Hamilton-Turner Inn – Haunted Inn in Savannah, Georgia

The Hamilton-Turner Inn is a stunning Second French Empire mansion that’s as famous for its ghostly children as it is for its appearance in “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” Built in 1873, this ornate Victorian beauty became Savannah’s first house with electricity—a technological marvel that some believe may have trapped spirits within its walls when they died, creating one of the city’s most actively haunted locations where playful ghost children and protective adult spirits continue to interact with the living.

Historical Background

Year Built: 1873

Original Purpose: Private mansion for wealthy businessman Samuel Pugh Hamilton and his family

Significant Events: The house made history as the first residence in Savannah to have electricity installed, creating a spectacle that drew curious crowds who would gather outside to watch the lights turn on each evening. Tragedy struck the Hamilton family when several children died in the home from various illnesses common in the Victorian era, and their spirits allegedly never left the house they loved so dearly—local legend suggests the new electricity somehow trapped their souls within the building’s walls, binding them to the physical structure itself.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Children’s laughter and the sound of small feet running through hallways are heard constantly throughout the inn, even when no living children are present—guests report being awakened by giggles and playful voices in the middle of the night. Doors open and close on their own with such frequency that staff members have stopped being surprised, and guests often find their belongings mysteriously moved or rearranged, as if mischievous ghost children are playing pranks.

The ghost of a woman in Victorian-era clothing is frequently seen on the grand staircase and in upper hallway, believed to be a former resident who died in the house and remains to watch over the spirit children. Lights flicker and electrical devices malfunction regularly—ironic given the house’s pioneering role in residential electricity—and some believe the spirits manipulate the electrical systems as their preferred method of communication with the living.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The most active spirits are believed to be the Hamilton children who died in the home, their playful energy felt throughout the building as they continue an eternal childhood of games and mischief. Guests report feeling small hands tugging at their clothing or touching their hands, and some have even claimed to feel a child climbing into bed with them during the night, creating a warm, small impression in the mattress before disappearing.

A little girl in a white dress has been seen in multiple rooms, particularly on the second floor, where she appears briefly before vanishing through walls or closed doors—witnesses describe her as appearing solid and real until she does something physically impossible. Some guests report hearing a child’s voice asking “will you play with me?” or saying “don’t leave yet,” suggesting the ghost children are lonely and seeking companionship from the living.

The protective female spirit, believed to be Mrs. Hamilton or a former nanny, has been spotted watching over guests from doorways and seems particularly active when people show fear or distress—some believe she’s protecting both the living and the spirit children in her care. A male presence is also reported in the study and library, possibly Samuel Hamilton himself, who appears as a distinguished gentleman in Victorian attire before fading away.

Civil War soldiers have allegedly been seen near the house’s exterior, possibly connected to the home’s use during wartime, though these sightings are less frequent than the indoor activity. Some guests report experiencing vivid dreams about Victorian-era life in the house, waking with detailed memories of people and events they couldn’t possibly know about, as if the spirits are sharing their memories during sleep.

Most Haunted Spot Inside

Room 203, known as the “Children’s Room,” is the most actively haunted location in the inn, where guests consistently report encounters with playful child spirits who seem to view visitors as potential playmates. Guests staying in this room frequently report toys moving on their own, children’s voices, and the sensation of someone sitting on the edge of the bed—many specifically request this room hoping for a supernatural experience, while others demand to be moved after a sleepless night of ghostly activity.

Can You Visit?

Open to the Public? Yes—it operates as a luxury bed and breakfast inn where guests can book overnight stays

Entry Fee: Room rates vary by season and room type (approximately $200-$400 per night)

Tour Availability: The inn is included as a stop on many Savannah ghost tours, which typically view the exterior and share stories from the sidewalk; guests staying at the inn receive information about the haunting and are free to explore common areas. The inn occasionally hosts special paranormal investigation events for small groups.

Photography Allowed? Yes, for guests in their rooms and common areas

Visiting Hours: The inn operates 24/7 for registered guests; non-guests can view the exterior anytime from the public sidewalk

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity occurs consistently year-round, with the ghost children being active day and night—however, most intense encounters happen between 10:00 PM and 4:00 AM when the inn is quiet and the spirits seem more comfortable manifesting. Spring and fall seem to bring slightly increased activity, though the playful nature of the haunting means guests can expect encounters regardless of season.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

A couple staying in Room 203 in 2018 reported waking at 2:00 AM to find their bathroom light turning on and off repeatedly while they heard a child giggling—when they checked, no one was there and the switch was physically moving up and down on its own. A businessman in 2020 captured video on his phone showing a door in his room opening slowly by itself, and when he asked “is someone there?” a child’s voice clearly responded “yes” on the recording.

Innkeeper staff members have shared countless experiences, including one housekeeper who reported in 2019 that she made a bed perfectly, left the room for five minutes, and returned to find a small child-sized impression in the center as if someone had been lying there. A guest in 2021 posted photographs on social media showing strange orbs of light throughout her room that moved in the pictures taken seconds apart, following no pattern consistent with dust or camera artifacts.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

Multiple paranormal investigation teams have studied the Hamilton-Turner Inn with the cooperation of the owners, documenting significant evidence of intelligent haunting throughout the building. Investigators have recorded numerous EVPs of children’s voices, including clear recordings of laughter, singing, and what sounds like children playing games—one EVP captured a young girl’s voice saying “I like the nice lady” after a female investigator complimented the house.

Thermal imaging cameras have detected small, child-sized cold spots moving through hallways and rooms, displaying movement patterns consistent with children running and playing. EMF detectors spike dramatically in Room 203 and along the main staircase, with readings that respond to investigators’ questions in what appears to be intelligent communication—asking the spirits to make the device light up twice for “yes” produces exactly that response.

Spirit boxes have yielded conversations that seem to come from multiple child spirits, with names occasionally coming through that match historical records of Hamilton family children who died young. One investigation team captured video footage using a full-spectrum camera that shows what appears to be a small translucent figure running past a doorway, visible for just a moment before disappearing around a corner.

Local Legends & Myths

The most enduring legend claims that when electricity was first installed in 1883, a massive electrical surge during a thunderstorm killed several people in the house and trapped their spirits within the electrical system itself—some believe the ghosts can manipulate electricity because they’re literally connected to the house’s wiring. While historical records don’t support deaths from electrical accidents, the story persists as an explanation for why lights and electrical devices behave so strangely.

Another popular tale suggests that one of the Hamilton children hid during a game of hide-and-seek and accidentally suffocated in a trunk or small space, never being found until it was too late—her spirit supposedly still plays hide-and-seek with guests, hiding their belongings and waiting to be “found.” Local paranormal experts claim that if you play along with the ghost children and engage them kindly, they’ll protect you and bring good luck, but ignoring or dismissing them leads to increased mischievous activity.

Some believe the protective female spirit becomes aggressive toward anyone who frightens or upsets the ghost children, with reports of adults being pushed or experiencing sudden illness after speaking harshly about the haunting. A particularly charming legend says that the ghost children love when real children visit the inn and will leave small gifts or rearrange toys as a sign of friendship—several families have reported finding their children’s belongings arranged in patterns or configurations that spell out simple messages like “PLAY” or “FRIEND.”