Memphis Musings
Two weeks ago the masterminds of the Professional Ghost Tour Guides met in Memphis to exchange knowledge, stories, ideas, and tricks of the trade. Named after the city in Egypt, our host city provided a wealth of culture and history. Memphis, Egypt was founded thousands of years before Tennessee even existed, but it is easy to see where the people of Tennessee found inspiration. As Memphis, Tennessee is located on the Mighty Mississippi, its predecessor and namesake was also located on a great river- The Nile. The Nile provides a richness to the land and a bit of mystery to the atmosphere, and I can see the parallels with both the Mississippi River and the city itself. Memphis has its fair share of atmosphere, mysteries, and also we cannot forget the FOOD.
I would be amiss not to mention the meals we ate during our stay, in particular the ribs and the brisket at Central Barbecue. Having been a North Carolinian for ten years, I’m more a fan of a vinegar-based sauce, which Central Barbecue indeed offered, and I smothered it over my brisket. I also sampled the sausage and cheese platter. I found the cool and creamy coleslaw to be a nice contrast with my meat-heavy dinner. Also during our weekend we visited the Slider Inn. I didn’t go with the group because I was trying to finish up a project for work, but someone generously brought me back some carry-out. I tried the wings, which were coated in the infamous Memphis dry-rub. It was absolutely delicious. I had tasted this dry-rub before, but I had forgotten how good it was. I cannot type nor proofread this blog without my mouth watering. We also visited The Arcade, an old-timey diner that Elvis used to frequent, which was directly across from the hotel. Food was solid, but timing of service left a lot to be desired. Our party got our food in intervals, the last meal arriving 45 minutes after the first person got their meal, even though we had all pre-ordered hours before. That said, every morsel that grazed our palates was satiating and memorable. Overall, on this trip each of us ate like (pardon the pun)….a King.
Photographed below are the succulent mouth-watering ribs from Central Barbecue with a side of collard greens and pork rinds:
Historical Haunts Memphis and The Broom Closet generously hosted our event this year. We stayed at the historic Central Station Hotel, which indeed used to house a train station. The hotel was unique and comfortable with a great breakfast and a historic interior adorned with modern amenities. It was also directly across from the Broom Closet, where our event was held in a private meeting room at the back of the store. The storefront and the tour company are owned and operated by husband and wife team, Stephen and Emily Guenther, who both went out of their way to show us warmth and hospitality in their beautiful city. Not only do I admire how they run their small business, but I also consider them my friends.
On Friday we all enjoyed a ghost tour via The Haunted Memphis bus, which covered a large part of the city. Guided by “Matt with the Hat”, we learned some background about the land and visited Native American burial grounds. We got off the bus again when Matt told us the history of the wealthiest mansions on Millionaire Row, and then a third time when we did a little bit of investigating ourselves in Court Square. I won’t give away the stories; you’ll have to see for yourself, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you conjure a little something there. The only thing missing from the tour was Elvis. Why was he not part of the tour you ask? Well, Elvis isn’t dead. Duh.
We also saw a strange phenomenon in the Memphis sky, which we were told is not normal. I am not sure if we ever did figure out exactly what was causing this red sky, but it was certainly providing some interesting conversation and speculation.
After meeting all day Saturday and then having dinner some of our group decided to visit Ernestine & Hazel’s and then Beale Street. Ernestine & Hazels is just about the most divey bar I’ve ever seen in my life. In its past life it served as a pharmacy, a sundry store, a hair salon, and a brothel. And….surprise: it’s haunted! This venue is a fan fave of a lot of people who come to Memphis with any interest whatsoever in the paranormal. There is a possessed jukebox upstairs, which takes it upon itself to play songs related to what you and your party are having a conversation about. Creeeeepy….. I’ll let you visit on your own and decide for yourself how you feel when you visit this venue, but you can’t enter the bar and not feel *something*. Speaking of ghosts, a few from our group went to Graceland on Sunday. I had already been there a few years ago and I was impressed (especially, as a flight attendant, the part where we got to step foot on Elvis’s private plane, The Lisa Marie). I passed on visiting Graceland again this year, but there is so much to see that I probably didn’t catch the first time around, and I’m sure I’ll visit again one day.
This was our third annual meeting; each year gets better and proves to be even more informative. There is a core group of about seven of us who have attended this meeting each year since its inception in Orlando in 2023, but typically we add a few more to our group, averaging about 13 each year. (Perfect number for a ghost tour conference, wouldn’t you say?) The small intimate size of our group has been perfect and allowed for us for more a personal touch at our meetings. Each year we bring small tokens and trinkets from our own local tours to share with every person in the group (We share anything and everything: stickers, tshirts, magnets, cups, Mardi Gras beads, books, crystals, coffee, candy, wine, etc.) The smaller group size has made it easy to facilitate that exchange. That said, we would love to double that number and get even more attendees for future meetings.
At the end of the weekend we got home, unpacked our blue suede shoes, and were left with great memories, new friends, and innovative ideas to develop and fine-tune our own tours. Next January for our annual meeting we are venturing a just little further west to Galveston. See you in Texas in 2026! Save some room for more barbecue, by the way.
