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Savannah proves a good scream!
As one of the most haunted cities in North America it stands to reason that a fair proportion of the hotels in Savannah are similarly afflicted. So, if you are heading to the city for a stay, before you check-in, check-out whether you’ve opted for one of the four most frequently haunted hotels that offer a free unwanted extra guest option.
One of the oldest hotels in Savannah was built in 1851, and is a prime candidate for ghostly encounters; the Marshall House is featured on the city’s ghost tour and has a chequered history, being at various times a hospital – once for yellow fever - and also a Union soldiers’ clinic during the Civil War. After human bones were unearthed during excavations at the hotel in 1960 guests have frequently reported strange encounters, with many reporting that they have awoken feeling as though someone is taking their pulse. Ghosts of long-dead soldiers and patients have also been seen wandering the hallways and standing in the foyer.
Built in 1852, only a year later than Marshall House, the eerie East Bay Inn backs onto the Savannah River and is home to Charley; the hotel’s ‘official’ ghost. This apparition is a regular visitor to the Inn and in 2001 Charley was finally snapped on film by a guest; the evidence now on display behind check-in. If you plan to stay there just ask to see the picture when you arrive, so you’ll be able to identify him later if he appears in your room!
The Eliza Thompson House pre-dated both of the previously mentioned hotels, its construction completed in1847. Once a private house it is now a 25-room Inn, spread over two major buildings. Both guests and visitors have reported seeing Confederate soldiers at an upstairs window and a young girl in a white dress regularly walks the hallway.
Finally, the Olde Harbour Inn is frequently filled with the smell of cigar smoke even when no smokers are present, courtesy of Hank, the Inn’s resident ghost. Holder of the ‘most-often sighted ghost in Savannah’, Hank also likes to indulge in a spot of coin throwing and frequently likes to move things around, such as books and other small items.
Of course, not every hotel in Savannah has a haunting reputation, but in a city of such historical significance and one that has witnessed its fair share of conflicts and tragedy, it is perhaps inevitable that there are some restless souls who resolutely refuse to check out of their preferred accommodation.
