The warm hospitality of the South hides a chill that lingers in its most storied buildings. Ghostly whispers, unexplained shadows, and footsteps echoing in empty halls have drawn countless visitors to these haunted locations. Each site harbors its secrets, from tragic love stories to unsolved mysteries, creating an air of eerie fascination you won’t find anywhere else.
Here are the spookiest places in the South you should visit if you are down for a grisly thrill.
Skull’s Rainbow Room – Nashville, Tennessee
Printer’s Alley in Nashville is a popular nightlife district. It was once home to around two dozen publishers and print houses, hence the name. In the 1940s, it started selling illegal booze, paying off the local police, who were more than happy to look the other way as long as they got their cut.
According to Nashville Ghosts, the area quickly became a debaucherous place and a popular spot for local men. A brothel named Climax Saloon opened up, and many bars, including Rainbow Room, featured exotic dancers.
A big-time player in Printer’s Alley was David “Skull” Schulman, who owned Skull’s Rainbow Room. He was often seen walking his three poodles, Angel, Sweetie, and Sugar, on the streets of downtown Nashville, with his shiny skull belt buckle glistening in the hot sun. One of his poodles was sent as a gift by Elvis himself.
Schulman was practically an icon in Nashville. That’s why everyone was so shocked when, in 1998, he was found in a pool of his own blood in Printer’s Alley. He was rushed to the hospital and died the next day. His poodle, Sweetie, was by his side when a cigarette vendor found him with his head smashed in and his throat slit.
It was most unfortunate that at the ripe old age of 80 and at the peak of his success, David Skull Schulman was brutally murdered in a petty robbery. A few months after the tragic event, for which two drifters were eventually charged, Skull’s Rainbow Room closed.
In 2015, though, news spread through Nashville that the Rainbow Room had reopened. It retains much of the original vibes, but one thing never left the Rainbow Room, and that is David the Skull himself.
David’s spirit continues to hang around in his prized Rainbow Room. Of course, he never aims to disturb or harass guests. He insists on sitting in the exact spot he always sat in, though, so steer clear of the second-to-last barstool. Otherwise, you may see your drink gently moved to the side, which is a sign that David is making room for himself.
Some claim they’ve even seen phantom poodles roaming around the property, a sure sign that David is around.
Another strange occurrence at the Rainbow Room is that the temperatures sometimes quickly plummet. Even on hot sunny days, a freezing chill can sometimes be felt. Many believe it is the ghost of David Skull Schulman, as phantoms are believed to have that effect.
Middleton Tavern – Annapolis, Maryland
The Middleton Tavern was built in 1740 as a private residence. Just 10 years later, it was sold to Horatio Middleton, who turned it into an inn in 1750, offering lodging to the many seafaring folk passing through the city. The tavern’s sign still reads “Est. 1750.”
With almost three centuries of history, the inn has accumulated various ghosts over the years. After all, several US presidents, among other important businessmen and politicians, have spent nights here or passed by for a drink. Remember, Annapolis briefly served as the nation’s capital after the Revolution, so many bigwigs spent time there.
Bartenders and guests alike have reported creepy things happening in the tavern, such as chairs being kicked around or glasses being knocked over. Strange shadows cast upon the ceiling strike fear in the hearts of those who notice them before they disappear.
But who exactly is haunting the Middleton Tavern? While it is suspected to be haunted by several ghouls and ghosts, a visiting medium revealed the identity of one of them – who goes by the name “Roland,” according to Baltimore Ghosts.
Roland Johnstone was a patron at the tavern in the 18th century, soon after it opened. He was quite a nuisance, starting fights, making trouble, and getting drunk to the point that he passed out on the floor. In short, he was the town drunkard and wasn’t well-liked for it.
It seems like Roland never stopped with his troublesome ways. He still hangs around the bar, giving everyone headaches, reveling in spooking unsuspecting tourists and locals who have not heard of the tavern’s haunted nature. Don’t worry, though, as he’s quite harmless! Nobody has ever gotten hurt by Roland – the most he can do is tip over glasses and chairs, cause lamps to flicker, and turn faucets on and off.
The LaLaurie Mansion – New Orleans, Louisiana
The LaLaurie Mansion bears the name of the woman behind the horrors of this house – Madame Delphine LaLaurie. In the early 1800s, the LaLauries, including Madame LaLaurie and her young doctor husband, were social icons in the scene of New Orleans.
Generally regarded as kindhearted and sweet people, they were adored by New Orleans’ high-class society. They often held parties and events and invited others for food, drink, culture, rich discussions, and a good time.
During one such party, a fire broke out, starting in the kitchen and raging through the mansion and its slave quarters. Like many other residents of French Louisiana, the LaLauries kept slaves.
The LaLauries seemed unperturbed, taking the party outside and claiming that the slave quarters were empty, that the only slaves they had were the ones serving at the party. But as the local fire department fought the fire, they insisted on getting into the burning slave quarters. The LaLauries refused, so the firefighters broke in – and what they saw shocked them.
As reported in the local newspaper, The Bee, several slaves were found suspended from their necks, with deep bruises and their limbs stretched out and torn from their extremities.
According to New Orleans Ghosts, the fire was started by an elderly woman chained to the kitchen stove. Discovered by the firefighters, she admitted that she started the fire in an attempt to end her life and escape the horrific treatment and punishments that were meted out to her by the LaLauries.
Other slaves were found with strange wounds, including a man with a hole in his head and a slave with a botched gender transition surgery. Many believe that Dr. LaLaurie used them for medical experiments.
A crowd gathered to witness the atrocities. Incensed, they started looking for the LaLauries, fully intent on hunting them down and giving them a proper lynching. But it was too late – the LaLauries, fully aware of what might happen when their abuses were revealed, had already rushed to the dock and boarded a vessel heading to France.
They lived luxurious lives in Paris, where the local Parisians were unaware of their prior abuses. Around two decades later, Madame LaLaurie passed away, but her spirit wasn’t in any mood to rest.
After the fire, the mansion remained an uninhabited ruin for a while. Owners came and left, scared away by the horrific, disembodied screams, pains, and groans that could be heard at night. Eventually, it was divided up into tenements, mostly inhabited by immigrant families. Their children often reported hearing shrieks and screams at night, which their parents often dismissed as nightmares.
Some people passing through the home reported seeing a mean-looking lady with long, red hair staring at them in the dead of night. It is believed to be Delphine LaLaurie’s spirit. At one point, the place housed a girls’ school, and the students often reported being attacked by a mysterious woman.
Kehoe House- Savannah, GA
In 1892, William Kehoe, an Irish immigrant, spent $25,000 to build a house in Savannah. Kehoe had made a fortune in the iron industry, working his way up the ladder until he became one of the wealthiest and most prominent people in Savannah. His house featured many iron workings, from the balconies to the stairways.
According to Savannah legend, two of his 10 children died after getting stuck in the chimney and burning to death. Their ghosts are the ones that haunt this house the most.
Nowadays, the historic Kehoe House serves as a bed and breakfast, welcoming guests from across the nation and across the world. Many of the guests report feeling a child tugging on their pants or dresses as they sit. Others say they feel someone tugging on their blankets at night, only to awaken and find nobody there.
Some believe that William Kehoe himself still graces the B&B with his presence. A tall, legless figure with a white goatee is seen floating in the doorways. The Kehoe House is far from the only historic haunted building in Savannah. The 17Hundred90 Inn, for example, is another hotel worth staying in if you’re interested in a spooky stay. If you’re not up for a sleepless night, I recommend going on a Savannah ghost tour to appreciate the full hauntedness of this city.