When it comes to searching for spooky places and haunted spots, sometimes you want a group experience. Then there are the times you want to look for the unexplained on your own or with a couple of friends. Jeffersonville is doing things differently.
SoIN Tourism teamed up with Boo 812—a local non-profit dedicated to preserving the region’s spooky lore—to launch the Haunted History Jeffersonville Digital Passport. Subtitled A Boo 812 Experience, this mobile-exclusive trail lets you explore the darker side of the Ohio River waterfront completely on your own schedule.
What is the Haunted Jeffersonville Passport?
Haunted History Jeffersonville: A Boo 812 Experience is basically an atmospheric scavenger hunt for local haunts. The trail packs 9 historic locations into a highly walkable 1-square-mile loop encompassing downtown Jeffersonville and one stop in neighboring Clarksville.
When you track down a designated stop on the trail, you use your phone to virtually check in. There's no awkward tech lag or frantic screen-tapping trying to get your GPS to register; you get an instant green checkmark on your dashboard and, when completed, suddenly the quiet sidewalk transitions into the crackle of a vintage audio clip or a sleekly produced video from the Boo 812 crew.
You get about 25 minutes of total video footage broken up across the route. It skips the dry textbook recitations and hits the heavy stuff: accounts of unexplained paranormal events, forgotten burial sites, and local spots like Pearl Street Taphouse—a historic cottage with a cozy front porch where the ambient glow of the streetlamps sets a perfectly eerie mood for your next video unlock and paranormal tale.
What locations are on the Haunted Jeffersonville Passport?
Southern Indiana Visitor Center - A great place to begin the hunt to get your Jeffersonville bearings.
Red Yeti - A former speakeasy and funeral parlour (not at the same time!), the building is now a farm-to-table restaurant. Maybe you’ll see what the staff has witnessed when you visit: flying objects and a ghostly childlike spirit.
H.M. Franks and O’Shea’s Pub / The Alcove - Both buildings have been tied to Prohibition and all of the revelry that went with it. Folks have seen falling objects, heard crashing noises, and even seen a “ghost cat."
Warder Park - An area that supplied Civil War soldiers, the quaint park has been a hot spot for ghostly soldiers.
Pearl Street Taphouse - A beautifully historic building, the bar is a popular hangout for locals. Moving objects have been spied on security footage.
Veterans Memorial Park - Another quiet park, it was a cemetery dating back to the early 19th century. Folks visiting the park feel uneasy and have seen ghosts in Civil War uniforms.
Boba Bun Café - Built in 1835, its staff report feeling like they’re being watched, hearing unexplained noises, and have even seen ghosts in the window.
Parlour - A former bed-and-breakfast, this popular restaurant has staff who have seen creepy disembodied figures upstairs.
Colgate Palmolive Building - Privately owned, it was once Indiana’s first state prison. If you’re lucky, you may see shadowy figures like the workers once did.
Logistics for the Trail
The whole thing covers roughly a mile, so you won’t need hiking boots. It’s a flat, easy walk that practically begs you to stop for a pint at Pearl Street Taphouse or grab dinner in downtown Jeffersonville while you loop through.
A pro-tip for mapping out your route: pick up your first few checkpoints around dusk as the lights from across the Ohio River start reflecting on the water, schedule a mid-way dinner break on Spring or Pearl streets, and then knock out the final stops under full darkness when the ghost stories hit just a little bit harder.
Haunted History Jeffersonville Passport: FAQ
Do I have to download some glitchy app?
Thankfully, no. Nobody wants another forgotten icon clogging up their phone's storage. You just pay the 10 bucks on the SoIN Tourism website, and they text you a direct link. Bookmark it or save it to your home screen, and you're good to go.
Can I do this over a weekend or does it expire in one night?
Take your time. There's no ticking clock forcing you to sprint through all 9 stops before midnight. Once purchased, the pass stays active on your phone year-round, so you can knock out three stops on a Friday, grab dinner, and finish the rest another night if you want.
Are the tour stops located inside private properties?
Don't worry, you won't have to trespass. Everything is safely visible from public sidewalks and open business perimeters. Your phone's GPS will pick up the checkpoint without you having to skulk around after hours or break any laws. The Colgate Palmolive building is privately owned and an active construction site, so please admire it from a distance!
What kind of prize do you get for finishing?
Hit all 9 spots, and the passport unlocks a limited-edition, glow-in-the-dark souvenir tumbler. You claim it right through the screen—a nice little badge of honor for surviving the night. Pick up at the Visitor Center or have it shipped directly to your home.
Is this appropriate for kids?
Not really. Due to the mature historical themes, tragic local events, and eerie paranormal lore in the videos, the experience is strictly recommended for ages 16 and up.
Check out Karyn’s blog post Top 5 Stops on Stranger Things of SoIN Passport Trail for more quirky and scary locations in Southern Indiana, including Rose Island at Charlestown State Park. Follow along with more of Karyn & Molly’s adventures by following their Theme Perks podcast, covering theme park news and tips.
