Haunted Pirates’ House

In the city of Savannah, where the humidity clings to the skin like a damp wool blanket and the live oaks are draped in silver Spanish moss, history is not something found only in books. It is a living, breathing presence that walks the cobblestone streets after the sun dips below the horizon. Among the many historic structures that define this coastal town, one building stands as a sentinel of a darker, more lawless era. The Pirates House, located just a block from the churning waters of the Savannah River, is more than a restaurant or a tourist stop. It is a place where the barrier between the past and the present is notoriously thin, and where the echoes of eighteenth-century sea chanties still seem to vibrate within the hand-hewn ceiling beams.

The Roots of the Trustees Garden

To understand the haunted nature of The Pirates House, one must first understand the ground upon which it sits. This plot of land is among the most historic in the state of Georgia. In 1733, when General James Edward Oglethorpe first stepped ashore to found the colony, he envisioned a botanical paradise. Within months of his arrival, he established a ten-acre plot known as the Trustees Garden. Modeled after the Chelsea Botanical Garden in London, this was America’s first public agricultural experimental garden. It was here that botanists from across the globe sent seeds and cuttings, hoping to see if silk, grapes, indigo, or medicinal herbs could thrive in the southern soil.

While most of the garden eventually succumbed to the urban expansion of Savannah, one small structure remained. Built in 1734, the Herb House served as the residence for the garden’s master gardener. Today, this humble building is incorporated into the larger complex of The Pirates House and is widely recognized as the oldest standing structure in the state of Georgia. As you walk through the dining rooms, you can still see the original low ceilings and the sturdy, weathered wood of this early pioneer dwelling. However, the garden’s era of peace and scientific discovery was short-lived. By the mid-1700s, the experimental garden had largely failed, and the site was redeveloped as Savannah’s maritime industry began to explode.

A Refuge for the Rough and Rowdy

As Savannah transformed into a bustling seaport, the area surrounding the old garden became a hub for the rougher elements of maritime life. In 1753, an inn and tavern were constructed adjacent to the Herb House to provide lodging and sustenance for sailors who had spent months at sea. Because of its prime location near the river, it quickly became the preferred haunt for the world’s most dangerous men.

This was not a place for the polite society of Savannah’s squares. The Pirates House was a sanctuary for privateers, merchant mariners, and genuine pirates who operated under the black flag. In an era when the line between a legal privateer and an illegal pirate was often blurred by the amount of gold involved, this tavern was the epicenter of seafaring gossip and clandestine deals. The air would have been thick with the smell of pipe tobacco, roasted meat, and the pungent aroma of cheap Caribbean rum. It was a place where fortunes were won and lost over a game of cards, and where a man’s life was often worth less than the contents of his pockets.

Shadows in the Dining Rooms

The hauntings at The Pirates House are not limited to a single entity. With fifteen separate dining rooms, each with its own history, the reports of paranormal activity are diverse. Staff members, who spend the most time in the building during the quiet hours of early morning or late night, are often the most frequent witnesses to the unexplained.

One of the most common reports involves the sound of heavy footsteps on the second floor when the building is officially empty. These are not the light, modern footsteps of a tourist, but the deliberate, heavy tread of someone wearing leather boots. These sounds are frequently accompanied by the sight of shadows moving across the walls in the periphery of one’s vision. When a staff member turns to address the person, the room is inevitably empty.

In the Herb House section, visitors have reported a different kind of energy. Because this was originally a private residence, the spirits here seem more domestic, yet no less unsettling. There are tales of a woman in colonial-era dress seen near the windows, watching the street as if waiting for someone to return. Others have felt a sudden, localized drop in temperature or the sensation of a cold hand brushing against their shoulder as they dine.

The Whispers of the Rum Cellar

The rum cellar remains the most intense site for those seeking a brush with the supernatural. This area, with its low ceilings and original masonry, feels disconnected from the modern world. It is here that the physical evidence of the tunnels is most visible. Those who venture into the cellar often report an overwhelming feeling of being watched.

Some visitors have claimed to hear muffled voices or the sound of dragging coming from the areas where the tunnels were once open. There are stories of professional ghost hunters who have attempted to spend the night in the cellar, only to leave before dawn, claiming the atmosphere was too oppressive to endure. One famous account involves a group of investigators who watched as a glass of rum, left out as an offering, appeared to be consumed by an invisible force, the liquid level dropping while the glass remained undisturbed.

The Lingering Echoes of Yellow Fever

Savannah’s history is inextricably linked with the yellow fever epidemics that ravaged the city in the nineteenth century. During these outbreaks, the city was a place of mourning and fear. It is believed that the tunnels beneath The Pirates House and other riverfront buildings were used to discreetly transport the bodies of victims to avoid public panic and the spread of the “black vomit” disease.

This tragic chapter of history has left its own ghostly footprint. Some people claim to see the spirits of those who died during the epidemics, particularly children. These apparitions are often described as looking pale and sickly, appearing for only a few seconds before fading into the woodwork. The sorrow of that era seems to have seeped into the very bricks of the foundation, manifesting as a profound sense of melancholy that occasionally settles over certain rooms.

A Poetic Reflection on the Past

As the evening shadows stretch long over the cobblestones of East Broad Street, The Pirates House takes on a different character. The laughter of tourists and the clink of silverware provide a modern veneer, but the building itself seems to remember a different time. It is a structure built on the dreams of a botanical utopia, yet seasoned by the salt of the sea and the sweat of men who lived by the sword.

To walk through these halls is to navigate a labyrinth of memory. The wood is worn smooth by centuries of hands, and the air carries the weight of a thousand secrets. Whether the ghosts are truly the souls of the departed or simply the residual energy of a place that has seen too much history to forget, they are an inseparable part of the experience. The Pirates House is a testament to the idea that nothing is ever truly lost. The whispers of the shanghaied sailor, the final gasps of a pirate captain, and the quiet vigil of a gardener’s wife all swirl together in the drafty corners of the old Herb House. In Savannah, the past does not stay buried; it sits at the table next to you, waiting for the sun to set and the stories to begin.

Visiting the Pirates House Today

The Pirates House is located at 20 East Broad Street in the northeastern corner of Savannah’s Historic District. Today, it operates as a world-famous restaurant known for its Southern hospitality and extensive menu of seafood and regional favorites.

Dining: The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner. Their Southern Lunch Buffet is a popular choice for those wanting to sample a variety of local dishes, including their award-winning honey pecan fried chicken.

Tours: While you are welcome to explore many of the dining rooms on your own, the restaurant often has “pirates” on staff who are happy to share stories of the building’s history and hauntings. If you are interested in the rum cellar, it is best to ask your server if a tour is available during your visit. This is also a stop on many Savannah Ghost Tours.

Gift Shop: Located on the second floor, the gift shop offers a wide array of pirate-themed souvenirs, books on Savannah history, and local crafts. It is also a great place to get a closer look at the upper-level architecture.

Reservations: Because of its popularity with both locals and tourists, reservations are highly recommended, especially for dinner and weekend visits.

Accessibility: Due to the historic nature of the buildings, some areas have uneven floors and narrow passages. However, the main dining areas are accessible to most guests.

Frequently Asked Question About the Haunted Pirates’ House