Sorrel-Weed House – Haunted Mansion in Savannah, Georgia
City:
State:
Full Address: 6 W Harris St, Savannah, GA 31401, United States
Check In Google Map
Have you visited this place? Rate Your Experience!
The Sorrel-Weed House is arguably Savannah’s most violently haunted location, a Greek Revival mansion where tragedy, suicide, and alleged murder have created one of the most intense paranormal hotspots in America. Built in 1840, this architectural masterpiece at 432 Abercorn Street has witnessed unspeakable horrors—including a young woman’s suicide and her enslaved companion’s mysterious death within days of each other—and the tormented spirits trapped within its walls have physically attacked visitors, making it one of the few locations where paranormal investigators require medical attention after encounters.
Historical Background
Year Built: 1840
Original Purpose: Private mansion for wealthy shipping merchant Francis Sorrel and his family
Significant Events: The house’s darkest chapter began in 1860 when Francis Sorrel’s wife, Matilda, either jumped or fell to her death from the second-floor balcony onto the courtyard below—within days, Molly, an enslaved woman rumored to be Francis’s mistress, was found dead in the carriage house under mysterious circumstances that were never fully investigated. Many believe Francis murdered Molly to silence her after Matilda discovered the affair, and these tragic deaths have saturated the property with violent, angry energy that continues to manifest over 160 years later.
Paranormal Activity Summary
Physical attacks are disturbingly common at the Sorrel-Weed House, with visitors reporting being violently pushed, scratched, choked, and even having their hair pulled by invisible hands—several people have required medical treatment for injuries sustained during encounters. The apparition of a young Black woman in period clothing is seen throughout the property, particularly in the carriage house where Molly died, her expression described as filled with terror and despair before she vanishes.
Shadow figures move aggressively through rooms, sometimes rushing directly at visitors in what appears to be threatening behavior, and the overwhelming sensation of being unwanted permeates certain areas of the house. Cold spots appear suddenly and are often accompanied by the smell of perfume, blood, or decay, and sensitive visitors report feeling crushing sadness, rage, and fear that’s so intense it causes panic attacks and physical illness.
By the way, have you visited this haunted place in Georgia State? Laurel Grove Cemetery – Haunted Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia
Ghost Stories & Reports
Molly’s spirit is the most frequently encountered and aggressive entity in the house, her anger and pain manifesting as violent attacks on visitors, particularly men who some believe she mistakes for Francis Sorrel. Witnesses describe seeing her full-bodied apparition in the carriage house, sometimes appearing to be running or hiding as if reliving the moments before her death—her presence is accompanied by temperature drops of 20-30 degrees and an overwhelming feeling of dread.
Matilda Sorrel’s ghost is seen on the second-floor balcony and in the room from which she fell, appearing as a woman in a long dress who stares down at the courtyard before vanishing or appearing to fall again in a horrifying spectral replay. Some witnesses claim to hear her screaming or sobbing, and psychics report that her spirit is confused and heartbroken, trapped in the moment of her devastating discovery and subsequent death.
Francis Sorrel’s spirit has been reported in the main house, described as a malevolent presence that becomes aggressive when people discuss the alleged murders or affair—investigators believe his guilt and secrets have created a dark, oppressive energy that feeds the other hauntings. The ghost of a young girl, possibly one of the Sorrel children, is seen playing in certain rooms, seemingly unaware of the tragedy that surrounds her, providing an eerie contrast to the violent adult spirits.
Confederate soldiers’ ghosts appear throughout the property, as the house served various military purposes during the Civil War—witnesses describe hearing marching footsteps, military commands, and seeing men in uniform who disappear when approached. Some investigators believe the property sits on land with tragic Native American history predating the house, adding additional layers to the complex haunting and explaining why the paranormal activity feels so overwhelming and multilayered.
Speaking of haunted places, don’t forget to also check this place in Georgia State? Six Pence Pub – Haunted British Pub in Savannah, Georgia
Most Haunted Spot Inside
The carriage house where Molly died is hands-down the most dangerous and intensely haunted location on the property, where physical attacks occur with frightening regularity and even experienced paranormal investigators fear to enter alone. The basement areas of the carriage house are particularly aggressive, with reports of visitors being pushed down stairs, scratched across their backs and arms, and experiencing such intense fear that they flee in panic—many people refuse to return after a single visit to this terrifying space.
The paranormal doesn’t stop here—this haunted place might also interest you in Georgia State? Bradley Lock & Key – Haunted Business in Savannah, Georgia
Can You Visit?
Open to the Public? Yes—the house operates as a museum and paranormal investigation venue
Entry Fee: Daytime historical tours approximately $15-$20; paranormal tours approximately $30-$35; private investigations for groups range from $500-$1,500+
Tour Availability: The Sorrel-Weed House offers multiple tour options including historical tours, ghost tours, and overnight paranormal investigations with specialized equipment provided; tours run multiple times daily and evening paranormal tours are offered several nights per week. Advanced booking is strongly recommended, especially for investigation experiences.
Photography Allowed? Yes
Visiting Hours: Tour times vary by season and day; typically daytime tours run 10:00 AM-5:00 PM, evening paranormal tours 7:00 PM-11:00 PM (check website for current schedule)
Best Time to Visit
Paranormal activity is consistently intense year-round, but overnight investigations between midnight and 4:00 AM produce the most violent and dramatic encounters when the spirits seem most active and aggressive. The carriage house demonstrates the highest level of activity during these late-night hours, with investigators documenting their most compelling—and terrifying—evidence during this timeframe.
First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports
In 2015, a visitor on a paranormal tour was scratched so severely across her back that she required medical attention—three deep, parallel scratches appeared through her clothing while she stood in the carriage house basement, and photographs show the wounds clearly. A paranormal investigator named Robert reported in 2018 that he was pushed with such force while alone in the carriage house that he fell down several stairs, suffering a sprained ankle and bruised ribs.
Tour guide Emily shared in 2020 that she’s witnessed dozens of people flee the carriage house in terror, including a former Marine who said the oppressive feeling in the basement was more frightening than anything he experienced in combat. A tourist captured video footage in 2019 that shows a dark shadow figure moving rapidly across a room and appearing to reach toward the camera before the device suddenly shut off despite having full battery power.
Multiple visitors have reported experiencing the sensation of being choked while in the carriage house, with visible marks appearing on their necks that fade within hours—one woman in 2021 posted photographs showing handprint-shaped bruises on her throat that appeared during her tour. Staff members have their own terrifying experiences, with several refusing to enter certain areas alone after hearing their names called by unseen voices or feeling violent shoves from invisible hands.
Paranormal Investigations & Findings
The Sorrel-Weed House has been extensively investigated and featured on numerous paranormal television programs including “Ghost Hunters,” “Ghost Adventures,” “Paranormal Lockdown,” and “Ghost Asylum,” with every team documenting significant violent activity. During the “Ghost Adventures” investigation, crew members captured footage of objects flying across rooms, recorded over 40 EVPs, and team member Nick Groff was physically attacked, suffering scratches that appeared on camera.
Investigators have recorded Class A EVPs throughout the property, including a female voice screaming “help me,” a male voice saying “get out,” and what sounds like someone crying in agony. Thermal imaging cameras have captured full-bodied apparitions in both the main house and carriage house, with one particularly disturbing image showing a human-shaped heat signature in the basement that moved toward investigators before disappearing.
EMF detectors spike dramatically throughout the property, with readings that respond intelligently to questions—investigators have documented spirits making devices light up on command and responding to yes/no questions with consistent accuracy. Full-spectrum cameras have captured shadow figures moving with purpose through rooms, and kinect SLS cameras show humanoid shapes standing in locations where violent attacks have occurred, suggesting intelligent entities capable of physical interaction.
Spirit boxes produce remarkably clear responses, with entities identifying themselves by names that match historical records and answering detailed questions about their deaths. One investigation team recorded a conversation between what appeared to be two different spirits arguing about the circumstances of Molly’s death, providing chilling potential insight into the tragedy that occurred in 1860.
Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions
The Sorrel-Weed House requires all visitors to sign liability waivers acknowledging the risks of physical injury from paranormal encounters, and pregnant women are strongly discouraged from visiting due to the intensity of the activity. People with heart conditions, severe anxiety, or PTSD should carefully consider whether they can handle the aggressive nature of the haunting, as panic attacks and medical emergencies have occurred during tours.
The carriage house basement is considered extremely dangerous, and visitors are warned explicitly about the likelihood of physical attacks before entering—tour guides carry first aid supplies and have protocols for handling injuries and emotional distress. The property strictly prohibits provocation of spirits through taunting or disrespectful behavior, as this has resulted in the most severe attacks, though even respectful visitors aren’t immune from aggressive encounters.
Staff recommend that visitors experiencing physical sensations like difficulty breathing, chest pressure, or extreme emotional distress immediately leave the area and alert a tour guide. The house maintains strict capacity limits for paranormal tours to ensure safety and proper supervision during encounters.
Local Legends & Myths
The most persistent legend claims that Francis Sorrel murdered Molly in a rage after Matilda’s death, either to silence her about their affair or in a fit of grief-stricken madness, and Molly’s spirit seeks violent revenge on any man who enters her space. Some versions of the story suggest Matilda didn’t fall accidentally but was pushed by Francis when she confronted him, making him responsible for both deaths and explaining why the house radiates such dark, guilty energy.
Another chilling tale claims that Molly was pregnant with Francis’s child when she died, adding another layer of tragedy and explaining why her spirit is so tormented and violent—some psychics report sensing the presence of an infant’s spirit in the carriage house. Local paranormal experts believe the property sits atop Native American burial grounds or a site of significant trauma predating the house, creating a supernatural “vortex” that attracts and amplifies negative entities.
Stories persist that objects taken from the property become cursed, bringing misfortune to anyone who steals souvenirs or mementos from the house—several people have reportedly returned items and apologized after experiencing runs of terrible luck. Some believe that Molly’s spirit is so powerful she can follow people home, with visitors reporting continued paranormal activity in their own houses for days or weeks after visiting the Sorrel-Weed House.
Cursed or Haunted Objects
A mirror that once belonged to the Sorrel family allegedly shows the reflection of Matilda Sorrel’s face instead of the viewer’s, and some visitors have reported seeing her tearful image staring back at them from the glass. The original floorboards in the carriage house where Molly’s body was found are said to contain bloodstains that can never be fully removed, and touching these boards allegedly triggers violent paranormal responses.
An antique rocking chair in the main house is known to rock on its own, and legend says that anyone who sits in it will experience vivid, disturbing visions of the house’s tragic past—several visitors have claimed to see Matilda’s death or Molly’s final moments after sitting in this chair. Some of the original slave quarters’ fixtures and chains remain in parts of the property, and these objects are believed to carry intense residual energy from centuries of suffering, serving as anchors that keep tormented spirits trapped on the property.