Ghost Hunting Adventures in Savannah and New Orleans: KII EMF Meters and Haunted Tours

When night falls in Savannah and New Orleans, the line between history and legend blurs. These two southern cities are perennial favorites on lists of America’s most haunted places, and for good reason. In Savannah, Spanish moss hangs low from gnarled oak trees, swaying over centuries-old cemeteries and cobblestone squares. In New Orleans, gas lamps flicker against wrought-iron balconies as the distant notes of jazz mingle with whispers about voodoo queens and pirates. Both cities offer popular ghost tours that invite visitors to step into their storied past. And now, more than ever, those tours are blending folklore with a touch of technology: the soft glow of a KII EMF meter has become as much a part of the experience as the chilling tales themselves.

On a ghost tour, you’re not just a passive listener—you become part of the story. Whether you’re strolling Savannah’s moonlit Colonial Park Cemetery or standing in the lamplight of New Orleans’ Pirate’s Alley, having a KII EMF meter in hand can make you feel like a real investigator on the hunt. These small devices, originally designed to detect electromagnetic fields (EMF) from electrical sources, have found a new purpose in the paranormal field. With their row of five lights from green to red, KII meters give ghost tour participants a chance to “see” the unseen—to watch for any sudden spikes in energy that, some believe, just might signal something otherworldly trying to get our attention. The result is a spine-tingling mix of education and sensation: you learn about each site’s dark history even as you hold your breath, watching the meter’s LEDs for a mysterious flicker.

In this journey, we’ll explore ghostly experiences in Savannah and New Orleans through the lens of the KII EMF meter. There’s no need for exaggeration—these cities provide more than enough authentic frights and fascination. From Savannah’s reputation as a “city built upon its dead” to the eerie charms of New Orleans’ French Quarter, we’ll see how haunted tours make use of EMF meters to deepen the connection between curious visitors and the restless past. Along the way, we’ll demystify how EMF detectors work and why they’ve become a must-have tool on many ghost tours. So grab your flashlight and your courage; our paranormal adventure begins.

Savannah’s haunted reputation is well-earned. Locals like to say that Savannah is a city built upon its dead, and that isn’t just a metaphor. Under its picturesque streets lie layers of unmarked graves—from Yellow Fever victims to soldiers and enslaved people—reminders of the city’s tumultuous past. It’s no surprise, then, that ghost tours in Savannah thrive on these grisly histories. Most tours kick off at the famous Colonial Park Cemetery, where Spanish moss clings to the walls and nearly every step lands above someone’s resting place. On a warm, humid night, as crickets hum and the scent of jasmine drifts by, you might find yourself standing by the cemetery’s iron gate with a KII meter in hand. The device’s green light glows faintly in the dark. Your guide recounts tales of duels and disease, pointing to the very ground where 18th-century citizens were laid to rest. Suddenly, the KII’s lights flutter from green to yellow—just briefly, then back to green. Is it a coincidence, maybe interference? Or could it be a whisper from an unseen spirit? In that charged moment, every tour guest holds their breath. Savannah has a way of making you wonder.

What makes Savannah’s ghost tours especially engaging is their interactive nature. Rather than just listening to ghost stories, you get to participate in a hands-on paranormal investigation.Be sure to purchase your KII meter to have as you walk through the historic district. It’s a thrilling sight to see a dozen people each holding a small grey KII meter, sweeping it over old gravestones and mansion doorways. The KII meter itself is very simple to operate – no technical expertise required – which is part of its charm. It has a single button and a colorful LED scale; in the quiet shadows of Wright Square or Madison Square, you can easily read its lights. Guides often explain that green means the electromagnetic field is at baseline, but a spike to orange or red could indicate something (or someone) disrupting the energy nearby. Tour participants soon learn to distinguish normal readings (like a surge when you walk past an electrical junction box) from the truly intriguing ones that happen in unexpected places.

Savannah’s ghosts are said to be polite – they rarely perform on cue – yet many visitors have witnessed puzzling moments. Perhaps the meter blinks erratically right where a Revolutionary War soldier met his end, or it stays eerily quiet until you start talking about a ghostly child, only to flash as if in response. Guides love these moments, and they weave them into the narrative in real-time. You might hear a guide say, “Do you see that spike? Many people feel a cold spot here, where that house servant tragically died in 1820.” The experience becomes a blend of storytelling and science, where history is not just told but seemingly confirmed by the gadgets in your hand. One Savannah tour guest recounted how an EMF meter jumped to red near the Sorrel-Weed House just as the guide mentioned a rumor of a spirit in the room – an electrifying coincidence that made everyone’s hair stand on end. While skeptics may attribute such blips to mundane causes, in the moment it definitely feels as if the past is reaching out to the present.

Beyond the gadgetry, these tours are also richly educational. As you traverse darkened squares and cemeteries, you learn about Savannah’s bygone eras: the waves of yellow fever that decimated the population, the bloody Civil War battles that left their imprint, the tales of murder and heartbreak that give each old home its restless resident ghost. The haunted tour guides are passionate historians and storytellers. Under the canopy of live oaks, they share documented facts alongside local legends, letting you separate truth from myth. For instance, you might stand before the looming facade of the 17Hundred90 Inn (one of Savannah’s oldest inns) and hear about Anne Powell, the ghost said to roam Room 204, after you’ve learned about the inn’s actual 19th-century tragedy. It’s a delicate balance of spooky fun and respect for the truth—no campy jump-scares needed. By the time the tour ends, you’ve not only felt a few chills but also gained a deeper appreciation of Savannah’s history. And if you were holding a KII EMF meter the whole time, you got to play ghost hunter in one of America’s most haunted cities. Savannah truly gives you the chance to “hunt for ghosts and become a real ghost adventurer for the night”, blending old-world mystery with modern curiosity.

If you’ve ever watched a paranormal investigation show or joined a ghost tour, you’ve likely seen a KII EMF meter in action. But what exactly is this device, and why do ghost hunters swear by it? EMF stands for electromagnetic field – an invisible field of energy produced by electrically charged objects. In our everyday lives, EMF is emitted by power lines, appliances, cell phones, and the wiring in our walls. An EMF meter is a handheld instrument that measures these electromagnetic fields and alerts you to fluctuations. Originally, electricians and engineers use EMF meters to detect faulty wiring or dangerous high EMF levels. The K-II EMF meter (often just called a K2 meter) was one such gadget, simple and user-friendly, with a light-up scale to show the strength of any nearby field. Ghost hunters, however, have repurposed this little device for a very different mission: seeking out the energy of spirits.

The paranormal theory goes something like this: if a ghost or spirit is trying to manifest or communicate, it might disturb the local electromagnetic field. After all, a spirit would presumably need energy to influence the physical world. KII meters detect even minor EMF spikes, with the top of the device featuring those multicolored lights that go from green (lowest reading) to red (highest). During a ghost hunt, an investigator will hold the meter and watch for any sudden jumps on the scale that can’t be explained by known sources. For example, if you’re standing in the middle of an empty historic ballroom with no electricity running, and your meter suddenly flickers to orange or red, it’s an eyebrow-raising moment. Could it be that an unseen entity is “reaching out from another realm”, causing the device to react? That’s the exciting possibility that keeps both amateur and veteran ghost hunters glued to their EMF readings.

From a scientific standpoint, it’s important to note that EMF meters cannot directly detect ghosts – they only detect electromagnetic energy. There are many normal sources of EMF that could trigger a reading, so interpretation is key. That’s why seasoned investigators start by taking baseline readings of the area (to know what’s “normal”) and by eliminating obvious culprits. Your tour guide or team leader might ask everyone to put cell phones on airplane mode, for instance, so a text message doesn’t set off the meter. They’ll also be mindful of hidden wiring, radios, or metal objects that could cause false positives. Only when a spike is unexplained by these factors do they get excited. One guide from a paranormal research team described the process perfectly: “Nothing is a ghost until I can’t explain it anymore.” In practice, that means ghost hunters treat EMF readings as clues, not proof. They look for patterns – say, the meter lights up only when a certain question is asked, or in a specific corner of a room associated with a legend. If multiple devices pick up the same anomaly at the same time, and there’s no clear environmental cause, the team’s collective hairs start to stand on end. As a solid first tool for investigating, an EMF meter helps you rule out logical explanations and points you toward areas that might deserve more attention.

The KII EMF meter in particular has become a favorite in the paranormal field for several reasons. First, it’s incredibly simple to use – there’s just an on/off switch (newer models even have a convenient toggle instead of a push-button you must hold) and the LED display is easy to read even in a dark, creepy basement. There’s no complex setup, so even a first-timer can turn it on and start exploring. Second, the KII is compact and rugged, making it ideal for walking tours or investigations in dusty old buildings. It covers a broad range of EM frequencies, including the extremely low frequency (ELF) band around 50-60 Hz (the range of household electricity), which is where some anomalies have been noted during hauntings. And perhaps most importantly, the KII has been popularized by TV shows and real-life ghost hunters, so it carries a bit of credibility and excitement. People often choose the KII meter for its functionality, simplicity, and proven utility in ghost hunting. It’s the very same type of meter you see in the hands of investigators on shows like Ghost Hunters or Ghost Adventures. When you bring one on a tour, you’re using a tool that professional paranormal teams use – which certainly adds to the thrill.

So how do you use a KII EMF meter on a ghost tour (or your own ghost hunt)? The guide will typically give a brief training. You’ll learn that a steady green light means everything is normal. You hold the meter out in front of you, about waist height, and walk slowly. You might be advised to sweep it side to side occasionally, since the sensor is directional. Watch the lights. If you see it jump to yellow (2.5 milligauss) or beyond, stop and investigate that spot. Is there an electrical source nearby? If not, maybe ask a question to the supposed spirit: “Is someone here with us? Can you make the lights blink?” It may sound a bit whimsical, but many ghost tour groups enjoy trying to communicate in this way. In fact, investigators will sometimes use the KII meter as a makeshift yes/no indicator – one flash for yes, two for no, for instance. There have been tour nights where, to everyone’s astonishment, the meter appeared to respond to direct questions, lighting up seemingly on cue. While we must take such experiences with a grain of salt, there’s no denying how immersive and suspenseful it feels in the moment. The EMF meter essentially gives you a set of eyes on a part of the environment you normally could never perceive. It bridges the gap between the scientific and the supernatural, offering a tantalizing hint that maybe, just maybe, there’s something there with you in the dark.

If Savannah is a genteel hostess with a morbid secret, New Orleans is the flamboyant raconteur with a thousand haunted tales to tell. This city’s paranormal lore is an intoxicating mix of old-world French and Spanish history, voodoo legends, fires, floods, and disease. By day, New Orleans’ historic French Quarter is lively with music and color. But by night, an air of mystery descends over the Quarter’s narrow streets. Shadows lengthen under the wrought-iron balconies, and the echoes of footfalls on the old cobblestones can send a chill up your spine. It’s the perfect stage for a ghost tour, and New Orleans does not disappoint. Guides here are quick to remind you that the city has been called “the most haunted city in America,” and while Savannah (and others) might dispute that title, New Orleans certainly makes its case with sheer volume of ghostly hotspots.

A typical ghost tour in New Orleans will lead you through a procession of infamous locations, often equipped with real paranormal gear to enhance the experience. Picture yourself in front of the towering, shuttered façade of the LaLaurie Mansion, arguably the French Quarter’s most notorious house. By the light of the moon, the guide recounts the disturbing 19th-century story of Madame Delphine LaLaurie and the tragedies that allegedly left spirits trapped in this very home. As the story unfolds, you and your fellow tour-goers hold up your EMF meters toward the mansion’s gated courtyard. The devices are silent, their lights mostly green – until, just as the tale reaches its climax, one or two begin to flicker amber. A few people gasp; someone whispers, “Did you see that?” Moments like this blur the line between storytelling and personal experience. One New Orleans tour description poetically notes that each beep and flicker on the EMF detector “unveils the city’s enigmatic spectral tapestry”. Indeed, it’s one thing to hear a ghost legend, but it’s quite another to maybe feel a part of it through a piece of buzzing technology in your own hand.

New Orleans’ haunted tour guides are masters of setting the mood. As you navigate dimly lit streets, you might stop at Jackson Square, where the guide speaks of apparitions seen around the cathedral’s shadowy alleys. The smell of the Mississippi River’s damp breeze mixes with the sweet scent of magnolias as you listen. Then it’s on to the Andrew Jackson Hotel, a charming old building where guests have long reported encounters with the ghosts of children (legend says it was once an orphanage that suffered a fire). Here, standing in the quiet hotel courtyard, you might conduct a mini-investigation. The guide invites everyone to spread out and sweep the area with their EMF meters. “See if you can pick up any activity yourself,” they say. It feels a bit like a treasure hunt for ghosts. The group moves slowly, holding out the little gadgets. A couple of meters jump to life – blinking into the orange – as one woman walks by a particular room window. Could it be the playful spirit named Armand, a little boy some say haunts the hotel? The guide encourages everyone to ask aloud if Armand is present. For a few minutes, the tour becomes a spirit communication session, with modern instruments substituting for the traditional séance. Whether or not anything supernatural truly occurs, the effect is delightfully creepy and interactive. The guests aren’t just hearing a ghost story; they’re inside one, actively testing the tale with technology. As one paranormal expert put it, a K2 EMF meter spike can be a great indication of possible activity, especially when several people’s meters sync up at the same moment. That kind of simultaneous reading has happened on New Orleans tours too, and when it does, even the skeptics in the group find themselves trading astonished looks.

New Orleans has a seemingly endless list of haunted locales: old taverns, venerable hotels, above-ground cemeteries, even city parks with dueling grounds and unmarked graves. On some tours, you’ll venture into the dark edges of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 (during approved hours or special nighttime tours) with EMF meter in hand, watching it dance around as you stand near the tomb of the Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. Other times, you might find yourself in a cramped courtyard where pirates once plotted (Pirate’s Alley, near the Cathedral), holding your breath as the meter in your palm gives a single red blink for reasons unknown. It’s all part of the New Orleans ghost tour formula: mix history, horror, and hands-on investigation. And don’t be surprised if along with EMF meters, your guide breaks out other ghost-hunting gadgets too. New Orleans tours are known to occasionally use spirit boxes (to scan for spirit voices on radio frequencies) or thermal cameras to detect cold spots. But the EMF meter remains the go-to favorite because it’s so immediate and easy for everyone to use. Even if you’re a complete beginner, by the end of the night you’ll know how to operate one and interpret its signals. In the ambiance of New Orleans, every flicker can feel freighted with meaning. When a meter lights up in the Café Du Monde alley where a lady in white has been sighted, or near the site of the old Ursuline Convent (home of vampire legends), you can’t help but get goosebumps. The city’s blend of Voodoo mystique and ghostly folklore makes the paranormal seem just a tad more plausible here.

Perhaps what’s most special about these tours – be it Savannah or New Orleans – is that they cater to believers and skeptics alike. For a general audience, they strike just the right tone: spooky and fun, but also respectful of history and rooted in real locations you can see and touch. You don’t have to believe in ghosts to enjoy the shiver of standing in a dark courtyard where something tragic happened long ago; the thrill of the unknown is universal. And if you do happen to be a budding ghost enthusiast, having the tools to conduct your own mini-investigation is the icing on the cake. New Orleans guides, much like their Savannah counterparts, delight in seeing tour-goers get excited when the EMF detectors start to blink. It sparks conversations: “Could it be a spirit? What else could cause that?” By the end of the night, you’ve shared an adventure that feels part haunted house, part science experiment. You’ve walked in the footsteps of pirates, war heroes, and voodoo priests. You’ve peered into the beyond using a humble little meter that fits in your pocket. And you’ve done it all on the very streets where these stories began, making memories (and maybe collecting a ghost story of your own) in one of the most atmospheric cities in the world.

Ghost tours in places like Savannah and New Orleans remind us that the past is never truly gone – it lives on in the stories, and maybe even in a few spectral signals picked up by our devices. The engaging storytelling and sensory details of these tours can transport you to another time, while tools like the KII EMF meter keep you grounded in a hands-on investigation. There’s something profoundly satisfying about standing in a haunted location with a device that might validate what your imagination (or your goosebumps) are suggesting. You become both a student of history and a detective of hauntings, which is a combination that appeals to the curious child in all of us.

If you find yourself enchanted by these experiences, why not take a bit of that ghost-hunting spirit with you? Many enthusiasts are now carrying their own EMF meters when they travel to historic sites or even on self-guided explorations. The KII EMF meter is affordable and easy to use – the same kind you used on the tour is readily available for amateur investigators (the very kind available through Destination Ghost Tours’ store) to continue the exploration on your own. Imagine roaming the halls of an old inn or wandering a quiet battlefield at dusk, with your trusty EMF meter in hand. Even if the lights stay green the whole time, the adventure of seeking the unknown is a reward in itself. And if you do get that unexplained spike into the red zone, well, you’ll have a story to tell that will give your friends chills.

In the end, ghost tours and EMF meters are about connecting with the past in a personal, experiential way. They encourage us to pay attention to our surroundings, to listen to the silence, and to open our minds to possibilities. You don’t have to fully believe in ghosts to feel a thrill when your meter blinks unexpectedly in a darkened room – at that moment, you’re eye-to-eye with a mystery. And as Halloween-friendly as these activities are, they also instill a respect for history and empathy for those who came before us (after all, every ghost was once a living person with a story). So whether you’re walking under the dripping oaks of Savannah or the wrought-iron balconies of New Orleans, take a moment to soak in the atmosphere. Feel the breeze, smell the night-blooming flowers, and let the eerie tales transport you. With a KII EMF meter to light your path (and maybe detect a phantom footstep or two), you’re not just hearing ghost stories – you’re living them. Embrace the unknown, and who knows what you might discover on your next ghostly destination tour. Safe haunts and happy hunting!