NewsLocal NewsGrand Rapids

Actions

GR Crime Tours taking advantage of downtown social zones, spreading forgotten city history

The 2-hour walking tour option costs $20 and makes stops at several downtown Grand Rapids bars and restaurants
Posted at 5:29 PM, Oct 12, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-12 17:29:32-04

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — As more and more of us get back outside and try to find things to do, the folks at GR Crime Tours have put together walking journey into our city's darker history, all while guests are able to enjoy the best food and drink the area has to offer.

Eirann Betka-Pope, one of the tour guides taking groups through the city for real-life frights, says the idea started coming together after Grand Rapids announced their social zones concept.

"The tour includes a lot of drink stops along the way, and it stays within the outdoor refreshment zones in Grand Rapids," Betka-Pope told FOX 17 as we walked in front of Hopcat.

"You can take this drink along with you the entire tour and stop along the way to get a couple more."

The City of Grand Rapids recently announced that these social zones would remain in place until at least May 2021. Folks are able to move freely within the zones with drinks and food. They were created in an attempt to give customers more space downtown to eat and drink.

“We’re excited to support local businesses first and foremost,” Betka-Pope said.

“Once we found out these social zones were open, I was like, let’s take this history out, let’s talk about some crime.”

You can book your place on one of their 2 hour, approximately 2 mile long, guided tour at their website for $20.

They also have shorter tours, running about an hour and a half, for just $10.