Savannah: Ghosts, Asylums, Voodoo, and Horror Walking Tour

Savannah’s old squares look peaceful by day, but after dark this two-hour ghost walk turns them into a stage for murder, voodoo, asylums, and restless spirits. You’ll hear about corpses buried just below the streets, brutal deaths, and apparitions tied to some of the city’s most famous buildings.

I like the mix of historical detail and paranormal investigation, rather than a simple costume-and-campfire show. I also like the guides’ flexible style: Nathan, Jess, Kate, Pam, and others are praised for answering questions, handling families, and keeping the mood lively. The drawback is clear: the stories can be graphic, especially those involving children, mental illness, murder, and cruel treatment. This is not a gentle family ghost walk.

Key points before you book

• 46,000 corpses beneath the streets: The tour connects Savannah’s haunted reputation with old burial grounds and bodies only a few feet below the surface.
• Monterey Square starting point: Meet the American Tour Company guide in front of the Pulaski Monument, then return to the same square.
• Graphic storytelling: Decapitations, murders, asylums, and mistreatment are described without softening the details.
• Paranormal tools and photographs: Bring a charged phone or camera if you want to try for orbs, apparitions, or unusual images.
• Strong individual guides: Nathan, Jess, Kate, Pam, Jacob, Wendy, and others are praised for clear storytelling, humor, and attention to questions.
• A good value at $25: Two hours of guided walking and local stories costs less than many evening attractions, though tips are extra.

Monterey Square: starting beneath the Pulaski Monument

Your meeting point is in front of the Pulaski Monument in Monterey Square. This is a practical place to begin because the square is easy to identify, and you finish here too. You do not need to arrange transport between stops, and the return to the starting point is useful if you are exploring Savannah on foot.

The tour begins with the city’s darker side, not with a long general introduction. Your guide sets up the idea that Savannah’s haunted reputation is tied to real events, old burial grounds, violence, illness, and the way earlier generations treated people who were poor, sick, enslaved, mentally ill, or unwilling to conform.

That context matters. The supernatural stories are more effective when you understand the human suffering behind them. Some of the strongest material concerns not just ghosts, but the people whose lives ended in cruel or frightening ways.

The company says its guides are actual psychics rather than actors playing a role. You can take that claim as part of the experience, remain skeptical, or simply listen to the stories as local folklore. The tour works for all three approaches because the guide’s storytelling and Savannah’s old streets provide the main atmosphere.

Savannah’s Historic District: dark stories among beautiful squares

The walk continues through Savannah’s Historic District, with about 20 minutes listed for passing through this area. In practice, the experience depends more on the guide’s stops and storytelling than on a fixed parade of indoor attractions. You should expect to pause near buildings, streets, and squares while the guide explains what supposedly happened there.

This is one of the tour’s best features. You are not shut inside a theater or bus. You are standing in the same public spaces where the stories are said to have unfolded. The old architecture, dim streets, and Spanish moss help create the mood, but the guide keeps bringing the focus back to specific people and events.

The material can be gruesome. Expect stories involving decapitations, brutal murders, spirits who refuse to leave, and disturbing treatment in asylums or other institutions. The guides do not present this as a light Halloween show. Some accounts are framed with humor, but the subject matter remains harsh.

I would be careful about bringing children. One family found the stories too frightening for a 10-year-old, and another parent strongly advised against bringing children under 12 because the murder accounts were too graphic. Older teenagers may enjoy the combination of jokes, history, and spooky material, but you should explain the tone before booking.

The tour also touches on voodoo, root magic, superstition, occult practice, and unexplained events. These subjects are presented as part of Savannah’s cultural and supernatural traditions. You should listen with some care and avoid treating every story as established fact. The value is in hearing how the city’s legends formed and why they still attract attention.

The burial-ground stories beneath your feet

One of the most striking claims connected with this experience is that you walk over more than 46,000 corpses, buried only a few feet below the surface. This detail gives the tour a physical edge. You are not only hearing about haunted houses. You are moving through a city built over layers of earlier burials.

That idea helps explain why Savannah can feel haunted even before a guide points out a particular apparition. Old streets, squares, former cemeteries, and buildings tied to illness or violence create a setting where stories of restless spirits feel plausible, at least as folklore.

The tour does not turn this into a cemetery visit with a long list of graves. Instead, the burial stories form part of the wider explanation for Savannah’s reputation. If you enjoy the overlap between archaeology, local memory, and ghost lore, this is more interesting than a simple scare stop.

I also appreciate that the tour can prompt questions about whose stories get remembered. The darker accounts often involve people with little power, including those harmed by medical practices, social prejudice, slavery, and institutional cruelty. The spooky framing does not erase that uncomfortable past, and a good guide makes the human story clear.

Forsyth Park: a ten-minute photo stop

The itinerary includes a 10-minute photo stop at Forsyth Park. This gives you a short break from the walking and a chance to use your camera or phone in a more open setting.

The supplied tour details specifically encourage bringing a camera, and several people have tried to capture unusual images during the experience. You might photograph orbs, blurred shapes, or an apparent face. One participant captured what she believed was an unknown face connected with the house at 432 Abercorn. That is not proof of anything supernatural, but it shows how the photo element adds a participatory layer.

You can approach this in two ways. If you are a believer, the stop gives you a chance to look for signs and compare images with the group. If you are skeptical, it is still a fun exercise in light, shadows, camera flare, and expectation. I would keep your phone charged and avoid promising yourself a paranormal photograph. The tour can be worthwhile even if every image looks ordinary.

Forsyth Park also gives you one of the more scenic moments of the walk. The atmosphere changes from narrow streets and old facades to a broader public park. The contrast helps pace the evening, especially in warm weather.

Paranormal questions, meters, and spirit claims

Some guides use paranormal tools, including an EMF meter and rods for yes-or-no questions. One account describes receiving responses through both methods. The tour may therefore feel more interactive than a straight lecture, depending on the guide and group.

Here, your expectations matter. An EMF meter can react to electrical fields, and rods can move for ordinary physical reasons. The experience does not provide scientific proof of spirits. It does give the group a shared activity and a way to participate instead of only listening.

The same is true of the psychic element. The company presents its guides as psychics, and some people may find that personal or emotional. One person even described feeling connected with a deceased parent during a tour. Others may hear the same material as storytelling and folklore. Both reactions are reasonable, and you do not need to adopt a belief system to enjoy the evening.

A good guide keeps the experience comfortable for different personalities. The strongest reports describe guides who were willing to answer questions, show images on their phones, and adjust their delivery to the group. Jacob was praised for tying the supernatural stories to actual historical events, while Jess was noted for explaining the families and buildings connected with the tales.

Why the guide matters so much

This tour depends heavily on who leads it. The route is fairly simple, and the walking itself is not the main attraction. The guide’s pacing, accuracy, humor, and way of handling grim subjects make the difference.

Nathan receives especially strong praise for his storytelling, local history, jokes, and ability to include teenagers. He is also described as punctual and careful to return the group to Monterey Square. Jess is praised for enthusiasm and detailed explanations, while Kate is remembered for a calm delivery of difficult stories and for welcoming questions.

Pam is described as a strong storyteller who made the accounts feel immediate without relying on a costume or exaggerated acting. That point may matter if you dislike theatrical ghost tours. The tone here can be spooky and entertaining, but it does not require a guide to play a cartoon character.

Other guides, including Jacob, Wendy, Garrett, Peyton, Darcy, and Jackson, are praised for keeping groups involved and making the subject approachable. Garrett even continued with a tarot card reading after one tour, though that should not be treated as a guaranteed part of every booking.

Because guides vary, the experience may not feel identical every night. That is normal for a live walking tour. You are buying access to the route and subject, but the personality of the guide shapes the evening.

Walking conditions, timing, and what to bring

The tour lasts two hours and takes place outdoors at night. Wear comfortable shoes and prepare for changing weather. One group walked through rain, which made the mood creepier but also left people wet. A light jacket, rain layer, or umbrella can make the evening more pleasant.

Bring these items:

• A charged smartphone
• A camera if you want to try paranormal photographs
• Cash for tips
• A face mask or protective covering

Masks are required, and they can be purchased on site for $2. Tips are not included in the $25 price, so bring cash if you want to thank your guide.

The walk begins and ends at Monterey Square, with Forsyth Park included as a photo stop. The route is not described as a strenuous hike, but you will be outdoors and on your feet for the full two hours. If you want a relaxed evening with lots of indoor seating, choose a different activity.

English is the tour language. The guide speaks to the whole group, so ask questions when there is a natural pause. Smaller groups can offer more chances for personal questions, while larger groups may bring more energy and reactions.

Is $25 a fair price for two hours?

At $25 per person, this is a reasonable way to spend an evening in Savannah. You get a live guide, two hours of walking, local stories, and a route through the Historic District and Forsyth Park. There is no separate admission charge for a haunted house or museum, but the low price also means the experience is built around the guide rather than special effects.

That is good news if you want local storytelling at a modest cost. It is less appealing if you expect actors, elaborate props, guaranteed ghost sightings, or access inside haunted buildings. The tour focuses on public streets and outdoor stops.

The free cancellation policy up to 24 hours before departure also gives you some flexibility. You can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Savannah plans are still shifting. Starting times vary, so check availability for your date.

Who should book this Savannah ghost tour?

I would choose this tour if you enjoy history with a grim edge, local legends, and a guide who can tell a long story well. It suits couples, groups of friends, solo visitors, and families with older teenagers who understand that the material is graphic.

It is also a good pick if you have already seen Savannah by day and want a different view of the same squares and buildings. The streets do not change, but the stories do. You may leave wanting to research a family, house, or event that came up during the walk.

I would skip it if you are very sensitive to murder details, child-related deaths, asylum stories, or accounts of abuse. I would also skip it if you want a strictly factual history tour with clear separation between documented events and paranormal claims.

Should you book the 13 Ghosts tour?

Book it if you want an affordable, outdoor evening built around Savannah’s darkest stories, and if you enjoy deciding for yourself what to believe. The strongest part is the guide-led storytelling, with Nathan, Jess, Kate, Pam, Jacob, and other guides praised for humor, care, and strong command of the subject.

Do not book it expecting a mild family activity. The stories are graphic, and the psychic and ghost claims will not appeal to everyone. For adults and older teens who can handle the subject, this offers a memorable look at Savannah after dark without taking up an entire evening or stretching the budget.

FAQ

Where does the Savannah ghost tour meet?

Meet the American Tour Company guide in front of the Pulaski Monument in Monterey Square. The tour also returns to Monterey Square.

How long does the tour last?

The walking tour lasts two hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $25 per person. Tips are not included.

Is the tour suitable for children?

The tour is graphic and gruesome, with detailed murder stories and disturbing material. It is not recommended for people with queasy stomachs, and several accounts specifically caution against bringing children under 12.

What language is the tour offered in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

What should I bring?

Bring a camera, charged smartphone, cash for tips, and a face mask or protective covering. Masks are required and can be purchased on site for $2.