Rest in Peaches: 19 Most Haunted Places in Georgia
Are you too scared to explore the most haunted places in Georgia? From crumbling mansions to civil war battlegrounds, the Peach State is home to some of the most paranormal spots in the country.
Take a trip through the 19 most haunted places in Georgia:
Heritage Hall
Madison
In the heart of Madison stands Heritage Hall, a gorgeous 1811 mansion steeped in both history and creepiness. Visitors flock to this Greek Revival home, not just for its beauty but for its weird reputation.
The most infamous room is the Ghost Room, where Virginia Nibset, who died in childbirth, lingers. Her spirit manifests in eerie ways—an apparition by the bedside or the ghostly cries of an infant.
The Lady in White, believed to be a heartbroken bride named Elizabeth, roams the corridors searching for her lost fiancé, who vanished before their wedding. Some even claim to hear the laughter of children and the spirits of orphans who died during an epidemic.
These stories have earned Heritage Hall its place as one of the most haunted places in Georgia.
Oakland Cemetery
Atlanta
Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, established in 1850, is more than just a resting place for the city’s famous figures.
This Georgia cemetery is home to thousands of Confederate soldiers, and many believe their spirits still walk the grounds. Visitors have seen undead soldiers in full uniform marching through the cemetery or hanging from the ancient trees.
Perhaps the most creepy tale is the “roll call of the dead,” where disembodied voices are heard yelling out names. Some say that if you hear your name added to the list, it’s a sign that your days are numbered.
Hay House
Macon
The Hay House in Macon is a stunning architectural masterpiece, one of the most beautiful houses in all of Macon, Georgia.
The Mansion’s stunning interior, featuring grand archways, double French doors, and intricate woodworking, was inspired by the Johnston family’s 3-year tour of Europe. But it’s not just the elegant design that catches the eye—it’s the, you guessed it, ghosts.
Built in 1855, this massive mansion is known around Macon to be wildly haunted. Visitors and staff have reported doors slamming shut, chandeliers swinging violently, and weird noises late at night. Many have seen the ghost of former owner Mary-Ellen Felton rifling through a chest of drawers. The third floor is extremely active, with sightings of an elderly woman who wanders the corridors. In 2010, a photographer captured a ghostly figure in a top hat.
Lake Lanier
Northern Georgia
Fact
Parts of the Netflix original series Ozark were filmed at Lake Lanier.
Before it was a lake, the land beneath Lake Lanier was dense forest and home to Cherokee communities who lived, hunted, and farmed there for generations. In the 1830s, when the U.S. government forced the Cherokee from their homeland during the Trail of Tears, families were displaced, and the land was left behind under painful circumstances.
Later, when the government flooded the area to create Lake Lanier in the 1950s, entire towns, cemeteries, and traces of the Cherokee homeland disappeared under water.
Locals often say that the sorrow of that history still lingers. Stories of hauntings and strange occurrences around the lake are sometimes linked to that deep sense of tragedy, as if the land remembers what was taken and cannot rest.
Before Lake Lanier was created, the area included the town of Oscarville, a small black farming community in Forsyth County. Many of its residents were former slaves or the descendants of enslaved families who came here after emancipation. They farmed the land, built churches, and created a self-sufficient community despite the racial tensions of the early 1900s South.
In 1912, a series of racial attacks and lynchings drove nearly all Black residents from Forsyth County. Their homes and churches were destroyed or seized, and Oscarville was abandoned almost overnight. When the government later flooded the area to build Lake Lanier in the 1950s, what was left of Oscarville, including its foundations, cemeteries, and farmlands, was submerged.
With over 500 drowning deaths reported since the lake’s creation, it’s no wonder it is haunted!
Manifestations such as the feeling of being watched are especially active near Browns Bridge. The atmosphere is creepy, and locals avoid the lake at night.
Central State Hospital
Milledgeville
Ancient mental institutions are always creepy, and Central State Hospital in Milledgeville is proof of that.
Founded in 1842, Central State was once the largest mental health facility in the U.S. Unsurprisingly, reports of cruel mistreatment of patients have been common over the years. Over 25,000 patients are buried beneath the hospital, and their spirits are said to still wander the hospital.
Visitors often see mysterious figures, such as former patients, who appear confused and lost. The spirit of a nurse who met a tragic end is also said to roam the deserted halls. She is often seen comforting those who pass by with a gentle touch.
Old Candler Hospital
Savannah
Savannah’s Old Candler Hospital, built in 1804, has seen more than its fair share of death. As the first hospital in Savannah and the second oldest in the United States, it played a key role during the Yellow Fever epidemic.
Countless victims were treated within its walls, and many did not survive. Their bodies were stored in a morgue tunnel beneath the hospital, where, unsurprisingly, ghosts are now seen, voices are now heard, and creepiness is now felt.
The Hanging Tree
The infamous Candler Oak, known as the Hanging Tree, adds to the hospital’s dark reputation. Locals report seeing ghostly figures hanging from its ancient branches, a chilling reminder of the tree’s 330 years of grim history.
St. Simons Lighthouse
St. Simons Island
The St. Simons Lighthouse, built in 1872, serves as a guiding light not only for Georgia’s coastal ships but also for restless spirits.
The lighthouse’s haunted reputation started with a bloody duel between the lighthouse keeper, Frederick Osborne, and his assistant. Osborne was killed in the fight, and his angry spirit is said to haunt the lighthouse to this day, making it one of the most haunted places in Georgia.
Visitors often hear ghostly footsteps on the stairs, lights flickering without cause, and unexplained cold spots. Some have claimed that the lighthouse’s maintenance is mysteriously completed by unseen hands.
Sorrel-Weed House
Savannah
Constructed in the 1830s, The Sorrel Weed House is notorious for its hauntings, with visitors reporting ghostly reflections in mirrors, difficulty breathing in certain rooms, and strange energy draining the batteries of watches and cell phones.
Once home to the wealthy plantation owner Francis Sorrel, the house’s history is steeped in darkness.
After his first wife’s death, Francis married her younger sister, Matilda, who later committed suicide after discovering his affair with Molly, one of his slaves. Molly also died under mysterious circumstances and is said to remain in the house.
Many visitors experience dark energy, some feeling like they’re being choked, while others become drowsy. The house’s ominous atmosphere is also linked to the nearby Siege of Savannah, with rumors that soldiers are buried beneath the property. Sorrel was good friends with General Robert E. Lee, who made frequent visits.
Fact
The house has been featured on shows like Ghost Hunters and If Walls Could Talk, as well as in movies like Forrest Gump.
The Ellis Hotel
Atlanta
The Ellis Hotel, once known as the Winecoff Hotel, is infamous for a tragedy that occurred on December 7, 1946. That night, a fire broke out on the third floor, quickly burning the entire building.
With no fire exits or sprinklers, 119 people, including the hotel’s elderly owners, were trapped. Many died from the flames or smoke, while others died in desperate leaps from the upper floors.
The building’s single staircase acted like a chimney, funneling toxic smoke throughout, turning the hotel into a deathtrap.
The Haunting Reminders
The Ellis Hotel remains one of Georgia’s most haunted locations to this day. Guests report seeing ghostly figures in the windows, hearing disembodied screams, and experiencing eerie sensations.
The most disturbing phenomenon occurs at 2:48 AM—the exact time the fire started—when the fire alarm inexplicably goes off in unoccupied rooms.
The Fox Theatre
Atlanta
The Fox Theatre in downtown Atlanta opened in 1929, and it is not only a historic movie palace but also a haunted theatre. Originally built as a Shriners temple, the building has seen its share of ghosts over the years.
One of the most famous apparitions is a Confederate soldier who is often spotted standing in the windows. Another is the organ player, whose ashes were placed inside the organ after playing there for 24 years. The theater’s backstage elevator has also been known to move on its own, accompanied by the scent of roses.
Masquerade Nightclub
Atlanta
The Masquerade Nightclub, formerly located on North Avenue, is one of the most haunted places in Georgia. The building, originally the DuPre Excelsior Mill from the 1890s, became a popular nightclub after serving as a mill and a pizzeria, but it is now closed.
Visitors and staff reported chilling encounters, including cold spots, footsteps, and the terrifying screams of a woman who died at the club. Keep your eyes open for an eerie apparition of a tall black man, often seen wandering the premises. Legend has it that he’s responsible for turning off music amps late at night.
Warning!
While real vampires are questionable, wannabe vampires are confirmed to frequent this nightclub.
Rhodes Memorial Hall
Atlanta
Rhodes Memorial Hall, known as “The Castle on Peachtree,” is as haunted as it is grand. Built in 1904 by Amos Giles Rhodes, the house is said to be haunted by the spirits of Rhodes, his wife, and their children.
Visitors often hear Mr. Rhodes shouting “GET OUT!” while Mrs. Rhodes frequently appears in mirrors, her ghostly face replacing that of those who look into them. The basement is particularly scary, with reports of a dark, malevolent presence lurking in the shadows.
Euharlee Covered Bridge
Bartow County
The Euharlee Covered Bridge, reconstructed in the 1880s, carries with it an air of tragedy.
One tale involves a young girl who was crossing the bridge with her father when a tragic accident occurred. As she jumped up in excitement, her hair caught in the rafters, and as she fell, her neck snapped.
The bridge is now said to be haunted by her spirit, with visitors reporting the creaking sound of a rope and the ghostly image of the girl swinging from the rafters.
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield
Kennesaw
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield was stained by the blood of over 5,000 soldiers who died during one of the Civil War’s deadliest battles.
The battlefield is now a site of hauntings, with visitors reporting dead soldiers, some missing limbs, patrolling the grounds. Others have heard the distant sounds of cannon fire and gunshots as if the battle is still raging. The smell of blood and gunpowder lingers in the air, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
Kennesaw Mountain’s haunted reputation is a solemn reminder of the past, making it a must-see for those interested in Georgia’s rich Civil War history.
Marshall House
Savannah
The Marshall House in Savannah is not just a historic hotel—it’s a portal to the past, haunted by the ghosts of those who suffered within its walls. Built in 1851, this hotel instead served as a hospital during the Civil War and the Yellow Fever epidemics.
More than a century later, workers were shocked to discover human remains during renovations, likely to be the amputated limbs of soldiers.
Guests report hearing strange noises, smelling rotting flesh, and feeling cold drafts in the middle of the night. The second and fourth floors are particularly active, with reports of ghostly figures and rattling door knobs.
Moon River Brewing Company
Savannah
The Moon River Brewing Company in Savannah is not just famous for its craft beers—it’s also one of the most haunted places in Georgia. The building, originally constructed as the City Hotel in 1821, has a dark past filled with violence and death.
Over the years, it has housed aggressive spirits, including “Toby,” a ghost notorious for pushing people and creating cold spots in the basement. The second floor is haunted by James Stark, who was killed in a shooting, while the third floor is home to the Lady in White, a ghostly figure who pushes people down the stairs.
The Olde Pink House
Savannah
The Olde Pink House in Savannah may look charming with its pastel exterior, but it’s actually one of the most haunted places in Georgia.
Built in 1789 by James Habersham Jr., the house is said to be haunted by its original owner, who reportedly died under mysterious circumstances. His spirit is known for rearranging tables and chairs, lighting candles, and appearing in the tavern dressed in colonial clothing.
Other spirits said to haunt the house include a crying woman on the second floor and children playing happily in the basement.
Windsor Hotel
Americus
The Windsor Hotel in Americus, built in 1892, is a Victorian-style masterpiece with a dark side. Legend has it that a young girl and her mother, who worked as the hotel’s housekeeper, were killed after being thrown down an elevator shaft. To this day, guests report hearing chilling screams echoing through the hallways.
The Pirate’s House
Savannah
The Pirate’s House in Savannah is more than just a restaurant—it just so happens to be one of the most haunted places in Georgia.
Originally built as an inn in 1753, it was a popular spot for sailors and pirates, luring them in with the promise of food, drink, and a place to rest. Many legends surround the building, including tales of sailors being Shanghai’d and dragged into hidden tunnels beneath the inn, only to wake up on ships miles away.
The most famous haunting is Captain Flint, a ruthless pirate whose spirit is said to remain. There’s also the playful spirit of a young girl named Hannah, known for her mischievous yet friendly interactions with guests.
At The Pirate’s House, you can dine with spirits, experiencing firsthand why it’s one of the most haunted places in Georgia.
Haunt Us
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