Welcome to the Hostess City of The South!
If you are planning a trip to Savannah, you are in for a real treat. With its Live Oak-lined streets and canopy of Spanish moss, the city is nothing short of a storybook setting.
Spared burning by General Sherman in his march to the sea during the Civil War, Savannah is a beautiful step back in time. With a neverending list of things to do, squares to stroll, and delicious low country food to eat, Savannah will steal your heart and leave you wishing you could come back for more.
The Hamilton-Turner Inn
As you begin to plan your visit, lodging will be at the top of your list. Allow me to say, look no farther than The Hamilton-Turner Inn. If you are looking for a gorgeous bed and breakfast, perfect location, easy parking, and polite and attentive staff, Hamilton-Turner truly has it all.
History
Built in 1873 by Samuel Pugh Hamilton, the inn boasts a gorgeous French Empire-style architecture. Hamilton himself was an officer in the U.S. Navy and quite the businessman. After resigning his commission, he owned a jewelry business and later came to work for Brush Electric Light & Power Company.
His affiliation with the electric company was part of the reason that the Hamilton house became the first private home in Savannah to have electricity. The story goes that when the power was first turned on, a crowd gathered in the square to watch, assuming the house would explode.
In 1997, the private home was converted into a luxury hotel that offers 17 guest rooms and a three-bedroom carriage house. In 2019 the inn won the USAToday’s Readers’ Choice award for Most Romantic Hotel.
Haunted Past
When searching for a bed and breakfast in Savannah, I found the Hamilton-Turner Inn after a short google search on haunted bed and breakfasts. The Inn came up in several blogs and immediately pulled me in with its blend of beauty and haunted past.
Although the tales vary, the story told on our trolley ghost tour was that of a deceased sentinel who continues to guard the house.
When the house still belonged to Mr. Hamilton, he would often throw large, lavish parties. One night, a sentinel, who was to be standing guard during one of these parties, was shot, only to be found the next morning slumped over his rifle.
No one had heard the gunfire due to the noise from the party. The story goes that the sentinel can sometimes be spotted sitting on the rooftop, smoking a cigar.
Haunted Present
Upon checking in, a kind innkeep named Stephen showed me to my room. The night was dark and stormy, of course (It actually was, lol). I followed Stephen up to the Mary Telfair room, #303.
As Stephen opened the door, a gust of ice cold air spilled out of the room. Stephen exclaimed and noted that the room is “always cold” and that there “must be a ghost” in there. He adjusted the thermostat and left me to settle in.
Before returning downstairs to my car to retrieve the last of my bags, I bumped the thermostat up to 75 in hopes of warming up the room more quickly. (I’m ALWAYS cold and air conditioning absolutely freezes me.) I then ran back down to the car to get the last of my things.
When I returned to the room, the thermostat setting had returned to 68. By this, I mean that where I had set the temperature to 75, it was now set to 68.
Up until this point, I don’t think I’ve told you that I was checking in alone.
My husband, Mitchell, was due to drive down the following morning after a physical fitness test the Marines had scheduled at the last minute. Not wanting to lose the night in the b&b, I opted to check in by myself a day early.
Now, I did, indeed, search for haunted bed and breakfasts. But, at the time, I assumed I would have Mitchell with me. This ghost was just going to have to put off its shenanigans until the next day when I had some backup!
I decided I wasn’t playing with the air conditioning–or this ghost. I flipped the thermostat over to heat and let it be. Luckily, the room warmed up a bit, and I didn’t have any further thermostat-related problems.
I was woken in the night several times to a whirling sound, almost like a muffled version of bees swarming. I’m assuming/hoping this was somehow air duct related and not of the poltergeist variety.
All in all, I made it through the night unscathed and with just the right amount of spookiness to make staying in a haunted hotel alone fun and not too scary.
Amenities
Ghosts aside, the Hamilton-Turner Inn is nothing short of luxurious. The warm and inviting staff and the gorgeous interior decorating make this the place you want to stay if you’re looking for a blend of luxury and comfort.
A chef-prepared breakfast is served daily. You simply schedule what time you’d like to come down to eat and then show up.
In the mornings, coffee and tea are served in the main sitting room, where spa water is nearly always available. Happy hour is also available for guests in the afternoons, and nightly cookies are left out as an evening treat. Those can be enjoyed with a glass of port upon request.
The first night of my arrival was stormy, as I mentioned before. The inn had umbrellas at the door for patrons to take as they needed them. I also heard a member of the staff arranging a shuttle for another couple on their day of departure. Basically, whatever you need, the staff are happy to help in any way they can.
Location
The Inn is located on the corner of Lafayette Square, adjacent to The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. Although it’s only a 10-15 minute walk to the city area (think Lucas Theater and Leopold’s Ice Cream), it’s very quiet in the evenings, and felt very safe while I was out and about on my own.
With safety in mind, the Inn opts to leave its doors locked at all times. Each city tour stops in front of the house to take in its majestic presence, making it a popular destination for tourists wanting to come in, take pictures, and look around. Fortunately, no one who doesn’t have a tap key can get in unaccompanied by inn staff.
Parking
Parking in Savannah can be a little tricky, especially when it’s a busy holiday weekend. However, you should know that streetside parking is free wherever there is a spot without a meter.
Alongside the Inn, parking spots had meters at every other spot. As long as you are in a meterless spot, you park for free for as long as you want unless it is otherwise posted.
I hope this post has helped you get excited about visiting Georgia’s low country. You will not find a more beautiful place filled with beauty, mystery, and rich culture than Savannah.
Check back soon for my recommendations on things to do and where to eat in the Hostess City!
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