Savannah Ghostwalker Tour and Ghost Hunt

Savannah’s Ghostwalker Tour is less a haunted-house show than a nighttime walk through the city’s most atmospheric squares. You’ll hear about battlefields, cemeteries, historic homes, and reported apparitions while moving through the old downtown on foot. The K2 EMF meter gives you something to do besides listen, though it does not prove that every flicker signals a ghost.

I like the mix of Savannah history and ghost lore, especially when guides Patrick and Gene explain how real events shaped the darker stories. I also like the small group, capped at 16 people, which makes it easier to hear and ask questions. The main caution is timing: the tour is advertised as about 1.5 hours, but the detailed route describes a 2.5-hour walk, and some outings have run that long.

Key points to know before you book

• Patrick and Gene lead the walk: Both guides are praised for clear storytelling, historical detail, and personal insight into Savannah.
• You visit six named locations: Madison Square, Colonial Park Cemetery, Lafayette Square, Chippewa Square, Wright Square, and Oglethorpe Square.
• You get a K2 EMF meter: The guide explains how to use it as you look for possible paranormal activity.
• It is an outdoor walking tour: Expect about 3,500 steps, uneven city walking, and no public restroom stop along the route.
• The tone leans factual: This is a good fit if you want history first, with ghost stories and paranormal reports woven in.
• The $35 price is fair for the length: The value is strongest when your guide adds context, photographs, and personal stories rather than rushing from stop to stop.

A history walk with a ghost-hunting tool

The tour begins at 9 p.m. in the southwest corner of Madison Square, across from Saint John’s Episcopal Church. Look for the March to the Sea historical marker near 332 Bull Street. Arrive early. Check-in takes place before the introduction, and the guide is scheduled to leave the square at about 9:15 p.m.

That early arrival matters. The group is small, but the tour does not wait indefinitely for late arrivals. One unhappy booking resulted from a pair arriving about 13 minutes after the listed departure from the square. The operator says the guide had remained in the meeting area for the check-in window, but the group had already moved on. If you are delayed, use the live company phone number printed on your ticket rather than relying only on messages to a booking platform.

At the start, you receive a K2 EMF meter and instructions for using it. This is a simple handheld device designed to detect changes in electromagnetic fields. The fun is in watching the lights react as you move through old places, but you should treat the readings as part of the entertainment and experience, not scientific proof of a spirit.

The best reason to choose this tour is the guide’s approach. Patrick is a retired police officer, and Gene has also drawn praise for his ability to connect Savannah’s past with stories from his own life. One particularly unusual detail is Gene’s connection to a case involving a figure from Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. That kind of local connection can add texture that a script alone cannot provide.

Madison Square sets the mood

Madison Square is a smart starting point. It gives the group room to gather, and its surrounding church, monuments, and old buildings immediately establish the setting. The guide introduces the city’s past here, then explains how Savannah’s squares became gathering places, landmarks, and settings for ghost stories.

This first stop is also where you learn how the tour works. You will walk together rather than follow a trolley, and the guide will stop at sites to explain what happened there and why the location gained a haunted reputation. If you prefer a fast-moving tour with constant scares, the opening may feel slow. If you like context, it helps you understand why the later stories matter.

The exact duration deserves attention here. The general description lists approximately 90 minutes, while the route details describe a 2.5-hour walk. The tour also notes about 3,500 steps, and one account describes an outing that lasted 2.5 hours. I would plan for at least 1.5 hours, keep the rest of the evening open, and bring the patience needed for a longer walk.

Colonial Park Cemetery brings the past close

Colonial Park Cemetery is one of the more fitting stops on a Savannah ghost walk. The guide discusses its history and hauntings from outside or along the accessible route. Entry into historic homes, cemeteries, and museums is not included, so do not expect a private nighttime cemetery visit.

The cemetery gives the ghost stories a firm historical base. Savannah’s past includes conflict, disease, death, and upheaval, and a cemetery makes those subjects immediate. Patrick and Gene are at their best when they explain the facts behind a story before adding the paranormal side.

This stop may not suit you if you want theatrical effects. The tour does not promise actors, special lighting, or staged scares. Its appeal is the setting, the stories, and the chance to consider how real events became local legends.

Lafayette Square and the haunted mansions

At Lafayette Square, the focus shifts from burial grounds to the historic homes around the square. The guide points out haunted mansions and explains their stories. The square is also a useful reminder that Savannah’s ghost lore is not limited to cemeteries. Old residences, churches, hotels, and public spaces all carry tales of unusual encounters.

You remain outdoors. There is no entry into the homes, and you will hear about the buildings from the sidewalk or square. That keeps the price down, but it also means the experience depends heavily on the guide’s voice and pacing. Patrick and Gene receive the strongest praise for making this information easy to follow and for using photographs of alleged paranormal activity to support the stories.

If you enjoy photographs, ask about them during the tour. The guides may show images connected with reported apparitions or unusual events. The practical downside is that stopping to locate pictures on a tablet can slow the group, especially when several people ask questions.

Chippewa Square adds movie and city history

Chippewa Square is one of Savannah’s best-known public spaces, and the guide uses it to discuss local history along with nearby haunted locations. The stop is not presented simply as a photo opportunity. You hear about the square, its role in the city, and the stories connected to buildings around it.

This is a good place to notice the tour’s balance. The ghost material works best when it is tied to the city’s real past. If you booked mainly for paranormal activity, you may find the amount of history surprising. One outing was described as more historical than ghostly, with time spent standing in one place. That is not necessarily a flaw, but it is a clear sign of the tour’s style.

I would choose this walk if you want to learn how Savannah developed and why certain places gained a spooky reputation. I would skip it if you want a rapid series of scares with little background.

Wright Square and Savannah’s darker stories

Wright Square is known for its association with executions, which gives it a naturally grim place in the tour. Here the guide explains the square’s history and the hauntings linked with it.

This stop shows why the tour can appeal to people who are not committed ghost hunters. The historical setting is interesting on its own. The paranormal accounts provide another layer, and the EMF meter adds a hands-on element for people who want to participate.

The guide’s delivery matters most here. A dry explanation can make a dark site feel like a lecture, while a strong storyteller can make the history vivid without turning it into a haunted attraction. Patrick is often praised for humor and clear explanations, while Gene is praised for detailed answers and his ability to connect the stories to wider American history.

Oglethorpe Square closes the route

The final named stop is Oglethorpe Square. The guide points out haunted locations around the square and explains their history and ghost lore. It is a fitting end because the group has by then seen how Savannah’s squares connect the city’s architecture, public life, conflict, and legends.

The tour ends back at Madison Square, according to the meeting details. Since the route can take longer than the basic 90-minute estimate, you should avoid booking a tight dinner reservation or another activity immediately afterward. The evening walk is not designed for rushing.

There are no public restrooms along the route. Use one before the tour begins. Once the walk starts, the group does not stop and wait for individual restroom breaks.

What the guides do best

The guides are the main reason this tour earns strong marks. Patrick is described as friendly, funny, passionate, and able to paint a scene. Gene receives similar praise for detailed answers, personal stories, and careful attention to the difference between documented facts, reported experiences, and common myths.

A retired police background also gives the tour an unusual angle. It can add practical insight into Savannah’s modern past and the way real investigations become part of local lore. Gene’s connection to a well-known Savannah case is another example of the local perspective you may not get from a generic ghost script.

The strongest part of the tour is not the EMF device. It is the guide’s ability to explain the city before asking you to consider its ghosts. You will get more from the evening if you listen for the history behind each story rather than waiting for a dramatic supernatural event.

Is $35 a good value?

At $35 per person, the tour is reasonably priced for a small-group evening walk with a local guide and included equipment. The group limit of 16 is important. You are not being moved through the city in a large crowd, and you have a better chance of hearing the guide and seeing the photographs or meter readings.

The value depends on the actual length and pace. If the walk lasts around 90 minutes, the price is fair for the route, guide, and EMF meter. If it runs closer to 2.5 hours, it becomes a particularly good deal for a guided introduction to several historic squares and landmarks.

The price does not cover entry into houses, museums, or cemeteries. You are paying for the outdoor narration and ghost hunt, not access to interiors. Tips are not included, but the company accepts them if you feel the guide earned one.

Prepare for a late outdoor walk

Wear comfortable shoes. The route covers about 3,500 steps, and the tour is not recommended for people with mobility problems. The information also asks for a moderate level of physical fitness.

The walk operates outdoors and depends on the weather. If poor weather cancels it, you are offered another date or a full refund. The experience also requires a minimum number of bookings, so a cancellation for that reason comes with the same basic choice.

The age limit is strict: participants must be 16 or older. No animals are allowed, and alcoholic drinks are not permitted. For parking, the company lists the Liberty Street Parking Garage at 301 West Liberty Street, next to the Mellow Mushroom restaurant. The meeting point is also near public transportation.

Bring a light layer suited to the evening and keep your hands free for the EMF meter. Since there are no restroom stops, plan ahead. Most important, arrive early at Madison Square. A mobile ticket is used, and confirmation is provided when you book.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

You should book this tour if you enjoy local history with a supernatural angle. It works well for couples, families with older teenagers, and friends who want to see Savannah on foot after dark. It also suits people who have already taken a daytime city tour and want to revisit familiar squares in a different mood.

This is a good pick for a skeptical history fan too. Several parts of the experience focus on facts, photographs, old events, and explanations of common misconceptions. You do not have to believe every haunting to enjoy the stories or the walk.

You may want another tour if you need wheelchair-friendly access, dislike standing for long stretches, or want a theatrical scare show. You should also think twice if you have a firm schedule after 10:30 p.m., since the route length is not presented consistently.

Should you book the Savannah Ghostwalker Tour?

Book it for the guides, the old squares, and the blend of documented events with ghost lore. Patrick and Gene appear to give the experience its personality, and the K2 meter makes the group part of the search instead of leaving everyone to simply listen.

Skip it if your main goal is a fast, highly theatrical haunted attraction. This is a walking history tour first, with paranormal stories folded into the route. At $35, it offers good value for a small group, especially if you arrive on time, prepare for a long outdoor walk, and keep your expectations focused on storytelling rather than guaranteed ghostly evidence.

FAQ

Where does the Savannah Ghostwalker Tour begin?

It begins at the southwest corner of Madison Square, across from Saint John’s Episcopal Church, near the March to the Sea historical marker at 332 Bull Street, Savannah.

What time should I arrive?

The tour starts at 9 p.m. You should arrive early for check-in because the guide begins the introduction at 9 p.m. and leaves the square at about 9:15 p.m.

How long does the tour last?

The general tour information lists about 1.5 hours, but the detailed route describes a 2.5-hour walk. The tour also lists about 3,500 steps, so you should allow extra time in case the walk runs long.

What locations does the tour visit?

The route includes Madison Square, Colonial Park Cemetery, Lafayette Square, Chippewa Square, Wright Square, and Oglethorpe Square. The guide also points out haunted homes and other historic sites along the way.

Is the K2 EMF meter included?

Yes. You receive a K2 EMF meter and instruction on how to use it while searching for possible paranormal activity.

Are cemetery and historic home admissions included?

No. Entry into historic homes, cemeteries, and museums is not included. The experience is an outdoor walking tour.

Is the tour suitable for children or pets?

Participants must be at least 16 years old. No animals of any type are permitted on the tour.