Why Some People Always See Ghosts—and Others Never Do... especially on a Nashville Ghost Tour

Downtown Presbyterian

Ever notice how some folks seem to be ghost magnets? Like, they can’t walk into a historic hotel without feeling a “presence” or catching something weird in a photo. Meanwhile, their best friend is standing right next to them like, “All I see is old wallpaper and a draft.” What gives?

I’ve met both types of people on my Nashville ghost tours. Some guests are practically spirit whisperers—they start getting chills before I’ve even finished my intro. Others are along for the ride, certain nothing spooky will happen. And yet… sometimes they’re the ones who end up screaming the loudest.

So what’s really going on here? Why do some people always seem to run into ghosts, while others could live on top of a graveyard and never notice? Let’s break it down.

Meet the Ghost Magnets

These are the people who just feel things. They walk into a room and immediately sense the energy’s off. “Did someone die in here?” they ask, casually, like they’re asking if you want cream in your coffee.

Ghost magnets are usually:

• Highly intuitive or imaginative

• Emotionally sensitive

• Open to the idea of spirits, signs, and the supernatural

They talk to their houseplants, they name their cars, and they definitely think the cat stares at things that aren’t there on purpose.

If you’re the kind of person who watches horror movies and then has to sage your apartment just in case—you might be a ghost magnet. And you’re definitely going to enjoy a Nashville ghost tour.

And Then There Are the Skeptics

These are my logical, practical friends. The ones who roll their eyes at EMF meters and say things like, “That cold spot is just an HVAC issue.” (No disrespect—someone’s gotta keep us grounded.)

Ghost 'muggles,' as I like to call them, are:

• Data-driven and skeptical by nature

• Less emotionally reactive to weird happenings

• More likely to explain things away (and sometimes they’re right)

They walk through the same haunted building as the ghost magnet but chalk up flickering lights to faulty wiring and footsteps to old floorboards. “It’s just science,” they say. And maybe it is. But where’s the fun in that?

I’ve had skeptics come on my Nashville ghost tours expecting a light evening stroll, and by the end, they’re asking if I know a good medium. The city has that effect on people.

Is It All in Your Head?

Kind of… but not in a bad way.

Our brains are storytelling machines. We’re constantly trying to make sense of what we see, hear, and feel—especially in weird or unfamiliar situations. Ever see a face in a shadow or hear your name in the wind? That’s your brain doing what it does best: looking for patterns.

People who expect to see ghosts are just more likely to notice things others overlook. And once your brain decides something feels “off,” it runs wild. Suddenly, every creak is a whisper and every breeze is a ghostly sigh.

That’s why a Nashville ghost tour is so much fun—it gives your imagination permission to run a little wild.

The Grief Connection

Let’s get real for a second. A lot of people become more open to spiritual stuff after a loss. Grief has a way of cracking us open, and for some, that opens a door—metaphorically and sometimes literally.

I’ve heard stories on tours of guests seeing loved ones in dreams, feeling sudden cold spots, or smelling familiar perfume out of nowhere. Are they ghosts? Memories? Energy? Maybe all of the above.

Where You Grow Up Matters

In Nashville, we grow up steeped in ghost stories. Between Civil War history, crumbling cemeteries, and haunted honky-tonks, it’s almost impossible not to believe in something. Culture plays a huge role in shaping how we see (and don’t see) the supernatural.

If you grew up in a house where ghost stories were swapped around the dinner table, you probably don’t think twice when your phone glitches near an old battlefield. But if your childhood home was more “Science Channel” than “Scared Straight,” you might be a little harder to convince.

Still, once you join a Nashville ghost tour, you’ll see just how deep the city's haunted roots go.

So... Who’s Right?

Honestly? Both sides are.

Whether you’re a full-on believer or a confirmed skeptic, it doesn’t change the fact that something keeps happening in certain places. People feel watched. Lights flicker. Doors creak open. Some of it’s explainable, sure. But some of it? Not so much.

You don’t have to believe in ghosts to enjoy the thrill of a ghost story. You just have to be open to the mystery.

Come See for Yourself on Nashville Ghost Tour

On a Nashville ghost tour, all are welcome—believers, nonbelievers, and the blissfully undecided. You never know what you’ll see, feel, or photograph until you’re out there, walking through the city's shadowy corners with a group of curious strangers.

So bring your sage, bring your skepticism, bring your sense of humor. Just don’t be surprised if you start seeing shadows where there shouldn’t be any.

After all… somebody has to be the next ghost magnet.