Ghosts in the Spanish Moss - St. Simons Ghost Tour in Georgia

In our tradition of trying to find and take a ghost tour wherever we go, my husband and I

included the ghost walk at St. Simons Island, Georgia, as part of our weekend stay there.

There was some confusion as to whether the Ghost Tour was actually going to happen Friday night, May 26^th. No one seemed to know for sure, even at the store that sells tickets. But we went to the front of the pier on St. Simon's Island at 9:00 and sure enough, we found our guide. We weren't completely sure it was her; there was no sign or advertisement except that she was carrying a bag decorated with ghosts. But it was the right place, and soon we had enough people to start the tour. We had two children in the group; the first time I have ever been on a ghost tour with children.

We began on the beach with a tale of treasure and ghostly ships; moved on to a famously haunted lighthouse, and along the way were entertained by the story of a spectral white lady on a white horse who once stopped a Delta jet from landing by refusing to leave the runway. Wending our way through the live oaks, we were introduced to legends of Indian maids, wildly romantic gestures from beyond the grave, and much more. The storytelling was enhanced by an odd, unplanned howling that followed us around the Island, which our host assured the children was caused by cats, although it certainly did not sound very catlike. I'm only saying, even she thought it was a little weird the way it kept following us.

St. Simons is a marvelously eerie and beautiful place for a Ghost Tour, with its huge live oaks and haunting Spanish moss, the sea, and a vivid history of pirates and Confederate gold. Our guide grew up on the Island, and she was a gifted raconteur with an obvious love for her home and her subject matter. I think she necessarily toned the stories down a little for the children. And I was distracted by the young mother behind me, who constantly told her son that it none of the ghosts were "real." That, of course, is a matter of opinion, and while I realize she did not want him to be afraid, it would have been better if she had not brought him on the tour unless she had first had a real discussion with him about her own personal beliefs concerning ghosts, those of other people, and the fact that no one knows for sure what is real and what is not real about allegedly haunted places. She could then have assured him that ghosts are not dangerous to people on ghost tours, and that would have been enough.

Aside from that quibble, I would only suggest that the Ghost Tour have a more visible sign or place to sign up at its location, a clearer phone message for information seekers, and more visibly posted hours and directions on the website. The tour itself was definitely worth the small fee. It was educational, entertaining, and a fine introduction to the Island and its inhabitants, living and dead.

St. Simons Ghost Tour

At the pier on St. Simons Island, in the Village