Solvang: Wine and True Crime Tour with Drinks Included

Solvang looks like a cheerful Danish village, all windmills, bakeries, and tidy half-timbered buildings. This tour works because it turns that sweet setting upside down, pairing local wine with stories of murders, serial killers, haunted mortuaries, and hidden tunnels. You walk the town, drink at three very different spots, and hear the darker tales that ordinary sightseeing tends to skip.

I like the small-group feel and unusual tasting stops, especially Final Girl Wines, a slasher-themed winery, and High Roller Tiki Lounge, which breaks up the wine with a cocktail. I also like the guides’ mix of local stories and crime lore. John, Ryan, and Dan have each led the experience, and the strongest praise centers on their humor and ability to keep the group involved. The main caution is simple: this is not a quiet wine tasting. You walk, drink several drinks in two hours, and one past participant warned that you may become tipsy. Arrange a designated driver if you are not staying in Solvang.

Key points at a glance

• Final Girl Wines brings the horror theme to the tasting room, giving the tour its most distinctive stop.
• The stories go beyond crime cases, touching on Solvang’s architecture, tunnels, bakeries, windmills, and mortuaries.
• Three drinks stops keep the pace moving, with wine, a cocktail, and champagne included.
• Guides such as John, Ryan, and Dan shape the experience, so expect humor, conversation, and changing personalities.
• The $115 price includes tastings and guiding, but not extra purchases or gratuity.
• This suits adults who enjoy both wine and true crime, not anyone seeking a family outing or a standard vineyard tour.

Solvang’s cheerful streets, with a darker side

The appeal begins with contrast. Solvang is known for its Danish character, but this two-hour walk asks you to look at those familiar streets differently. Historic buildings, bakeries, windmills, and old gathering places become the setting for stories about crime and ghostly activity.

You are not simply being led from one tasting room to another. Your guide connects the town’s physical details to tales of wine industry murders, an infamous bar brawl, 1970s serial killers, haunted mortuaries, and secret tunnels. That makes the walking portion useful even if you have already visited Solvang before. One person who knew the town found new places and stories through the tour.

The tone appears to be more lively than grim. John is praised for being funny and engaging, while Ryan is described as fun and well informed about the subject. Dan is remembered for making sure everyone felt comfortable and laughed along the way. Guide assignments can change, so you should expect the same general subject with a different personal style.

Meeting at Chomp and getting started

The tour begins at the Little Mermaid fountain outside Chomp restaurant. This is a practical meeting point in central Solvang, but take a moment to identify the fountain before the start time. The experience is built around walking between nearby stops, so arriving ready to move is wise.

Wear comfortable shoes. The tour runs in all weather, and warm clothing is specifically recommended. Solvang can feel cool once you are standing outside between stops, even when the day seems mild. Bring photo identification, since this is an adults-only drinking experience, along with a camera if you want to record the unusual storefronts and town details.

There was one reported problem with a guide arriving an hour late. The group feared the tour had fallen through and began considering how to follow the route on its own. The full experience eventually went ahead, but this is a useful reason to keep the provider’s contact information handy and avoid scheduling a tight dinner reservation immediately afterward.

Final Girl Wines, 45 minutes of horror-themed tasting

Final Girl Wines is the anchor of the experience. You spend about 45 minutes here, longer than at either of the later stops, and the slasher theme gives the tasting a clear identity. This is not just a conventional pour-and-explain winery visit. The setting ties the wine to horror culture, which should appeal if you enjoy crime podcasts, scary films, or offbeat attractions.

The tasting also gives your guide time to settle into the group. You can expect the true crime stories to continue while you sample the wine, rather than receiving a separate lecture followed by drinks. The combination keeps the mood social and gives you something to discuss with the people around you.

Do not expect a full vineyard visit or a technical wine class. The experience takes place in town and includes tasting stops, not a long trip through wine country. If your priority is detailed instruction about grapes, farming, or production, this tour may feel light. If you want local wine with a strong theme and a good story, Final Girl Wines is likely the most memorable stop.

A 30-minute walk through crimes, ghosts, and old buildings

After the first tasting, the tour spends about half an hour walking through Solvang. This is where the town itself becomes the subject. Your guide points out the spooky side of historic architecture and places the stories in relation to the streets around you.

The subjects are broad. You may hear about 1970s serial killers, concealed passageways, wine industry crime, haunted mortuaries, a violent bar incident, ghostly bakeries, and windmills with an eerie reputation. The appeal is less about one famous case and more about seeing a familiar tourist town through a collection of unsettling local tales.

This portion also gives you a needed pause between drinks. You are walking, listening, and looking around instead of sitting at a bar for two straight hours. Pay attention to small details. One guide even answered an impromptu question about Solvang’s birdhouses, showing that the walk can include ordinary town features as well as the darker material.

The walking section means this is not ideal for anyone who has trouble moving around town. The activity information calls it wheelchair accessible, yet it also says it is not suitable for people with mobility impairments and warns that the tour involves walking. That is a real inconsistency. If you use a wheelchair or have limited mobility, contact The Haunt Ghost Tours before booking and ask about the exact route and stop access.

High Roller Tiki Lounge, a change from wine to cocktails

High Roller Tiki Lounge provides a 30-minute cocktail stop. This is a smart change of pace. After the wine tasting and walking stories, a tiki bar gives the group a new setting and keeps the tour from feeling repetitive.

The stop is included, so you are not paying separately for the listed cocktail. You can also buy more drinks if you wish, but those purchases are not part of the $115 price. Since the tour moves quickly, avoid treating this as an open-ended bar visit. The point is to enjoy one planned stop, hear more stories, and stay with the group.

This is also where the alcohol level can catch up with you. The schedule allows 45 minutes for wine, 30 minutes for a cocktail, and 15 minutes for champagne. That is a lot of drinking for a two-hour walk, especially if you have not eaten first. The practical move is to have a meal before the tour and arrange a designated driver. Do not plan to drive after completing it.

Cali Love Wine, finishing with champagne

The final stop is Cali Love Wine in Solvang, where the schedule allows 15 minutes for a champagne tasting. It is a short finish, but it gives the tour a celebratory last drink after the darker stories.

Because this stop is brief, you should not expect a long tasting presentation. It works more as a final sample and a chance to wrap up with the group. The tour ends here, so note that you do not return to Chomp. If you have parked elsewhere, allow time to walk back after the finish.

The three-stop design gives you variety: a horror-themed winery, a tiki lounge, and a wine bar with champagne. That variety is one of the best reasons to choose this experience over a standard tasting flight at one location. The tradeoff is that you get only a short time at each place, and the tour’s focus remains entertainment and storytelling rather than serious wine education.

Is $115 a fair price?

At $115 per person, this is not the cheapest way to drink in Solvang. You are paying for more than the liquid in the glass, though. The price includes an expert guide, tastings at three distinctive locations, and a planned walking route built around local crime and ghost stories.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise pay for several drinks and spend time searching out unusual bars on your own. The guide supplies the structure, the history, and the connecting thread. You also avoid the guesswork of finding Final Girl Wines, High Roller Tiki Lounge, and Cali Love Wine in the right order.

The value is weaker if you mainly want premium wine pours or a calm afternoon in the tasting rooms. Additional wine purchases cost extra, and gratuity is not included. You should also budget for food before or after the tour, since no meal is part of the experience.

The high rating of 4.9 from 11 bookings reflects very strong satisfaction, but the sample is small. The most consistent praise goes to the guides, particularly John’s humor and local storytelling, Ryan’s energy and subject knowledge, and Dan’s friendly attention to the group. One person simply called the experience great, while another noted that it is not just wine tasting. That is an important point: the stories and walking are central, not filler between pours.

Who will enjoy this unusual Solvang tour?

I would recommend it to adults who enjoy true crime, ghost stories, themed bars, and casual wine tasting. It is especially useful for someone who has already seen Solvang’s postcard sights and wants a fresh angle on the town. It also works well for friends looking for a social afternoon rather than a formal food-and-wine lesson.

You should skip it if you dislike crime stories, horror themes, or drinking while walking between stops. It is not suitable for anyone under 21, children under 12, or pregnant people. The activity information also excludes people with mobility impairments, despite separately describing the tour as wheelchair accessible, so ask before booking if accessibility affects your plans.

The English-speaking guide is a major part of the value. Guides have included John, Ryan, and Dan, and their personalities shape the tone. Expect jokes, questions, and group conversation instead of a scripted audio presentation. The stories may be unsettling, but the overall mood appears designed to entertain rather than frighten you into silence.

Practical details that can make the afternoon better

Book with enough time before your next plan. The stated duration is two hours, but an earlier delay shows that a little flexibility is sensible. The tour operates in all weather, so bring warm layers and footwear that can handle a walking route.

Bring a passport or other identification. Even if you look well over 21, the activity requires adult participants, and identification is listed among the items to carry. A camera is optional but useful for the odd mix of Danish-style architecture, windmills, themed interiors, and town details.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Solvang plans may shift. These policies are useful, but the larger planning issue is transportation. With wine, a cocktail, and champagne included, use a designated driver or plan to remain in town afterward.

Should you book the Solvang wine and true crime tour?

Book it if you want Solvang with a twist. The strongest parts are the unusual three-stop route, the Final Girl Wines theme, and guides who make the crime stories social and funny. You will learn about the town while doing something more distinctive than a standard tasting flight.

Think twice if you want a serious wine seminar, a long vineyard visit, or a gentle family activity. The tour is adult-only, involves walking, and serves enough alcohol that driving afterward is a poor idea. For the right audience, the $115 cost buys a lively, well-organized way to see Solvang’s less polished side, one drink and unsettling story at a time.

FAQ

How long does the Solvang wine and true crime tour last?

The tour lasts two hours.

Where does the tour begin?

Meet at the Little Mermaid fountain outside Chomp restaurant in Solvang.

Where does the tour finish?

The tour ends at Cali Love Wine in Solvang.

What drinks are included?

The experience includes wine tastings at Final Girl Wines and Cali Love Wine, plus a cocktail at High Roller Tiki Lounge.

What stories will I hear?

The guide covers true crime and ghost stories involving 1970s serial killers, wine industry murders, an infamous bar brawl, hidden tunnels, haunted mortuaries, bakeries, and windmills.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. The live guide conducts the tour in English.

Do I need to be 21 or older?

Yes. Participants must be at least 21 years old and should bring a passport or ID card.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.