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

Savannah’s ghost stories are not tucked inside a theater. They unfold on public squares, beside old homes, and over ground said to hold more than 46,000 bodies. This two-hour walk mixes murder, asylum stories, voodoo, root magic, and local superstition with the city’s nighttime beauty.

I like the clear route from Monterey Square to Forsyth Park and back, plus the chance to ask questions along the way. I also like that guides such as Nathan, Jess, Pam, Wendy, Jacob, and Kate have been praised for strong storytelling and real historical detail. The main caution is simple: this is graphic and gruesome, not a mild spooky stroll.

Key points to know before you go

• Psychic-led storytelling: Guides are presented as actual psychics, not actors in costume.
• A 2-hour city walk: Meet at the Pulaski Monument in Monterey Square, visit the Historic District and Forsyth Park, then return.
• Graphic subject matter: Expect accounts of murder, decapitation, mistreatment, death, and restless spirits.
• Strong guide personalities: Nathan is often singled out for humor and detail, while Jess, Pam, Wendy, Jacob, Kate, and others bring their own style.
• Good photo opportunities: Bring a camera and a charged phone for the squares, buildings, and possible orbs or apparitions.
• $25 with flexible booking: Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later.

Why Savannah works so well after dark

Savannah is unusually suited to a walking ghost tour. Its historic center is arranged around squares, old streets, monuments, and buildings with long public memories. At night, the same places feel quieter and more mysterious, even before the guide begins the first story.

This tour uses that setting well. You are not sitting in a dark room listening to a scripted performance. You are moving through the city while the guide connects particular streets and buildings with deaths, violence, superstition, and reported paranormal activity.

The experience also gives you two different ways to enjoy Savannah. If you are a believer, you may pay close attention to unusual sounds, photographs, or energy readings. If you are skeptical, you can treat the evening as a colorful lesson in local folklore and some of the city’s less comfortable history.

That balance matters. Several guides, including Jacob, have been praised for tying the ghost stories to actual historical events rather than presenting only campfire tales. The best part of a tour like this is often the human story behind the haunting: how people lived, suffered, died, and were remembered.

Meeting at Monterey Square

The walk begins in Monterey Square, in front of the Pulaski Monument. This is a practical starting point because you are already in one of Savannah’s most atmospheric areas, surrounded by historic buildings and tree-lined streets.

You should arrive with comfortable shoes, a charged smartphone, and a camera. Bring cash as well, since tips are not included in the $25 price. A face mask is required, and one can be purchased on site for $2.

The meeting point is specific: the Pulaski Monument in Monterey Square, at approximately 32.0715023, -81.09495319999999. That precision helps, especially in the evening when several squares can look similar.

The tour ends back at Monterey Square. I consider that a useful feature. You are not left to work out your own way back from an unfamiliar part of town after dark, and you can easily continue your evening from the same central area.

Walking through Savannah’s Historic District

The first major part of the route passes through Savannah’s Historic District for about 20 minutes. The guide uses the streets and buildings as a setting for stories about murder, strange deaths, spirits, and dark family secrets.

Do not expect a museum-style explanation at every stop. The tone is more personal and dramatic, with the guide shaping the material around the group. That can make the evening lively, especially when the guide responds to questions or jokes with the crowd.

Nathan has received particular praise for combining humor with detailed explanations. That mix can be helpful because the subject matter is heavy. A little humor gives you a break before the next disturbing story, without turning the whole experience into a costume show.

The tour’s subject matter reaches beyond familiar haunted-house tales. You may hear about decapitations, brutal murders, people who supposedly refuse to disappear, and cruel treatment of the mentally ill and other vulnerable people. The point is not only to frighten you. Some stories also expose the uglier parts of Savannah’s past.

The material can be especially effective when the guide separates what is historically documented from what is part of local belief. You should listen for that distinction and feel free to ask questions. Guides such as Kate and Jess have been praised for answering questions carefully and giving background on the families and buildings connected with the stories.

Forsyth Park at the 10-minute photo stop

The route reaches Forsyth Park for a photo stop of about 10 minutes. This is the most obvious pause in the itinerary, giving you time to photograph the park and the surrounding nighttime streets.

Bring your phone fully charged. The tour specifically encourages photographs of apparitions and orbs, although no result can be guaranteed. One person on a past tour reported capturing an unknown face in a photograph connected with 432 Abercorn, which shows the kind of moment that can become a personal highlight for believers.

You do not need to accept every image as paranormal. Reflections, shadows, dust, and low light can create strange results. Still, taking photographs gives you something active to do instead of simply listening, and it can make the stop more memorable.

The 10-minute pause is short, so do not expect a long photography session. Use it for a few quick shots, listen for the guide’s explanation, and stay with the group. Forsyth Park is also a good place to appreciate the contrast at the heart of the tour: beautiful public spaces can carry grim stories beneath their calm appearance.

Stories of graves, asylums, and root magic

The advertised themes are broad. You will hear about buried bodies, asylums, voodoo, murder, occult practices, and root magic. The detail about walking over more than 46,000 corpses is designed to make the city’s hidden past feel physically close. It is a chilling idea because you are not merely hearing about death in a distant cemetery. You are walking through streets built over earlier human remains.

The discussion of voodoo and root magic adds cultural context, but it also calls for attention. These subjects should not be reduced to spooky decoration. Local spiritual practices, superstition, and occult traditions have different meanings and histories. A thoughtful guide can help you understand how belief shaped Savannah, rather than treating every practice as a horror prop.

The tour also deals with institutions and people who were treated badly. One account described stories involving medical care, mental illness, slavery, nonconformity, and intolerance. That is important context. The darkest part of Savannah’s past is not always supernatural. Sometimes it is the way living people treated one another.

This is one reason I would not describe the tour as pure entertainment. It has theatrical storytelling, but the material can lead to serious questions about power, cruelty, grief, and memory. If you prefer your ghost tours to stay light and playful, this may feel too intense.

What the guides add to the experience

The guide is the main reason this tour can work so well. The route itself is straightforward, but the delivery changes the evening.

Nathan has been praised for his humor, timing, and command of Savannah’s stories. Jess is noted for taking her time and adding facts that are easy to miss on a normal city walk. Pam has been described as a strong storyteller who brings the accounts to life without relying on a costume or exaggerated performance.

Wendy’s approach has included paranormal tools and spirit communication, while Garrett has even offered a tarot reading after the scheduled tour in one instance. Those extras should not be assumed for every departure, but they show how much the guide’s personal style can shape the experience.

Some guides keep the tone serious. Others joke with teenagers or involve families in questions. The tour can therefore feel different from one evening to the next. That is not necessarily a weakness, but you should book it expecting a live guide rather than a fixed audio program.

A good guide also knows when to slow down. The strongest accounts give you time to picture the people involved and understand the location before moving on. The positive experiences connected with Nathan, Jacob, Jess, Kate, and others point to a consistent strength: the guides are expected to know the material and engage directly with the group.

Is the $25 price fair?

At $25 per person, this is a reasonable price for a two-hour guided walk in central Savannah. You are paying for a live English-speaking guide, local storytelling, and a structured evening route rather than a simple list of haunted addresses.

The value depends on what you want. If you only want a quick look at Savannah’s squares, you can do that without paying. If you want someone to connect the buildings with stories, explain local beliefs, and keep the group moving after dark, the price is easier to justify.

The tour does not include food, transportation, private access to buildings, or a guaranteed paranormal encounter. It is an outdoor walking experience. You should also budget for a tip because gratuity is not included.

The reserve-now, pay-later option is useful if your plans are still changing. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the tour. Check the available departure time when booking, since the duration is fixed at two hours but the exact start time can vary.

Who should book this ghost walk?

I would recommend it to adults who enjoy local folklore, crime stories, unusual history, and paranormal questions. It is also a good fit for a small group of friends who want an evening activity that feels different from a standard sightseeing walk.

It can work for older teenagers, especially if they enjoy horror and can handle graphic descriptions. I would be cautious with younger children. Some stories involve children and violent deaths, and at least one family found the material too intense for a 10-year-old. The tour does not give a formal age recommendation, so use your own judgment.

You should also consider your comfort with the word psychic. The guides are described as actual psychics rather than actors playing a part. If that sounds interesting, the experience may feel more personal. If you want a strictly historical walking tour, the supernatural elements may not suit you.

The route is two hours on foot, so wear comfortable shoes. Rain does not necessarily cancel the atmosphere, but wet weather can make the walk less comfortable. One past tour continued through intermittent rain, which added to the mood but also left the group damp.

Practical advice for a better evening

Arrive at Monterey Square with your phone charged and your meeting point saved. The tour uses public streets and squares, so you will want your hands free for walking, listening, and taking photos.

Keep your camera ready at Forsyth Park and at other points where the guide pauses. Avoid treating every blur or reflection as proof of a spirit, but keep the experience playful. The best photographs may simply be atmospheric views of Savannah after dark.

Ask questions. The guides have been praised for answering beyond the basic route, and the evening becomes more interesting when you ask about the families, buildings, or beliefs behind a story.

Finally, remember that tips are separate from the $25 booking price. Carry cash if you plan to thank the guide at the end.

Should you book the 13 Ghosts tour?

Book it if you want a serious, graphic ghost walk with a strong focus on Savannah’s darker past. The combination of public squares, murder stories, supernatural claims, voodoo themes, and flexible guide personalities gives the evening more substance than a quick round of haunted-house jokes.

Skip it if you dislike gruesome detail, want a calm family walk, or prefer history without psychic and occult material. For the right audience, $25 is fair value, especially when you get a guide who can tell the stories with the warmth, humor, and care associated with Nathan, Jess, Pam, Wendy, Jacob, Kate, and the other American Tour Company guides.

FAQ

How long is the Savannah ghost tour?

The tour lasts two hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $25 per person.

Where does the tour begin?

Meet the American Tour Company guide in front of the Pulaski Monument in Monterey Square.

Where does the tour end?

The tour returns to Monterey Square.

What places are included on the route?

The route begins at Monterey Square, passes through Savannah’s Historic District, stops at Forsyth Park for photographs, and returns to Monterey Square.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. The tour has a live English-speaking guide.

Are the guides actors?

The tour information describes the guides as actual psychics, not actors playing a role.

Is the tour suitable for children?

The tour does not provide a formal age recommendation. Because the stories are graphic and gruesome, use caution with children, especially younger children and anyone sensitive to violent material.

What should I bring?

Bring a camera, cash, a charged smartphone, and a face mask or protective covering.

Are tips included?

No. Tips are not included in the tour price.

Can I cancel my booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.