Haunted Catalina Golf Cart Tour

Avalon’s ghost stories come with a change of scenery: this golf cart tour takes you from town streets up into the hillsides, passing places tied to Catalina’s past. It is less a conventional walking ghost tour and more a compact, guided ride through the city, with local history and paranormal tales along the way.

I like two things in particular: the small group size, capped at five, gives the guide room to talk with you, and the route pairs spooky stories with views and landmarks you might not reach on a short stroll through central Avalon. One consideration: at $65 per person, it is a short outing, and the tour’s appeal depends on your interest in ghost stories and local history.

At a glance

• A five-person maximum keeps the golf cart group small.
• About 90 minutes on the road gives you a guided look at Avalon’s streets and hillsides.
• Named stops include the Casino, Wrigley Mansion, and a pet cemetery, alongside other sites around town.
• The guide combines paranormal stories with island history, rather than offering scenery alone.
• The starting point is at 121 Clarissa Ave, one block from the beach, and the tour returns there.

Ghost stories with an Avalon view

This tour puts the stories in motion. Rather than staying at one supposedly haunted building, you ride through Avalon and hear about a range of sites, from the Catalina Island Casino to the Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden area. The setting matters: Avalon’s streets and hillsides give the guide a changing backdrop, and the route includes a view as well as local lore.

The tour is operated by Haunted Catalina. The guide is described as an expert storyteller, and a past participant specifically valued the guide’s information about Catalina Island’s history. No guide name is provided, so you cannot request a particular person when booking.

The tone is meant to be chilling, but you should not expect a paranormal investigation or proof of supernatural activity. The experience is about stories and history, delivered while you travel between sites. If you like a little theatrical shiver mixed with place-based context, that balance is likely the point.

A small golf cart, a close-knit group

The cart holds a maximum of five travelers, which is a useful detail for a tour built around a guide’s narration. You are not part of a large vehicle full of people listening from several rows away. A smaller group can make it easier to follow the stories and ask a question, though the supplied details do not promise a specific amount of interaction.

The compact format also means this is not a private tour unless your booking happens to fill the cart. If you are traveling with a group, the five-person cap gives you a clear planning limit. For a larger party, you may need to split up or check with the operator about availability.

The experience lasts approximately an hour and a half. One itinerary entry gives a one-hour duration, so the exact time may vary or the posted details may not match perfectly. If you have a tight schedule, allow more than an hour and confirm the expected finish time before booking.

Starting one block from the beach

Meet at 121 Clarissa Ave, Avalon, in a large yellow building with green awnings, one block from the beach. That makes the meeting point fairly easy to identify, and it is close to the center of town. The tour ends back at the same address, so you do not need to arrange a separate ride from the final site.

The activity uses a mobile ticket, and confirmation is provided at booking. The meeting point is near public transportation. If you are arriving by boat, build in enough time to reach the shop and check in. One person appreciated that the guide waited for their boat, but you should not treat that as a guaranteed arrangement. If your arrival is delayed, contact the operator rather than assuming the cart can wait.

The activity information says most people can participate and service animals are allowed. It does not give details about golf cart access or specific mobility accommodations, so contact Haunted Catalina directly if you need to check whether the ride will work for you.

The Catalina Island Casino and the tour’s opening

The Catalina Island Casino is the first listed stop. It is a striking name for a ghost tour itinerary, and its inclusion signals that the stories connect with some of Avalon’s best-known places. The supplied details do not specify whether you go inside, how long you spend there, or what particular tale the guide tells, so think of it as a site on the route rather than a guaranteed interior visit.

The ride begins at the yellow tour and gift shop building on Clarissa Avenue, then moves through Avalon. The Casino is the only formally numbered stop in the available route description, while the other places are listed as sites the tour may visit. The route may include more than those named locations, but the exact order and time at each are not specified.

That flexibility suits a driving tour, where the guide can connect several places in a short window. It also means you should not expect a fixed, stop-by-stop program with a set amount of time at every location.

Boats, trails, and Pebbly Beach

The Steamer Tug Boat House is among the named sites. Its name points to Catalina’s maritime past, and it gives the tour a change of subject from grand residences and ghost lore. The tour description does not explain the specific story attached to it, so the value here is hearing the guide place it within the island’s wider history.

The Conservancy Trail Head Center adds another kind of setting to the route. The name suggests a connection to trails and conservation, but no specific walk or trail visit is promised. Since this is a driving tour, you should not book it expecting a hike.

The helicopter port at Pebbly Beach is another listed stop. Seeing the route reach beyond the central streets is part of the attraction: you get a broader sense of Avalon’s surroundings while the guide tells stories along the way. The details do not say whether the cart stops at every location or how long you remain there, so keep expectations flexible.

Wrigley Mansion, the pet cemetery, and the hillsides

The route also names Wrigley Mansion and a pet cemetery. They make an appealing contrast: one is associated with a prominent residence, the other with a quieter and more personal subject. The tour description does not provide the stories or access arrangements for either site, but they add variety to the route and give the guide different kinds of history to draw on.

The Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden area is included as well. The provided information does not say whether admission is included or whether the cart enters the garden, so do not assume this is a formal garden visit. The tour price covers the guided experience, and the itinerary lists admission as free at the stop, but that is not the same as a promise of a separate attraction visit.

Taken together, these locations suggest a tour that moves between public landmarks, residential history, and more unusual places. You get an overview rather than an in-depth visit to each site. That is a fair trade in a 90-minute ride, especially if you want a range of stories without walking from place to place.

What the $65 fare buys

At $65 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Avalon. You are paying for a guided, small-group ride with a specialized theme, not simply transportation. The value rests on the guide’s storytelling, the route through town and hillsides, and the chance to hear local history attached to named sites.

A participant praised the guide’s information about Catalina Island, and another noted that the guide was outstanding and informative. Those comments point to the strongest part of the experience: the quality of the narration. If you mainly want a golf cart ride or a sightseeing loop, the price may feel high. If you want a guided account of Avalon’s eerie stories and local past, the specialized format makes more sense.

There are only a few reviews available, so they provide a limited picture. Still, the positive comments consistently emphasize the guide and the historical content rather than just the ghost theme. That is reassuring if your interest is broader than being startled.

The tour is typically booked about eight days ahead, which suggests reserving early is sensible, especially with only five seats. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations made within 24 hours are not refunded, and changes inside that window are not accepted.

Who should book this tour

I would consider this a good fit if you enjoy ghost stories but also want a little context about the place you are visiting. It can work well for couples, friends, or small families who like a guided outing and do not want to cover Avalon entirely on foot. The small cart may also appeal if you prefer a more personal format than a large group tour.

It may be less appealing if you want a long walking tour, a detailed visit inside each landmark, or a guaranteed paranormal event. None of those is promised. The itinerary is broad, and the tour is short enough that each site is part of a larger route rather than a full visit.

The reviews point to one useful expectation: the guide’s historical knowledge is a major part of the experience. Go ready to listen, ask questions, and enjoy the stories as stories. The view and the unusual destinations add variety, but the guide is the heart of the outing.

Should you book it?

Book the Haunted Catalina Golf Cart Tour if you want a compact, guided way to hear Avalon’s ghost stories and local history, with a small group and hillside views. At $65, it makes the most sense for someone who values the guide’s narration more than a long stop at any single attraction. If you are unsure about the duration or whether a particular site is a full stop, ask the operator before reserving.

FAQ

How long is the Haunted Catalina Golf Cart Tour?

The tour is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. One itinerary detail lists a one-hour stop, so confirm the expected total duration if your schedule is tight.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $65 per person.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at 121 Clarissa Ave, Avalon, CA 90704, in a large yellow building with green awnings, one block from the beach.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends back at the meeting point on Clarissa Avenue.

How many people can join the tour?

The cart has a maximum of five travelers.

Which places are included on the route?

Named sites include the Catalina Island Casino, Steamer Tug Boat House, Conservancy Trail Head Center, helicopter port at Pebbly Beach, Wrigley Mansion, a pet cemetery, and the Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden area. The exact route may include other sites.

Is admission to the sites included?

The Casino itinerary entry lists admission as free. The tour details do not promise entry to each named place or specify separate admission arrangements for all sites.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes. Service animals are allowed.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.