Haunted Hotels in Savannah: Where to Stay if You Want Ghosts (2026)
By Best of Savannah
TL;DR: The best haunted hotels in Savannah. The Marshall House (former Civil War hospital with documented paranormal activity), 17Hundred90 Inn (home to ghost "Anna" who allegedly jumped from Room 204), and The Kehoe House (elegant mansion with children's laughter reported at night). All three are in the Historic District within walking distance of ghost tours and other haunted sites.
Savannah didn't earn its reputation as America's most haunted city by accident. Built atop Indigenous burial grounds, devastated by yellow fever epidemics, and scarred by Civil War, the city has centuries of tragedy layered into its beautiful architecture. And unlike most historic cities that tear down and rebuild, Savannah preserved everything — including, some say, the spirits.
If you're visiting for the paranormal atmosphere, why not commit? Stay in a building where guests routinely report unexplained footsteps, cold spots, and encounters with the dead. These aren't gimmicky "haunted house" hotels — they're legitimate historic properties where strange things happen to be part of the experience.
The Marshall House — Civil War Hospital Turned Hotel
Haunted Reputation: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Most documented paranormal activity)
The Marshall House opened in 1851 as one of Savannah's premier hotels. Then the Civil War came, and Union forces converted it into a hospital. Surgeons performed amputations in rooms where guests now sleep. Yellow fever victims died in hallways that tourists now photograph.
The Ghost Stories
Children running in hallways. Multiple guests report hearing children laughing and running through corridors late at night — believed to be spirits of yellow fever victims who died in the building during 19th-century epidemics.
Room 314. The most requested (and most reported) haunted room. Guests describe feeling watched, cold spots that move, and the sensation of someone sitting on the bed.
Faucets turning on. Across multiple rooms, guests report bathroom faucets turning on by themselves during the night. Staff no longer seem surprised by these reports.
The bones. During 1990s renovations, workers allegedly discovered human remains — including amputated limbs — beneath the floorboards. These were reportedly remnants from Civil War surgeries.
The Experience
The Marshall House doesn't hide its haunted history — the staff are happy to share stories and point you toward the most active rooms. The hotel is beautifully restored, genuinely historic, and located on Broughton Street in the heart of the Historic District. Rooms from $189/night.
17Hundred90 Inn — Anna's Eternal Home
Haunted Reputation: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Most famous resident ghost)
Savannah's oldest inn has been welcoming guests since — you guessed it — 1790. It's also home to Anna, arguably Savannah's most famous ghost. According to legend, Anna was a young woman who fell in love with a sailor. When he left and never returned, she threw herself from Room 204's window.
The Ghost Stories
Room 204. Anna's room. Guests report feeling a presence, seeing a woman in period dress, and waking to find someone sitting at the foot of the bed. Some have reported Anna moving their belongings or tucking them into bed.
The lovelorn spirit. Unlike malevolent ghosts, Anna is described as sad rather than frightening. Some guests feel comforted by her presence; others find it deeply unsettling.
Restaurant activity. The inn's restaurant (also called 17Hundred90) reports glasses moving, place settings rearranging themselves, and cold spots in the dining room.
The Experience
Room 204 books up fast — ghost hunters and paranormal enthusiasts specifically request it. The inn is charming, intimate, and has an excellent on-site restaurant serving Lowcountry cuisine. Located on East President Street, it's an easy walk to everything in the Historic District. Rooms from $159/night.
The Kehoe House — Elegant Hauntings
Haunted Reputation: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Subtle, atmospheric hauntings)
This stunning 1890s Renaissance Revival mansion was built by iron magnate William Kehoe for his family of ten children. The Kehoe House is now an upscale bed-and-breakfast — and several of those children may never have left.
The Ghost Stories
Children playing. Guests hear children laughing and running through hallways late at night. Some believe these are the spirits of the Kehoe children, still playing in their family home.
The twins. According to local legend, two of the Kehoe children (twins) died in the house. Their spirits are said to be the most active, particularly on the upper floors.
Gentle presences. Unlike more intense hauntings, the Kehoe House spirits are described as benevolent — curious rather than malicious, occasionally mischievous but never frightening.
The Experience
The Kehoe House is one of Savannah's most romantic and elegant accommodations. It's perfect for couples who want historic charm with a side of supernatural atmosphere. The hauntings here are subtle — you might stay without experiencing anything unusual. But if children's laughter wakes you at 3 AM, you'll know why. Rooms from $299/night.
More Haunted Hotels in Savannah
The Hamilton-Turner Inn
Featured in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, this Lafayette Square mansion has its own ghost stories — including reports of a Confederate soldier and a lady in period dress. It's less documented than the top three but atmospheric and beautifully located.
The Olde Harbour Inn
This River Street property occupies a converted cotton warehouse dating to 1892. Guests report footsteps, voices, and the presence of dockworkers who died in warehouse accidents over the building's long history.
The Eliza Thompson House
Named for a widow who operated it as a boarding house, this Jones Street property has reports of a woman in Victorian dress wandering the halls and the smell of phantom cigar smoke.
Tips for Staying in a Haunted Hotel
Request the Most Active Room
If you want the full experience, tell the front desk when booking. Most haunted hotels know exactly which rooms generate the most reports. At the Marshall House, ask for Room 314. At 17Hundred90, request Room 204. Staff won't guarantee anything, but they'll usually honor the request if available.
Keep an Open Mind (But Stay Skeptical)
Old buildings creak. Pipes make noise. Our brains pattern-match faces in shadows. Not every bump in the night is supernatural. But Savannah's haunted hotels have decades of consistent reports from skeptics and believers alike. Something is happening — whether it's ghosts, residual energy, or collective suggestion.
Bring Recording Equipment
Many paranormal investigators bring EMF detectors, audio recorders, and cameras. Whether you capture evidence of ghosts or just document your historic hotel stay, you'll have something to show for it.
Pair with a Ghost Tour
Staying at a haunted hotel pairs perfectly with Savannah's ghost tours. Many tours pass by (or through) the Marshall House and discuss its history. Book an evening tour, then return to your haunted room afterward.
Is Savannah Really Haunted?
Skeptics will say no — old buildings, overactive imaginations, and the power of suggestion explain everything. Believers point to consistent reports spanning decades, unexplained phenomena captured on camera, and the city's genuinely tragic history.
Here's what's undeniable: Savannah feels haunted. The Spanish moss, the gas lamps, the 18th-century architecture, the above-ground tombs, the squares named after dead generals — the city cultivates an atmosphere where ghosts seem plausible. Whether the spirits are real or the city just makes you believe they could be, the experience is the same.
Stay in a haunted hotel, take a ghost tour, and decide for yourself. At minimum, you'll have a memorable story. At maximum, you'll meet Anna.
Book Your Haunted Stay
All three top haunted hotels are in Savannah's Historic District, walking distance to ghost tours, haunted sites, and Southern restaurants.
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