Is Savannah Haunted? Unmasking the Ghost Stories of the Historic Georgia City.

Nestled in between Georgia’s East Coast and South Carolina’s Lowcountry lies Savannah, the oldest city in the state of Georgia. It’s well known for its Spanish moss-draped oak trees, its squares, the cobblestone streets and its intriguing history. But perhaps most intriguing is its stories of hauntings, the tales of ghosts that spook the morning fog and lurk deep in the shadows at night.

Is Savannah haunted? There are certainly enough tales of ghosts, infamous scandals, and paranormal activities to make a hard skeptical thinker wonder. To answer this long-debated question, let’s take a closer look at the history of Savannah and some of the top paranormal stories that are told throughout the city.

#### The History of Savannah

Savannah was founded in 1733 by General James Oglethorpe. He established a 13-mile square block that is still the city center of Savannah today. It’s located between two starkly different environments: the marshlands and islands of the Savannah River on one side and green flatlands on the other. Building ports and bringing settlers to town, Oglethorpe got his town off the ground quickly.

Savannah was built around 24 public squares, some of which were only a few feet long and some that stretched across an entire city block. In its early years, Savannah was an economic powerhouse and shipped cash crops such as cotton, rice, and indigo. Before the Civil War, Savannah had become one of the wealthiest cities in America. After General William T. Sherman captured Savannah, though, most of the wealth was slowly stripped away with rebuilding efforts and new taxes imposed by the Union.

Throughout its storied history, Savannah has been home to everything from pirates to Revolutionary War heroes to civil rights activists. Each figure that has left their mark on Savannah has also left something else – a ghost story.

#### Top 6 Spooky Ghost Stories of Savannah

1. Rene Robert Cavelier de La Salle, also known as “The Grey Man,” is a historic figure that left his mark on Savannah, or rather his ghostly spirit did. Supposedly if someone is about to experience a disaster or tragedy, he appears before it happens and warns them about it, saving them from the experience. He has been described as wearing a gray cloak and hat with wide brim, he carries an umbrella and sometimes his head appears separated from his body. They claim he resides in Bonaventure Cemetery.

2. Madison Square is known as one of Savannah’s spookiest squares at night. Legends claim that it was once a graveyard before being paved over and now holds the restless spirits beneath its cobblestone streets. They say that when you walk through Madison Square you can feel orbs and icy spots where the ground is super cold and hear ghostly howls even when there’s no wind to gust them. Supposedly these ghostly howls were so prominent throughout the area at one point that the state even held an inquiry into the matter just to see what was causing it.

3. Some say moon river brewing company has its own ghost stories brewing on site as well. It’s said that when it was still a cotton warehouse someone died there, giving life to rumors that it’s now haunted by a restless spirit from beyond the grave. Those who have visited Moon River Brewing Company say they’ve seen figures along walls and have been jumped by cold breezes fast blowing from dark corners throughout the old warehouse-turned-brewery.

4. Founded in 1733, The Olde Pink House is said to be home to the spirit of Madam Misleta Starr. An affluent socialite in her day, Madam Misleta left an indelible mark on the Pink House before her passing. Local legends proclaim that her spirit lingers in The Olde Pink House, occasionally bothering guests with a malevolent presence or mocking laughter late at night when business slows down. Unsettling tales withstanding, it remains one of Savannah’s top dining destinations to this day

5. Historians believe that Georgia’s first capitol building (the current city hall) was built atop what used to be a colonial-era cemetery. This might explain why numerous tourists have reported nonhuman apparitions frantically shuffling through its grounds both day and night, leaving guests with an uneasy feeling every time they pass through it’s long archways cobblestone paths.

6. Hampton Lillibridge House is said to be haunted by multiple ghosts, who are often fooled by visitors into mistaking them for real life inhabitants of this 18th century Colonial Mansion. According to locals, these ghosts can still be seen standing in the windows of this historic home after dark, or performing household jobs like gardening or washing dishes in anticipation for an evening guest who never arrives. Some have even reported hearing faint piano music echoing from deep within its walls late at night as if someone were practicing their favorite tunes in preparation for some sort of gathering that never comes to fruition

#### Weighing In On Whether Savannah Is Haunted

So is Savannah haunted? While there isn’t concrete proof of paranormal activity in Savannah, there isn’t disproof either. What we can say is that something strange has been going on in Savannah since it was founded. From spirits walking through city hall to eerie howls emanating from Madison Square, it’s safe to say something spooky is going on in Georgia’s oldest city – and if you want to get your own look at the supernatural phenomena of this historic place – don’t forget to check out [Savannah: Haunted Pub Crawl](https://www.getyourguide.com/savannah-l1098/savannah-haunted-pub-crawl-t405406/?partner_id=UWJ1LS2). With this special experience you can drink your way through historic ghost stories and explore some of its most famously haunted spots firsthand with local expert guides to help you explore safely and get to know the mystery behind one of America’s most notorious haunted cities!