Most Haunted Places in Montgomery

History oozes out of every corner of Montgomery, the capital of Alabama. From the earliest days of the slave trade to the initial sparks of the civil rights movement, the city has served as a battleground for human rights. Even today, its energy surges as two sides of an ongoing debate take their fight to the Supreme Court, continuing contentions that have plagued the city for generations.

The ongoing buildup of tension and emotions has fueled a mob of ethereal entities. The city is crowded with haunted locations, from casual eateries on unassuming street corners to buildings rooted in Montgomery’s history. Like most things, there are degrees of spectral activity, and some spots in Montgomery are more haunted than others.

The city’s emotionally charged energy amasses in these most haunted places in Alabama’s capital. From it, spirits, phantoms, and wraiths manifest, tied to Montgomery’s controversial past. Care to come face-to-face with the past? Consider booking your U.S. Ghost Adventures Montgomery ghost tour today.

What Are The Most Haunted Places in Montgomery?

Ethereal energies are lively in many of Montgomery’s haunted houses. For brave dark tourists looking to improve their chances of having a spectral encounter, several spots are worth adding to your itinerary. 

The site of a Halloween 1912 murder, the halls of Alabama’s Capitol Building haven’t been empty since the four shots rang out. Ties to the Civil War keep the First White House of the Confederacy ripe for spectral activity, while a 1967 fire claimed the souls of 25 people in a former penthouse. Even the lively Riverwalk Stadium adds to Montgomery’s rogues gallery of spirits with echoes of a former Civil War POW camp.

Alabama State Capitol

Halloween 1912. Gunshots rang out from J.G. Oakley’s office, marking the end of a land feud between Will Oakley and his stepfather, P.A. Woods. Will emerged with Wood’s blood fresh on his hands. 

Sentenced in July 1913, then moved to Tuscaloosa’s Bryce Asylum three months later, Oakley escaped one night nearly a year later. It was the last anyone would ever hear from him-until the sinks of Alabama’s State Capitol started turning on by themselves. The popular theory is that, after his passing, Oakley’s spirit became bound to the Capitol. It’s there he eternally remains, trying to wash his uncle’s blood from his hands.

The Capitol is also suspected of hosting the ethereal figure of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, Civil War surgeon John Allan Wyeth, and an unknown Confederate soldier. All have been attributed to the cold spots and phantom noises from within.

First White House of the Confederacy

The short-lived First White House of the Confederacy exists today as a museum chronicling former resident Jefferson Davis and the Confederate States. While tangible artifacts tell fascinating tales, what lingers beyond the veil echoes memories of the Civil War. 

Visitors have reported haunting images of a woman donning a period-specific pastel dress. Passersby have spotted her form gazing out from a second-story window.

A more recognizable figure has also been seen patrolling the halls of the old building. A residual of Davis wears the collapse of the Confederacy on his face. However, that frown may be tempered by the presence of what some believe to be one of his children on the second floor. If you hear a gentle rapping in the distance, then you know one of the building’s haunts is nearby.

Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium

Memories of the Civil War replay on a loop in many locations all throughout the East Coast. If it’s not the sounds of war on a once blood-soaked battlefield, it’s the anguished cries of the injured and the dying. 

Today, contemporary crowds may roar to life at Montgomery’s Riverwalk Stadium to support the Double-A Biscuits Minor League team. Over a century ago, the grounds housed emaciated POWs. 

The heaviness of the Civil War prison is still evident today. That strong emotional toll manifested in poltergeist activity and phantom shadows that haunt the stadium. Take a moment during the seventh-inning stretch to try to witness this ghostly activity.

Capitol Towers Apartments

On February 7, 1967, the corner of Court and Clayton streets erupted into chaos. Flames raged in the night as black smoke coursed through Dale’s Penthouse Restaurant on the 11th story of the Walter Bragg Smith apartment building. By the next morning, 25 patrons had been claimed by the inferno. Now known as the Capitol Tower Apartments, reminders of the tragedy at Dale’s still linger within the privately owned penthouse.

Black mists and faint cries for help have been reported in the penthouse as if the poor souls who died that day are still struggling to escape their fiery end.

Alabama Department of Archives & History

Old records and historical documents aren’t the only connection Alabama’s Department of Archives & History has to the past. Employees have noted an unusual presence tucked away in the Civil Archives. Julia Tutwiler, who wrote Alabama’s state song, frequented the archives while alive. Even long after her passing in 1916, she still returns to brush up on the state’s earlier years. It’s maybe a little ironic that the place you’d go to dig up the past would be visited by someone still trapped within it.

Chris’ Famous Hot Dogs

Chris’s isn’t just a local hot dog joint. It’s part of Montgomery history — a century-old hotspot for delicious dogs and spectral activity. Chris’ has attracted notable names over the years, including Hank Williams. In fact, it’s believed Williams scribed “Hey Good Lookin’” within the eatery, which explains why locals think his spirit remains here. Some even believe the kitchen is active with former employees, reliving their glory days amidst the enticing aroma of Chris’ staple fair.

Lucas Tavern

A charming piece of 19th-century Montgomery history, Lucas Tavern served the budding community and provided lodging for Revolutionary War figures like Marquis de La Fayette. While Walter and Eliza Lucas no longer provide their signature hospitality, one of them refuses to release their grip on the old building. Eliza watches over the old tavern, making sure to keep tour guests in line. 

The Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald Museum

As residents of Montgomery, the Fitzgeralds left a lasting impression. They continue to do so today, despite both passing away in the 1940s. The duo is the subject of frequent investigations and group hunts at the aptly named Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum, or The Fitz. Expect phantom noises and maybe even a residual of Zelda, whose gruesome passing left behind an echo of her life in Montgomery.

Heflin-Torbert Judicial Building

Any space where progress can be ushered or blocked is bound to be ripe with emotional energy. Much has been debated and argued within the Alabama Judicial Building, resulting in enough energy to manifest the spirits that patrol the old building. There have been accounts of spectral hands tugging at clothing and soft bursts of cold air with no source. Who haunts the old government building remains a mystery, though civil rights leaders would have the fervor — and reason — to return today. 

Haunted Montgomery

A city brimming with haunted history, Montgomery is not short of spectral activity to keep an eye out for. If you’re not sure what to do in Montgomery, Alabama, seeking out its most haunted locations is certainly a good start. It keeps you active while connecting you with a key city in the American civil rights movement.

Book your Montgomery Ghosts tour today to see some of the most haunted houses in Alabama. Be sure to catch up on our blog and follow us on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for more horrors from the heart of Montgomery.