Unlock the secrets of your neighborhood’s past and uncover the brutal true crimes of Boise with IdaHistory’s true crime motorhome tour.
The Boise True Crime 1970s Motorhome Tour Part 1 has begun. The tours take place every Friday in May starting at 6:30 p.m. and lasting for approximately 2.5 hours.
The tour travels around Garden City and The Boise Bench, visiting locations of some of the most frightening and heinous crimes that afflicted the proximity of Boise.
According to IdaHistory’s website, “this is not your basic tour, it's the real deal because, at IdaHistory, we're just like you; a little messed up and supremely interested in the darker side of life.”
Meet the tour guide
The tour is led by historian and guide Mark Iverson who is the founder of Idahistory. Armed with a master’s degree in history, Iverson melded his knowledge and passion to establish IdaHistory, a local historical tour company.
“I took all that training and education and applied it to my business, IdaHistory. I try to present consistent themes that act as throughlines for my tours. On the motorhome tours, the main theme is capital punishment and how it changed in Idaho’s past,” Iverson said.
In addition to murder and mayhem, IdaHistory offers walking and driving tours, as well as assistance with family history, curriculum development, and property history — if you’ve been looking to name that ghost in your attic.
Iverson previously worked at the Boise City Department of Arts & History, where he led tours but noticed people always wanted to know more about the darker elements of Boise and they appreciated Iverson’s sense of humor.
“I came to true crime because it is what pays and I find the historical themes you can draw from crime interesting. You see a lot of darkness and why criminals become killers, but you also see how family, friends and the public respond,” Iverson said.
What to expect
Guests can expect to ride in style, in Iverson’s 1978 GMC Kingsley Motorhome with orange shag carpet and wood cabinets with a solid oak table, that is “in really great shape for being 45-years-old,” according to Iverson.
Those who are brave enough to venture will visit a variety of locations where brutal crimes took place in our own town.
Participants will also stop by some of the most infamous crime scenes in Boise, like the “Chop Chop House” aka the “Boise Murder House." This is the scene of a horrific murder that happened from a drug deal gone very wrong in 1987. The victim was "chop chopped" via axe and knife by two perpetrators who then wrapped up the numerous body parts and drove them to the Brownlee Reservoir at the Idaho Oregon border. The crime was was featured in "true crime and paranormal" podcast called "Dark House." Other crimes, both big and some perhaps lesser known, are also included on the tour. And, said Iverson, the tour additionally includes a stop at a local dive bar where a crime took place that changed the future of executions in Idaho.
Oh, and you can’t forget about the free beer.
“I have a fridge full of cold beer people can drink because it’s a motorhome and this is Idaho. As long as I don’t sell the beer, you can drink it! Oh, and you need to be 21, too,” he said.
Iverson is currently working on Part 2 of the tour, which is expected to launch soon and will focus on the East End and North End areas.
This all-ages tour is adult themed and parental discretion is advised. Tickets are available now at Idahistory.com for $60, but act fast — with only six to eight spots available per tour, they won't last long.
