This tour meets at Tap Yard Raleigh, the headquarters for The Great Raleigh Trolley — 1610 Automotive Way. Arrive 15–20 minutes early for check-in.

How long is the tour and how old should participants be?

The tour runs approximately 1.5 hours and is family-friendly for ages two and up; expect short walks and some uneven surfaces.

Are beverages included?

Beverages are available for purchase on board the trolley, but drinks are not included in the tour ticket price.

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancellations for ticketed tours must be requested in writing via email and made at least 48 hours in advance.

Is the tour accessible for people with limited mobility?

Accessibility details are not specified; contact The Great Raleigh Trolley for accommodations, as some stops have uneven ground and low-light tunnels.

Yes—photography is welcome. Please stay on designated paths and avoid climbing on fragile ruins or disturbing marked sites.

Raleigh's Hidden History Trolley Tour: Underground Tunnels, Ruins & Speakeasy Secrets

Raleigh’s Hidden History tour peels back the city’s polished facade to reveal the subterranean and forgotten places that shaped its story. Operating out of Tap Yard Raleigh at 1610 Automotive Way, Hidden History: Vol. Two with Heather Leah is a 90-minute Great Raleigh Trolley excursion that threads Fayetteville Street, an abandoned baseball stadium, and long-forgotten parcels of Glenwood Avenue into a single, revealing loop. Guided by Heather Leah, a fifth-generation Raleighite whose Hidden History segment has appeared on local and national outlets, the tour moves at a brisk, curious pace: a trolley ride punctuated by short walks to peer into cobblestone tunnels, century-old hospital walls, and ruins from an 1800s university you never knew existed. The route highlights concrete and brick more than open wilderness; the scenes worth photographing are urban geology—cobbled drain channels, layered masonry, and reclaimed parkland where nature has begun to stitch itself through abandoned foundations. You’ll pass the footprint of a 1920s speakeasy rumored to have a secret door beneath Fayetteville Street, see remains of a theme park that once stared down Glenwood Avenue, and stand above a hidden tunnel under an old baseball stadium. Lost graveyards and hospital walls punctuate the ride, offering a brisk lesson in how Raleigh’s built environment evolved across centuries. What makes this experience unique is the combination of local storytelling and physical context. Heather’s lineage and research turn ordinary blocks into chapters of city history; the Great Raleigh Trolley provides a comfortable, rolling vantage point that lets you cover ground quickly while still stepping off for close looks. This is both urban history lesson and light urban exploration—perfect for families with kids ages two and up, history buffs, and photographers who crave unusual compositions. Practical details are tidy: meet at Tap Yard Raleigh fifteen to twenty minutes early; expect the trolley to depart promptly. Closed-toed shoes and comfortable clothes are recommended, since short walks and uneven surfaces are part of the outing. Beverages are available for purchase on board, though the tour does not include drinks in its ticket price. For visitors staying in Raleigh, this is a compact, high-reward way to connect with local heritage without an all-day commitment. It’s an accessible gateway into the city’s less-visible past—a place where hidden tunnels, cobblestone scars, and abandoned institutions reveal how Raleigh became the city you see today. The tour is family-friendly for ages two and up, though some stops have uneven ground and low-light tunnels that limit strollers and mobility devices. Live-guide languages are limited; contact The Great Raleigh Trolley for accommodations. Carry a small flashlight for tunnel details and respect fragile ruins—sites are protected. Book early: themed trolley runs often fill during festivals and autumn weekends and holiday weekends.

About The Great Raleigh Trolley

The Great Raleigh Trolley runs guided trolley tours in Raleigh, North Carolina, offering themed rides that highlight local history, holiday traditions, and paranormal stories. The company operates a rotating schedule of experiences, including family-focused holiday trips like the Santa Express and Cocoa & Caroling Tour, adult-oriented outings such as the Holiday CHEERS Bar Cruise and Moonshine & Mistletoe, and history-driven excursions like Tour of the Month with Heather Leah and Moonshine & Mayhem with Darci VanderSlik.

Several tours focus on haunted and paranormal topics, including Haunted History: Paranormal Expedition with Heather Leah and Christmas Spirits, led by paranormal experts. Other seasonal offerings include Must See Raleigh Holiday Edition and Hidden Holiday: Raleigh Christmas Past with Heather Leah. Named local guides appear regularly on the schedule.

Tours vary in length and format; examples provided list 60- and 90-minute itineraries for specific holiday and adult tours. Many rides run through Downtown Raleigh and historic neighborhoods such as Oakwood, and select tours include stops at notable sites like the North Carolina Executive Mansion and the City of Raleigh Christmas tree. Some tours welcome families and children, while others are restricted by age (for example, adult-only bar cruises and tours noted for ages 13+).

Booking details, schedule, and ticket policies are available through the Great Raleigh Trolley's event listings. The business presents both seasonal holiday programming and themed historic or paranormal tours to meet a range of visitor interests in Raleigh. Reservations are recommended for busy holiday dates and specialty themed departures; book early.