As haunted cities go, Lancaster's not exactly Gettysburg.

Just ask Rick Fisher — Lancaster County's resident paranormal investigator who has guest starred on the Travel Channel show, "Supernatural Destinations."

On a scale of one to 10 (with 10 being the creepiest), Fisher gave the Red Rose City a modest score.

 "I would have to give (Lancaster) a rating of two," he said. "And yes, Gettysburg would have to be considered the most haunted city in Pennsylvania."

But that's not to say Lancaster doesn't have its share of alleged ghost sightings and spooky legends — some of which are rooted in historical events.

That's the premise behind the new Ghost Tour of Lancaster that premieres this Halloween season.

"We're all about the research when we plan our tours," Tim Reeser, one of the tour company's managers, said. He said his company has been operating in the county for about 11 years, managing the popular Ghost Tour of Strasburg.

"We look at old newspaper clippings, research local folklore and mysteries to appeal to history lovers," Reeser said. "Lancaster has plenty of legends and is one of the oldest cities in America, so we found plenty."

He said the Ghost Tour of Lancaster is a 90-minute guided walking tour of the historic downtown area. Groups stop at a number of sites as the tour delves into unusual legends and ghost sightings that have been associated with the city for more than 300 years.

One hot spot for specters that the tour covers is the Lancaster Cemetery on East Lemon Street, which was founded in 1846.

Some locals know the story as the haunt of Augusta Harriet Bitner, a young woman who died on her wedding day around 1906. Legend says the carved statue made in her likeness has been seen wandering the cemetery at night.

The tour also visits the Fulton Opera House on Prince Street, one of Lancaster's most popular historic landmarks.

Fisher, who has investigated the Fulton, said the theater has more than its share of paranormal history.

Those who work in the theater know about the massacre of Conestoga Indians in the basement of the Fulton. In fact, in 1997, a group of American Indians gathered in the former jail site where they sang and played drums to soothe the spirits of the dead.

There also have been reports of a woman in white who has been seen floating above the Fulton's stage.

Field researcher Dorothy Burtz Fiedel devoted an entire chapter to the Fulton in her book, "Fiedel's Official Ghost Guide to Lancaster County."

In it, she writes about an apparition called the "Lady in White." Many say the ghost is the spirit of Marie Cahill, an actress who appeared at the Fulton regularly before her death in 1933.

Fisher said during one of his investigations, he recorded a man's voice saying "Saint Joseph" although he was alone in the theater at the time. Some of his photographs also showed mysterious orbs of light when they were developed.

Reeser, who said Ghost Tour of Lancaster covers an eight-block radius that includes the Opera House, Central Market and various cemeteries, emphasizes the history behind the spooky incidents.

"Our guides are costumed storytellers that lead the tours by candlelight," he said. "They talk about history and its connection to their stories, like Lancaster's hometown president, James Buchanan, and the story of the spirit who wanders the street looking for him.

"There's also the legendary 'Curse of the Hounds' and Civil War phantoms that people will find very interesting," Reeser said.

He said that the tour appeals to individuals' sense of wonder about the past without resorting to cheap thrills.

"The tour isn't scripted, and it's not really a Halloween tour either," he said. "We tell ghost stories and pass on a good bit of history for people to think about."

The Ghost Tour of Lancaster departs at 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, from Penn Square on King and Queen streets. Tickets cost $14 and $8 for children 4-12 and should be purchased in advance.

For more information, call (610) 404-4678 or visit www.ghosttour.com.

E-mail: cdifonzo@lnpnews.com