It is that time of year again when most television channels transition into non-stop ghost hunts and paranormal investigations and everyone is searching for the best costumes. Many of those searches for the out-of-this-world can be found in Savannah, often referred to as America’s most haunted city. It isn’t hard to see why. Savannah was involved in the Revolutionary War and Civil War, two devastating fires in 1796 and 1820, and several yellow fever epidemics that claimed the lives of a tenth of Savannah’s population. If you are in search of a spooky destination for October, Savannah fits the bill with all of the haunted history.

Here’s a breakdown of where you need to go for the spooky side of Savannah.

The Haunted Houses

Haunted houses aren’t hard to come by in Savannah. Not only can you tour many of these haunted spaces, but you can also appreciate a great deal of jaw-dropping architecture in the process. The Sorrel-Weed House is one such structure in town. Built in 1840, it boasts an antebellum Greek revival/regency style of architecture. It is also a ghost show magnate as it was built where the Siege of Savannah took place. A tour through this haunted house details suicides and struggle and the chilling fact that the original owner Francis Sorrel was forced out of the home merely by the spooks.

Other haunted houses in Savannah that you should at least take a stroll past include the Mercer Williams House, the site of the murder of Danny Hansford in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and the Hampton-Lillibridge House, which is said to be the most haunted house in America.

The Creepy Cemeteries

Thanks to cheap flight deals in October, you can get some guaranteed Halloween goosebumps by flying down to Savannah and take in some of its spooky cemeteries. On the outskirts of town, you will find one of the city’s spookiest spaces, the Bonaventure Cemetery. The massive resting place sprawls across 100 acres. It is known for its old tree-lined roadways, unique cemetery sculpture and architecture along with its permanent members. One of the most famous graves is that of “Little Gracie,” a girl who died in Savannah’s yellow fever epidemic. What puts the cemetery over the edge to a whole new level of spookiness is its draping Spanish moss on every tree.

Suppose you don’t want to travel far for your spirit encounters, the Colonial Park Cemetery lords over the heart of Savannah’s historic district. Taking up just 6 acres, the cemetery hasn’t accepted new occupants since 1853. It remains the oldest intact municipal cemetery in town and served as the primary public cemetery from 1750 to 1853, when Savannah was at its most traumatic and tragic.

The Ghostly Brewery

Moon River Brewing Company, right in the heart of Savannah, has long prided itself on being the city’s most haunted pub. As they say, “Some of our regulars have been coming here a long, long time.” The building itself dates back to 1821 when it was the City Hotel. Perhaps some of their guests never checked out. The brewery has attracted famous ghost hunters to nose around the building and brews for ghouls and goblins. Moon River has an extensive list of beers, including the Captain’s Porter, the Slo-vannah American Pale Ale, and the appropriately named Apparition Ale.

The Scary Squares

Empty bench at Wright Square.

To drive through Savannah, you might go mad due to its many squares. The city is covered in squares that drivers must loop around to continue on the straight and narrow. These spooky spaces generally feature benches for perching and oak trees blanketed by the Spanish moss. While many argue over which of Savannah’s squares are a favorite for ghosts, Wright Square might be the most ghoulish. As the site of the town’s hangings back in the day, one would expect this. It is also one of the only squares where the Spanish moss does not grow; something many contend is not just a coincidence.