By day, Lauren Riensche is the marketing lead & portfolio manager at Certis Biologicals.
By night—especially in the fall—she transforms into the host of the Cedar Falls Ghost Tour, a historical walking tour that’s equal parts storytelling, community engagement and spooky fun.
Riensche, an Iowa native raised on a sixth-generation corn and soybean farm, has built an impressive professional resume spanning ag startups, media and global agencies. With degrees in sociology and economics from the University of Chicago, her career includes time at Farm Journal Media, Granular and advertising firms like BBDO. But when COVID brought her home to Iowa, something unexpected awakened—her passion for local history, storytelling and connecting with her hometown community in a new way.
“I’ve always loved taking ghost tours when I travel. They’re like history tours with extra spice,” she said. “So, I thought, ‘Why not start one in Cedar Falls?’”
In 2020, Riensche began building the tour from the ground up. She walked Main Street, introducing herself to business owners and collecting over 100 firsthand ghost stories, many of which she verified through historical research and cross-referenced witness accounts.
“I wanted it to be rooted in truth and empathy,” she explained. “I don’t want to make light of anyone’s worst day, even if it was 100 years ago.”
The resulting tour is rich in local history, architectural lore and respectfully told tales of mysterious happenings. It’s also a community builder. Proceeds benefit Cedar Falls nonprofits, and the tours have attracted visitors from across the region. Her work with Community Main Street, a nonprofit supporting the city’s historic downtown, has deepened her engagement. Riensche serves on its board of directors and marketing committee, helping elevate tourism and small business visibility in Cedar Falls year-round.
“Creating the ghost tour was my version of sourdough during COVID,” she joked. “It turned into something far more meaningful. It is a way to preserve stories, support my community and make people fall in love with this town like I did.”
You can learn more or follow along at Cedar Falls Ghost Tour on Facebook and Instagram, and don’t be surprised if you leave with goosebumps.
