Moon River Brewing Company

Posted: 03.05.2020 | Updated: 01.27.2025

The Moon River Brewing Company, one of the most haunted places in Savannah, was built back in 1821 as the City Hotel before closing in 1864 due to the uptick in violence during the Civil War. Afterward, it was used mainly for storage before becoming an office supply store in the 60’s.

When Hurricane David rocked Savannah in 1979, it tore off the roof of this historic building, leaving it empty for nearly two decades. In 1995, after many renovations, it would open as the Oglethorpe Brewing Company. Oglethorpe Brewing Co. did not last long and would reopen as the Moon River Brewing Company.

This current brewery made the top fifty list in the United States and it ranks up there with the top breweries in the nation. Not only does it rank amongst the best breweries in the country, but it also weighs in close to number one as the scariest place in Savannah.

Read on to learn the history and haunts of this boo-tiful brewery. Book a tour with Savannah Terrors if you dare to witness the spirits of Savannah, both of the ghostly and boozy variety, for yourself.

The History of the Moon River Brewing Co.

An early native of Charleston, Eleazer Early, created the City Hotel back in 1821. This was the first hotel in Savannah, home to the first post office in Savannah, and even a branch of the Bank of the United States. There were many notable people staying at this hotel during its operational days such as Winfield Scott, the Marquis de Lafayette, and three commodores of the U.S. Navy.

In 1851, a man named Peter Wiltberger would buy this property. He renovated it, displaying a live lion and lioness for visitors to see. The City Hotel guests would check out for the last time in 1864 right before the City Hotel would close down for good.

During the turn of the century, the hotel would be used as a warehouse for coal and lumber, eventually operating as general storage facility. It was in the 1960s that the space would be renovated again. It would then be an office supply store with a large printing press.

Not long after, Mother Nature would strike. Hurricane David forced the office company to close in 1979 because the roof flew off the structure. The building would continue to sit empty until 1995, when the current renovation took place to make it the Oglethorpe Brewing Company.

The Oglethorpe Brewing Co., named after the founder of Savannah, only lasted three years before it was renovated and reopened as the Moon River Brewing Company.

After 25 years, the Moon River Brewing Co. closed its doors in 2024 due to financial troubles. There are no current plans for another business to take the location as of right now. It is unfortunate that a building with so much history will once again remain empty, other than the myriad of spirits trapped within its walls.

Is Moon River Brewing Company Haunted?

The Moon River Brewing Company, originally opening as the first hotel in Savannah, has been a staple of Savannah’s history. It’s many years of existence, combined with the multitude of renovations, it’s guaranteed that ghosts from the past still linger.

This location had a slew of ghosts, some even named by the staff, and countless reports of paranormal activity. It’s so haunted that it was featured on an episode of Ghost Adventures.

The Ghosts in the Lower Levels

The Moon River Brewing Company is home to one of Savannah’s most famous ghosts. The staff call this ghost “Toby” and he lives in the basement, moving stealthily through the shadowed areas of the lower level. 

People will go through the basement during tours, as it is not off-limits to the public. One person on a tour claimed that instantly, her body went icy cold. However, it was only the right half of her body that was icy.

The woman also stated that she was hearing voices and couldn’t understand what the voices were trying to say. Many people believe that she was faking it. However, other people who have been in the basement have reported the same sensations and haunting voices.

Haunting on the Second Floor

A famous shooting had taken place on the second floor. This shooting involved James Shark and Philip Minis. Stark, a Georgia legislature, was shot by local physician Minis in 1832 when the building was the City Hotel.

There is mystery surrounding their feud and the story changes depending on how you ask. According to Minis’ sister, Stark referred to Phillip by an ethnic slur while the two of them were at the local racetrack. However, if you were to ask Dr. Richard Arnold, an editor of The Georgian newspaper, Stark and Minis were drinking at a local bar where Stark belligerently called Minis a “damned Jew.”

There are many other stories surrounding their feud but regardless of the exact circumstances, it would seem that Stark had a lot of resentment towards Minis for his ethnicity and refused to apologize, leading to Minis exacting his justice.

James Stark’s vengeful spirit allegedly roams the halls of the brewery, particularly the main floor and the second floor. His ghost is often “pushy” and violent, occasionally attempting to aggressively push people down the stairs.

Paranormal Activity on the Upper Floors

There have been many reports of ghosts and shadows on the upper levels of the building. There is the Lady in White, “Mrs. Johnson,” people being pushed down the staircase (which is likely James Stark’s doing), people being chased out, and all sorts of paranormal activity.

The fourth floor in particular gives off a dark energy. The top floor was once a makeshift hospital, serving many people suffering from yellow fever. There were many deaths that occurred on this floor.

Many people, adults and children, would lose their battle with yellow fever and die without mercy. This is the energy many people feel throughout the upper levels of the brewery. Often times people will hear the disembodied voices of children along with the pitter-patter of small feet running through the halls.

Dining With the Spirits

Ghosts are amok in this brewery no matter where someone is, including the dining area where multiple reports of paranormal activity have occurred.

One gentleman states that he had been on a date when his lady friend excused herself to use the bathroom. She would not return for nearly fifteen minutes.

When she did return, she was crying and shaking, stating that the bathroom door wouldn’t let her out. The stall was locked, and no matter how hard she tried, she could not get it open.

She would call out for help and beg to be let out and pushed one last time. The last time she pushed, it opened right up.

The waitress saw that the woman was upset, and informed her that spirits tend to hide in the bathroom and that she wasn’t the first one to experience that phenomenon.

Another couple was on a date, and the woman jumped up, her face white as snow. She stated that someone had grabbed her leg and thigh, but her date’s hands were on the table. The hands that grabbed her were colder than ice.

Haunted Savannah

The Moon River Brewing Co. has been many things in its lifetime. It is a beautiful area with lots of history; however, it is a place that has a lot of death.

While the building is now defunct, there is no doubt that spirits still linger within, just waiting for someone to haunt. There are plenty more breweries in Savannah you can visit, but none of them can hold a candle to the old Moon River Brewing Co.

Visit our website today and book a spot with Savannah Terrors if you’re up for a spooky adventure like no other. Make sure to also read up on our blog for more terror-inducing ghost stories, and stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

 Sources:

• https://roadtips.typepad.com/a_salesguys_guide_to_the_/2009/08/moon-river-brewing-company-savannah-ga.html
• https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/winfield-scott
• https://gbj.com/united-states/savannah/food-drink/moon-river-brewing-company
• https://eatitandlikeit.com/savannahs-moon-river-brewing-company-to-close/
• https://www.travelchannel.com/shows/ghost-adventures/episodes/moon-river-brewery
• https://beerinfo.com/haunted-brewery-moon-river-brewing/
• https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/2015/10/30/i-will-rip-their-heads-death-and-vengeance-savannahs-james-stark/13955163007/
• https://www.themidnighttrainpodcast.com/post/haunted-breweries-a-surprise-episode-for-jonathan
• https://sanjoaquinvalleypress.com/storytime/f/real-ghost-stories-moon-river-brewing-company