Spooky Spots to Spend Halloween in the South
Forget the frigid winds of New England—this Halloween, let the warm Southern breeze carry you to a world of moss-draped mystery and genteel hauntings. With its rich tapestry of history, folklore, and hospitality, the South offers a unique and enchanting backdrop for your spooky season adventures. From the gas-lit streets of New Orleans to the mist-shrouded swamps of Louisiana, Southern spirits are stirring, ready to share their tales with brave visitors.
But it’s not all serious scares down here. The South knows how to throw a party, and Halloween is no exception. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly frights or bone-chilling encounters, our list of Southern spooky spots has something for everyone.
So grab your courage (and maybe a mint julep), and join us as we explore eight haunting destinations where the charm of the Old South meets the thrills of All Hallows’ Eve. Y’all ready for a frightfully good time?
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St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, New Orleans, Louisiana
Established in 1789, this historic cemetery is the oldest in New Orleans and is known for its hauntingly beautiful above-ground tombs. The final resting place of many notable figures, including the infamous Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau, it’s steeped in local lore and supernatural tales. Visitors report seeing ghostly apparitions and feeling unexplained cold spots.
The cemetery’s maze-like layout and crumbling tombs create an eerie atmosphere, especially in the misty mornings. During October, guided tours often focus on the cemetery’s most chilling stories and alleged paranormal activities.
Some tours combine visits to the cemetery with explorations of the French Quarter’s haunted locations. For a family-friendly experience, daytime historical tours offer insights into New Orleans’ unique burial practices and the lives of its most colorful inhabitants, both past and present.
The Myrtles Plantation, St. Francisville, Louisiana
Known as “one of America’s most haunted homes,” the Myrtles Plantation dates back to 1796 and is shrouded in tales of tragedy and ghostly encounters. The most famous ghost is said to be Chloe, a former slave whose apparition has reportedly been captured in photographs. The plantation’s history includes multiple murders, poisonings, and other untimely deaths, fueling its reputation for paranormal activity.
October visitors can participate in special candlelit mystery tours that delve into the plantation’s dark history. For those seeking a truly immersive experience, the Myrtles operates as a bed and breakfast, allowing guests to spend the night in the allegedly haunted rooms. Daytime historical tours are available for families, offering a less spooky but equally fascinating look at antebellum life in the Deep South.
Savannah, Georgia (Various Locations)
Savannah, with its Spanish moss-draped squares and antebellum architecture, is often called America’s most haunted city. The Sorrel Weed House, Bonaventure Cemetery, and the Pirates’ House are just a few of the city’s reputed haunted locations. October in Savannah sees an increase in ghost tours, ranging from family-friendly historical walks to more intense late-night paranormal investigations.
The city’s annual Oktoberfest celebration often incorporates Halloween-themed events. For a unique experience, visitors can take a haunted pub crawl or a ghostly river cruise along the Savannah River. Families might enjoy the less scary daytime tours that focus on the city’s rich history and beautiful architecture while still touching on some of its more famous ghostly residents.
The Bell Witch Cave, Adams, Tennessee
The Bell Witch legend, one of America’s most well-known ghost stories, centers around the Bell family’s torment by a malevolent entity in the early 19th century. The cave on the former Bell property is said to be a focal point of paranormal activity.
In October, visitors can take guided tours of the cave and the replica of the Bell cabin and hear the chilling tale of the Bell Witch. The annual Bell Witch Fall Festival features reenactments, storytelling sessions, and hayrides through the supposedly haunted land.
For a family-friendly experience, daytime tours focus more on the legend’s historical aspects and the cave system’s natural beauty. The nearby town of Adams often hosts Halloween events themed around the Bell Witch legend, including pumpkin carving contests and costume parades.
The Crescent Hotel, Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Known as “America’s Most Haunted Hotel,” the Crescent Hotel has a dark history dating back to its time as a “cancer-curing” hospital run by a notorious charlatan. Today, it operates as a hotel where guests can stay in allegedly haunted rooms. The hotel offers nightly ghost tours that take visitors through its most active paranormal hotspots, including the morgue in the basement.
The hotel hosts extended ghost tours, séances, and a Halloween extravaganza in October. For families, there are less intense daytime tours that focus on the hotel’s architecture and history. The surrounding town of Eureka Springs also gets into the Halloween spirit with fall festivals, costume contests, and ghost-themed theatrical performances suitable for all ages.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida
While not traditionally “spooky,” this family-friendly event offers a magical Halloween experience. The Magic Kingdom transforms with Halloween decorations, special lighting, and music. Guests can trick-or-treat throughout the park, enjoy Halloween-themed rides, and watch the “Boo-to-You” Halloween parade featuring Disney characters and spooky floats.
The “Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular” show stars the Sanderson Sisters from “Hocus Pocus” alongside other Disney villains. Special Halloween fireworks and projection shows light up the night. Character meet-and-greets feature Disney characters in Halloween costumes.
This event provides a perfect balance of festive Halloween fun without being too scary for younger visitors, making it an ideal family destination for October (please saty aware though to the tail end of hurricane season in Florida).
Halloween Horror Nights, Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida
Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights is a premier Halloween event for those seeking more intense scares, better sutied to families with teens. The park transforms into a horror-filled playground with elaborately themed haunted houses, scare zones, and live shows. Many attractions are based on popular horror movies and TV shows.
While too intense for young children (there recommended age limit is 13+), it’s popular with teens and adults. In addition to the scares, visitors can enjoy the park’s regular attractions with shorter wait times.
For those wanting a behind-the-scenes look, daytime tours of the haunted houses are available. These tours offer insights into the creation of the scares without the intense nighttime atmosphere. Universal also provides some family-friendly Halloween activities during the day throughout October, making it possible to enjoy the Halloween spirit without the more extreme scares of the nighttime event.
Event runs this year on selected nights between August 30 and Novembver 3, 2024.
Manchac Swamp, Louisiana
Known as the “Ghost Swamp,” Manchac Swamp is steeped in eerie legends and Cajun folklore. The swamp’s spooky reputation centers around Julia Brown, a 19th-century practitioner of voodoo who allegedly cursed the town of Frenier on her deathbed. Legend has it that on the day of her funeral in 1915, a hurricane devastated the area, fulfilling her curse.
Today, visitors can take boat tours through the murky waters and twisted cypress trees draped in Spanish moss. October brings special “haunted” swamp tours, where guides share ghostly tales and local legends. Some claim to hear Julia’s ghost singing on quiet nights.
For a family-friendly experience, daytime eco-tours focus on the swamp’s unique ecosystem and wildlife, including alligators and diverse bird species. The nearby town of LaPlace often hosts fall festivals with Cajun food, music, and storytelling events that touch on the swamp’s spooky history while keeping things light enough for all ages.
We hope this guide as filled you with some spine-tingling ideas for a fun October road trip into the Deep South! You may also enjoy our guide to the most haunted places in New England & the Northeast.
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