CHICO — The man in the brown suit, the Laxson Auditorium ghost and the dreaded Chico Chupacabra all make an appearance — via storytelling — on the Chico Haunted Tours.

“(Chupacabra) literally translates to ‘goat sucker,’ which is what my ex-wife used to call me,” said Dustin Vaught while guiding a haunted tour Friday downtown. “There’s no goats down here. You ever wonder why that is?”

The tour group laughed at Vaught’s remarks. While spooky-focused, the new Chico Haunted Tours include a touch of humor along with history — though Vaught is quick to note that much of the tour’s history is based on local lore, rather than fact. The 90-minute downtown excursions are recommended for ages 12 and up, as some stories involve serious topics such as suicide and murder.

The Chico Chupacabra, sai

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