We were lucky to catch up with Doc Strangeway recently and have shared our conversation below.

Doc , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

I hope to stand out as the pioneer of Ghost Tours in Houston, and to be known for upholding the history and folklore of the town I grew up in. It’s important to me to show the darker side of history and legend in an effort to teach others about the fascinating stories that aren’t told in the daylight. We should learn from the past and move forward with a new understanding of our history and what impact they have on us today. I hope that my legacy is true to my work, and seen as a different and exciting way to learn about our city.

Doc , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started off by creating a tour that was not offered before. I saw the chance to bring an exciting and unique experience to Houston that people would learn from and enjoy. Over the years my team has worked hard to grow and expand, and we now tour in 4 cities around Houston. We offer a unique perspective on history that entices your mind to expand belief and open your mind to unseen possibilities. Ghosts are everywhere. Ghosts aren’t always people who stay behind, either. Sometimes ghosts are memories, events, places in time that leave a strong imprint behind. Memories and tragic experiences can be just as ghastly as the supernatural. We seek to bring these stories and the characters in them to life again, even if only for an hour or so during a tour. I am so proud of how far our company has come. We strive to be the best ghost tour you can see by only hiring actors and great storytellers, ensuring an entertaining night full of history and ghost stories. We work hard every day to bring quality entertainment and rich history to our guests.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

At first, Houston Ghost Tour was more of a hobby. It started out as only me, answering phone calls on a very basic web site, dressing up in spooky costumes, and trying my best to entertain. We launched an ad with a (at the time) new and successful company, and I had no idea how much business it would bring me. After the initial response, I was so busy with reservations I was doing 2 1.5 hour tours a night, with full groups. One night, before we had a good system set up, i showed up for a tour and about 150 people were standing at our meeting place, eager for a tour. That’s when i realized this was bigger than myself and i needed to get some staff to help me! I now have a team and staff, some of who have been with me for many years. I am amazed at how far we have come. I had to quit my day job, and so did my manager, so that we could do this full time. That was a pretty amazing feeling!

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

One big thing has been making friends and affiliates with other small businesses and companies in the area. It was absolutely necessary to be able to get the word out about our company, since we don’t have a brick and mortar building. We have also worked very hard to learn proper SEO marketing strategies. Don’t ever be fooled, it’s very hard for a small business to thrive. You have to really work for it, and eat sleep and breathe your business. After many years as the pemier ghost tour in the area, we can say it has paid off.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.houstonghosttour.com
• Instagram: Houstonghosttour
• Facebook: Houston ghost tour

Image Credits
Chance T. photography