Haunting History: Ghost Tours Illuminating York's Hidden Stories

Rissa Miller blends investigative research with ghostly tales to reveal the rich history of Downtown York

By Brendan Salyards | Manager, Economic Initiatives

Since 2022, Rissa Miller has led Ghost Tours of Downtown York featuring the stories of individuals who lived, died, and remain in our community. A native of York, Rissa had her first ghostly experience in a restaurant in York, England at the age of eight.

Rissa’s professional journey as a tour guide began at the age of 15 when she started as a tour guide for Plough Tavern and the Gates House. The experience helped her to overcome childhood shyness and to develop the skills that would serve her well in a career in storytelling. Having worked as a newspaper reporter and editor for the Baltimore Sun, Rissa gained experience in investigative research. Today, she utilizes these experiences to explore the lives and stories of the ghosts who are featured in her tours.

She is always on the hunt for new ghost stories. The investigative work begins once she can independently confirm a possible ghost story from at least two sources. She meets new stories with a healthy amount of skepticism, seeking first to rule out earthy causes before investigating possible paranormal experiences. If her research determines the likely presence of a ghost, she delves further into the history of the suspected haunted location to identify the ghost. She often begins her research by searching newspaper articles, obituaries, and property records accessible online and via the York County History Center Archives. It’s the details uncovered in her research that bring the stories to life.

Rissa is passionate about York County’s history and the people who lived in our community. Whether or not you believe in the paranormal, the stories she tells bring history to life through the lives of York Countians and provide an opportunity to educate and engage those who participate in her tours. She says, “Ghost stories don’t only put a face on history, they make death approachable. It’s not scary, it’s human.” The stories offer a vehicle for Rissa to encourage attendees to shift their perspective and view history through the lens of individuals reaching out from beyond to make sure their stories are heard.

RISSA MILLER’S FIRST GHOSTLY EXPERIENCE

While at La Piazza Antica, a restaurant in York, England she saw a sorrowfullooking young man who looked distraught. Rissa went to find her mother to help him, and upon returning to the place where she had seen the man, they found he had disappeared. Concerned that something may have happened to him, they informed the staff, whereupon the owner then related the story of Marmaduke Buckle, a ghost said to haunt the establishment. The experience helped to foster an interest that was shared by her family in paranormal activity and unexplained phenomena.

LOOKING TO ATTEND A GHOST TOUR?

Tours begin and end at White Rose Bar & Grill and take about two hours. Running from April to November, Rissa currently offers two tour programs, the “Haunted Downtown York Walking Tour” and a women-only “Ghouls Night Out.” The tours are pet-friendly. A full schedule of events is available on her Facebook page and at hauntedpa.online.