When darkness falls over the Canadian Transportation Museum and Heritage Village, the dead begin their nightly performance — and this September, visitors can join the audience. Rebecca S. Mickle has conjured up “Wicked Wednesdays: Haunted Heritage Tours,” a spine-tingling theatrical experience that transforms the historic Kingsville grounds into a stage for supernatural storytelling. “When the sun sets, the dead come out to play,” promises the tour’s haunting tagline.
The concept emerged from Mickle’s deep dive into regional paranormal lore while researching her upcoming book about Windsor-Essex ghost stories, funded by the Ontario Arts Council. “I’m currently writing a book about ghost stories and legends of Windsor-Essex, and during a tour of the grounds with the Education Coordinator, I was astonished by all the incredible stories connected to the village,” Mickle explains. “I’ve always had a love for haunted history and theatre, so I thought, why not combine them?”
What sets this tour apart from typical ghost walks is its theatrical DNA, courtesy of The Purple Theatre Company’s dramatic flair. “Our tour offers something layered: a nighttime walk through the grounds, chilling ghost stories from both the village and the surrounding region, and dramatic reenactments by talented actors that bring these tales to life,” Mickle reveals. The production represents a natural evolution for Mickle, who joined the theatre company as an actor in 2022 and recently joined their board.
Mickle’s fascination with the paranormal runs deep, spanning years of meticulous research into local supernatural encounters. “I’ve been fascinated by all things haunted and spooky my entire life. I’ve been collecting local ghost stories since 2018, but the recent OAC grant for my Ghost Stories of Windsor-Essex book allowed me to dedicate serious time to gathering and transcribing these accounts,” she says. Her tour of Heritage Village with the Education Coordinator proved particularly fruitful, providing “a goldmine” of material.
The stories aren’t merely folklore — they’re rooted in documented paranormal experiences reported at the village itself. “Since these buildings have been relocated from various sites, each one brings its own history, and sometimes, its own ghosts,” Mickle confirms. “All those layered pasts seem to create a lot of restless energy.”
Several tales featured in the tour come directly from professional paranormal investigators, lending credibility to the supernatural claims. “A few came directly from medium and paranormal investigator Teena Pare-Duchesne of P03 Paranormal. She’s experienced some truly spine-tingling moments here,” Mickle notes. This collaboration between theatrical storytelling and legitimate paranormal research adds weight to the tour’s ghostly narratives.
The immersive experience promises to deliver genuine scares through a carefully crafted atmosphere that relies heavily on the village’s natural eeriness. “Guests will explore the village under the cover of darkness, hear real ghost stories, and watch skilled actors bring some of the scariest moments to life,” Mickle describes. “Honestly, the grounds do most of the work for us — the village is naturally eerie at night. We just lean into the shadows, silence, and history that are already there.”
While designed to frighten, the tour welcomes families, though Mickle advises parental discretion for younger attendees. “It’s definitely scary, so while we do have tickets for kids 12 and under, I recommend parents decide based on a case by case basis,” she explains. “I went to spooky ghost tours as a kid, but I’ve always been a different, slightly ghoulish breed!”
Even the tour’s creator admits the village’s supernatural energy has affected her during preparation, though she maintains a healthy skepticism. “There have been a few moments where I’ve blamed things on the wind… but deep down, I’m not sure that’s the real explanation,” Mickle confesses. Some staff members have been more profoundly affected: “I know staff members who won’t step foot here after hours because of things they’ve personally experienced.”
With six tour dates scheduled September 17 through October 29, Mickle hopes “Wicked Wednesdays” will become an annual tradition if this inaugural season proves successful. “If this year’s tours are a hit, we’d love to make it a yearly event and add new ghost stories to keep things fresh and frightening,” she says. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $10 for children 12 and under, available at Canadian Transportation Museum and Heritage Village, 6155 Arner Townline, Kingsville, with tours beginning at 8:30 p.m.
