What to Expect

Written and led by renowned true crime expert and paranormal enthusiast James T. Bartlett, the Gourmet Ghosts books reveal the dark side of Los Angeles you don’t often see…

Beginning and ending at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown, this casual mile or so walking tour takes around 2 hours dives into many of the gruesome, tragic, or downright bizarre events that have occurred over the decades at infamous landmarks such as the Cecil Hotel, the Alexandria Hotel, the Bradbury Building, and the Biltmore Hotel itself.

Itinerary – just some of the places you will see

Biltmore Hotel

The Biltmore Hotel opened to great fanfare in 1923 at a cost of just under $9,000,000, and was soon the place to see and be seen in. From the mid- to late-1930s the hotel played host to the Academy Awards “Oscars” ceremony, welcoming Walt Disney, Cecil B. DeMille, Clark Gable and Ginger Rogers among many more, but later it was the place where Elizabeth Short, the murder victim known as the “Black Dahlia” was officially last seen alive… and where Taylor Swift shot her video for “Delicate”….

Bradbury Building

This five-story architectural gem was designed by rookie architect Paul Wyman for mining tycoon Lewis Leonard Bradbury in 1893, and takes pride of place in downtown Los Angeles. Some say it involved the use of a Ouija board, but movie fans know it from movies including the original Blade Runner, Oscar-winner The Artist, and 500 Days of Summer, as well where Janet Jackson shot part of her video for Rhythm Nation.

Cecil Hotel

Now perhaps the most infamous hotel in LA, the Cecil opened its doors in 1927, and the elegant lobby reflects the opulence of the day, and the hustle and bustle of the busy Spring Street Financial District. But it didn’t last, and became famous around the world for its unbelievable number of suicides and murders – as well as being the home to two serial killers, and the place were Elisa Lam was found naked and dead in the water tower in 2013…

Last Bookstore

Located just a few steps away from the Cecil is the Spring Arts Tower, where Elisa Lam, the 21-year-old Chinese-Canadian student, visited shortly before she disappeared. The building has its own ghostly history too, with strange tales of ghosts and suicide going back to the 1920s – and the store is Instagram-famous around the world for its book tunnel.

Alexandria Hotel

Opposite the Last Bookstore is the Alexandria Hotel, the centerpiece of downtown Los Angeles for over a century. The hotel is a prime example of Beaux-Arts architecture, and has a rich and intriguing history checkered by tragedy, mystery and movie stars – plus there’s a Ghost Wing that has been sealed off from the world for nearly 90 years…  

Tickets/Tour Details

These walks are for groups of AT LEAST 6 people or more and are on a weekend afternoon, but we can try to arrange a different time and day. Starting/ending point is the Biltmore Hotel reception and ticket prices are $75 per person, payable in advance. Payment is via PayPal, Zelle or Venmo. Cancellation is up to 24 hours in advance, and bookings are for adults 18 years or older only. Please email me at jbartlett2000@gmail.com for details