The Colonial Park Cemetery is the oldest intact municipal cemetery in Savannah, Georgia, with a history that dates back to 1750. Over a century of use, it expanded to cover 6 acres and accumulated more than 9,000 graves. The cemetery is now a city park known for its notable interments, haunting history, and Civil War damage.
Establishment and early history
1750: The cemetery was founded outside of Savannah’s city limits to serve as the burial ground for the city’s Christ Church Parish. At the time, it was known by various names, including the “Old Brick Graveyard” and “Christ Church Cemetery”.
1789: After three expansions, the cemetery reached its current size of 6 acres and was opened to people of all denominations.
1777: Button Gwinnett, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, died in a duel with a political rival, Major General Lachlan McIntosh, and was buried in the cemetery.
1786: Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene was temporarily interred in the Graham family vault. His body was eventually lost for more than a century before being rediscovered and moved to a monument in Johnson Square in 1902.
1820: Nearly 700 victims of a yellow fever epidemic were buried in a mass grave in the cemetery’s northern section.
Closure and decline
1853: The cemetery was closed to burials because it had reached its capacity. The city’s main burial site was then moved to the new Laurel Grove Cemetery
.Civil War occupation: When General William T. Sherman’s army occupied Savannah in December 1864, Union soldiers used the cemetery as a campground. They are rumored to have defaced many headstones by changing the dates as a joke. Broken and displaced stones are now cemented to the back wall of the cemetery.
Restoration and modern era
1896: After decades of disrepair and neglect, the City of Savannah purchased the cemetery from Christ Church and began restoring it as a public park.
1913: The Daughters of the American Revolution erected a granite arch at the main entrance to commemorate Revolutionary War veterans buried there.
1990: The City of Savannah began a large-scale preservation project that included historical research, mapping, and inventorying grave markers to maintain the landmark for future generations.
Today: The Colonial Park Cemetery is a major tourist destination and a stop on many historical and ghost tours due to its storied past and reported paranormal activity.
Colonial Park Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia, is reportedly haunted by several paranormal phenomena, including the ghost of Rene Rondolier, who is said to be seen hanging from a tree, and unexplained occurrences like swings moving on their own near the adjacent playground. These tales are connected to the cemetery’s history, with some legends attributing the disturbances to Union troops desecrating graves during the Civil War. The sheer number of burials, including victims of the yellow fever epidemic, is also cited as a contributing factor to its haunted reputation.
Reported paranormal activity
Rene Rondolier:
One of the most famous ghost stories involves Rene Rondolier, a tall man blamed for the murders of two young sisters. He was reportedly hanged from a large live oak in the cemetery, and his ghost is said to be seen hanging from the “Hanging Tree” or walking through the grounds.
Union troop activity:
During the Civil War, Union troops are said to have desecrated graves, carving jokes into headstones and moving them. Some believe this historical disruption stirred restless spirits.
General atmosphere and activity:
Visitors and paranormal investigators report a general sense of unease, unexplained presences, and physical phenomena like swings moving on their own in the nearby playground.
Contributing factors
Historical events:
The cemetery’s long history, including its use as a burial ground and the alleged desecration of graves during the Civil War, contributes to its spooky reputation.
Number of burials:
The site holds an estimated 666 victims of the yellow fever epidemic, adding to its somber and potentially haunted atmosphere.
Local folklore: The persistent ghost stories and the cemetery’s historical significance make it a popular location for ghost tours, which further weave paranormal tales into the site’s narrative.
The Colonial Park Cemetery is widely considered one of the most haunted locations in Savannah, GA, known for paranormal activity linked to its history as a burial ground for victims of disease, duels, and the Civil War. Stories of ghostly sightings, including a shadowy figure of a murderer and green mist, are common.