Springfield Walks is the creation of Garret Moffett originally from Macomb, Illinois. Garret graduated from nursing school with an Associates Degree in Nursing in 1998. Working off and on as a nurse Garret also spent time traveling Japan and Europe. He returned to Europe several times escorting several small groups. Garret served as Vice-President of the Western Illinois Regional Museum in 2003-2004. He was the Chairman of the Historical Task Force under the guise of the Community Quality of Life Advisory Committee 2004-2006. He has also written and contributed to numerous local history articles and publications and has served as an advocate for historical preservation and received several community awards for his efforts.

Remembering the awesome ghost walks he had taken all through Europe he began researching local ghost lore. In 2002 Garret set out to develop Macomb’s first ghost walk which became known as Macomb’s Haunted Dead Walk. In 2005 Garret’s Haunted Dead Walk took the top honor in the state out of 55 other communities vying for the prestigious “Main Street Award for Historical Development”. Also in 2005 the Dead Walk was featured in Midwest Living Magazine. After four years of walking tours in Macomb, Garret was ready for a new challenge.

With the opening of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library in Springfield, Illinois Garret’s attention turned towards Lincoln’s hometown of Springfield. Through his research of ghostly stories Garret recalled numerous tales about Lincoln’s visions, dreams and ghostly tales of Lincoln posthumously wandering.

Garret approached the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau (SCVB) and the National Park Service (NPS) and pitched the idea of Lincoln’s Ghost Walk, which was well received. Following the recommendations of the SCVB and NPS Garret had his script reviewed by local historians. Garret was the first to offer this new form of tourism business in Springfield and Lincoln’s Ghost Walk trial tours began in mid-August 2005 and operated through Halloween with encouraging success.

March 2006 began the first full season of Lincoln’s Ghost Walk offering the SCVB endorsed tour through October. The tour has been well received and supported by local businesses, local government and the historic sites. It has been a very popular tour exceeding 100 participants on some nights. The average group size in peak season is about 30-60 each night and is Springfield Walks most popular tour. At the end of the season Garret was present with an award from the City of Springfield for the “Best Heritage Tourism” for the Lincoln’s Ghost Walk. Garret also appeared on PBS “Illinois Stories” performing excerpts from the Lincoln’s Ghost Walk. The New York Times listed the Lincoln’s Ghost Walk in the travel section citing it as the 3^rd best historical entertainment in Springfield following the Presidential Museum and home site.

In August 2006 Garret launched his second tour, this one commemorating the infamous 1908 Race Riot in Springfield. Entire neighborhoods were left in smoldering ruins, men were shot and killed, hundreds wounded and other men were lynched in the streets. As tragic as this riot was, it did serve as the catalyst for the formation of the NAACP in 1909. This walking tour commemorates the goodness that came from the infamous riot. Garret made national news for the development of the commemorative race riot walk appearing in associated press news articles across the United States.

Responding to the demand for evening entertainment, Garret launched the 3^rd tour of Springfield Walks titled “Mr. Lincoln’s Springfield” in April 2007. This tour features anecdotal and amusing stories about Lincoln the citizen before he was president and his rise into national politics.

By fall of 2007 Springfield’s Haunted Dead Walk was taking amateur ghost hunters through sites in Springfield believed to be actually haunted. This tour also offers many of the legendary tales behind Springfield’s haunted history such of the old Lake Club and Springfield High School which was built on top of an old pioneer cemetery. This tour also includes a complementary pass to the Museum of Funeral Custom, one of the most unusual museums in the country.

By 2008 Garret added step-on guide services to Springfield Walks. Coach tours could now hire a Springfield Walks guide to step on board and guide groups to the sites and give historical commentary between the sites. The political climate in Springfield during 2008 was electrifying and Garret witnessed history in the making as it unfolded; the fall of a disgraced governor and the rise of America’s first African-American President.

Springfield Walks is featured in Midwest Living Magazine May issue for the Mr. Lincoln’s Springfield Walk.

In fact since it’s inception Springfield Walks has appeared in numerous news articles, print and television, and received blurbs in magazines all across the nation.

Garret continues on providing locals and visitors all the history and mystery that Springfield has to offer.

September 2009 Garret released his first book Lincoln's Ghost: Legends & Lore which is based on his award winning Lincoln's Ghost Walk. The book is available on Amazon.com or Author House Publishing.