The Gananoque Boat Lines office is filled with sounds of wailing, footsteps and a feeling of unease.
Ghost stories are prevalent at the old Donevan's Hardware building, which is now the recently-sold RJ Deir and Sons building.
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These are just a few of the stories of Gananoque's rich and unique history as ghost walks are now offered Thursday to Saturday nights through the summer, starting at 8 p.m. at the 1000 Islands Gananoque Chamber of Commerce office on King Street East.
Haunted Walks Inc., founded in 1995, offers a variety of unique historical walking tours in Kingston, Ottawa, and now in Gananoque.
"We are best known for our evening tours of local ghost stories and darker history," said Glen Shackelton, executive director Haunted Walks Inc.
"These tours take place when the lights are low and the atmosphere is just right for a good ghost story. You may recognize our tour guides who wear cloaks and carry a lantern as they lead their groups through the quiet streets."
The walking tours present the town the way it was meant to be seen — up close and on foot. None of the stories are exaggerated and several years of research have gone into each tour.
"Half are ghost stories and half are history but more often than not, the stories are offbeat and fun and there are some quirky adventures," Shackelton said.
The Gananoque walking tours are 90 minutes in length and take in 12 stops, including one at the Gananoque Boat Lines office on the waterfront.
Shackelton says he received lots of help from local historian John Nalon, the McCarney family at the Gananoque Boat Line, Donevans, the library staff and those at the 1000 Islands Gananoque Chamber of Commerce.
Tickets can be purchased at the visitors' centre and for more information, visit www.hauntedwalk.com.
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