If There’s One Cemetery Tour In South Carolina That’ll Send Shivers Up Your Spine, This Is It
For those who love a good thrill mixed with a bit of history, you’ll be delighted to hear that Charleston’s favorite tour company is now offering nighttime tours of one of the most notorious cemeteries in the state. Never before open to commercial tour companies, Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston is overflowing with intrigue and beauty. But with 35,000-plus interments, the graveyard can be a bit daunting to explore on your own. Take a tour, learn the history, hear some ghost stories, and enjoy a guided nighttime walk on this cemetery tour in South Carolina.
Now, Bulldog Tours (the same tour company that hosts the Haunted Jail Tour, Haunted Pub Crawl, Haunted Yorktown Tour, and more) offers a new tour called The Spirits of Magnolia Cemetery.
Previously off-limits to commercial walking tour companies, Magnolia Cemetery is one of the most hauntingly beautiful graveyards in The South. And on this 90-minute walking tour, you'll get a bit of history mixed into some of the most scandalous of haunts that are known to plague this massive burial ground.
Established in 1949, Magnolia Cemetery isn't the oldest cemetery in Charleston, but it has some very notable 'residents.'
That means at least part of this walking tour takes place after the sun goes down. In fact, on most nights, the sun will go down while you're on the tour. (Spooky!) A flashlight is in order here — as well as a camera with a flash on it. You won't want to miss any spirits that may be engaged by your presence!
Most people don't know you can even take a guided tour of this notorious cemetery yet.
And given the stellar reputation of Bulldog Tours, you'll want to make sure you book your tour asap — before word gets out about Charleston's favorite tour company's newest tour.
On the tour, you'll hear stories of the lives of some of the people buried at Magnolia.
It was used in the 1800s, before the invention of refrigeration, to slow the decaying process of the bodies of recently departed loved ones until burial arrangements could be made. It wasn't uncommon for a body to be held in the receiving tomb for a year or more and then moved once a grave became ready
The guides on the new Spirits of Magnolia Cemetery are known for being extremely knowledgeable and engaging.
You'll walk away from this exciting (and creepy) tour hearing about unsolved murders, scandalous tragedies, and more. And, if you're lucky, with a few photos of orbs and other evidence of the spirits that live here.
The regular visitor hours at Magnolia Cemetery are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., when the gates are promptly closed.
The new tour begins at 7:30 p.m. — which means you'll technically be locked in for 90 minutes. Sounds like the perfect opportunity to come face-to-face with a ghost, doesn't it?!
Tours cost $29/per adult (13 and over) and $19/per youth (age 7-12), ages 6 and under are free. Space is limited on this cemetery tour in South Carolina and the tour takes place rain or shine. For more information and to book one of the regularly scheduled tours, see this link on the official website for Bulldog Tours.
Robin Jarvis is a travel writer and editor for OnlyInYourState.com with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. She's lived in the Carolinas for nearly three decades and currently resides in Charleston. When she's not working, she loves to cook with friends and check out new adventures. General questions and FAM tours: rjarvis@onlyinyourstate.com.
