Colonial Park Cemetery

Posted: 02.19.2020 | Updated: 01.27.2025

The Colonial Park Cemetery is known as one of the oldest locations in Savannah, Georgia… but most importantly as one of the most haunted places in the city. Established in 1750, the Colonial Cemetery or the Old Cemetery, as the locals call it, operated for over 100 years as a local burying ground containing over nine thousand graves.

By 1789, the cemetery expanded three times until it stretched six acres. This vast plot of land is said to hold the remains of victims of the Yellow Fever, dueling, and the Civil War.

With this variety of souls laid to rest here, it’s no wonder there have been numerous reports of spirits sighted at this graveyard. If you’re brave enough to see these spirits for yourself, book a tour with Savannah Ghosts today!

Who is Buried In Colonial Park Cemetery?

This is the oldest intact cemetery that can be found in Savannah with many historic markers describing important events and people that have helped contribute to the history of Georgia. Burials stopped in 1853, however after Union troops occupied Savannah in 1864, the cemetery became a temporary home to several hundred Union soldiers. Some soldiers allegedly defaced some pre-existing markers, including Gaston’s Tomb.

Some well-known people whose remains are buried here include: Button Gwinnett, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. John Berrien, a major in the American Revolution and postmaster general Joseph Habersham.

Among the recognizable names is a mass grave holding the bodies of the 666 victims of Yellow Fever, a massive pandemic that swept the nation. The south suffered the most with thousand of people falling from the disease.

History of Colonial Park Cemetery

The cemetery would initially be built for the Christ Church Parish. However, in 1789, the burial grounds were open to Savannah citizens of all kinds. The burials would end in 1853, eight years before the Civil War, meaning there are no Confederate soldiers buried in this cemetery.

There were several proposals to run streets and even railroads through the land. In 1896, The Park and Tree Commission would help clean up the cemetery and make it beautiful once again to prevent the proposals from going through.

In 1967, a major restoration project had taken place and in 1990, The City of Savannah would begin doing a huge preservation project to help maintain this cemetery for generations to come. Historical researchers came to document any and all changes that have taken place during the restoration, as well as update the map and take photos.

According to historians, there were a few burials that occurred before the cemetery opened, however, they are now covered up as the grounds have been built over and covered over the centuries. This habit of building over the dead has given the city the reputation of the “city that lives upon her dead.”

Paranormal Activity

There are many ghost stories to be told in Savannah, many of which we tell on our Savannah Terrors tour, but this cemetery is considered to be one of the most haunted places in the city.

It isn’t uncommon for people to see shadowy figures moving through the area. There is even sometimes green mist that will float through the air.

Rene Rondolier – Ghost of Colonial Park Cemetery

This is the most famous and well-known ghost story from the cemetery. Rene Rondolier is often seen walking through the graves, sometimes hanging from the hanging tree in the back of the cemetery. It’s hard to miss Rene as he strolls through the cemetery considering he was over 7 feet tall.

Supposedly Rene had been caught just after he had murdered two young girls on the cemetery grounds causing a mob to form. This mob tracked Rene down and hung him by the swamp, leaving him for dead. However, not long after his death, they claimed to see a tall shadowy figure walking the grounds.

However, with all this being said, no one can verify it. It isn’t believed to be true. There is no history of two girls being murdered in the cemetery and there is no record of a Rene Rondolier.

Some of the tours will tell you though that he lived in a house that you can find on Hampton Lillibridge. It is said during tours that the glass that is found on the brick is to help keep Rene from wandering too far.

Ceremonies of Hoodoo

Savannah has been home to a thriving hoodoo culture for many years. There are many practitioners that practice hoodoo in Savannah and when the cemetery wasn’t closed at night, visitors in the morning would walk in to find remnants of ceremonies held the night prior.

The Red Girl

Paranormal investigator Tobias McGriff, a story developer on Syfy’s Paranormal Highway and writer of “Savannah Shadows: Tales from the Midnight Zombie Tour” has encountered another recognizable spirit in the cemetery.

The Red Girl is a mysterious young woman whose spirit gives off a red-hue is occasionally spotted kneeling by the graves. Her visage has appeared in photographs and while her identity is unknown, it is possible that she is mourning someone else whose remains are buried here.

Dueling Grounds

There is a small park located just south of the cemetery believed to be the area of a dueling ground when dueling in Georgia had been legal. It is said that even after the dueling was banned 1877, people would come here to honor their name and uphold their reputation.

There is a marker for one duelist in particular named James Wilde who died during a tragic affair of honor fought in 1815. He was shot in the heart after the fourth exchange of fire by former friend Roswell P. Johnson. The nature of their duel is unknown, but their duel will forever be immortalized in the Colonial Point Cemetery.

Haunted Savannah

The Colonial Park Cemetery is full of history and with history comes hauntings. Older places are known for hauntings and this old cemetery has many unmarked graves and certainly even crazier stories.

With the many years of burials and unmarked graves, there is always a chance that you’ll find something out of the ordinary. Book your spot on Savannah Ghosts and see this historic and haunted graveyard for yourself.

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Sources:

• https://www.savannah.com/stroll-through-colonial-park-cemetery/
• https://www.savannahnow.com/story/lifestyle/2021/08/04/savannah-history-cemeteries-colonial-park-yellow-fever-deaths-graves/5476392001/#
• https://medium.com/@mywalkabout40/rene-s-playground-i-e-the-colonial-park-cemetery-1d8023572808
• https://www.wsav.com/now/the-witches-of-savannah-unveiling-the-mystic-community/
• https://www.southernspiritguide.org/a-living-cemetery-colonial-park-cemetery-savannah/
• https://www.georgiahistory.com/ghmi_marker_updated/duellists-grave/