Deadly Disease and The Souls Left Behind
Deadly contagions such as Malaria, Yellow Fever, and Smallpox ran rampant throughout Charleston’s neighborhoods, resulting in unimaginable suffering and countless painful deaths, decimating entire families. Uncover St. Phillip’s Protestant Episcopal Church Graveyard where the tormented souls of those who perished from these horrendous diseases wander amongst the decrepit gravestones.
The spirits that inhabit the historic graveyard that is home to Secretary of War and Vice President, John C. Calhoun, are some that horror movies are made of. The ghost of Sue Howard Hardy has a wretched reputation for affecting those who have the misfortune of encountering her presence as Mary Winston did. Mary’s encounter was a frightful one, with the apparition accosting her about her lost child and resulting in Mary being unable to conceive.
Sightings beyond Sue are not abnormal. Locals believe the spirit of a child whose life was cut tragically short is bound to the cemetery as reports of an eerie, disembodied sound of a baby crying are common. Visitors have also reported mysterious, ghostly figures lurking around the graveyard, in search of those they were taken from far too soon.
A Final Restless Place
St. Phillip’s Protestant Episcopal Church Graveyard may be aged but it’s certainly not the oldest cemetery in Charleston. Discover the city’s oldest and most chilling cemetery, the Circular Congregational Church Graveyard, where the oldest tombstone dates back to 1695. While natural disasters and war threatened the establishment, they also filled the cemetery with over 700 unfortunate souls in the 500 spots available.
Whether it’s the horrific nature in which they passed or their lack of peace from sharing a grave, the spirits that inhabit the Circular Congregational Church Graveyard are mischievous at best, and malevolent at worst. Visitors have reported orbs and mysterious transparent figures popping up in photographs as well as hearing spooky disembodied voices whispering all around them.
Perhaps, one of the most terrifying encounters was experienced by a former groundskeeper. Hear the unnerving true tale of Danny Loder, the hapless employee who was tormented by multiple menacing presences encouraging him to commit unspeakable acts, striking the groundskeeper with pure fear and bringing him to tears.
The Legends That Never Die
Charleston’s role as a vital port city made it a hub for pirates, including the infamous Blackbeard. Learn all about the port city’s dark underbelly at the Pirate House, a one-stop shop for nefarious activity that dominated the area. From prostitutes to black market traders and everything wicked in between, a now hidden tunnel was a virtual gateway for everything sinister.
Though atrocities manifested in various forms at the Pirate House, it was the notorious Blackbeard that took depravity to another level. Hear the incredible lore of Blackbeard’s treacherous treatment of pirate Stede Bonnet, leaving Bonnet and his crew stranded in Charleston where they would meet a gruesome end at the Old Provost Dungeon.
The horrors that thrived behind closed doors have since been released and can be felt throughout this paranormal hot spot. The pirates that were hanged as a result of Blackbeard’s treachery have reportedly been seen wandering the streets near Old Provost Dungeon, no doubt vengefully searching for the legendary pirate that cost them their lives.
WHY IS CHARLESTON SO HAUNTED?
Prohibition, Rebellion, Gunpowder, and Ghosts
South Carolina was one of the first states to enact Prohibition laws, which came into effect on New Year’s Day, 1914. Created out of rebellion, The Blind Tiger is one of Charleston’s oldest and most famously haunted speakeasies. Embark on a nail-biting adventure with Charleston Terrors where you might see the terrifying phantom of the Woman in Black who’s known to make frightening appearances and induce terrifying encounters by tugging on the hair of those she deems worthy, or deserving.
The Blind Tiger isn’t the only well-known location in the Holy City that has a sinister backstory. Venture to Philadelphia Alley where men settled their disputes with good ol’ fashioned duels, and where their spirits continue to seek out the ones who sealed their fate.
In the days of mayhem and madness, Philadelphia Alley, or “Deuler’s Alley”, was the sight of nearly two dozen duels, some more grisly than others. Uncover the horrid details of the area’s most famed duel that involved a young Dr. Joseph Ladd who ultimately lost his life. To date, his apparition can be seen wandering Philadelphia Alley, whistling as though the duel never occurred. Visitors also report sounds of phantom gunshots, and being pushed out of the specter bullets’ way.
The Never-Ending Echoes of War and Death
Charleston was a crucial and strategic location that was coveted throughout the American Civil War. One location that housed the tools used for death and destruction is now filled with the unexplained and supernatural. Visit The Charleston Powder Magazine, the former storage facility for gunpowder and weapons that now serves as a prison for tortured souls.
It’s said that the spirits of the casualties of war continue to roam the grounds, guarding their posts even in the afterlife. The crippling sounds of the forsaken can be heard in the form of screams and unimaginable pain throughout the building. Yet none of these sounds are as disturbing as witnessing a young soldier relive his own death.
Uncover the petrifying account of one teenager’s encounter with a befallen soldier. Relive his fear as you hear details of the soldier’s appearance and how his death was reenacted before the teen’s very eyes. Sadly, his spirit is one of many that are tethered to these unholy grounds in the Holy City.
Discover all the unknown details and mournful tales full of woe on a meticulously-researched and authentic Charleston ghost tour with Charleston Terrors. Prepare to uncover why the jewel of South Carolina is also one of the most haunted.
WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT THIS GHOST TOUR?
Discover the Darker Side of an Otherworldly Historic Destination
Don’t be fooled by the charming ambiance of Rainbow Row in the city’s historic district. Beneath Charleston’s multiple, stately Georgian facades is a truly disturbing and sinister underbelly that can be largely attributed to the city’s involvement in the atrocities of the transatlantic slave trade.
Experience the disturbing history of the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, where hundreds of runaway slaves were mercilessly executed and a plethora of other prisoners —sometimes including entire families — tragically died while rotting away in their cells. Their tortured souls are said to still roam the basement halls, crying out in anguish and begging for mercy, forever tied to this horrific site.
The misery and pain soaked into the foundations of Charleston’s streets and buildings reverberate outward making it an incredibly active site full of negative energy, bone-chilling hauntings, and otherworldly activity. For all of the city’s glory, there’s a harrowing side that hides in plain sight.
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Adrenaline Rush and Experience You’ll Cherish Forever
From Poogan’s Porch and its multiple resident ghosts continuously clamoring for attention to the Mills House Hotel that still houses its original, now ghostly, residents, Charleston Terrors will introduce you to a frightful history filled with an unbelievable reality that paved the way for all manner of unexplained activity and strange happenings.
The neverending bloodshed left a grim stain on Charleston that can still be seen and heard today in the dark echoes from the land of the dead that are felt in every haunted iconic city. Take a walk on the cursed streets and see the sites where heinous transgressions replay nightly for those in their vicinity, and hear the howls of agony that consume the air in the dark of night.
Be Part of a Growing Ghostly Community
The amount of pain, suffering, and death engrained in the stones of The Holy City created a foundation of misery and misfortune that in turn birthed unexplained hauntings, gave way to eerie otherworldly encounters, and cemented its reputation as a ghostly hotbed of terrifying tales and strange events.
Get ready to take a riveting ride through the seedy side of this incredible piece of the south. Where the wretched reign supreme and the stories are greater than fiction. You’ve experienced all of the charm, culinary delights, and gorgeous architecture that the city has to offer. Join Charleston Terrors to discover the unfortunate souls and sinful acts that helped forge the dark side of the Holy City.
* This is a walking tour and we do not enter privately-owned buildings or private property *