Murder homes draw tourists amid rise in 'dark tourism' trend

True-crime enthusiasts are increasingly visiting locations associated with infamous crimes and tragedies, a trend known as "dark tourism." These sites include homes where notorious murders occurred, such as the Beverly Hills mansion where the Menendez brothers killed their parents and O.J. Simpson's former Los Angeles residence.

Beyond murder homes, dark tourism destinations also encompass disaster sites like the Paris tunnel of Princess Diana's fatal car crash and the Chernobyl Power Complex in Ukraine. Historical sites such as Auschwitz and the Kennedy assassination location are also popular.

This surge in interest has led to complaints from locals about increased foot traffic in their neighborhoods. For instance, following Netflix's release of projects on Lyle and Erik Menendez, police in Beverly Hills received numerous complaints regarding tourists gathering around the family's former home.

Dr. Peter Hohenhaus, who manages Dark-Tourism, emphasizes that this form of tourism aims to preserve history rather than promote unsavory behavior. He states, “Those new to dealing with dark tourism tend to look for some morally deviant motivations—voyeurism, say—but that’s not the case.” According to him, most visitors seek understanding and commemoration of historical events.

The term "dark tourism" was introduced by John Lennon, an author and professor who explored this phenomenon in his book "Dark Tourism." Lennon notes that these sites often serve as commemorative elements for victims and their stories. He explains that interest in these locations stems more from a fascination with human acts of evil than from criminal acts themselves.

Currently, there are nearly 1,000 dark tourism hotspots across 112 countries. The Institute for Dark Tourism Research (iDTR) in the UK promotes ethical research into these sites. Dr. Hohenhaus describes dark tourism primarily as "educational heritage tourism," focusing on learning about historical events.

He asserts that visitors generally approach these sites thoughtfully and respectfully: “There isn’t really anything sensationalist about it.” Dr. Hohenhaus believes that engaging with these locations enhances knowledge and understanding of human history's darker aspects: “I’ve learned more about the real world through doing dark tourism than I have through my entire formal education or previous academic career.”