Georgia's Ghosts, Ghouls and Goblins; Celebrate Halloween at Georgia's Many Haunted Hot Spots
ATLANTA, Oct. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Thrill-seekers needn't travel far for a good scare in Georgia. With Halloween looming around every corner, so too are haunting tales of Georgia's Appalachian legends, angry pirates and lost souls of Revolutionary and Civil War soldiers.
In Georgia's northern mountains, there are rich tales of spirits from days gone by. At Big Canoe Resort near Jasper, the spirit of a Native American haunts the Sconti Clubhouse and has been seen at various locations throughout the resort, leading housekeepers to utter greetings whenever entering and leaving rooms. Resort staff believes the apparition is a Cherokee Indian, possibly buried under the clubhouse, who does not realize he has passed. Spend Halloween night in this secluded mountain getaway -- if you dare!
At the Chickamauga Battlefield near the Tennessee border, more than 35,000 men were killed, missing or wounded battling for control of Chattanooga, a key rail center during the Civil War. Union troops eventually retreated, but this Confederate victory prompted the Federal reinforcements that arrived later that year, including General William T. Sherman. Regardless of the outcome, there is little argument over the amount of blood that was shed at that battle; 'Chickamauga' is a Cherokee Indian word for "river of blood." Today, there have been reports of a heavy fog or smoke-like covering (from long-ago gunfire?) that creeps in at night and can only be seen from inside the park. Visitors have reported sightings of glowing, green eyes from the battlefield that are said to belong to "Ol' Green Eyes," a Confederate soldier killed by his own brother who was fighting for the Union. There are also tales of young women who watched their fiances go off to war and now roam the battlefields in their wedding gowns in search of their long, lost loves. Visit Chickamauga National Military Park in Ft. Oglethorpe for the hiking, horseback riding and history, and stay the night for a Halloween haunting you'll never forget.
The spirits are also alive and well at Barnsley Gardens. Godfrey Barnsley arrived a meager immigrant in 1824 and quickly became one of the South's most affluent men. He married Julia Scarborough of Savannah only a few years later. In the 1840s he purchased nearly 4,000 acres of land for the site of a grand estate in what is now Adairsville. During construction, Julia fell ill and died of a lung ailment, leaving Godfrey heartbroken to raise their six children. He left the children in the care of a governess and devoted himself to business for a year, but when he returned to the estate to visit, Julia's spirit appeared to him in a fountain and instructed him to finish the estate. Legend holds that her spirit continued to advise him on the details of the elaborate Italian villa style estate and gardens. Tour the historic gardens and manor house ruins; hear stories of the Barnsley family history; and enjoy hay rides, live music and more at the Spirits of Barnsley celebration on Oct. 25 and 26 at Barnsley Gardens.
Often referred to as the "Hostess City of the South," Savannah is known for its quintessential Southern charm. Since British General James Oglethorpe landed in 1733 to found America's thirteenth colony, Savannah has evolved into one of the nation's most unique cities and one of the South's most hospitable. This may be why so many ghosts have decided to roam its streets, homes and cemeteries over the years. Recently named "America's Most Haunted City" by the American Institute of Parapsychology, Savannah boasts many well-known landmarks. Among them is Colonial Park Cemetery, the oldest graveyard in the city. Many Revolutionary War heroes are buried here, including Button Gwinnett, a signer of the Declaration of Independence; Generals Lachlan McIntosh and Samuel Elbert; Archibald Bulloch, the first President of Georgia; and Major William Leigh Pierce. There are also merchants, carpenters, nurses, families and all other walks of life buried alongside the city's statesmen and captains of industry -- each with a story to tell to whomever braves the grounds at night. Visit the cemetery on the Savannah Haunted History Tour, a candlelit walking tour of the streets and squares of Savannah that departs from the cemetery gates at 7 and 9 p.m. nightly.
For a taste of Savannah's pirate origins, take a stroll through the Savannah historic district on the Pirates' Walk Tour, which departs from Oglethorpe's Bench at 2, 5 and 7 p.m. daily. Evidence of swashbucklers, buccaneers and sea rovers abounds. The 'brethren of the coast' Captain Flint died in Savannah, Blackbeard had an island just south of the city named for him and Jean Lafitte married a maiden from the Old Fort section of the city. Captain Flint is even rumored to haunt the Pirates' House Restaurant at the corner of East Broad and Bay Streets. Legend holds that he died in the house while crying for his first mate, Darby McGraw, to bring him some more rum. Visitors can still hear his cries and even catch a glimpse of his scar-faced phantom roaming through the basement tunnel. Sample the famous okra gumbo or low country boil with a side of spooky and some creepy for dessert!
Learn about Macon's ghostly past and present on the Ghost Tour of Macon on Oct. 19. Ride in the comfort of Macon's trolley, the Mitsi, or stroll along with "The Spirit of the South," Sidney Lanier, and hear all about the spirits of Macon's history. Based on the book Ghosts of Macon, by local author Mary Lee Irby, this award-winning tour features an oral history of Macon's many historic landmarks and haunted houses.
Celebrate Halloween all month long at Wild Adventures' HalloScream in Valdosta. Daredevils discover a host of chills and thrills, including spooky haunted houses, spirited shows, frightening thrill rides, a spooktacular fireworks and laser show and more.
The whole family will enjoy a Historical Halloween Carnival at the Agrirama in Tifton. Bring the kids for a safe and exciting celebration with carnival games, costume contests, fortune telling and more from 6 to 9 p.m. on Halloween. The Haunted Town will provide thrills to audiences of all ages on Oct. 30 and 31 from 8 to 11 p.m.
Georgia's capital also boasts its own Halloween gore and lore. At the 1848 House in Marietta, "George" and "Lillian" have been getting into ghostly mischief for decades. One of the few antebellum homes to survive Sherman's march, the house has survived numerous owners, a Civil War battle and occupation by Union troops. Today, its restaurant is widely known for its contemporary Southern cuisine. Tales of swinging chandeliers, rocking chairs, unexplained lights, backwards clocks, levitating flowers and strange apparitions have kept the curious and the hungry intrigued for years. Come for the Charleston she crab soup, and stick around for the chance to spot a spector on Halloween or any other night of the year!
Enjoy Historic Halloween on Oct. 19 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Atlanta History Center, featuring visitors from another realm at the Center's 1840s Tullie Smith Farm and along the paths of the Mary Howard Gilbert Memorial Quarry Garden. Hear tales of things that go bump in the night from storytellers, but beware of the ghosts and goblins that come out late to offer more spine chilling experiences for the brave at heart. Take "A Tour of Southern Ghosts" at Stone Mountain Park on Oct. 19 through 31, featuring costumed antebellum storytellers and eerie tales of Civil War and Revolutionary ghosts.
From cemeteries to antebellum mansions to battlegrounds, Halloween in Georgia is sure to offer a thrill to trick-or-treaters of all ages.
The Georgia Department of Industry, Trade & Tourism is the state's sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, promoting the state as a location for film and video projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development.
