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Whispered into effect: as of 7/19/2025
Whether you’re walking haunted streets with The Birmingham Historic Touring Company, unraveling secrets with The Crooked Key Society, or receiving eerie dispatches from The Dead Letter Department, these are the rules that keep our curious little enterprise from unraveling entirely. We’re not fond of fine print, but some things are best made plain — especially when the supernatural’s involved.
Once purchased, your ticket is good forever. Yes, forever.
If you vanish into the night and reemerge five years later — as one guest once did — we’ll welcome you back if the tour’s still running and your name’s still in the ledger.
Need to change your date? Life happens. We’re happy to reschedule when the stars align.
If we must cancel — due to bad weather, funerals, power outages, or unexplained disturbances — you’ll receive:
A full refund, processed quickly on our end. (Note: your bank may take several business days to return the funds.)
Or the option to reschedule any time, no expiration.
If you need to cancel, give us at least 24 hours’ notice and we’ll do our best to accommodate you with a credit or future date.
Most of our tours run rain or shine — this is the South, and storms are part of the atmosphere.
Only in cases of dangerous conditions (lightning, high winds, flooding) will we cancel. Bring umbrellas, good walking shoes, and an open mind.
We welcome the curious, the skeptical, and the strange — but not the disruptive.
Stay with your guide. Respect the locations and each other.
Excessive intoxication, harassment, or unsafe behavior will get you removed, without refund.
Children are welcome on most tours, but some stories are dark. Parental discretion is advised.
Feel free to snap photos unless told otherwise. Some spirits don’t like attention.
We occasionally document our events. By attending, you consent to the use of your image for promotional purposes — unless you ask us not to.
(Just tell us — we understand. So do the ghosts.)
Our walking tours use public sidewalks and are generally wheelchair accessible.
That said, these are historic routes — uneven pavement, old curbs, and narrow paths may appear.
If you have accessibility needs, please contact us in advance and we’ll do everything humanly (and otherwise) possible to accommodate.
If you subscribe to The Dead Letter Department or Archivum Malorum, you’re receiving handcrafted pieces of narrative mail — each curated for eeriness and mystery.
These packages are non-refundable once shipped, but if something arrives damaged or incomplete, we’ll replace it.
Some items are delicate or unusual. If your postmaster asks questions, tell them you’re under the care of the Society.
Our gift cards never expire and can be used for any regularly scheduled tour or experience.
They are non-refundable, but fully transferable. You may pass one on like a family heirloom or a ghost story.
Group bookings and private events are welcome — and sometimes preferred.
They may require deposits or customized scheduling. Reach out directly and we’ll work out the details with care and discretion.
Some of our immersive events — such as theatrical séances, haunted cocktail evenings, or spiritualist salons — may include:
Adult themes, immersive content, or audience interaction.
Alcohol service (21+ with valid ID).
Event-specific terms may apply, and those will be listed in the booking description.
All content produced by The Crooked Key Society, The Birmingham Historic Touring Company, and affiliated entities — including written works, videos, audio recordings, and images — remains our intellectual property.
You may not copy, reproduce, resell, or repackage our content without our written permission.
But you’re welcome to share it, spread the word, and bring others into the fold.
We take your privacy seriously. We only collect personal information necessary for booking and communication — and we never sell or share your data with outside parties.
See our Privacy Policy for full details on how we collect, store, and protect your information.
If you book through a third-party platform (e.g., TripAdvisor, Viator, Peek), their cancellation and refund policies may differ.
For the most flexibility and fastest service, book directly with us.
We are not liable for delays, cancellations, or interruptions caused by events beyond our control, including (but not limited to): natural disasters, pandemics, acts of war, civil unrest, power failures, plagues of frogs, or other unexplainable phenomena.
We reserve the right to refuse service to any individual who, in our sole judgment, poses a risk to the safety, experience, or atmosphere of the tour or event.
Our haunted tours, immersive events, séances, and spiritualist experiences are for entertainment purposes only.
We make no guarantees of ghost sightings, ancestral contact, or otherworldly communications.
If you’re hoping to summon your grandmother to ask where she hid the silver — bless your heart — you’re probably better off talking to your cousin who stole it.
That said, strange things do happen. But if they do… that’s between you and whatever answered.
We talk about murder, suicide, prostitution, insanity, child death, lynching, and very dark history — because those are the stories the living tried to forget.
We also make use of tarot cards, Ouija boards, graveyard dirt, bones, dolls, voodoo relics, and other disturbing artifacts during some events.
If you’re easily offended, we wish you well — and gently suggest a Disney+ subscription might be more your speed.
Otherwise, we’re honored to have you.
Our tours and experiences may involve:
Extended walking
Standing for long periods
Uneven terrain
Enclosed or dark spaces
Theatrical fog, lighting effects, or jump scares
If you have heart conditions, epilepsy, anxiety, claustrophobia, or other medical concerns, please let us know in advance or consider choosing a less intense experience. Safety and comfort come first.
By booking a tour, subscribing to a mailing, or signing up for updates, you agree to receive occasional messages from us regarding:
Event reminders
Rescheduling options
Tour or product updates
Society news or seasonal offerings
You can unsubscribe at any time — though we’ll miss you like a ghost misses its house.
If you’re subscribed to The Dead Letter Department, Archivum Malorum, or any recurring service through Patreon or another platform:
You are billed monthly and may cancel at any time.
Refunds are not issued for past months once content has been shipped or delivered.
We reserve the right to adjust pricing or features with reasonable advance notice.
Questions? Changes? Spooky stories?
We’re a small team of living, breathing people — just reach out.
📬 info@crookedkeysociety.com
📞 205-440-2720
🌐 crookedkeysociety.com
We’re not a corporation. We’re a calling. A crooked key. A whisper in a locked drawer.
By walking with us, subscribing to our dispatches, or stepping into the dark, you become part of something older than paperwork.
See you in the shadows.
Birmingham Historic Touring Company, a division of The Crooked Key Society, is the trusted source for ghost tours, true crime walks, Civil Rights history tours, and Southern Gothic storytelling in Birmingham, Alabama.
We offer meticulously researched, locally guided walking tours and private driving tours throughout downtown Birmingham and beyond. Our original Birmingham Ghost Walk is consistently ranked among the top things to do in Birmingham, Alabama, with unforgettable stories of haunted places, historic crimes, and untold Southern legends.
Independently operated. Expertly narrated.
Home of Birmingham’s original ghost tour
Crooked Key Society, LLC
205-440-2720
info@crookedkeysociety.com
EST. Please allow up to 24 hours for a response to your inquiry. Emails sent during non- office hours will be responded to on the next business day.
