Bonaventure feels different after closing. This 2.5-hour after-hours Bonaventure Cemetery tour turns Savannah’s most famous tombs into a quiet, story-led walk—one where the gates are closed and you stay inside as Shannon Scott brings the place to life.

I love the rare access after sundown. I also love how the stories connect the cemetery to Savannah’s real people, including secret-society symbols.

One possible drawback: this is more history and character storytelling than jump-scare fright. If you’re hoping for nonstop horror movie energy, you may want to adjust your expectations before you go.

Here’s what you should know so you can decide fast: it’s a meaningful night out with a local guide, and it’s timed to feel right in the dark—serene, spooky, and oddly moving.

Key highlights worth planning for

• After-hours access at Bonaventure Cemetery: you’re in the cemetery during the tour, not just peeking at it from outside
• Shannon Scott’s storytelling: a long-form approach that blends Savannah lives with symbolism
• Secret society clues: Freemason-style emblems show up around the cemetery in the way the tour explains them
• Real names, real characters: you’ll hear about people like Little Gracie, Johnny Mercer, Conrad Aiken, and Noble Jones
• Smallish group size: capped at 60 travelers, so the guide can actually keep things flowing
• Expect walking in the dark: moderate physical fitness helps, and you’ll want to show up prepared

What makes this Bonaventure ghost tour special at night

Bonaventure Cemetery is already famous in daylight. After hours, it shifts. The air feels quieter. The stonework looks older. And the stories land differently when you’re not sharing space with the daytime crowd.

The main reason this tour is worth your time is simple: you’re not just touring Bonaventure like a checklist item. You join an exclusive, after-hours experience where you remain in the cemetery while it’s closed to the public. That closed-in setting does something powerful for the mood. It’s not about theatrics. It’s about stillness, perspective, and the way the cemetery holds onto Savannah’s past.

Also, the tour doesn’t treat the cemetery like a generic spooky prop. It frames the site as a real place tied to real lives—poets, artists, industrialists, duelists, Confederates, and more—so the “ghost tour” label fits, but the focus stays on people and history.

Shannon Scott Tours: where the evening starts (and why the first stop matters)

You’ll meet at 330 Bonaventure Rd, Thunderbolt, GA 31404, with the tour starting at 6:00 pm. The experience is designed to run about 2 hours 30 minutes total, and it ends back at the meeting point.

Stop 1 is short but useful. You begin at Shannon Scott Tours, where the tour focuses on what you’re about to see and who you’ll be hearing about. It’s also where the guide’s style sets the tone: storytelling that mixes biography, symbolism, and the kind of details that make monuments feel less like stone and more like records.

This is a good moment to mentally switch gears. If you show up expecting a campy ghost show, you’ll miss the point. If you show up ready for a guided interpretation of memorials—why they’re there and what they might mean—you’ll get a lot more out of the experience.

Stop 1 at Shannon Scott Tours: secret society symbols and Savannah’s names

Stop 1 is about orientation and intrigue. You’re told Bonaventure Cemetery stretches across a wide range of lives and eras. That matters because Bonaventure doesn’t read as one single story. It’s layered.

The tour highlights that the cemetery is associated with secret society themes, including emblems tied to the Freemasons. If you’re the type who likes to spot symbols on headstones, this part is built for you. You won’t just hear that secret societies existed—you’ll get the guide’s interpretation of how the symbolism shows up across the cemetery.

You’ll also hear names that help connect the cemetery to Savannah’s cultural storyline. Stop 1 sets you up to recognize key figures you’ll encounter during the cemetery walk, including references to:

• Little Gracie
• Johnny Mercer
• Conrad Aiken
• Noble Jones

If you’ve ever seen the vibe of Savannah described through literature and old celebrity-level history, this tour leans into that connection. It’s not pretending the cemetery is a theme park. It’s trying to make you see the place through the people who shaped it.

Stop 2 inside Bonaventure Cemetery: locked-in quiet, lantern-dark stories

The big moment is Stop 2: the actual Bonaventure Cemetery segment. This is where the tour becomes an after-hours experience in the real sense of the word.

You’re joining a very exclusive club: the tour keeps you in the cemetery during the time when it’s closed to the public. That means the atmosphere isn’t diluted by constant foot traffic. You get the serenity and stillness that day tours often can’t deliver.

The guide carries you through stories that reach across time. You’ll hear how the narrative stretches from the cemetery’s earlier roots back to plantation beginnings in 1754, and then forward into later eras and the present day. That wide time span is one of the reasons this tour works. You’re not stuck in one century. You’re watching Savannah’s history unfold through its memorials.

What to expect while you’re there:

• You’ll move along the cemetery while the guide tells stories tied to the people represented by the graves.
• You’ll get a mix of tones—some funny, some uplifting, and some more macabre.
• The guide’s approach is meant to keep you paying attention, even when you’re standing still and reading stone details.

One practical note: the tour takes place after sunset and continues in the dark, so you should come prepared to navigate safely and comfortably.

The story style: “spooky” with a strong history backbone

Let’s talk about tone, because this is where expectations can get weird.

This tour is built around narrative storytelling—sometimes eerie, sometimes thoughtful, sometimes unsettling. But it’s not presented like a thrill ride. Several people highlight that it leans historical and educational, not lighthearted party entertainment with constant scares.

That actually can be a plus. If you like your spooky with substance, this tour gives you that. You’ll hear stories that treat the cemetery as a record of real lives. Even the darker bits are framed in a way that explains the people and the time they lived in.

And for those who enjoy the “secret codes” angle, this tour keeps the mystery grounded. The emblems and symbols aren’t thrown in at random; they’re part of the guide’s overall interpretation of Bonaventure.

If you prefer supernatural chaos, this might feel more like a guided story walk through Savannah’s past. But if you want “haunting” in the sense of atmosphere, character, and history that feels close to the bone, you’ll probably love it.

Duration, walking pace, and how to prepare like a pro

Plan for about 2.5 hours. That includes the short Stop 1 at Shannon Scott Tours plus the main cemetery time. The experience is rated as requiring a moderate physical fitness level, so don’t treat this as a stroll you can wing.

From what you should expect in practice: it’s an evening walk through a cemetery, after dark. Even if the pace feels manageable, you’re likely doing plenty of steps on uneven ground.

Here’s how to prepare smart:

• Wear comfortable shoes you trust on dark paths
• Bring bug spray (mosquitoes can be an issue in this region at night)
• Consider a small flashlight for footing and taking in details (the cemetery lighting is part of the vibe, but you still want safe steps)

Also note the simple but important tech requirement: you must have a cell phone with you and provide your cell phone number at booking. This matters because the tour uses a mobile ticket system.

Price and value: is $37.50 a good deal?

At $37.50 per person, you’re paying for three things that standard daytime cemetery tours rarely deliver:

1. After-hours access—staying inside Bonaventure while it’s closed to the public
2. A professional local guide for about 2.5 hours of guided storytelling
3. A focused theme—secret society symbolism plus Savannah biography—rather than a general overview

When you break it down, you’re spending roughly the cost of a typical paid walking tour in a major city for a very specific experience: Bonaventure at night, with a guide who connects details into a full narrative.

Is it expensive? It depends on your style. If you love cemetery history and you’re the type who notices symbols and names, it’s a fair price. If you only want light ghost entertainment, you may find it’s more serious than you hoped.

Who this tour fits best (and who should think twice)

This is one of those tours where the “right fit” matters.

You’ll likely enjoy it if you:

• Love historic places where the stories are the main event
• Like Savannah trivia, notable names, and how they connect to the real world
• Are curious about secret society symbolism and how it appears in cemeteries
• Want a quieter, after-hours atmosphere instead of a busy daytime crowd

You might think twice if you:

• Want a consistently scary, jump-scare style experience
• Prefer short stops rather than a longer guided walk
• Don’t handle nighttime walking well or don’t want to deal with bugs in an outdoor cemetery setting

Should you book the Bonaventure Secret Society Ghost Tour?

My quick take: yes, if you want Bonaventure at night and you like stories with meaning. The after-hours access is the headline, but the real win is how the guide ties the cemetery to Savannah’s people and themes—especially the secret society angle—without turning it into pure gimmick.

Book it if your ideal evening in Savannah looks like a thoughtful guided walk where the mood is spooky and the history is doing real work. Skip it if you want constant thrills and a light, casual ghost vibe.

If you match the vibe, this tour is a strong Savannah “must,” because it gives you something different from daytime sightseeing: a locked-in, quiet view of the city’s past that feels closer than you expect.

FAQ

How long is the Bonaventure Cemetery Secret Society Ghost Tour?

It runs about 2 hours 30 minutes.

Where is the meeting point, and where does the tour end?

The tour starts at 330 Bonaventure Rd, Thunderbolt, GA 31404, USA, and ends back at the same meeting point.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 6:00 pm.

What is the price per person?

The price is $37.50 per person.

Is hotel pickup or drop-off included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

What’s included in the tour?

A professional local guide is included, and the Bonaventure Cemetery admission ticket is included.

Do I need a cell phone for this tour?

Yes. You must have a cell phone and provide your cell phone number at the time of booking.

Is this tour ticket mobile?

Yes. It uses a mobile ticket.

Does it run in bad weather?

It operates in all weather conditions, and it’s also noted that the experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

How many people are on the tour?

The tour has a maximum of 60 travelers.