Black Cat Tours LLC

When I signed up for this tour I did not realize it was a tour about the "prostitution" in Charleston. I thought it included the graveyards etc. I didn't realize they were separate tours. This should be stated more clearly. The wicked tour would also be a better tour in the day, at night it was hard to see anything and looking at pictures for 20 min. at the end of the tour was not what we had in mind.. The tour guide was very fun however!

I went in expecting to have a fun casual time, hearing some scandalous and possible sexy stories about Charleston's past. I did get that to a small amount, and have a few tales that do make some good stories. I am not the easily offended type and had chosen this tour, as opposed to a regular ghost tour, because it seemed a lot more entertaining and... adult I suppose. Unfortunately, not much fun was to be had. I do fully understand that the tour guide has to be a larger than life, and over the top to play the part. However from truly the first 5 minutes, he was making 'tranny jokes.' The love of my life happens to be trans, and while I never said anything, it was all downhill from there for me. The focal point of the entire tour turned out to be the spectacle of a transwoman... I believe the guide's heart is in the right place, as he said he considered her to be brave, a pioneer, etc. However this was completely cancelled out by all the other comments made about her and her life. Leading up to this section he had said: "This is the entire reason I do this tour; I can't wait to show the pictures," etc. I was looking forward to it, imagining all kind of things, although plenty of tranny jokes had already been made by this point. The big reveal turned out to be him showing pictures of her, pre and post transition... It definitely is astonishing and very scandalous at the time that she was able to transition in the late 1960's and actually ended up getting legally married in an interracial marriage at that. However the simple fact of her being transgender is not a deranged, shocking, laughable perversion as it was presented. So this potentially could have been great story, although not *shocking* in that way. But her being turned into a laughing stock was just miserable. It's possible that not many trans people or their partners/family members have been on this tour, but even the other parties there seemed a little uncomfortable at the outright mocking of her and her appearance. You also would be very hard pressed to find any trans individual who would ever describe themselves using phrases like: "When I was a man...." etc. Transwomen are themselves women, transmen are men as well. It just kind of sucked for me. Seems like I'll be going with a ghost tour next time. Also I would not at all mind if this was showed to the tour guide if that is in any way possible, and even to be able to email him this. I'm sure he would defend himself and have something to say about it, which is fine. I just would like to be able to offer constructive criticism. I loved all the stories about the ladies of the night in the 19th century and all the houses from the 'blue book' and all that. I just didn't understand why this person's transition was the big dramatic 'you will never look at Charleston the same' moment. Oh well. The times change slowly in the south.

This was a last minute decision on our way to Charleston in the car. It turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip. Mark was so knowledgable and entertaining. My son is 18 and absolutely loved it. We all want to return and take more Black Cat Tours.

We went on a ghost tour with Rebel and she is so awesome! You not only hear of the folk lore of the city but you get a walking tour of downtown Charleston that you may not normally take yourself. Rebel has a great way of telling the stories and pointing out things of history and why yes of course ghost sightings around the downtown area. If you don't get goosebumbs at least once as you walk through a alley way then your not having the fun you need to have! :-) Rebel is awesome and we will be back for many more tours with her!!!!

Nice Tour... Very informative about the darker past of Charleston. My wife and I really liked our tour guide.

I am a big Black Cat Tours fan and this latest tour did not disappoint! Mark and Rebel are extremely knowledge, wonderful storytellers. It was fascinating to learn about the vices of old, and how some of them--and where some of them--continue to this day. When friends/family come to visit, I always try to take them on a Black Cat tour; "Wicked Charleston" is just another one that they will have to choose between.

First, let me say the tour guide was very entertaining. My male companion LOVED it, and perhaps it should be recommended for men only. I was put off when the tour guide suggested he give my companion and "escort services" phone number and how he glorified the exploits of Senator Thurman married at 70 plus to a minor. I guess it just struck a raw nerve. My male companion was all "atwitter" and thought the exploits of a dirty old man deserved a handshake and "atta boy" slap on the back. I was disgusted. But, then again, I am 45 and did not find it amusing or flattering for the guide and my friend to be chortling like filthy old men; nor was it found amusing for the offer of a prostitutes phone number. Just my personal thoughts. I found it insulting to be relayed in my presence.

This tour isn't just ghost stories but involves history, secret societies and other info outside the general paranormal

Enjoyed the historic aspect plus the paranormal aspect of the tour. Wear comfy shoes and bring water if you are there in the hot weather.

The Ghost Tour was not scary but rather detailed historical with ghostly aspects, ideas, and theories. I learned so much about the mystical world and Charleston. My sister and I really enjoyed the tour and recommend it to all. There is much walking and standing (90 min) so one should wear comfortable shoes.

This tour was enjoyable & showed several areas in Charleston that we visited the next day. They also offer free walking day tours (1 of which we took). This guide dresses in costume where others we saw were in regular clothes.

If Mark Jones weren't such a great guy and if the tour had not been so enjoyable, I wouldn't bother to comment. But Mark is a class act, a veritable raconteur, who could have talked into the wee hours of the morning with everyone on tour still eager to hear more of his thrilling stories. Not only is he knowledgeable of Charleston's present-day society, but also of the events in England and Ireland during Cromwell's reign in the early 17th century that in no small part forged the less-than-Puritanical character of the first European settlers of Charleston and, no doubt, their descendants. My brother enjoyed the tour no less than I did. In fact, the day after the tour he bought four books--two for himself and two for me─from the book store across the street from the Meeting House where the tour convened and ended. Two of the books Mark wrote himself and the other two by his wife and partner, Rebel Sinclair, a tour guide herself. I'm looking forward to my next visit to Charlestown with relish, mainly to take in Rebel's tour . . . and, Mark's too, a second time, to learn a few more things that are neither generally talked about in polite conversation nor widely known. I'm sure I'll learn more things about the city, some things that are likely unknown even by locals who are not wont to walk about the city at night, from haunt to haunt, always observing. If Mark were to state the reason that he knows so very much about Charleston's history is due to past life regression, I wouldn't be shocked, not in the least! A native of Charleston, he knows the city's history perhaps better than any other living soul!

We had a fun, entertaining, and informative evening with a great guide. I definitly recommend this tour!

i got chills a few times during the stories that were told. I found it very informaive obout some of the history as well.

Mark is a fantastic tour guide. Our group thoroughly enjoyed the tour, the time just flew by as we were entertained with Mark's storytelling about the Wicked side of Charleston. I highly recommend this tour!!