October has arrived, and with Halloween just around the corner, there’s no better time to explore the South’s spookier side. Behind the charming historic homes, moss-draped trees, and cobblestone streets are centuries of stories — some fascinating, some mysterious, and others that might just send a chill down your spine.
Fortunately, you don’t have to be a paranormal enthusiast to enjoy a good ghost story. Across the South, historic landmarks and local tour guides are bringing the region’s haunted past to life with everything from candlelit walks and murder mystery trolley rides to after-dark lighthouse investigations. Whether you believe in ghosts or simply love a good story, these experiences offer a different way to discover some of the South’s most storied destinations.
So, if you’re looking for a little fright to go with your fall festivities, we’ve rounded up seven haunted Southern tours worth adding to your October plans. Grab a friend, bring your curiosity, and maybe keep a flashlight handy. You never know what — or who — might be waiting around the corner!
Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington | Wilmington, NC
Duration: Approximately 90 minutes
More Info: hauntedwilmington.com
Wilmington’s picturesque riverfront and historic downtown may seem like an unlikely setting for a ghostly encounter, but the Port City has more than a few stories hiding behind its charming façades. On the Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington, visitors explore the city’s darker history alongside costumed guides who know a thing or two about local legends.
The 90-minute walking tour draws from more than 30 researched locations, with routes that may include centuries-old burial grounds, historic homes, and narrow alleyways. Among the locations featured in the tour’s collection of stories are the Latimer House, an imposing antebellum residence associated with tales of unexplained activity, and St. James Graveyard, where legends have circulated for generations.
There’s also the Bellamy Mansion, a striking historic property whose past includes the lives of both the wealthy family who occupied it and the enslaved people who lived and worked there. Stories associated with the home have become part of Wilmington’s paranormal folklore, adding another layer to its already fascinating history.
The best part? The tour begins near Wilmington’s riverfront, making it easy to pair with dinner downtown or an afternoon exploring the area’s boutiques and historic streets.
For anyone who loves a traditional ghost walk, this one offers the perfect combination of Southern history, local storytelling, and a few goosebumps along the way.
The Old City Jail Haunted Tour | Charleston, SC
Duration: Approximately 45 minutes
More Info: Charleston Old City Jail tour information
Charleston is famous for its pastel-colored homes, beautiful gardens, and picturesque streets. But tucked away on Magazine Street is a building with a history that’s considerably less charming.
The Old City Jail housed prisoners from 1802 until 1939, witnessing more than a century of Charleston’s most difficult and disturbing chapters. Today, visitors can explore portions of the historic building on a guided haunted jail tour, where stories of former inmates, notorious crimes, and reported paranormal encounters take center stage.
Among the names often associated with the jail is Lavinia Fisher, a figure whose story has become one of Charleston’s most enduring true-crime legends. Over time, accounts of her life have been mixed with sensational tales and ghostly folklore, making it difficult to separate every detail of the popular legend from documented history.
Inside, the building’s old cells and weathered surroundings provide plenty of atmosphere without the need for elaborate Halloween decorations. Guides share the stories behind the property, including its years as a working jail and the reports of unusual activity that have contributed to its haunted reputation.
Unlike a traditional walking tour, this experience allows visitors to step inside a specific historic landmark and discover the stories associated with its walls.
Charleston’s Old City Jail has a history stretching back more than 200 years, along with plenty of ghost stories. Image: AIASC
Haunted History & Murder Mystery Trolley Tour | Asheville, NC
Duration: Approximately 75 minutes
More Info: Explore Asheville tour information
Who says a ghost tour has to be on foot? In Asheville, you can sit back, enjoy the mountain-town scenery, and let someone else do the driving while you explore the city’s more mysterious past.
The Haunted History & Murder Mystery Trolley Tour takes guests on a 75-minute evening ride through downtown Asheville, blending stories of local hauntings, unsolved mysteries, and historic crimes with a little theatrical flair.
As the trolley makes its way through the city, guides share tales connected to Asheville’s historic buildings, neighborhoods, and colorful characters. The combination of local history and murder mystery storytelling gives the experience a different feel from the usual cemetery walk.
It’s also an appealing way to see Asheville after dark, particularly during October when the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains are dressed in their fall colors. Visitors can spend the day exploring local shops, restaurants, and scenic overlooks before hopping aboard for an evening of spooky storytelling.
The tour departs from the area near Pack’s Tavern in downtown Asheville, putting guests within easy reach of restaurants and other attractions before or after their ride.
Whether you’re visiting with friends or looking for something a little different during a mountain getaway, this trolley tour offers a fun way to discover Asheville’s haunted history and the stories behind some of its most intriguing local legends.
All aboard! Asheville’s Haunted History & Murder Mystery Trolley Tour takes spooky storytelling on the road. Image: Viator
Sorrel-Weed House Ghost Tours | Savannah, GA
More Info: sorrelweedhouse.com
Savannah is practically made for ghost stories. With its moss-draped oak trees, historic squares, and grand old homes, the city has an atmosphere that feels especially mysterious after sunset. And among its many storied landmarks, the Sorrel-Weed House has earned a reputation of its own.
Built in the 1830s, this impressive Greek Revival mansion sits in Savannah’s Historic District and has become one of the city’s best-known destinations for haunted history tours.
Visitors can explore the property on guided ghost tours that share stories associated with the house, its former occupants, and the reported paranormal activity that has attracted curious travelers over the years.
The mansion’s history is closely tied to the Sorrel family, including Francis Sorrel, a wealthy merchant whose household was part of Savannah’s antebellum society. Over time, stories of tragedy and unexplained encounters have become woven into the property’s reputation.
For those who want to take things a step further, the Sorrel-Weed House also offers paranormal investigation experiences, giving visitors a chance to explore the property through a different lens.
And even if you don’t encounter anything supernatural, the house itself is worth seeing. Its grand architecture, historic interiors, and preserved details offer a fascinating glimpse into Savannah’s past.
Located near the city’s famous squares and other historic attractions, it’s an easy addition to a Savannah weekend. Just be prepared: Along the way, you’ll discover the stories that have made this historic home one of the city’s most intriguing destinations.
The Sorrel-Weed House combines grand Southern architecture with some of Savannah’s most talked-about ghost stories. Image: Old Town Trolley Tour
Bites & Frights Haunted Food Tour | Mobile, AL
Dates: October only
Duration: Approximately 3.5 to 4 hours
Ages: 21 and older
More Info: bienvillebitesfoodtour.com
A ghost tour with a side of Southern cooking? Now that’s our kind of Halloween adventure!
In downtown Mobile, the Bites & Frights Haunted Food Tour combines two of the South’s favorite pastimes: enjoying good food and sharing a good story. Hosted by Bienville Bites Food Tours, this October-only experience takes visitors through the city’s historic streets for an evening of local flavors, spooky legends, and a few surprises along the way.
The tour includes stops at locally owned restaurants, with enough tastings to make a full meal. Between bites, guides share stories connected to Mobile’s haunted history, from old burial grounds to the legends that have followed the city through its more than 300 years of history.
One of the more unusual stories involves the Boyington Oak, a tree associated with a local legend about a man convicted of murder. According to the tale, the tree grew near his grave as a sign of his innocence. Whether you believe the story or not, it’s certainly one of Mobile’s more memorable pieces of folklore.
Guests also visit locations connected to the city’s earliest burial grounds, adding a dose of history to an evening otherwise filled with delicious distractions.
The tour offers ticket options with or without alcoholic drinks, although all guests must be at least 21 years old. With restaurant stops along the way, it’s a particularly fun option for couples, friend groups, or anyone who prefers their ghost stories accompanied by something tasty.
Good food and ghost stories go hand in hand on Mobile’s October-only Bites & Frights tour. Image: Country Roads
Dark of the Moon Ghost Tour | St. Augustine, FL
Duration: Approximately 1.5 to 2 hours
More Info: staugustinelighthouse.org
A lighthouse after dark might sound like the setting for a scary movie, but in St. Augustine, it’s an experience you can actually book.
The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum offers the Dark of the Moon Ghost Tour, an evening adventure that takes visitors through the historic lighthouse grounds, keeper’s house, and tower while exploring the site’s long history and reported paranormal activity.
The lighthouse tower dates to 1874, while the keeper’s house was completed in 1876. Over the years, stories of unusual sounds, unexplained sightings, and lingering spirits have become part of the landmark’s reputation.
During the tour, guides share historical accounts connected to the lighthouse and the people who lived and worked there. Visitors can also participate in elements of a paranormal investigation, adding a hands-on component to the experience.
One of the highlights is the chance to climb the lighthouse tower after dark. With its winding staircase and sweeping views, the experience offers a completely different perspective on the historic landmark.
For those who love history as much as Halloween, the museum’s focus on maritime preservation makes the tour especially interesting. Proceeds from ghost tours support the museum’s research and preservation work, giving guests another reason to enjoy the experience.
The tour is a memorable addition to a St. Augustine getaway, particularly for visitors looking for something beyond the city’s traditional walking ghost tours.
The Dark of the Moon Ghost Tour invites visitors to explore St. Augustine’s historic lighthouse after sunset. Image: Ghost City
The LaLaurie Mansion: A Stop on a French Quarter Ghost Tour | New Orleans, LA
Location: 1140 Royal Street, French Quarter
More Info: French Quarter ghost tour information
New Orleans has never been short on mystery. Between the French Quarter’s ornate iron balconies, centuries-old buildings, and legendary characters, the city has plenty of stories to tell. But few addresses have a history as unsettling as the LaLaurie Mansion.
Located on Royal Street, the historic property is associated with Madame Delphine LaLaurie, a wealthy New Orleans socialite whose household became the center of a horrifying scandal in 1834.
After a fire broke out at the residence, evidence emerged of severe abuse and torture of enslaved people held there. The discovery shocked the city and led to public outrage. In the years that followed, the property became the subject of countless stories, some rooted in documented history and others shaped by local folklore.
Today, the mansion is a well-known stop on guided French Quarter ghost tours, where visitors can learn about its history and the legends that have developed around it.
Although the house itself is privately owned and not open for public tours, guides share its story from the street while exploring the surrounding neighborhood’s historic landmarks.
The mansion’s unsettling past has also found its way into popular culture, including the television series American Horror Story: Coven, introducing the LaLaurie name to an entirely new audience.
For visitors interested in the French Quarter’s darker history, this is a particularly memorable stop. The setting is unmistakably New Orleans, with beautiful architecture and complicated history existing side by side.
The LaLaurie Mansion is one of the French Quarter’s most infamous historic addresses and a frequent stop on New Orleans ghost tours. Image: Verite News
A Little History, a Little Mystery, and Plenty of Halloween Fun
From centuries-old mansions and historic jails to lighthouse towers and trolley rides, the South has no shortage of ways to celebrate the spooky season.
Some of these experiences invite you inside buildings with fascinating pasts, while others take you through historic neighborhoods where local legends have been shared for generations. And even if you don’t believe in ghosts, there’s something undeniably fun about hearing a mysterious story in the very place where it supposedly happened.
If you’re planning an October getaway, remember to book early, especially as Halloween approaches. Tour schedules, age restrictions, and accessibility requirements vary, so it’s always worth checking the details before you go.
Whether you’re in the mood for a few chills, a fascinating history lesson, or simply a memorable night out, these seven haunted Southern tours are ready to add a little mystery to your fall plans.
Happy haunting!
