(Editor’s note: The starting point of thee April 13 tour has been changed from 2nd City Distillery to the front of the Augusta University building at 699 Broad St., according to Michael Wolff)
Carrying a lantern and leading groups through downtown at night, Michael Wolff shares his love for Augusta through his walking tours.
But the owner of Augusta Adventure Tours and Events has gotten a little pigeonholed with many people thinking he only does one type of tour one season a year. This year, he plans to break out of that box a little by augmenting those tours with several new ones that are in the works.
“I do tours year-round, and I continue to stress that. Up to this point, I’ve been known for my haunted tours. That’s been my niche for many years,” said Wolff.
He’s not giving up the haunted tours. In fact, he has a special haunted tour aka Ghost Hunting 101 coming up at 7:30 p.m. April 13, at the Marion Hatcher Center.
“It was the home of John Phinizy, and it was the very first home in Augusta to have an elevator. It was operated with a hand pulley,” said Wolff, who likes to infuse Augusta’s history into his tours.
Joining Wolff on this tour are members of the Old Thyme Paranormal Investigation Team who will provide a ghost hunting experience.
“This one is extremely popular. The last one sold out completely,” he said. “It’s ultra interactive…and it’s a very fun tour.”
Tickets are $30 each for the tour that starts in front of the Augusta University building, 699 Broad St.
While most tours are at night, he’s branching out into daytime tours. He’s been the guide for the Greater Augusta Arts Council’s Promenade and Paint, held during the afternoons a couple of times a month.
His “Welcome to Downtown Augusta Tour” will start at the newly opened The Earth Pantry and visit different spots downtown. Should the weather hold out, Wolff plans to start that tour on Thursday, April 11.
Partnerships with businesses are also important to Wolff. Last year, he added a desserts and cocktails tour that incorporated desserts from Boll Weevil and drinks at 2nd City. He’s adding multiple new business partners this year.
He’s working with Edgar’s on Broad to be the starting point for his “Gravely Mistaken” tours.
Another new tour is percolating for early May.
“History, Brews and Artifacts” will feature the Augusta Museum of History and Buona Caffe Artisan Roasted Coffee.
The tour will begin at the museum and will provide admission that will be good for the entire day so people could go back after the tour to finish their visit. A closer look around Buona Caffe’s roastery on Reynolds Street and coffee sampling is another highlight. It ends with visits to the Fifth Street Bridge and the marina.
Wolff, who received Destination Augusta’s President’s Award in November for his promotion of Augusta, has no shortage of ideas when it comes to his tour business.
Another one he’s developing is “Capture Augusta” combining old-fashioned Polaroid photography with photo opps, visiting several stops and leaving participants with a handful of pictures to remember the experience by. And there are rumblings about a downtown mystery tour.
Wolff said he does these events not only to cater to any out-of-town guests, but to allow people the chance to be tourists in their own backyards and maybe learn a little more about their city.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
