Georgia is heavy with history. You feel it in the air—that thick, humid Southern atmosphere that seems to trap old stories like flies in amber. When you walk through Savannah or the quiet streets of Americus, the past isn't just a textbook chapter. It’s right there in the architecture. It’s especially present in the haunted hotels in Georgia, where the line between a good night's sleep and a paranormal encounter gets pretty thin.
Honestly, some people check into these places specifically looking for a scare. Others just want a nice room and end up with a story they can’t explain. Whether you believe in ghosts or just like the "vibe" of a historic building, the legends tied to these Georgia landmarks are rooted in some pretty intense, real-world events.
The Marshall House: Amputations and Secret Floorboards
If you’re talking about haunted hotels in Georgia, you have to start in Savannah at The Marshall House. This place opened in 1851. It’s seen the best and the absolute worst of the city. During the Civil War, Union General William Tecumseh Sherman’s troops occupied Savannah, and they turned this hotel into a hospital.
Think about that for a second.
The winter of 1864 was brutal. The ground was frozen solid. Surgeons were performing amputations constantly, and they couldn't bury the limbs outside because the earth was too hard to dig. Their solution? They shoved the remains under the floorboards.
Fast forward to 1999.
Renovations were underway, and workers pulled up the floors only to find a literal graveyard of human bones. It's not a myth; it's a documented historical fact. Since then, guests have reported some truly bizarre stuff. We’re talking about the smell of rotting flesh appearing out of nowhere and then vanishing. Some people claim they've seen a soldier walking through the lobby with his missing arm in his hand, looking for a surgeon.
Then there’s the fourth floor. It’s the "active" zone. People hear the sound of marbles rolling across the ceiling or children running down the halls at 3:00 a.m. Room 414 is particularly famous—or infamous. Guests there have reported their bathroom doors locking from the inside while they’re alone in the room.
The 17hundred90 Inn and the Legend of Anna
A short walk from the Marshall House is the 17hundred90 Inn. It’s smaller, more intimate, and feels like a time capsule. The main story here involves a woman named Anna who supposedly jumped from the window of Room 204.
Now, historians debate who Anna actually was. Was she a jilted bride? A servant? Some say she fell in love with a sailor who never came back. Whatever the truth, the hotel actually makes guests staying in Room 204 sign a waiver. Basically, it says you won't get a refund if Anna decides to tuck you in at night.
People have reported:
- The feeling of someone sitting on the edge of the bed.
- Items like jewelry or undergarments being moved to weird places.
- Quiet sobbing coming from the corner of the room.
It’s sort of a "bucket list" stay for ghost hunters, but for the casual traveler, it can be a bit much. The kitchen is also reportedly haunted by a spirit who likes to clang pots and pans when the staff isn't showing enough "respect" for the workspace.
The Windsor Hotel: A Tragedy in the Elevator Shaft
Moving south to Americus, you find the Windsor Hotel. It’s a massive Victorian masterpiece built in 1892. It looks like a castle, all turrets and grand balconies. But its reputation as one of the most haunted hotels in Georgia comes from a much darker place than its beautiful exterior suggests.
The most persistent story involves a housekeeper named Emily and her daughter, Emma Mae. The legend says they were pushed down an elevator shaft in the early 1900s after an argument with a local politician.
Is it true?
Historians haven't found a paper trail to prove the murder, but that doesn't stop the reports. Guests on the third floor frequently hear a little girl giggling and running. They see a "woman in black" in the mirrors of Room 333.
Then there’s Floyd Lowery. He was a real person—a beloved doorman who worked at the Windsor for 40 years. He was so dedicated that many believe he just never left. Unlike the tragic spirits in the elevator shaft, Floyd is considered a "helper" ghost. People say he still stands by the front door, greeting guests or helping them find their way. They even named the hotel's pub after him.
High Society Spirits on Jekyll Island
Jekyll Island was once the private playground of the world's richest people. Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Morgans—they all had "cottages" here. The Jekyll Island Club Resort was the center of it all.
Usually, when we think of hauntings, we think of tragic deaths. But at Jekyll, the ghosts seem more like they’re just on a permanent vacation.
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J.P. Morgan, the banking titan, used to stay in the Sans Souci cottage. He was a notorious cigar smoker. To this day, guests in that building report waking up to the pungent smell of expensive cigar smoke at dawn, even though smoking has been banned inside for decades.
And then there’s the spectral bellhop.
On the second floor of the main clubhouse, a man in a vintage uniform has been seen knocking on the doors of soon-to-be grooms. He’s not there to scare them; apparently, he’s there to make sure their suits are pressed. Grooms have woken up to find their wedding attire neatly laid out or moved, even when the room was locked.
The Winecoff Fire and the Ellis Hotel
Atlanta has its own dark history at The Ellis Hotel. Back in 1946, when it was known as the Winecoff Hotel, it was the site of the deadliest hotel fire in U.S. history. 119 people died. The hotel was advertised as "absolutely fireproof," which meant it didn't have fire escapes or sprinklers.
It was a nightmare.
People jumped from windows to escape the flames. Today, the building is the sleek, boutique Ellis Hotel, but the past lingers. Guests have reported the smell of smoke at the exact time the fire started—around 3:42 a.m. Some have even claimed to see faces in the windows from the street when the rooms were known to be empty. It’s a heavy place, and the hotel acknowledges its history with a memorial plaque outside.
Why Do We Keep Going Back?
There's something about a haunted hotel that shifts your perspective. You aren't just a customer; you're a temporary guest in a space that belongs to the past.
Maybe the floorboards creak because the wood is 150 years old. Maybe the "cold spot" is just a drafty window. But when you’re lying in a bed at The Marshall House and you hear a marble hit the floor in the room above you—and you know that room is vacant—logic doesn't help much.
Georgia’s haunted history is a mix of documented tragedy and local folklore. It’s what makes the state’s tourism so unique. You get the Southern hospitality, sure, but you also get the ghosts.
Tips for Your "Haunted" Stay
If you're planning to book a room at one of these spots, keep a few things in mind.
- Book Specific Rooms: If you want the "full" experience, ask for Room 204 at the 17hundred90 or Room 414 at The Marshall House. They fill up months in advance, especially around October.
- Talk to the Staff: The people who work there usually have the best stories. They aren't the ones on the ghost tours; they're the ones who have to change the lightbulbs in the basement at 2:00 a.m.
- Respect the History: Remember that many of these stories are based on real human tragedies—fires, wars, and loss. Treat the properties with a bit of reverence.
- Check the Calendars: Many of these hotels, like the Windsor or the Jekyll Island Club, host "Ghost Hunt" weekends or history tours that provide more context than a standard stay.
Your Next Steps
- Verify Availability: Check the official websites of The Marshall House or The Ellis Hotel to see if they have "haunted" packages or historical tours scheduled during your visit.
- Map Your Route: If you’re doing a road trip, start in Savannah for the high density of haunts, then head west to Americus for the Windsor, and finish in Atlanta at the Ellis.
- Read the History: Pick up a copy of Historic Haunts of Savannah by Michael Duclos before you go. Having the names and dates in your head makes the experience much more vivid when you’re actually standing in those hallways.