space, complete with a statue of Thomas Jefferson looking out over the grounds. But after sundown, it shifts. The gazebo suddenly feels like it is waiting for you, and the air grows heavy with that “you are not alone” vibe. This spot was a Civil War hub, so you know the stories here run deep. It is peaceful, but in that way where silence itself can start to sound a little too loud.
That wraps up day one with a full stomach and an eerie feeling someone is watching. Time to reset, because day two brings even bigger landmarks and even stranger stories.
Day 2
The Colgate Palmolive Clock is massive; it’s one of the largest clocks in the world! During the day, it is impressive, but at night, when the neon glow flickers to life, it is a whole different story. Standing beneath it, you feel like time is both racing and standing still. The building beneath it has layers of history you will learn on the passport, but even just looking up at the clock, you know this landmark has seen more than it lets on.
This stop was a first for me, and now I am hooked. The lobster quesadilla sounds unusual, but it is ridiculously good. The corned beef grilled cheese is straight-up comfort food perfection. Add in cocktails, like a Mermaid Mule with strawberry rum or a Manhattan with a chocolate-covered cherry, and you are set. But here is the real kicker. Ask the staff about paranormal activity. Nearly everyone has a story, and they are more than happy to share. It is like dinner with a side of ghost tales, and the stories they tell might follow you home. Don’t forget, Jeffersonville is a DORA, so if you are not ready to sit still, grab your drink to go and take it with you as you keep exploring.
Bright, colorful, modern, and layered over a past that is much darker. This building sat empty for years, but today it is buzzing with life and flavor. I went with the Cotton Candy Milk Tea, and it was a game-changer. Not your typical dessert, but it fits perfectly here. The space itself is cozy with plenty of seating, plus outdoor patios if you want fresh air. Take your drink to the Big Four Bridge at sunset, and it is the perfect mix of sweet and eerie.
It is easy to overlook Veterans Memorial Park, but it is worth the stop. On the surface, it is calm, quiet, and a great spot to sit for a while. But this land has seen battles, prisons, and discoveries that forced construction crews to walk away. You can feel that weight if you give it a moment. It is serene, yes, but it is also a reminder that even the ground beneath your feet has a story to tell.
We finish strong at one of my favorite pizza spots in SoIN. Garlic breadsticks are a must, and their smoked wings might be the best I have ever had. The pizzas though, that is where Parlour really shines. My go-to is the Hot Honey Pepperoni, but the Deluxe and The Boss are close behind. I worked in the pizza industry for years (Arni’s Pizza, represent), so trust me when I say this place holds its own at the top. Between the food, the atmosphere, and details like the 1937 flood marker when heading upstairs, Parlour is the perfect way to wrap up the Haunted History Passport.
Final Thoughts
Nine stops, a passport that ties them all together, food, drinks, and stories stitched into the streets of Jeffersonville. Boo 812 and SoIN did not just build a walking tour; they built a way to hear the stories that might otherwise be lost.
Even though our Haunted History journey may end here, remember, in the dark, nothing rests.
