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

Savannah’s ghosts are only half the story. This two-hour walk also tackles voodoo, root magic, asylums, murder, and the city’s buried dead, including the striking claim that you may walk above more than 46,000 corpses. I like the way the tour joins supernatural tales to real chapters of Savannah’s past, rather than offering only spooky campfire stories. I also like that guides such as Nathan, Jess, Kate, and Pam are praised for lively storytelling, humor, and historical detail.

The main caution is simple: this is not a gentle family ghost walk. The murder stories can be graphic, and several accounts describe children or vulnerable people. Children under 12 may find it too intense, even if they enjoy ordinary ghost stories.

Key points to know before you book

• Meet at Monterey Square: Find the guide by the Pulaski Monument, then return to the same square after the walk.
• Expect a serious scare factor: Decapitations, brutal murders, asylums, and restless spirits are part of the material.
• History comes with the haunting: The guide discusses Savannah families, buildings, superstition, occult practice, and the treatment of people who were considered different.
• Forsyth Park is the photo stop: You have about 10 minutes to take pictures, including possible orbs or unusual shapes.
• The guides make the difference: Nathan, Jess, Kate, Pam, Jacob, and other guides are praised for clear storytelling, humor, and answering questions.
• The price is modest: At $25 per person for two hours, it is a reasonable evening activity if you enjoy dark history and do not expect a theatrical haunted house.

Meeting at Monterey Square after dark

Your starting point is Monterey Square, in Savannah’s Historic District. Meet the American Tour Company guide in front of the Pulaski Monument at 32.0715023, -81.09495319999999. This is a useful meeting place because the square gives you room to gather before the story begins, but you should still arrive with enough time to identify the guide and settle in.

The tour returns to Monterey Square at the end. That small detail matters. You will not need to arrange a ride from an unfamiliar part of town after two hours of walking, and you can continue your evening from the same central area.

The experience is led in English. The company describes its guides as actual psychics rather than actors in costumes. That sets the tone: you are getting a walking storyteller who presents paranormal ideas as part of the experience, not a staged haunted attraction with theatrical sets and jump scares.

Some guides use paranormal tools during the walk. One account describes an electromagnetic meter and rods used to ask yes-or-no questions. These moments will appeal to people who enjoy taking part in the investigation. If you are skeptical, you can still treat the equipment as a bit of atmosphere and focus on the documented events and local stories.

Savannah’s Historic District, seen through its darker stories

The main portion of the tour passes through Savannah’s Historic District for about 20 minutes. The route uses the city itself as the setting, with old buildings, squares, streets, and nighttime shadows doing much of the work.

You should not expect to enter a long list of buildings. The supplied route describes a walking passage rather than interior access, and the experience is built around stories told outdoors. That means the quality depends heavily on how well the guide connects a place to its past.

This is where the best guides earn their fee. Nathan is repeatedly singled out for keeping the stories clear, entertaining, and easy to follow. Jess is praised for giving each location a careful sense of place. Kate is described as patient with questions, while Pam is noted for bringing difficult stories to life without turning them into cheap theater.

The subject matter reaches beyond ghosts. You may hear about Savannah’s upper-class families, violent deaths, medical mistreatment, mental illness, slavery, people who refused to conform, and the ways older communities explained unexplained events. That broader focus gives the walk more weight than a series of claims about shadows in windows.

I especially like this balance. The supernatural side is part of Savannah’s tourism culture, but the human stories behind it can be more disturbing than any supposed apparition. A tale about a haunted home has more force when you understand who lived there, what happened, and why the memory lasted.

Forsyth Park and the hunt for photographic evidence

The itinerary includes about 10 minutes at Forsyth Park for photographs. The park is one of Savannah’s best-known public spaces, and at night it gives the group a larger, open setting after the tighter streets of the Historic District.

The tour encourages you to photograph apparitions and orbs. Keep your expectations sensible. A strange shape or light in a photograph is not proof of a spirit, and the experience does not promise that you will capture anything unusual. Still, taking pictures gives you something active to do instead of simply listening.

Bring a charged smartphone or camera. You will want enough battery for pictures and, if you choose, for recording notes about the stories. A little cash is also useful because tips are not included in the $25 price, and masks can be purchased on site for $2 if needed.

The photo stop is short. Ten minutes is enough for a few pictures, but not for a relaxed park visit or a careful architectural study. Think of Forsyth Park as one atmospheric pause in the walk, not a separate sightseeing stop.

The stories: murder, spirits, voodoo, and root magic

The tour’s strongest appeal is its subject range. It promises tales of decapitation, brutal murder, spirits who refuse to disappear, voodoo rituals, local superstition, root magic, and occult practice.

Those terms can mean different things to different people, so it helps to know the general approach. This is not presented as a formal academic lecture. The guide tells stories, points out locations, and connects folklore to Savannah’s past. The best version of the experience gives you enough historical detail to understand the setting before moving into the supernatural claim.

Several accounts praise guides for using real historical events as the foundation. Jacob, for example, is described as placing the ghost stories against the actual events behind each stop. That approach suits anyone who wants more than a campfire tale. You can enjoy the eerie details while still asking where history ends and legend begins.

The material can be rough. A young teenager was reportedly nearly faint from the descriptions on one tour, and another account specifically warns against bringing children under 12. Even adults who enjoy horror may want to know that the stories are not softened. The company says no gruesome details are left out.

I would also think carefully about the treatment of tragic subjects. Accounts involving murder, mental illness, slavery, and medical abuse should not be treated only as entertainment. A good guide can hold both ideas at once: the stories may be spooky, but the suffering behind them was real.

What makes the guides important

The experience has no museum exhibits, vehicles, or special effects. The guide is the main attraction. That makes the repeated praise for individual guides especially useful when deciding if this tour suits you.

Nathan appears often in the feedback and is described as personable, funny, punctual, and strong on Savannah’s history. He also made sure the group returned to Monterey Square. Jess is praised for enthusiasm and for taking time with the stories. Kate is noted for a careful delivery and for allowing plenty of questions when the group was small.

Other guides named in the feedback include Pam, Jacob, Wendy, Peyton, Garrett, Darcy, Jackson, and others. The style can vary from one guide to another, but the common strengths are clear: strong narration, an easy manner, and the ability to involve different ages in the group.

That last point matters. Some guides joke with teenagers and keep a lively group moving. Others take a more serious approach, especially when discussing violent history. You may get a guide who uses paranormal equipment, a guide who brings photographs or news clippings on a phone, or a guide who focuses on the story itself.

The tradeoff is that a walking tour is not a fixed show. You cannot choose your guide, and the mood may depend on the size and energy of the group. A small group can make it easier to ask questions. A larger group may feel more social but give you less time to speak directly with the guide.

Is $25 a fair price for two hours?

At $25 per person, this tour offers good value for an evening activity in central Savannah. You get two hours with a live English-speaking guide, a route through the Historic District, a Forsyth Park photo stop, and stories that combine history with the supernatural.

The value is strongest if you enjoy narration and atmosphere. You are paying for access to a guide’s research, delivery, and interpretation rather than for admission to a building. If you want elaborate props, indoor locations, or a theatrical horror production, this may feel basic.

The price also makes it easy to add to a Savannah itinerary. You can spend the day visiting museums and historic homes, then use this walk to see familiar streets in a different light. It works well as an evening activity because the subject and setting are both suited to darkness.

Remember to budget for a tip. Tips are not included, and cash is listed among the recommended items. The company also offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity and a reserve-now, pay-later option, which helps if your schedule is still changing.

Who should take this Savannah ghost tour?

I would choose this tour if you like folklore, dark history, paranormal claims, and long-form storytelling. It is also a good pick if you want to learn about Savannah’s families and buildings while hearing the city’s less comfortable stories.

It suits adults and older teenagers who can handle gruesome detail. Guides have been able to keep families and younger people involved, but the content is not designed for small children. If your child is sensitive to murder stories or stories involving children, choose another activity.

It also works for skeptics. You do not have to accept every supernatural claim to enjoy the walk. The historic material, local beliefs, and guide-led discussion provide enough substance for someone who sees the ghost stories as folklore.

I would skip it if you dislike walking outdoors at night, want a quiet architectural tour, or prefer your history without graphic violence. The title tells you what you are getting: ghosts, asylums, voodoo, murder, and mystery.

Practical advice for a better night

Wear comfortable shoes. The tour lasts two hours and takes place on foot, so comfort matters more than dressing for a costume theme. Check the weather before setting out and bring protection from rain if the forecast is unsettled.

Carry a charged phone or camera, especially if you want to try the photo element. Keep some cash for a tip, and remember that masks are required according to the tour information. Masks can be bought on site for $2.

Arrive at Monterey Square with the Pulaski Monument as your landmark. The coordinates are useful if you are unfamiliar with Savannah, but the monument is the key visual cue. Since the tour returns to the square, you can plan dinner or another evening activity nearby.

Most important, decide in advance how you feel about graphic storytelling. The frightening part is not only the idea of spirits. The accounts of violence, medical mistreatment, and social cruelty may stay with you longer than an orb in a photograph.

Should you book the 13 Ghosts tour?

Book it if you want a reasonably priced Savannah walk led by a storyteller, with real history under the supernatural material. The strongest reason to choose it is the guide quality. Nathan, Jess, Kate, Pam, Jacob, and others are repeatedly praised for making the stories clear, engaging, and personal.

Do not book it expecting a polished stage show or proof of ghosts. Choose it for the combination of Savannah streets, local superstition, dark history, and the chance to form your own view of the paranormal claims. For adults and older teens who can handle graphic material, $25 is a fair price for two atmospheric hours.

FAQ

Where does the Savannah ghost tour start?

The tour starts at Monterey Square, in front of the Pulaski Monument. The meeting coordinates are 32.0715023, -81.09495319999999.

Where does the tour finish?

The tour returns to Monterey Square after the two-hour walk.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts two hours.

What language is the tour in?

The live tour is conducted in English.

What does the tour cost?

The listed price is $25 per person.

Does the tour include a guide?

Yes. A live tour guide is included.

Is the tour suitable for young children?

The tour information warns that it is gory and gruesome. Because the stories include graphic murder details, it is not recommended for people with a queasy stomach, and children under 12 may find it too intense.

What should I bring?

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

Can I cancel the tour?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.