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13 Most Haunted Places in Georgia

ByPaige Watts

When it comes to Georgia’s haunted history, Savannah usually gets the most attention, but the state’s ghost stories don’t stop there. There are plenty of eerie places all across the state that are said to be haunted.

I’ve seen a lot of Georgia’s spooky side: on ghost tours, through historic cemeteries, and at haunted hotels. As an Atlanta local who loves a good ghost story, I’m always looking for new places to get my paranormal fix (especially around Halloween!).

If you’re ready to do a little ghost hunting yourself, grab your flashlight and your EMF meter! From grand old mansions with dark pasts to historic theaters and eerie cemeteries, these are my picks for the most haunted places in Georgia that are worth investigating.

Savannah City Hall in Savannah, Georgia, a historic building with a glowing dome and pillars lit in warm hues at twilight. A busy street with light trails and adjacent brick buildings is visible.

Spooky Haunted Places in Georgia

1. Windsor Hotel

Upward view of the historic Windsor Hotel in Americus, Georgia and its red-brick building at dusk, with rounded and rectangular towers lit by warm, red-toned uplighting. A modern glass canopy with string lights stretches between the towers, contrasting with the classical architecture and arched windows. The deep blue evening sky enhances the dramatic lighting and architectural details.

Americus, Georgia

Windsor Hotel was built in 1892, and this red-brick Victorian hotel was the height of luxury. Now, the hotel is one of the most haunted places in Georgia.

And I got the chance to stay here on my visit to Americus!

The Windsor Hotel has had numerous incidents of people taking their own lives in the guest rooms. The hotel also had a notoriously faulty elevator in its early years, with multiple accidents involving people falling down elevator shafts (the victims of these falls survived, but the elevator continued to have issues for years).

The most popular local legend says that one day in the early 1900s, a housekeeper named Emily was in the third floor hallway with her young daughter Emma Mae. Emily was arguing with her lover, a local politician, when the lover angrily pushed Emily and Emma Mae into, you guessed it, an empty elevator shaft. The mother and daughter fell to their deaths.

Guests and hotel employees report feeling the presence of a little girl, hearing a child’s footsteps on the third floor, and seeing the reflection of a woman in a third floor mirror.

Room 333 is said to be the most haunted room at the hotel, but besides its proximity to the service elevator where Emily and Emma Mae perished, there’s not really a known reason why. But if you stay in this room, you may hear strange noises and have your belongings mysteriously move on their own.

I did not stay in Room 333 (thankfully), but I did stay on the haunted third floor. Can’t say I actually saw any ghosts, though, but you may have better luck!

You can also stay at the haunted Windsor Hotel for a chance to see some ghosts yourself.

2. The Marshall House

The Marshall House Hotel in Savannah, Georgia, an historic brick building on a city street corner with green shutters, an American flag, and a balcony. Cars and pedestrians create an urban vibe.
Roman Eugeniusz, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Savannah, Georgia

The Marshall House is one of Savannah’s best haunted hotels, and it has a rich history that contributes to all its hauntings.

Established in 1852 under the stewardship of Mary Magdalene Marshall, it is one of Savannah’s earliest lodgings and the city’s oldest operational hotel.

During the Civil War, the hotel operated as a makeshift hospital for Union soldiers, and once more in the midst of multiple Yellow Fever outbreaks. The lower floors, once a surgery chamber, harbor a chilling secret: in the 1990s, workers unearthed human remains believed to be the amputated limbs of soldiers, concealed beneath the floorboards.

The fourth floor is considered the most haunted part of the hotel. Room 414 is apparently the place to be if you want to experience the paranormal.

During your stay at the Marshall House, be prepared to encounter disembodied voices, electronics and lights going haywire, the sound of footsteps, and doors inexplicably opening and closing on their own.

Guests report seeing the ghost of Mary Marshall still enjoying her hotel. In the former room of author Joel Chandler Harris, the faint tap of a typewriter emanates. You may even hear and see the ghosts of children playing in the hallway or Civil War soldiers with missing limbs in the lobby.

There are so many reports of ghostly activity at the Marshall House, it’s easy to see why this is considered the most haunted spot in Savannah! But even so, guests seem to enjoy their stay at the historic hotel.

If you’re brave enough to stay the night at the haunted Marshall House hotel, you can book your stay here.

3. The Pirates’ House

The Pirates House in Savannah, Georgia, an historic wooden house with blue shutters in evening light. Two flags hang above. A sign reads "Pirates House." Brick sidewalk and lush trees are nearby.

Savannah, Georgia

The Pirates’ House restaurant occupies one of Savannah’s oldest structures, originally established as an inn in 1753.

It swiftly gained notoriety as a gathering spot for pirates and seafarers. The restaurant comprises several interconnected buildings, including the Herb House, which is considered Georgia’s oldest standing building.

Inside the restaurant, you can still see the entrance to a tunnel used to kidnap and “shanghai” men to make them part of a pirate ship’s crew. Before it was sealed off, people reported hearing voices coming from inside the tunnel.

Reports of shadowy apparitions are widespread, spanning from the upstairs gift shop to the banquet rooms.

The staff will readily share their ghostly encounters if asked. During my visit, my waitress graciously gave me a quick ghost tour, directing me to the stairs of the Herb House where the figure of a boy typically appears.

4. Old Dekalb County Courthouse

Old DeKalb County Courthouse in Decatur, Georgia at night, illuminated warmly and featuring grand columns, arched windows, and a clock above. It is surrounded by trees with a flagpole in front.

Decatur, Georgia

The Historic DeKalb Courthouse, now the home of the DeKalb History Center and a wedding venue, harbors a few lingering apparitions. This is easily the most haunted spot in Decatur.

Its tumultuous history, marked by several fires and reconstructions, sets a somber backdrop. In its days as a functioning courthouse, it saw some pretty gruesome trials and even public hangings at the bandstand on its grounds.

One staircase in the building is closed off to the public — this staircase was once used to move prisoners from their holding cells to the courtroom. Workers often sense an oppressive presence here, occasionally accompanied by phantom footsteps echoing on the steps.

People also report seeing the spirit of a man who was publicly executed for killing his wife and children. He is most often seen in the bushes outside the courthouse, which just happened to be near where I was standing during my Decatur ghost tour; luckily for me, our psychic tour guide said that she didn’t see him out and about that evening.

5. The Ellis Hotel

A view looking up at the Ellis Hotel, a tall historic brick building in downtown Atlanta with rows of rectangular windows and ornate white stone detailing along its base and roofline. The building rises against a clear blue sky.

Atlanta, Georgia

The Ellis Hotel, formerly the Winecoff Hotel, is the site of the deadliest hotel fire in US history. It’s no surprise that this hotel is still haunted by spirits.

When the hotel opened in 1913, it was one of Atlanta’s tallest buildings at 15 stories and was deemed “fireproof” despite having no fire escapes, fire doors, or sprinklers.

When a fire broke out in the hotel in 1946, the fire department arrived on scene quickly, but their ladders only reached up to 8 stories, and their nets could only withstand jumps from about 6 stories up.

The fire killed 119 of the 280 guests. Many guests died jumping from the building.

Today, guests of the hotel report the smell of smoke and hearing phantom footsteps and chilling screams. Even from across the street people report seeing screaming and terrified faces in the windows of the hotel (I’ve stayed in a hotel across from the Ellis and because of this I decidedly did not look into their windows at night!). The fire alarm sometimes goes off at 2:48 a.m., the exact time of the deadly fire.

The Ellis Hotel is all up to code now. In fact, within days of the fire, cities all over the country began enacting more stringent safety ordinances.

You can book a room at the haunted Ellis Hotel here.

Book titled "What's With Atlanta?" by Paige Watts on a marble table. Surrounding it are a notebook, pen, and tulips.

Want to learn all about Atlanta? Check out my new book, What’s With Atlanta?: The Quirks, Personality, and Charm of the ATL. Whether you’re a local or are just passing through, this entertaining guide will answer all of your Atlanta questions.

6. The Fox Theatre

Dimly lit backstage area of The Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia with people walking towards a bright spotlight, called a ghost light. Red stage lights create dramatic shadows, evoking a mysterious, spooky atmosphere.

Atlanta, Georgia

The Fox Theatre is a gorgeous building built in the 1920’s with Islamic and Egyptian design elements. This is the best place in Atlanta to see a live performance, but it also might be the most haunted spot in Atlanta.

Among the theater’s many apparitions is Roosevelt, the theater’s most renowned ghost who was the overseer of the boiler room until his passing in 1945. He doesn’t like to be disturbed in his work and may slam doors and turn off the lights.

There are even more eerie stories of shadowy figures roaming the building, sudden blasts of cold air, and odd technical glitches during shows.

Every year in October, the Fox holds special Ghost Tours so you can explore the haunted history behind the curtains of this iconic Atlanta landmark. I loved this tour as we got to meet the “ghosts” in actor form and not incorporeal form!

7. Old Lumpkin County Courthouse

The Old Lumpkin County Courthouse in Dahlonega, Georgia, an historic two-story brick building at dusk, with tall columns, glowing streetlights, and bare trees against a deep blue sky.

Dahlonega, Georgia

The Old Lumpkin County Courthouse, which now houses the Dahlonega Gold Museum, was originally built in 1836, near the start of Dahlonega’s Gold Rush boom.

The courthouse is said to be haunted by a tall figure in a hooded robe. The staff refer to this apparition as Tommy. People have seen Tommy in the courthouse windows and on the balcony.

He’s also been known to cause knocking within the courthouse walls and even turn on the small model of the stamp press, which makes a startling loud pounding noise, all by himself.

Having toured the museum myself, I can attest that the building is eerie enough when you’re in the exhibit alone with the mannequins without Tommy even making an appearance.

8. Hall House Hotel

The haunted Hall House Hotel in Dahlonega, Georgia, a two-story building lit up at night. Upstairs features decorative railings and fans. Downstairs showcases large windows displaying art.

Dahlonega, Georgia

Hall House Hotel is one of the oldest buildings on Dahlonega’s historic square. Throughout the years, it has been a private residence, a boarding house, and apartments for UNG students.

It’s also one of the most haunted place in Dahlonega.

The hotel, as well as the Bourbon Street Grille and the art galleries that share space in the building, has plenty of paranormal activity to speak of.

Your best chance of a ghostly encounter may be to stay in Sara’s Room. When the hotel’s owner was renovating the third floor room, he found a walking stick engraved with the name Sara in the walls. He accidentally broke the stick and took it home to repair it.

The guest who stayed in the room following the renovation, who had no knowledge of the stick, told the owner that something had been taken from the room and needed to be returned immediately. The hotel owner returned the stick to the room where it is now displayed in a shadow box.

If you’re brave enough, you can book a room at the haunted Hall House Hotel and stay in Sara’s Room here.

9. Marietta History Center

The old Kennesaw House that now houses the Marietta Museum of History in Marietta, Georgia, a brick building with "Marietta Museum" and "Kennesaw House" in large white letters and warm string lights adorning the roofline, set against a dark night sky.

Marietta, Georgia

The Marietta History Center is housed in the haunted Kennesaw House building.

This building was first constructed as a cotton warehouse in 1845, later remodeled into a hotel, and then served as a hospital and morgue during the Civil War.

During our Marietta ghost tour, we were told that some visitors have experienced unexplained noises, the elevator moving on its own, and seen the specter of a woman that was once caught on the security camera.

A lady in a pink dress, identified as the wife of the former hotel owner, also often makes herself known to children visitors of the museum.

If you want to see more haunted spots in Marietta, check out the Ghosts of Marietta tour.

10. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

A wide grassy field at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park in Marietta, Georgia surrounded by dense woodland stretches beyond a rustic split rail wooden fence. The open landscape is covered in golden brown grass, with a few small signs scattered across the field beneath a pale blue sky.

Kennesaw, Georgia

As the site of bloody Civil War battles in the summer of 1864, it’s no surprise that Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park is still home to some lingering spirits.

5,350 people died on these battlefields during the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. The deadliest battles took place at Pigeon Hill and at Cheatham Hill, which became known as the “Dead Angle”.

While hiking the park’s numerous trails, you may catch sight of a ghostly specter, hear the sounds of cannons and gunshots, or even smell blood and gunpowder.

Locals with homes that back up to the battlefields, like my friend’s aunt and uncle, have also reported the ghosts of Civil War soldiers stopping by for a visit.

11. Bulloch Hall

Bulloch Hall in Roswell, Georgia, a white two-story house with columns illuminated at night, surrounded by trees. The house centered against a dark background.

Roswell, Georgia

Bulloch Hall in Roswell is a beautiful Greek Revival mansion that was the childhood home of Teddy Roosevelt’s mother.

It also holds some dark history and is reportedly haunted.

Near where the old slave quarters used to stand, people have seen the spirits of enslaved workers wandering the property.

The home’s alarm system has gone off so many times, for no discernable reason, that the Roswell Police are now weary to investigate the calls. They especially don’t like having to search the creepy attic

When we went along on a Roswell ghost tour one night, we were told to keep an eye out for the startling sight of the porch rocking chairs moving on their own. Some spirits are seemingly sitting on their porch, watching you.

12. Lake Lanier

A sandy lakeside beach with wooden docks and a swimming area overlooks a calm Lake Lanier in Buford, Georgia surrounded by forested hills. A large tree and black metal fence frame the waterfront, with covered boat slips visible in the distance beneath a partly cloudy sky.

Buford, Georgia

In the summer, Lake Lanier is a vacation hotspot with a waterpark and vast lake. Even in the winter, the waterpark becomes a winter wonderland. But under all that is a haunted, tragic past lurking just beneath the water.

When the man-made lake was created in the 1950s, they displaced a Black community and flooded the valley. This submerged cemeteries and unmarked graves, leading to local legend that the lake is cursed.

Since 1994, more than 200 people have died on the lake. There are also reports of something strange lurking beneath the water: unnaturally large catfish, sunken houseboats, debris, and even body parts.

One story says a car carrying two women drove off a bridge in 1958. People report seeing the ghost of one of the women, the Lady of the Lake, wandering the bridge at night.

I think this seasonal Haunted Lake Lanier Experience is one of the most intriguing ghost tours in metro-Atlanta; the tour takes you out on a boat ride on the lake, then you’ll dock at an uninhabited island infamous for its paranormal activity and use authentic EMF readers and EVP recorders to do a little ghost hunting.

Book your Haunted Lake Lanier Experience here.

13. Johnston-Felton-Hay House

Johnston–Felton–Hay House in Macon, Georgia, an historic red brick mansion with ornate white details and tall chimneys standing under a cloudy sky, surrounded by lush greenery and a manicured lawn.

Macon, Georgia

The Johnston–Felton–Hay House, commonly just called the Hay House, is a stunning 7-story Italian Renaissance Revival home built in 1855.

But inside its beautiful facade are stories of the paranormal.

There are plenty of odd things going on inside this mansion. Employees have heard unexplainable voices, lights flickering, and even specters.

One person even reported seeing the ghost of former owner Mary Ellen Felton looking through a chest of drawers one day. Having toured the house myself, it’s easy to imagine just casually coming across a ghost in one of the bedrooms.

A visit to the Hay House is just one of the many great things I recommend doing on a fall weekend in Macon, Georgia.

Top Georgia Ghost Tours

The best way to see even more of Georgia’s haunted spots is to take a ghost tour! There are all kinds of tours to choose from: walking tours, driving tours, cemetery tours, and more!

Check out these top-rated Georgia ghost tours for a scary good time:

Top Haunted Hotels in Georgia

Georgia has way more than just 13 haunted sites, and a lot of them happen to be hotels. This is great if you’re the type of person who loves staying in haunted hotels. Book a stay at one of the top haunted hotels, inns, and B&Bs in Georgia listed below!

Haunted Georgia Map

Want to visit these haunted places in Georgia? Use the map below to plan your ghost hunt!

I hope you enjoy exploring Georgia’s spooky spots!

Haunted Spots in Georgia FAQ

What are some haunted places in Georgia?

Some of the most haunted places in Georgia include the Windsor Hotel in Americus, The Marshall House in Savannah, The Fox Theatre in Atlanta, and the Old Lumpkin County Courthouse in Dahlonega.

Is Lake Lanier, Georgia haunted?

Yes, Lake Lanier is said to be haunted and cursed because when the man-made lake was created, they displaced a Black community and submerged the community’s cemeteries and unmarked graves.

What is the most haunted place in Atlanta?

The most haunted place in Atlanta is The Fox Theatre, which has dozens of ghosts that contribute eerie shadows, sudden blasts of cold air, and odd technical glitches.

Want More Haunted Travels?

Check out these other spooky locations around the world:

Ready to visit Georgia? Plan your trip with these tips.

  • Book your flight to Macon: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
  • Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Georgia using Expedia.
  • Start Packing: Make sure you’ve packed everything you need with my packing list resources.

Cheers!

Paige

13 Most Haunted Places in Georgia

Have you visited any of these haunted places in Georgia? Let me know in the comments!

Paige Watts is a travel expert and author of What's With Atlanta?, a guide to the quirks and charm of the ATL. A life-long traveler, Paige is dedicated to helping you discover the best things to do in the Southern USA and around the world. Her work has been featured in The Culture Trip, Matador, Newsbreak, MSN, NPR, and countless other interviews and podcasts.

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