comic-style poster showing Gordon Meyer, St Mary of the Angels Church, and Northwest Tower

History, Mystery, and Ghosts!

Welcome to Gordon Meyer’s video and audio walking tours of Bucktown and Wicker Park. Whether you’re a long-time resident, a newcomer, or just a fan of history, lore, and oddities, these are the stories and locations for you -- straight from a long-time resident.

The video tours are high-resolution and filmed on location. The audio tours are professionally sound engineered and utilize GPS-positioning.

Video Tours

Logo of Bizarre Bucktown

Bizarre Bucktown explores forgotten history and lore behind the neighborhood’s iconic factories, churches, and taverns. You'll hear about the ghosts of Bucktown, as well as the scandals, murders, and activism that belie the quiet residential streets.

Dark Tales of Bucktown are additional stories that expose the Bucktown neighborhood's deep secrets, strange mysteries, and shocking history. This add-on set of videos is suitable only for mature audiences. Consider yourself warned!

logo of Bizarre Wicker Park

Bizarre Wicker Park explores the mysteries of the neighborhood and tells the fascinating stories of the snake oil tycoon, the beer baron, and the artists, radicals, and mobsters that built and shaped this energetic and historic part of Chicago.

Preview

A brief sample of every story from all three tours.

Prices

Bizarre Bucktown $12

(15 locations — What's Included)

Bizarre Bucktown + Dark Tales $20

(25 locations — What's Included)

Bizarre Wicker Park $12

(12 locations — What's Included)

All Tours Mega Bundle $30

(All 37 locations from all 3 tours) Best Deal!

Audio Walking Tours

These audio tours are provided by VoiceMap, the leading provider of self-guided audio walking tours. The VoiceMap app uses the GPS in your iPhone or Android phone, and as you reach each location, you'll hear me tell you about where you're standing. VoiceMap is accurate, easy to use, and sounds great.

Bizarre Wicker Park: Beer Barons, Medicine and Mobsters

On this audio walking tour I'll guide you to 15 Wicker Park locations with forgotten history, lore, and surprising stories. To get the VoiceMap app, and a full description of the tour, visit the VoiceMap website.

Bucktown and Wicker Park: A 606 Bloomingdale Trail Walking Tour

The Bloomingdale Trail was built on a former railway line that once served as the industrial backbone of Chicago's north side. On this one-mile audio walking tour you'll hear how the factories, immigrants, and artists who lined these tracks transformed two scrappy neighborhoods. To get the VoiceMap app, and a full description of the tour, visit the VoiceMap website.

Your Guide

photo of Gordon Meyer wearing a top hat and holding a balloon that looks like a ghost

Hi, I'm Gordon. I arrived in the neighborhood in 2005. I'm a professonal writer, and a graduate of Chicago's Second City Training Center. For over a decade, I have helped thousands of visitors and residents discover the unique, unusual, and forgotten aspects of these popular neighborhoods, and I’d love to show you, too.

Reviews

Some of what people are saying about Gordon’s tours

One of Chicago's best walking tours. — Choose Chicago
Bucktown has lots of colorful stories. Gordon has done the research and tells them in a very entertaining fashion. — Ray
An engaging, thought-provoking and fun experience that is a welcome addition (and alternative) to Chicago’s standard roster of historical tour offerings. Bizarre Bucktown packs a lot of uncanny lore and little-known factual information into a compact mile of walking. — Meg
One of The Best Haunted Tours in Chicago — Time Out Chicago
The tour was truly wonderful, entertaining, and informative. Who would ever know the things that you pointed out? I’m still in shock over what you told us about Saint Mary of the Angels. — Nikki
You are a remarkable storyteller! — Chris
If you've never done a Bizarre Bucktown walking tour, you should do it. You'll love it. Gordon Meyer is an amazing storyteller. — Bucktown Chamber
The most delightful quirky neighborhood tour. A bit of history, a bit of local folklore, a fair bit of ghost stories, all with a sprinkle of some magic. Would definitely recommend to visitors and locals alike!. — Gina
I have lived in Bucktown 21 years and still learned more about my bizarre little community! — Cheryl
We’ve done several of Gordon’s tours and they are always entertaining, informative, and fun! — Lindsay
A walking tour that will not disappoint! This is an exciting and entertaining tour and Gordon is a gracious and knowledgable host. I had a blast. — Dan
I really enjoyed learning the history of the area, and Gordon is a wonderful storyteller! — Kelley

Answers

Are the video tours family friendly?
History isn’t pretty. The videos touch on numerous mature themes and are intended for adults, particularly the Dark Tales compilation. However, as each segment is provided as a separate video, concerned parents can skip any that they consider objectionable.
Are the audio tours family friendly?
All of my tours talk about real events, and some of these events might be too graphic or grown-up for children. As the guided audio tours are sequential, parents might wnt to pre-screen each location and skip over those they'd rather not have their children hear. (You can easily do this in the VoiceMap app.) Or, not, as there is nothing discussed that they won't eventually encounter in life.
What do I get when I buy a video tour?
When you buy a tour, the Gumroad website (my storefront vendor) grants you access to all the high-res videos. You watch the videos using a web browser on any device, streaming them as often as you'd like. Gather your friends and family around to watch, no additional purchases are required. The optional Gumroad Library app can also be used to watch using a phone or tablet. An Internet connection is required for viewing; the videos aren’t downloadable.
What do I get when I buy an audio tour?
For the full experience, lace up your walking shoes and follow along as the VoiceMap app and I guide you on your walk. However, you can also listen to the tour as if it's a podcast, from the comfort of your couch. Or, both, once you purchase it you can play it as many times as you'd like. Additonally, VoiceMap downloads the tour to your device, so don't need Internet access while listening.
What parts of the neighborhood are covered? ?
Refer to the map below for approximate locations. (Blue = Bizarre Bucktown, Black = Dark Tales, Red = Bizarre Wicker Park) For wider neighborhood coverage, consider my Bizarre Fact Files booklet series.
Map of Bucktown and Wicker Park with colored dots that indicate the tour areas. Primary centered around Walsh Park and Wicker Park.
Do you offer in-person walking tours?
I led in-person tours for eight years. My video and audio offerings here represent almost the entirety of those events, which I am no longer conducting.