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Countdown to Savannah: Haunted Savannah

Kathy Wood (kaydee)

In early 2007, we started our official Countdown to Savannah. Each Sunday, we posted a different topic about this special city where we met for our first Great Slow Travel Gathering in Spring 2008.

With 63 posts over 14+ months, we learned a lot about the many facets of this historic, hospitable and intriguing American city. Our weekly posts touched on Savannah's history, famous people, architecture, food, culture, surrounding area and much more. We hope this information acquaints you with Savannah, entices you to visit this historic city, and prepares you for a very memorable trip.

Savannah's Haunted History

With a history dating back over 250 years, Savannah hosts more than just tourists today ... many people believe it also hosts the ghosts of former residents. The SciFi Channel’s popular show “Ghost Hunters” focused its 2005 Halloween special on Savannah, and in 2003 the American Institute of Paranormal Psychology named Savannah “America's Most Haunted City.”

On our recent trip to Savannah, Jan, Leslie and I ventured out for a night-time ghost tour, experiencing a very different aspect of Savannah after dark. We chose a private carriage tour with Historic Savannah Carriage Tours. The spanish moss hanging from the old oak trees (see photo below) created an eerie impression as we slowly circled several of the historic squares. Our guide recounted stories of spurned lovers, pirates, duels, voodoo, and mysterious deaths. He pointed out several haunted houses, restaurants and hotels, and showed us the spot where a young woman was hanged for petty thievery and where her ghost occasionally visits today. Yes, it was kind of hokey, but it was a fun way to experience Savannah at night. (And ... well, okay ... our guide was really cute. Blushing)

Photo of Spanish Moss hanging from oak tree

Spanish Moss on old Oak trees

There are many ways to experience the ghostly side of Savannah—you can travel by bus, trolley, horse and carriage, or on foot. Some tours visit the cemetaries; other tours actually go inside haunted houses. One tour focuses on sites from spooky movies filmed in Savannah. And if you need fortification, you can experience Spooky Savannah in a pub crawl. We even saw a tour that travels in a converted hearse!

Learn more about Haunted Savannah:

Walk Your Scaredy-Pants Off in Savannah - article on cnn.com

Spirited by Savannah

Savannah and the Supernatural

A Tour of Haunted Savannah - listen to a public radio broadcast

Savannah Spectres and Other Strange Tales - buy this book on Amazon

Resources

All About Savannah: Links to many information pages about Savannah (where to eat, where to stay, places of interest, getting around town, and more)

Woods Family Grand Tour of Europe: List of articles and photo albums by Kathy Wood

Kathy is a former Human Resources executive who now works as a consultant and part-time college professor. She and Charley also lead The Luberon Experience (www.luberonexperience.com), a week-long, small-group trip based in Provence.

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Countdown to Savannah: Haunted Savannah

Savannah's Haunted History

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