Everyone loves a good scare from time to time, right? That’s why we enjoy exploring creepy places in GA whenever we want to get our adrenaline up and hearts pumping. There’s nothing like getting the heart racing, the adrenaline pumping, and the hairs on the back of your neck standing up. Unless, of course, you’re visiting Corpsewood Manor, located in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Visiting the ruins of this horrific Georgia murder mansion just might be a bit too terrifying for some, so discretion is advised as you continue reading.

Facebook Corpsewood Manor Memorial

In 1982, outside Summerville, Georgia, Dr. Charles L. Scudder, who was a retired professor from Loyola University in Chicago, and his partner Joseph “Joey” Odom, were living in their hand-built home. This brick mansion was built as their dream home. They lived happily with their two mastiff dogs, until one fateful night in December.

Facebook Corpsewood Manor

All that’s left of the brick mansion are the haunting ruins, and one ghastly tale that still remains a mystery to this day.

Dr. Charles L. Scudder and partner Joseph Odom hosted two friends at their house on night in December 1982.
Facebook Corpsewood Manor - A Castle In The Woods
The men who were invited over were acquaintances named Avery Brock and Tony West.
Facebook Corpsewood Manor - A Castle In The Woods
Everyone got along well, drinking wine and sharing stories. Until West and Brock unleashed their original plan, shooting their two hosts, and attempting to loot the house.
Facebook Corpsewood Manor - A Castle In The Woods
It wasn't until after the murders that the media got involved, claiming that Scudder and Odom were both devil worshippers.
Facebook Corpsewood Manor - A Castle In The Woods
This mythos came to be because of Scudder's interest in the occult and the fact that the pair were openly homosexual.
Facebook Corpsewood Manor - A Castle In The Woods
However, those two facts certainly didn't equate to being devil worshippers, which created a huge discord within the community.
Facebook Corpsewood Manor - A Castle In The Woods
Brock and West visited that night with a plan—to drink the wine offered to them and loot the house for a believed hidden fortune.
Facebook Corpsewood Manor - A Castle In The Woods
Yet, after Brock and West ransacked the house once they shot both Scudder and Odom, they found nothing by nickels and dimes, some jewelry, and a few ornamental decorations.
Facebook Corpsewood Manor - A Castle In The Woods
It's been said that the ruins are still haunted to this day, with visitors claiming to see apparitions or hearing gunshots, glass shattering, or dogs barking in the distance.
Facebook Corpsewood Manor - A Castle In The Woods
There also is a warning which claims if you take a brick from the property, you will be cursed for the remainder of your life.
Facebook Corpsewood Manor - A Castle In The Woods
Today, nature has reclaimed the horrific murder scene, with vines growing tall across the exposed brick mansion.
Facebook Corpsewood Manor - A Castle In The Woods
However there is a group of people who visit the ruins and maintain its integrity and beauty the way it should be.
Facebook Corpsewood Manor - A Castle In The Woods
Nobody will ever know if Scudder and Odom truly were involved with the devil, or if they were simply two men who never received the peace that they deserved.
Facebook Corpsewood Manor - A Castle In The Woods

If you’re feeling frisky and want to visit Corpsewood Manor, then you can see below exactly where the ruins remain. There is no exact address, so you may need to do some searching before landing on the actual spot.

Google Maps

What do you think about the Corpsewood Manor murder? Were you already familiar with the history? Share with us your thoughts in the comments section!

Otherwise, if haunted Georgia is something you love, then check out The Ultimate Terrifying Georgia Road Trip. You can create an entire weekend adventure out of this one terrifying itinerary!

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More to Explore

GA Murder Mansion

Megan Todaro | February 02, 2023

What are some creepy places in GA to explore?

The creepiest places in Georgia to explore include:

  • Colonial Park Cemetery
  • The Marshall House
  • Harville House
  • Devil’s Bridge
  • Andersonville Prison
  • Central State Hospital
  • Oakland Cemetery
  • Tunnel Hill
  • Tennga Motel

What’s most fascinating about these creepy places in GA is that many of them have a unique history attached. For instance, The Marshall House was once a hospital during the Civil War. Meanwhile, Andersonville Prison, said to be one of the most haunted places in Georgia, supposedly has ghosts roaming the grounds.

What is the creepiest urban legend in Georgia?

The creepiest urban legend in Georgia comes from Milledgeville, and it involves the Central State Prison. The old governor’s mansion was built in the 1800s and has been declared one of the most haunted buildings in the state. Today the mansion is owned by Georgia College and State University, but before that, many different hauntings were reported on the grounds. A few terrifying tales include:

  • Light switches being turned on and off with nobody around.
  • Beds that end up unmade when nobody is there.
  • Aromatic smells coming from the kitchen when nobody is cooking.

 

Are there other abandoned mansions in Georgia to explore?

There are eight abandoned mansions in Georgia to explore, including:

  • Dungeness Ruins, St. Marys, GA
  • Horton House, Jekyll Island, GA
  • Harville House, Statesboro, GA
  • Central State Hospital, Milledgeville, GA
  • Scull Shoals Mill Ruins, Watkinsville, GA
  • Atlanta Prison Farm, Atlanta, GA
  • Pratt-Pullman Yard, Atlanta, GA
  • New Manchester Manufacturing Company, Lithia Springs, GA

These abandoned places in Georgia are each unique in their own way. Before you visit, learn all about the history behind each set of ruins.

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