After visiting the London Dungeon in 2013, John had an epiphany, one that made him realize his calling—bringing the dead back to life. Well, sort of. “I [wanted] to craft something terrifying and immersive myself,” John remembers thinking. His ambition paired well with wife Madison, who according to John, “has been able to see the dead for her entire life.” They then teamed up with Savannah born-and-raised Kewaan, who knows the city’s haunted history inside and out, to become the impressive trio behind an exceptionally spine-chilling Savannah experience.
“It’s barely a tour. It’s a full blown exhilarating adventure,” says John of the Savannah Underground Immersive Ghost Hunt Night-Time Trolley Tour, which reenacts some of Savannah’s most popular ghost stories on a 360 degree set. The first part of the experience consists of a trolley ride during which guests are told ghost stories, taught about the complexities of ghost hunting equipment, and prepared for what’s to come next—a trip to the Savannah Underground. There, Dr. Gaust (a famed demon slayer) leads an immersive haunted extravaganza.
Savannah has no shortage of ghost stories. In fact, there’s so much to discuss that the crew have an entire podcast—The Most Haunted City on Earth—dedicated to the numerous haunted happenings in and around the city. In fact, Madison rather unsettlingly describes Savannah as: “‘The Lasagna of the Dead’ because it’s a city built upon thousands of bodies—literally one big cemetery.” She even adds that most houses and hotels within the city have a ghost or two.
Other theories of Savannah’s haunted history posit that the American Civil War battles that took place there have left their (ghostly) mark. And that’s without touching upon the pandemics, fires, and brutal murders to which the city has borne witness over the centuries.
Unlike other places around the world, visitors in Savannah may find it difficult to avoid a haunting. But according to Kewaan, those looking for a particularly chilling spot should visit Colonial Park Cemetery, a mass yellow fever burial ground and an exceptionally active location for paranormal activity. Or you can take Madison’s advice and visit The Marshall House which was once a hospital for wounded soldiers. Reportedly, people can still smell the rotting flesh of amputated limbs in rooms 313 and 314, and some have even found limbs under the floorboards of the hotel. Then there’s Factor’s Walk—located by River Street—which is also said to be haunted, thanks to a history of brutality and raging fires.
If you’re feeling festive and want to grab a drink to liven your spirits (pun intended), then head over to The Escape Company, known for its spooky cocktails that are especially fitting around Halloween. Or, opt for a good ol’ Savannah food and drink tour that blends history with a pub crawl and stellar Southern flavors.
If you’re brave enough for an overnight stay in Savannah then keep the Mansion on Forsyth Park top of mind. “It used to be a funeral home for a period of time and it sits on top of the secret underground morgue tunnels beneath Forsyth Park,” says Madison. Beautiful and grand in the daytime, this hotel attracts tourists and locals alike; however, at night, some have reported strange occurrences that left them restless and baffled.
If you’re a thrillseeker looking for an even more horrific scare, “The Forsyth Park Inn is a very haunted place to stay that people usually leave off of the ghost tour lists,” claims Madison.
“Alice Riley is our most famous ghost! She was the first woman to be executed in Savannah,” says Madison. According to legend, the spirit of Alice haunts Wright Square in search of her newborn child, born right before her execution. However, she’s not the only ghost that haunts this notoriously spooky city. “The Hag is a terrifying piece of Gullah-Geechee folklore. She is a malevolent spirit that sneaks into your room at night to consume your sleep, leaving you exhausted,” says Kewaan. Want a chance to meet The Hag? This is certainly the tour for you.