The American South’s historic cemeteries are more than just final resting places—they’re open-air museums where history, folklore, and the supernatural intertwine beneath canopies of ancient oak trees draped in Spanish moss. Here are five of the most haunted burial grounds that continue to captivate visitors and ghost hunters alike.

1. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 – New Orleans, Louisiana

The oldest surviving cemetery in New Orleans, St. Louis No. 1 opened its gates in 1789 and has been accumulating ghost stories ever since. The cemetery’s 700 above-ground tombs—necessitated by New Orleans’ high water table—create a maze-like “City of the Dead” with over 100,000 burials compressed into one city block. The Cemetery’s best known spirit is that of Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo Queen.

Laveau’s tomb (or supposed tomb) remains one of the most visited in the cemetery, The Glapion family crypt is often marked with triple X’s by those seeking her supernatural assistance. Visitors report seeing a woman in a white dress with a red and white turban walking among the tombs, only to vanish when approached. Others claim to hear ritualistic drumming and chanting near her grave at dusk. The vandalism of her tomb in particular was one of the deciding factors that prompted the Catholic church to relegate visitations as guided tours only.

The poor soul of 19^th century sailor Henry Vignes is said to wander the cemetery in search of his lost family tomb. Vignes was the victim of fraud and the deed to his family tomb was stolen and sold. When he eventually passed, he was buried in an unmarked grave. His apparition is reported to stop visitors and ask them to help find his lost grave.

While I’ve never had the pleasure of running into Laveau or Vignes, my own tours of St. Louis No. 1 have not disappointed. During my last visit a group of shadow people followed our tour group about the tombs, and I had the distinct impression that a little girl had joined our group toward the end of the tour. I felt as though she was drawn to an infant who had accompanied its parents on the tour. Once our group had returned to the entrance, the little spirit faded away among the tombs.

Read the account of my Halloween weekend tour of St. Louis No. 1.

2. Colonial Park Cemetery – Savannah, Georgia

Established in 1750, Colonial Park Cemetery served as Savannah’s primary burial ground for nearly a century. Some of its more notable residents include many of Savannah’s founding fathers, Revolutionary war figures such as Lachlan McIntosh (Maj Gen. Continental army), Archibald Bulloch (Governor of Georgia’s provincial congress and great great grandfather of Theodore Roosevelt) and Button Gwinnett who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. During the Civil War, Union soldiers occupied the cemetery, desecrating graves and altering headstones—perhaps explaining the restless energy that lingers here today.

Ghost hunters regularly capture orbs in photographs, while visitors report seeing shadowy figures darting between tombstones. The most frequent apparition is that of Rene Rondolier, a seven-foot-tall man who was allegedly hanged in the cemetery after being accused of murdering two girls. His ghost is said to wander the grounds at night, accompanied by a sudden drop in temperature. Many have reported seeing Lachlan McIntosh and Button Gwinnett reenacting their infamous duel (McIntosh killed Gwinnett) from beyond the tomb.

My own experiences in Colonial Park were more of the empathetic nature. The East wall of the cemetery features a brick wall festooned with dozens of broken headstones from lost graves and beyond said wall is rumored to be a forgotten tract used for the burials of the indignant. The emotional vibe in this section of the park was one of disappointment and hopelessness. The noticable drop in temperature aside, the air of despair forced me to move to a “brighter” spot in the cemetery.

If you are a American history enthusiast, I highly recommend a visit to Colonial park cemetery. Walking among the final resting places of the American revolution’s key players – men who walked rank and file with the founding fathers; is not only inspiring, but also humbling. Its not often one finds themselves standing among legends.

Read all about our haunted stay in historic Savannah.

3. Bonaventure Cemetery – Savannah, Georgia

Made famous by its featuring role in “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” Bonaventure Cemetery is a hauntingly beautiful 160-acre property overlooking the Wilmington River. The cemetery’s most famous ghost is little Gracie Watson, who died of pneumonia in 1889 at age six. Visitors who leave toys at her life-sized statue report hearing childish giggles and seeing the statue’s expression change.

Another recurring phenomenon involves the statue of Little Wendy, which is said to cry tears of blood during full moons. Witnesses also report hearing music playing from the cemetery’s old music room, though it was demolished decades ago. Some attribute the ghostly music to the infamous dinner party of 1771 that saw the namesake plantation mansion catch fire and burn. The hosts requested their guests to simply finish the revelry outside, and all raised a toast as the mansion burned. Visitors often claim to hear the clinking of crystal champagne flutes and soft laughter as if a party was being held just out of sight.

Other more frightening phenomenon include the howling and baying of a pack of spectral hounds, and the cemetery’s somewhat obscure connection to voodoo. Supposedly popular with local “rootworkers”, the grounds are said to be coveted for rituals and as a source of grave dirt for spellwork. Apparently this became such an issue that the city had to pass an ordinance prohibiting the removal of soils from cemeteries.

4. Tolomato Cemetery – St. Augustine, Florida

As the oldest planned cemetery in Florida, Tolomato Cemetery holds centuries of stories beneath its weathered headstones. The most frequently reported apparition is that of a young boy who peers out from behind a tree near the cemetery’s eastern wall. Some believe he’s the spirit of Juan Burdon, a student at the old Tolomato Indian School who died in the late 1700s. Another boy would fall to his death in 1877 while climbing one of the massive oaks on the grounds, his specter is often seen crouched among the branches of the very same tree from which he fell.

The cemetery’s centerpiece, a chapel dating to 1797, is said to be particularly active with supernatural energy. The chapel onced housed the remains of prospective saint Father Varela and Florida’s first Bishop, Bishop Verot. During the funeral of Bishop Verot, the attending minister decided to open Verot’s iron coffin for one final look before burial, unfortunately the Florida heat had accelerated decomposition and when the coffin was opened, the sudden depressurization caused the corpse to explode onto the gathered mourners. The coffin was hastily resealed and placed in the chapel until a few years later when the remains of Father Varela where being relocated to Cuba; officials once again decided to open the iron coffin of Bishop Verot. The chapel was reportedly filled with a horrid stench and several in attendance were sickened. Both Father Varela and Bishop Varot’s spirits have been witnessed near the chapel.

Tolomato cemetery is only open to the public for brief tours (11a.m. – 2p.m.) on the third Saturday of each month. It can be readily viewed any other day outside its iron gates and is a stop on many of the local ghost tours – plus its location on Cordova Street is only a short walk to the next haunted destination on our list.

5. Huguenot Cemetery – St. Augustine, Florida

Established in 1821 outside the original city gates as a burial ground for yellow fever victims, Huguenot Cemetery is believed to harbor the spirits of those who died during the epidemic. The most famous ghost is that of Judge John B. Stickney, who died in 1882 and was exhumed years later to be re-interred in Washington D.C. During the exhumation, the gravediggers took a break and left the casket unattended and upon their return discovered that someone had removed the judge’s gold teeth. This apparently didn’t sit well with Stickney, as today, visitors report seeing the judge’s spirit pacing near his disturbed grave, perhaps still seeking justice for the desecration.

Others describe encounters with a young girl in a white dress who appears to be playing among the tombstones and sometimes floating among the trees, only to disappear when approached. She is often associated with an unidentified 14 year old girl whose body was found near the city gates during the yellow fever pandemic. Her spirit is believed to roam the short expanse between the cemetery and the gates, as she has been witnessed in both locations.

Even though the cemetery is closed for burials, it remains rather active. Paranormal investigators have captured numerous EVP recordings of otherworldly chatter and childlike laughter; in addition to countless photos featuring orbs and other anomalies. As with the nearby Tolomato Cemetery, Huguenot cemetery is only open to the public on the third Saturday of each month from 11a.m. To 2p.m., so you’re going to have to sprint if you want to walk thru both on the same day.

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Whether you’re a paranormal enthusiast or simply appreciate historic architecture and atmospheric grounds, these five cemeteries offer a glimpse into the South’s rich and sometimes supernatural history. While their ghost stories may never be proven, the tangible history and haunting beauty of these burial grounds make them worthy destinations for any traveler interested in exploring the more mysterious corners of American heritage.

*Remember to check visiting hours and tour requirements before visiting, as many of these historic cemeteries require guided tours or special permissions for entry.*