History and Haunts by Local Author

REVIEW · SAVANNAH

History and Haunts by Local Author

  • 5.03 reviews
  • 2 hours (approx.)
  • From $27.00
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Operated by Cobblestone Tours · Bookable on Viator

Savannah has a way of haunting you. This 2-hour History and Haunts tour turns the Savannah Historic District into a story walk, with ghost legends tied to local research from a founder and author of best-selling haunted history books of the South. It’s created by Savannah’s Best Tour Guide 2023, so you’re not just hearing spooky lines—you’re getting context.

I love that the night includes about four haunted establishments, in a route that feels like a pub crawl without being a nonstop party. I also like the guide energy: Nicole kept a great pace and was flexible, answering questions as they came up and staying on-topic when comments added useful details. My only caution is simple: alcoholic beverages aren’t included, so you should plan on buying drinks if that’s part of your idea of fun.

It stays family friendly, caps groups at a maximum of 20, and ends near Chippewa Square, making it easy to continue exploring right after the tour.

Key Things to Know Before You Go

History and Haunts by Local Author - Key Things to Know Before You Go

  • Short and focused: About 2 hours, with a stroll that fits well into a typical Savannah day.
  • Story research matters: Ghost history is tied to the company founder’s author research, not vague legends.
  • About four haunted stops: You’ll visit roughly four haunted establishments, with time for stories at each.
  • Pub crawl rules without the chaos: You can carry beverages through the historic district, but drinks aren’t included.
  • Small-group feel: Maximum 20 travelers, plus private tours are available if you want a quieter setting.
  • Easy ending point: Usually ends at Chippewa Square, about two blocks east of Colonial Park Cemetery.

Why Savannah’s Ghost Stories Feel Different at Night

History and Haunts by Local Author - Why Savannah’s Ghost Stories Feel Different at Night
Savannah is a city where history is visible. You see it in the mansion lines, the older streets, and those moss-heavy oaks that make the sidewalks feel older than they are. This tour leans into that mood, but it doesn’t treat haunting as random spectacle.

Instead, you get ghost history framed around real local context. The tour specifically addresses why Savannah is called The Necropolis of the South, and that word choice isn’t just drama—it points to the city’s long, layered relationship with death, memory, and place.

If you like your spooky with grounding, you’ll probably enjoy how the stories connect to what you’re seeing outside. Think less jump-scare energy and more, I get why this place carries these legends.

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The 2-Hour Value: What $27 Buys You

At $27 per person for about 2 hours, the value comes from the combination of storytelling and structure. You’re paying for a guide-driven walk, designed to cover enough ground to feel like a full experience without stretching your evening into a marathon.

A few details support that value:

  • The tour is capped at 20 travelers, which helps stories land instead of getting swallowed by the crowd.
  • You’re guided to famous and lesser-known locations in the historic district, so you’re not only visiting the obvious postcard spots.
  • You get both hauntings and historical context, which is useful if you want more than just spooky names and dates.

One practical reality: it’s not an all-inclusive drinks event. Alcoholic beverages aren’t included, and the tour notes that you can carry beverages through the district. If you’re going for a classic bar crawl, you’ll need to budget for what you order.

Still, if you’re hoping for an evening activity that feels uniquely Savannah and not generic, $27 for a guided, research-led walk with multiple stops is pretty fair.

Price and Logistics: How the Tour Runs in Real Life

History and Haunts by Local Author - Price and Logistics: How the Tour Runs in Real Life
This is a mobile ticket tour in English, and it’s built for a small-group experience. You can also expect it to be close to public transportation, which is handy if you’re using buses or rideshares instead of walking everywhere.

The route is a walking tour, so you’ll want a moderate physical fitness level. Savannah’s sidewalks are walkable, but you’re on foot for the full timeframe, and you’ll be moving between the historic district and the stops.

Also, the tour is family friendly. That doesn’t mean it’s watered down. It means the storytelling style is more about history and legends than shock tactics—exactly what you want if you’re traveling with kids, teens, or anyone who prefers spooky-but-safe entertainment.

Finally, keep in mind that meeting and ending points matter:

  • Start: Oglethorpe & Abercorn EB, Savannah, GA 31401
  • End: Usually Chippewa Square (about two blocks east of Colonial Park Cemetery)

Your guide may direct you to where you’re going next, which is helpful if you’re trying to connect the tour to the rest of your night.

Meeting at Oglethorpe & Abercorn: Fast Start, Clear Flow

History and Haunts by Local Author - Meeting at Oglethorpe & Abercorn: Fast Start, Clear Flow
The tour kicks off at Oglethorpe & Abercorn EB in Savannah’s 31401 area. That’s a practical starting spot because it gets you into the historic rhythm quickly.

You’ll also appreciate the ending flexibility. The experience states that it can end in different locations depending on the group, but it’s usually Chippewa Square—one of the most convenient places in town to regroup, grab a snack, or walk to other attractions.

If you’re trying to plan your evening, this matters. You won’t be stuck on the far edge of nowhere after the last story. You’ll be dropped near a central landmark where it’s easy to keep moving.

And since you’ll get a mobile ticket confirmation at booking time, you can focus on showing up rather than hunting for paper tickets.

Savannah Historic District: Southern Gothic Streets With a Dark Thread

History and Haunts by Local Author - Savannah Historic District: Southern Gothic Streets With a Dark Thread
Stop one is built around a classic Savannah feel: Southern Gothic mansions, moss-covered oaks, and streets that look like they’ve been holding secrets for a long time. But what makes this part more than atmosphere is the way it sets up the legends you’ll hear next.

You’re told why Savannah is called The Necropolis of the South, and that frames everything. When you understand the city’s relationship to death and burial—how it’s remembered and displayed—you start picking up on why people later built stories around those places.

This is also where the tour’s research-forward approach becomes clear. The company founder, who is also an author of best-selling haunted history books of the South, researched the hauntings and legends you’ll hear. That doesn’t mean every story is provable (no ghost story is). But it does mean you’re not getting random folklore without effort behind it.

Expect this initial stretch to feel like a guided orientation. It gives you the “why” behind the “spooky,” which is what keeps the whole tour satisfying.

Four Haunted Establishments: A Pub Crawl With a Story Purpose

History and Haunts by Local Author - Four Haunted Establishments: A Pub Crawl With a Story Purpose
The tour’s second act is where the experience shifts into a haunted pub-crawl vibe. You’ll visit approximately four haunted establishments during the tour, and at each stop you’re meant to encounter both types of spirits.

That wording matters. The tour doesn’t just keep things at one flavor of ghost legend. It’s aiming for variety in the storytelling—different kinds of hauntings, different angles on local lore—so the evening doesn’t feel repetitive.

Another detail that helps: beverages can be carried throughout the historic district. In plain terms, it keeps the pacing smoother. You’re not forced to commit to one location for the entire experience, and you can keep moving while still having a drink with you.

What I’d watch for is your expectations about drinks. Alcoholic beverages are not included, so your experience will depend on what you bring or buy. If you want a more social night out, plan your budget and pace accordingly.

Also, because groups are capped at 20, these stops are usually easier to navigate than big, chaotic “ghost tour bus” situations. You still get time for the guide to talk, not just noise while everyone films at once.

Guide Style: The Difference Between Spooky Facts and Real Storytelling

History and Haunts by Local Author - Guide Style: The Difference Between Spooky Facts and Real Storytelling
The best part of this tour is how it sounds and moves. In one recent experience, the guide Nicole delivered a strong overview of ghost history and also kept things light when it fit—local stories and famous events worked together instead of competing.

Two things stood out from that kind of guiding:

  1. Pace stayed excellent—not rushed, not dragged.
  2. Flexibility worked—Nicole answered relevant questions and responded to comments that tied back to the topic.

That’s the difference between a tour that recites and a tour that teaches. You’ll likely leave with a few clear takeaways, not just a list of spooky names.

It also helps that the tour is led by experienced storytellers who are using research, not random improvisation. You can feel that when the guide explains context as part of the story, not as a separate lecture.

Who This Tour Fits Best (And Who Should Rethink It)

History and Haunts by Local Author - Who This Tour Fits Best (And Who Should Rethink It)
This tour is a solid match if you:

  • Want an evening activity in Savannah that feels specifically local
  • Like ghost history that comes with context, not just scare lines
  • Enjoy walking tours and can handle moderate walking time
  • Travel with a group that wants something fun but still family friendly

It can also work well as a first Savannah night. The tour starts with an orientation to the historic district and ends near Chippewa Square, so you’re positioned to continue exploring afterward.

You might reconsider if:

  • You’re expecting a drinks-included haunted crawl. Alcoholic beverages aren’t included.
  • You want long, stop-by-stop deep research lectures that stretch beyond 2 hours. This is timed, efficient, and focused.

Think of it as a tight, story-led walking evening: enough time to feel the vibe, short enough to keep your energy for the rest of your trip.

Best Ways to Plan Your Night Around This Tour

Because the tour is about 2 hours, I treat it like a “set piece” on a day that also includes other Savannah highlights. If you’re trying to fit in dinner, I’d plan it so you’re not sprinting right after the tour ends.

Here’s how I’d structure it:

  • Choose your dinner plan near or after Chippewa Square since the tour usually ends there.
  • If you’re sensitive to walking, wear comfortable shoes before you arrive. Savannah is worth it, but your feet will do the work.
  • If you want alcohol, remember you’ll need to buy what you want. Be ready for that decision instead of being surprised at the end.

And because confirmation happens at booking and it’s mobile ticketed, you’ll likely be able to manage it without extra fuss. Just make sure you show up at the right start point: Oglethorpe & Abercorn EB.

Should You Book History and Haunts in Savannah?

Book it if you want a small-group, research-led ghost story walk that fits neatly into a short evening. The price feels reasonable for what you get: guided storytelling, about four haunted establishments, and a clear ending near Chippewa Square.

Skip it or consider another option if alcohol is the main event for you. This tour supports a pub-crawl vibe, but it doesn’t supply drinks. And it’s timed—great for an outing, not built for hours of wandering and extra stops.

If your ideal Savannah night is history plus atmosphere, with just enough spooky to make the streets feel alive, History and Haunts is the kind of tour that makes Savannah feel personal fast.

FAQ

How long is the History and Haunts tour?

The tour lasts about 2 hours.

How much does it cost?

It costs $27.00 per person.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at Oglethorpe & Abercorn EB, Savannah, GA 31401. It usually ends at Chippewa Square, about two blocks east of Colonial Park Cemetery, though it can vary by group.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, it’s offered in English.

About how many haunted stops will we make?

You’ll visit approximately 4 haunted establishments.

Are drinks included?

Alcoholic beverages are not included, and drinks are not included.

How big are the groups?

The tour caps at a maximum of 20 travelers.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts. If you cancel within 24 hours, no refund is provided.

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