BesT Trips 7. FEEL THE FRIGHTS IN SAVANNAH Savannah ’s squares – shaded with live oak and magnolia trees interlaced with Spanish moss and antebellum architecture – make it an idyllic city for romance in the South. But don’t be fooled by the rosy backdrops of America’s most haunted city. Savannah is center stage for paranormal happenings, and – whether you believe in the paranormal or not – you will surely find some amusement in the intriguing stories centered around the city’s hotels, restaurants, and attractions. Once the darkness settles in and night’s shadows deepen, tour Savannah’s haunted neighborhoods, cemeteries, and even a Revolutionary War battlefield with Ghost City Tours . The tour starts at Johnson Square , where you hear the story of Little Gracie who still greets visitors coming to Savannah long after her death in 1889. The guides weave in historical education, spooky thrills, and lively encounters to set a chilly tone for your trip. Most tours are open to all ages and even pets. If you are keen on chasing more aggressive spirits and darker hauntings, however, take the two-hour-long, adult-only ghost tour with more mature language and themes, or the Ghost City Haunted Pub Crawl , where the nerve-racking images may appear more vivid with an adult drink in hand. Arrive early to visit the picturesque Madison Square , where the famous Battle of Savannah was fought and soldiers were buried en masse – many of whom were not dead when they were buried. Around the square are several of Savannah’s most haunted houses open for tours, including Sorrel Weed House and the Green-Meldrim House , where General Sherman stayed. Also, visit Bonaventure Cemetery , located on a scenic bluff of the Wilmington River east of Savannah. With elaborate statues and gravestones, this is considered to be one of the most photographed cemeteries in the country, made famous by the 1994 novel “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” and the subsequent Georgia-lensed movie based on the book. Here, you will also find a life-sized statue of Little Gracie Watson, along with other departed inhabitants. For a more realistic experience, take the Savannah Underground immersive and interactive tour, where you will be part of three grim-yet-true, dark, and terrifying stories. Be prepared for real frights during this 60-minute-long show that brings the hauntings of Savannah’s surroundings to life on a 360-degree set with real actors, surround sound, and strobing lights. Share your dinner with invisible ghoulish friends at The Pirates’ House , a gathering place for pirates and sailors in the 1700s, many of whom still linger in the Captain’s Room. You may see doors opening and closing mysteriously, or eerie apparitions, as you savor crispy-scored flounder and sip on signature cocktails at The Olde Pink House , a historic 1771 mansion where the expired owner’s presence makes a regular appearance. If you can manage to get yourself to bed after all that fright, snuggle up at an elegant inn, The Marshall House , centrally located within walking distance to shopping and dining on Broughton Street . But, keep your eyes and ears open as the historic hotel, once used as a Union hospital during the Civil War and through two yellow fever epidemics, is often cited as one of the most haunted hotels in Savannah. Don’t be surprised if you hear children running through hallways and people screaming in the foyers, especially on the fourth floor. GHOSTS & GRAVESTONES TOUR, SAVANNAH/HISTORIC TOURS OF AMERICA EXPLOREGEORGIA.ORG 23
Official State Travel Guide 2025 Georgia Official State Travel Guide: Page 23
