Haunted Places in Georgia

Haunted Places in Georgia

It wouldn't be an article about haunted or spooky places unless we started with the beautiful, historic city of Savannah, Georgia which is considered the most haunted city in America. 

Bonaventure Cemetery – Savannah

Bonaventure Cemetery is considered one of the most famously haunted sites in Savannah, a city well known for its paranormal history. Its eerie atmosphere is created by its Gothic-style tombs, weathered sculptures, and sprawling live oak trees draped in Spanish moss. The cemetery is featured on many ghost tours and was named one of the world's most haunted hotspots by the travel website Planet Cruise in 2024.

Espy House – 432 Abercorn

Nestled at 432 Abercorn Street, the Espy House stands as one of Savannah's most captivating haunted landmarks. This century-old residence, with its weathered façade and intricate architectural details, exudes an air of mystery that draws the eye of passersby. Often featured on the city's renowned ghost tours, its storied past is steeped in eerie legends and chilling tales. While some of the ghostly anecdotes associated with the house have been debunked, the enchanting ambiance and lingering whispers of the unknown continue to beckon both curious tourists and local enthusiasts alike, eager to unravel the secrets hidden within its walls.

Ghost Tours in Savannah, Georgia

Factors Walk – Savannah

Factors Walk in Savannah is renowned for its haunting atmosphere, steeped in a dark history linked to slavery and the cotton trade. Tragic events, including murders and accidental deaths, are said to echo through the cobblestone streets. Visitors often report unsettling encounters, such as glimpsing ghostly apparitions that seem to drift among the shadows, accompanied by eerie sounds like soft moans and distant whispers that send a chill down the spine. The area, home to the historic Cotton Exchange, is adorned with weathered buildings that exude an air of mystery, while dark vaults and winding tunnels add to the intrigue. Each corner of Factors Walk whispers tales of the past, solidifying its reputation as one of Savannah’s most haunted locales.

Olde Harbour Inn – Savannah

Olde Harbour Inn—one of the many rumored haunted hotels in Savannah, GA—is home to “Hank,” the most-often encountered “ghost” at the hotel. Guests have reported smelling cigar smoke when no smokers were present, experiencing things moving around, coins dropping on the floor, and other spooky shenanigans. Although there is no evidence that anyone perished in any of the fires of the building's early years, legend has it that “Hank” is the spirit of a worker who died in one of the blazes. Since there was no name to associate with the worker in these tales, the Inn's employees decided to call their ghostly prankster “Hank.”

Taylor Square – Savannah

Taylor Square (formerly Calhoun Square) is considered one of Savannah's most haunted locations due to its history as a potter's field and slave burial ground, leading to tales of disquieting spiritual activity and paranormal phenomena centered around the square and the adjacent mansion at 432 Abercorn Street. Residents and visitors report feeling unease, experiencing cold spots, phantom footsteps, and hearing unsettling sounds like moans. The area is a popular site for Savannah ghost tours.

Savannah History and Haunts Candlelit Ghost Walking Tour

The Pirates' House – Savannah

The Pirates' House is a historic tavern built in 1753, making it one of the oldest structures still standing in the state of Georgia. It's also a famous haunted destination. Like many other buildings in Savannah, the eatery sits on top of an underground tunnel. It's believed that these tunnels were used to transport unwilling guests to a nearby river where they were forced to work aboard pirate ships. Today's visitors of The Pirates' House report shouts and moans coming from below the floor, as well as seeing an occasional sailor reflected in the windows.

The Marshall House Hotel – Savannah

The Marshall House, a historic hotel built in 1851, is renowned for its numerous ghost sightings, unexplained noises, and its history as a Civil War hospital and a yellow fever treatment facility. During the Civil War, it served as a hospital for Union soldiers and later treated victims of yellow fever epidemics. This history has led to many reports of ghostly encounters, including the sounds of children’s footsteps and sightings of soldiers with missing body parts. Guests frequently report hearing children playing, faucets turning on by themselves, and encountering ghostly figures in the hallways. The Marshall House successfully combines its historical significance and haunted reputation with a classy, comfortable, and welcoming atmosphere, highlighted by Civil War artifacts on display.

Below are some more places in Savannah that you lovers of those spooky things should absolutely check out. 

Little Five Points Atlanta Georgia

• Bradley Lock and Key – Savannah
• Colonial Park Cemetery – Savannah
• East Bay Inn – Savannah
• Foley House Inn – Savannah
• Forsyth Park Inn – Savannah
• Kehoe House – Savannah
• Lafayette Square – Savannah
• Madison Square – Savannah
• Mansion on Forsyth Park – now Hotel Bardo – Savannah
• Mercer-Willians House – Savannah
• Moon River Brewing Company – Savannah [CLOSED]
  
• Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters – Savannah
• Reynolds Square – Savannah
• Savannah Theater
• Taylor Square – Savannah
• The Eliza Thompson House – Savannah
• The Gribble House – Savannah – Savannah
• The Hamilton Turner Inn – Savannah
• The Hanging Square & Alice Riley
• The Hampton Lillibridge House – Savannah
• The Kehoe House – Savannah
• The Olde Pink House Restaurant & Tavern – Savannah
• The 17 Hundred 90 Inn & Tavern – Savannah
• The Sorrel Weed House – Savannah
• Wright Square – Savannah

More Haunted Places in Georgia

Altamaha-ha – Darien

In Georgia folklore, the Altamaha-ha (or Altie) is a legendary creature said to inhabit the numerous small streams and abandoned rice fields near the mouth of the Altamaha River, from which it gets its name, in southeastern Georgia. Sightings of this creature are particularly reported around Darien and in other areas of McIntosh County. According to The Brunswick News, the legend has its roots in Muscogee tradition. Some have suggested that an alligator gar could be the identity of many recent sightings attributed to the Altamaha-ha. In 2018, decomposing remains were discovered on a beach at the Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge, leading to speculation that it might be the body of an Altamaha-ha. However, performance artist Zardulu later claimed responsibility for the remains, revealing that they were created from a stuffed shark and papier-mâché.

Central State Hospital – Milledgeville

At its peak, Central State Hospital was the largest mental hospital in the country. It eventually became overcrowded, and rumors emerged about the cruel and negligent treatment of patients. The hospital closed its doors in 2010. However, visitors are still welcome to explore the grounds. While many of the abandoned buildings are not open to the public, there is a museum on site where you can view artifacts from the hospital before exploring the property.

Where to Find Famous Georgia Ghosts

St. Simon's Island, Georgia

Dolls Head Trail – Atlanta

The Dolls Head Trail, while more whimsical than haunted, is a must-see attraction. This 2.5-mile trail, located in Constitution Lakes Park in DeKalb County, Atlanta, Georgia, has transformed into an art exhibit. The adventure encompasses various terrains, including paved paths, unpaved trails, and boardwalks that wind through picturesque wetlands teeming with wildlife.

 

Dolls Head Trail offers a unique hiking experience. Along the route, hikers will encounter doll parts—heads, limbs, and plastic eyes—at nearly every turn. The trail’s unusual appearance began fourteen years ago when a local carpenter started turning found litter into trail-side art. This creative method of waste reduction invites us to reconsider our relationship with trash.

Igbo Landing – St. Simons Island

Igbo Landing on St. Simons Island is often described as haunted due to a historic mass suicide of 75 Igbo slaves in 1803 who chose to drown themselves in Dunbar Creek rather than submit to slavery. Local Gullah Geechee folklore claims their spirits remain, with some hearing eerie chants or seeing ghostly figures in the marshes. The site holds deep symbolic meaning as a powerful act of resistance against enslavement.

The Burning & the Bound: Grievous Ghost Tour of Atlanta