Today we’d like to introduce you to Zach Bowden.
Hi Zach, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
With a background in acting, I’ve always been drawn to history and have a deep passion for bringing stories to life through live performance. My wife and I love taking historic ghost tours when we travel, and when we realized there wasn’t one in Titusville, Florida, it felt like the perfect opportunity to create our own.
After extensive research, drawing from a wide range of sources, and countless hours of rehearsal, we launched the tour—and it’s been going incredibly well. We’ve since expanded and are now proud to offer a second location in Cocoa Village, Florida.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s never a completely smooth process, but the obstacles are what build substance and quality into the tour. Our biggest challenge was getting the word out and establishing a strong reputation to grow attendance—we’re doing very well now.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I run Past and Presence Historic Ghost Tours, where I get to mix history, storytelling, and a little bit of fun into tours for both adults and families. I’ve always loved history, especially the strange, forgotten, and unexpected parts, and I enjoy bringing those stories to life in a way that keeps people engaged and entertained.
It’s honestly a joy to share these stories with people who love learning, good storytelling, and a little mystery. What sets my tours apart is the care and preparation that go into them, along with a performance-driven style that helps history feel alive instead of locked away in a textbook.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
It’s hard to say exactly how things will change, but I do think the software and marketing tools that support the behind-the-scenes side of the business will become much more efficient and effective. As for the tours themselves, I think it’s unlikely that real people will be replaced—there’s just something about live storytelling and human connection that can’t be replicated by robots.
Pricing:
- $25.00 for 18 and up.
- $20.00 for 12 and under.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pastandpresencetours.com
- Instagram: @pastandpresencetours
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/PastandPresenceTours
Image Credits
The first two photos, credit to Justin Credible Photography.
