Haunted Savannah: The Official Guidebook to Savannah Haunted History Tour Conducted by Cobblestone Tours

by James Caskey

From the back cover: Savannah has been named the "Most Haunted City" by investigators from the Travel, History, and Discovery Channels. Her history is filled with plagues, wars, duels and murders...no wonder every site in Savannah has a secret past!

Haunted Savannah brings you chilling tales, as experienced and told by witnesses, and authentic photos documenting the existence of energy from another dimension.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Ghosts, Paranormal, Ghost Stories, Mystery

204 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2005

About the author

James Caskey is a tour owner, licensed guide, historian, and author in Savannah, Georgia. In 2001, he founded Cobblestone Tours, a walking ghost tour based in Savannah, Georgia. The tour company has always been devoted to telling the true history and real stories of Savannah. This search for accuracy naturally led to the world of writing: Caskey’s first book, Haunted Savannah, is a local best-seller, originally published in May 2005 (revised 2013). He has subsequently published three other books, 'The Haunted History of New Orleans: Ghosts of the French Quarter,' 'Charleston's Ghosts: Hauntings in the Holy City,' and 'St. Augustine Ghosts: Hauntings in the Ancient City,' published in 2013, 2014, and 2016, respectively.

He has been featured on the top-rated Savannah episode of TV’s 'Ghost Adventures,' as well as the Travel Channel, the New York Daily News, New York Magazine, Forbes Magazine, South Magazine, CNN, PBS, FSN, Destination America, InFlight Magazine, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Savannah Morning News, the Charleston Post & Courier, WSAV, WJCL, WSOK Radio, and local weekly ConnectSavannah.

Reviews

[Jaime Soria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this book before our trip to Savannah to read up on the ghost lore of the area we'd be visiting, and also to enhance my experience for the one or two walking ghost tours I was planning to buy tickets for during our stay. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this book included not only the ghostly experiences of current residents and stories that have been passed down for years but also carefully researched historical information about the structures and people who lived and died in this area over the last 300 years. Which is what I loved most about this book - the author's ability to dissect the stories about each residence/business, separating fact from fiction from "I didn't find anything about this person but it COULD be true."
I signed up for two ghost tours during our stay, one of them with Cobblestone Tours (the author's ghost tour company) and one with Ghost City Tours. I enjoyed both, but our Cobblestone Tour with Jason was the best. In a city like Savannah, I don't think there is any need to add unconfirmed tidbits when the truth is spooky enough.

[Richard Gazala · Rating 3 out of 5]

I travel often, and one of the best ways I've found to get a quick survey of a city new to me is to read up on its local ghost stories. It doesn't matter whether you're a "believer" or not in ghostly things -- a town's popular ghost stories reveal much about the place and its people, and how they came to be the way they are when you finally get to meet them. In "Haunted Savannah," author (and Savannah tour guide) John Caskey has assembled an enlightening and very entertaining collection of Savannah lore. The dozens of stories in this book provide a brief but fascinating overview of Savannah's nearly 300 years of singular history. In keeping with its title, the vast majority of the stories are of the ghost variety, but the book also features several tales of local strangeness arising from plain eccentric behavior rather than other-worldliness. The book's final few pages give thumbnail descriptions of each of Savannah's famous 24 city Squares. The book would benefit greatly from some copyediting, but it serves well as a useful and fun introduction to a captivating American city.

(Note: the book reviewed above is the 2012 edition.)

[April Helms · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the books I bought while in Savannah. This is a great read for those who like local ghost stories and legends. Gaskey does a good job clarifying which are pure myth (such as the stories on Rene Rondolia) and which stories have some credibility. The author has even had his own ghostly encounters. The book is organized by location, and includes snippets of history about the locations and Savannah in general. It includes a list of Savannah's squares and ghostly stories connected with them. It even has one or two amusing non-ghost stories. A nice addition are the photographs. There is a lot of information that repeats, such as voodoo lore and "haint blue," but this book was designed more or less to be read by chapter- or the place someone is interested in - so that didn't bother me. The book did need a more thorough proofing, though- there were several typos throughout. All in all, I enjoyed this book. I'd save this for older grade school (as long as they aren't easily scared), as well as teens and adults interested in the supernatural and Savannah history.

[Kristine Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was delightful! The author created a great balance between documented historical facts and intriguing anecdotes from folks who had ghostly experiences. He even shoots down a few of the popular but fake tales passed on by some local tour guides. I really enjoyed the conversational tone - it was like James was standing with me telling the backgrounds and hauntings of more than two dozen buildings in Savannah, Georgia. The subject matter was far ranging. Not only was there the expected topics like architecture, military battles, slavery, family fortunes and cemeteries, but also secret tunnels, romance, duels, privateering vs. piracy, murder and Voodoo. There were even tales about a few of the buildings mentioned in the bestselling book "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" by John Berendt.

[Wendi WDM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not particularly well written but feels homey. Its like someone wrote down the stories as a good storyteller was spinning his yarns. However, the really nice thing about this book is that it gives the history of the places that are supposedly haunted. That always seems smart to me. The history often leads to the possibility of why a place is haunted.

Plus I love Savannah. So it's a lot of fun reading about my favorite city and all its haunts.

[steen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at a shop on River Street and love all the stories and content within. The writing is a bit stilted and, at times, awkward but overall, it was a great read. It puts a different perspective on one of my favorite cities and I can't wait to revisit and look at the various locations mentioned in the book. All in all, a pretty decent read!

[Joolz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book containing the history of Savannah, as well as the haunted history, a great read and can be used as a guide book too. I actually bought this book whilst in Savannah, and whilst reading it, found that the hotel I was staying in was also haunted, gave me a few chills as we went ghost hunting in our actual hotel there and then!

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting guide for anyone who is traveling to Savannah, GA, and likes ghost tours. I knew that Savannah was supposed to be haunted but wasn't aware that it was (supposedly) this laden with spirits. The book includes addresses, hours of operation, and other contact information for the hotels, bars and places of business so that you can plan your ghostly trip in advance.

[haint · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book b/c not only my fascination with ghosts but the writer is excellent as keeping up with the history aspect of Savannah as well. I learned so much about that town reading this book. It's really an amazing place.

[YingYing]

some of them are really scary but it's a good book though but I really like it because it gives me a thrill

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent tales of the unusual and bizarre in the historical town of Savannah. I enjoyed the tales, whether or not they're "real," they are amazing, and the town's history is extremely interesting. Great read.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve been to Savannah and taken a ghost tour that was fascinating because of the historical content, so I was hoping to enjoy this book in the same way. It had some historical content but was mostly full of personal accounts of supposed supernatural experiences.

[Lee L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

If ever I needed an excuse to visit Savannah, besides its historical streets and beautiful structures, this would be it! This book breaks the shiver barrier with a great big boom!

Mr. Caskey is a true ghost-hunter. Most welcome is the fact that he has interviewed virtually all of these contemporary eye-witnesses himself, most at the sites of the hauntings, making the stories even more eerie and credible. The author is an excellent narrator and knows how to tell a frightfully good story.

Mr. Caskey has really done the legwork involved in researching the historic sites he details in his book, giving a good feel for the places involved. His history is very interesting and well researched, and as for the wee bit of folklore included, Mr. Caskey is not afraid to debunk some of the vague but persistent legends of Savannah. Several of the tales included in the book, involving such varied subjects as pirates, gangsters, and (of course) haunted houses, are undocumented legends, but he identifies them as such, and has still spent a fair amount of legwork researching their origin and likelihood.

The last story, a personal account of the author's own experience, is the most eerie story of all. What he has witnessed in an Inn on Tybee Island will have you feeling around the corner for the light switch before sticking your head into a dark room and checking your cellar door to see if it is closed. Absolutely SPOOKY.

It is no wonder Savannah is known as one of the most haunted places in the US. Its storied history is overflowing with tragedy, tradition, and a host of interesting characters. The haunted locations just don't seem to end. Even though this book is more than satisfying, you'll wish it was even longer!

[Laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informational reading before a trip we took to Savannah. Gives a lot of history of the city and why there are ghosts in the locations told about. The Ghost Tour Guide told some of the same stories so she must have read the book too!

[Vicki Krivak · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book at a little shop on River Street after I took a haunted ghost tour in Savannah. The book gives alot of history
of the city and why it's supposeably haunted. It was a super fast fun, easy read. It was worth the read.

[Jennifer White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the city and it's history. Picked up the book after taking a haunted pub crawl. Enjoyed hearing the history of the city and the buildings. Fun, easy read.

[Laurie Franklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book!