Haunted Savannah: A Spooky City Guide to Savannah

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.