The Kehoe House

Savannah's Most Elegant Haunted Mansion

The Kehoe House occupies a unique position in Savannah's landscape as both a luxurious Victorian mansion and one of the city's most actively haunted buildings. Built in 1892 for successful Irish immigrant businessman William Kehoe, this Renaissance Revival masterpiece showcases the architectural ambition and refined taste of Savannah's Gilded Age elite. The mansion's 15-foot ceilings, elaborate plasterwork, original brass chandeliers, and ornate double-parlor design represent the pinnacle of Victorian residential architecture. Yet beyond its undeniable beauty, The Kehoe House has earned international recognition among paranormal investigators and ghost enthusiasts for its documented supernatural activity, particularly encounters with playful child spirits who are said to still reside in their family home more than a century after their tragic deaths.

What makes The Kehoe House particularly fascinating is the nature of its haunting. Unlike many allegedly haunted locations where paranormal activity feels malevolent or threatening, the spirits of The Kehoe House are described as playful, curious, and sometimes mischievous but never harmful. Guests and staff report toys mysteriously appearing in rooms where no children have stayed, the sound of children's laughter echoing through empty hallways, small handprints on mirrors and windows, and the gentle tugging of bedcovers during the night. These experiences, combined with the mansion's impeccable preservation and its operation as a luxury boutique inn, create a rare opportunity: the chance to sleep in a genuinely haunted Victorian mansion while enjoying modern comfort and hospitality.

Today, The Kehoe House serves dual purposes as both a premier luxury accommodation and a significant paranormal destination. For history and architecture enthusiasts, the mansion offers an immersive experience of Gilded Age elegance with its period furnishings, original architectural details, and Victorian social customs recreated through afternoon tea service. For paranormal enthusiasts, it provides documented supernatural encounters and the opportunity to investigate one of Savannah's most active haunted locations. Whether you're a skeptic appreciating beautiful architecture, a believer seeking supernatural experiences, or simply a traveler looking for Savannah's most unique accommodations, The Kehoe House delivers an unforgettable experience that blends historical preservation, architectural beauty, and genuine haunted mystery.

Renaissance Revival Architectural Masterpiece

The Kehoe House represents the height of Renaissance Revival residential architecture in Savannah, designed by renowned architect DeWitt Bruyn and completed in 1892 at a cost of $25,000—an enormous sum representing William Kehoe's business success and social ambitions. The mansion's red brick facade features ornate terracotta decorations, elaborate cornices, and graceful arched windows that showcase the Renaissance Revival style's emphasis on classical symmetry and decorative richness. The building's three-story structure is crowned with a distinctive mansard roof topped with cast-iron cresting, while the grand entrance features double doors with leaded glass transoms and sidelights that welcome visitors into the home's spectacular interior spaces.

The mansion's interior design reflects Victorian-era ideals of domestic elegance and social display. The entrance hall features original heart pine floors, 15-foot ceilings with elaborate plaster crown moldings, and a magnificent carved staircase with turned balusters and a polished mahogany handrail. The double parlors—connected by pocket doors that could be opened for large entertainments—showcase original marble fireplaces with ornate carved mantels, brass chandeliers with etched glass shades, and floor-to-ceiling windows dressed with period-appropriate silk draperies. These formal spaces were designed for Victorian social rituals: receiving callers, hosting dinner parties, and displaying the family's wealth and cultural refinement through furniture, artwork, and decorative objects.

The mansion's original configuration included ten bedrooms on the upper floors to accommodate the Kehoe family's ten children, plus servants' quarters on the third floor. The family rooms featured period wallpapers, decorative plaster ceiling medallions, and Italian marble fireplace surrounds. The third-floor children's playroom and schoolroom—now sites of frequent paranormal activity—offered light-filled spaces where the Kehoe children spent much of their time. William Kehoe's personal office on the main floor featured built-in cabinetry and a private entrance, reflecting his need to conduct business from home. The mansion's design prioritized both public grandeur and private family comfort, creating spaces suitable for formal Victorian entertaining and intimate family life.

The building's preservation and conversion to a luxury inn in the 1990s carefully maintained its architectural integrity while adding modern amenities. Original architectural elements—plasterwork, hardwood floors, marble fireplaces, brass fixtures, and carved woodwork—were meticulously restored to their 1890s appearance. Period furnishings were sourced to recreate the Victorian aesthetic, including antique beds, dressing tables, and sitting areas that would have been familiar to the original Kehoe family. The inn's operators respected the building's historical character while ensuring guest comfort through discreet climate control, updated plumbing, modern mattresses, and Wi-Fi access. This sensitive restoration has preserved The Kehoe House as an authentic Victorian time capsule that allows modern visitors to experience Gilded Age elegance while investigating its supernatural mysteries.

The Tragic Tale of the Kehoe Children

The haunted reputation of The Kehoe House centers on the tragic deaths of twins from the Kehoe family's ten children. According to local legend and paranormal researchers, two young children died in the mansion's chimney under circumstances that remain unclear—whether accidental death during play, a hide-and-seek game gone tragically wrong, or something more mysterious has been debated for over a century. What is documented is that the Kehoe family experienced profound grief that marked the household, and paranormal investigators believe these child spirits never left their family home. The playful, innocent nature of the supernatural encounters reported at The Kehoe House—toys appearing, children's laughter, gentle touches—aligns with the spirits of young children who remain in the home where they lived and tragically died.

William Kehoe himself was a fascinating figure whose life intersected with Savannah's industrial development. An Irish immigrant who arrived in Savannah with little, he built a successful ironworks business that produced ornamental ironwork, balconies, and architectural elements for homes and businesses throughout the South. His company, Kehoe Iron Works, created many of the decorative iron railings and gates still visible in Savannah's historic district. The mansion he built at the height of his success was intended to display his achievements and provide a magnificent home for his large family. The twin tragedies that occurred within its walls transformed the house from a symbol of immigrant success into a site of enduring grief—and according to believers, a place where the boundary between the living and the dead remains permeable.

The specific supernatural phenomena reported at The Kehoe House have been remarkably consistent across decades of guest experiences. Rooms 201 and 203 on the second floor are particularly active, with guests reporting sudden drops in temperature (cold spots), the sensation of being watched, invisible hands gently tugging bedcovers, and the appearance of toys—particularly vintage-style dolls and toy soldiers—that weren't present when guests checked in. The third-floor former playroom and schoolroom is another hotspot where visitors report seeing shadowy child-sized figures moving through hallways, hearing period music and children's laughter, and experiencing overwhelming emotional presences that some describe as profound sadness mixed with playful curiosity. These experiences have been documented by paranormal investigation teams using EMF meters, digital voice recorders, and infrared cameras.

What distinguishes The Kehoe House from many allegedly haunted locations is the benign nature of its paranormal activity. Guests and staff emphasize that the supernatural encounters, while sometimes startling, never feel threatening or malevolent. The spirit children seem to be seeking attention and interaction rather than trying to frighten living visitors. Objects moved are typically toys or personal items that are carefully placed rather than thrown. The children's laughter and footsteps suggest playfulness rather than distress. Even skeptical guests often report feeling an unusual emotional atmosphere in certain rooms—a sense of presence that defies logical explanation. This combination of documented activity and non-threatening encounters has made The Kehoe House a favorite destination for paranormal enthusiasts who seek genuine supernatural experiences without the fear factor often associated with haunted locations.

Documented Supernatural Encounters

The Kehoe House has been investigated by numerous professional paranormal research teams, and the consistency of reported phenomena across different investigators lends credibility to claims of genuine supernatural activity. Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) recordings have captured what researchers interpret as children's voices responding to questions, with phrases like "Can we play?" and "I'm here" appearing on digital recorders when no living children were present. EMF (electromagnetic field) meters register unexplained spikes in specific locations, particularly near the former children's rooms and the third-floor playroom. Infrared photography has documented anomalous cold spots that move through rooms and unexplained light phenomena described as "orbs" that appear in patterns suggesting intelligent movement rather than random dust particles.

Guest experiences provide the most compelling evidence of ongoing paranormal activity. The mansion's guest book contains hundreds of entries describing supernatural encounters: small handprints appearing on mirrors after guests have cleaned them; the distinct sound of children's footsteps running in hallways at night when all guests are accounted for in their rooms; Victorian-era toys—particularly rag dolls and wooden soldiers—appearing on beds or dressing tables where none existed at check-in; the sensation of someone sitting on the edge of the bed during the night; and the overwhelming scent of baby powder or children's soap in rooms where no such products are present. Perhaps most striking are reports from guests who awaken to see child-sized shadowy figures standing beside their beds, figures that disappear when the lights are turned on.

The grand staircase and double parlors on the main floor have their own supernatural phenomena distinct from the child spirits. Guests and staff report seeing a well-dressed Victorian-era woman descending the staircase, believed to be Anne Kehoe, the family matriarch. In the parlors, the scent of cigar smoke manifests periodically despite the inn's strict no-smoking policy, interpreted as the presence of William Kehoe himself still presiding over his magnificent home. Period music—particularly piano melodies from the 1890s—is heard when no music is playing, and the inn's antique pump organ has been found with its keyboard cover open on mornings when it was securely closed the night before. These adult spirit encounters suggest the entire Kehoe family may remain attached to their beloved Victorian mansion.

The Kehoe House staff have developed a matter-of-fact relationship with the mansion's supernatural residents. Housekeeping staff report toys that must be collected daily from guest rooms even when no children have stayed, and items like hairbrushes and jewelry that move from dressing tables to unexpected locations. Front desk personnel receive regular reports from guests experiencing paranormal activity, and the staff maintains detailed logs of supernatural encounters organized by room and type of phenomenon. Some staff members report developing a sense of the spirits' moods—days when the children seem particularly playful versus quieter periods. This professional documentation of ongoing paranormal activity, combined with the experiences of thousands of guests over decades, has established The Kehoe House as one of America's most credibly haunted historic buildings.

Victorian Elegance Meets Modern Hospitality

Beyond its paranormal reputation, The Kehoe House operates as one of Savannah's premier luxury accommodations, offering thirteen individually decorated guest rooms that combine Victorian-era elegance with modern comfort. Each room features period antiques including four-poster beds, marble-topped dressing tables, and vintage armoires, complemented by luxurious linens, premium mattresses, and modern bathrooms with rainfall showers and upscale bath products. Rooms overlook either the historic Columbia Square with its beautiful fountain and mature oak trees, or the mansion's private courtyard garden with tropical plantings and peaceful fountains. The attention to Victorian detail—from the reproduction wallpapers to the brass light fixtures—creates an immersive historical experience without sacrificing contemporary expectations for comfort and amenities.

The inn's complimentary services recreate Victorian social customs and Southern hospitality. Each afternoon, guests gather in the double parlors for traditional afternoon tea service, complete with fresh-baked scones, finger sandwiches, pastries, and a selection of premium teas served on fine china. This civilized ritual offers opportunities to meet fellow guests, exchange paranormal experiences, and soak in the parlors' Victorian ambiance. Evening wine and hors d'oeuvres service in the parlors continues the social atmosphere, while the nightly turndown service includes the inn's signature chocolate "ghost" treats placed on pillows. Full gourmet breakfast is served each morning in the formal dining room, featuring Southern specialties like shrimp and grits, buttermilk biscuits, and seasonal fresh fruit alongside classic breakfast options.

The mansion's courtyard garden provides a peaceful retreat from Savannah's bustling streets. Brick pathways wind through tropical plantings, past bubbling fountains and wrought-iron benches positioned for quiet contemplation. The garden's mature palms, banana plants, and flowering vines create a private outdoor sanctuary where guests can enjoy morning coffee, read, or simply escape the summer heat. The garden's design reflects traditional Savannah courtyard gardens that served as private outdoor rooms for 19th-century families. In the evenings, uplighting transforms the garden into a romantic space perfect for pre-dinner drinks or post-theatre relaxation. The combination of the garden's tranquility and the mansion's elegant interiors creates a complete luxury experience that extends beyond the guest rooms themselves.

The Kehoe House's location on Columbia Square provides walking access to Savannah's best attractions, restaurants, and entertainment. The square itself—one of Savannah's most beautiful with its central fountain and massive oak trees—offers immediate access to green space and historic ambiance. The mansion sits within the heart of the historic district, with City Market's restaurants and galleries four blocks away, the Savannah Theatre three blocks distant, and River Street's waterfront entertainment a ten-minute walk. This central location allows guests to park once and walk to most destinations, experiencing Savannah's pedestrian-friendly layout while returning each evening to Victorian elegance and potential supernatural encounters. The combination of luxury accommodations, paranormal activity, historical authenticity, and perfect location makes The Kehoe House an unmatched Savannah experience.

Planning Your Visit

For Overnight Guests: Room rates range from $250-$450 per night depending on season, room selection, and day of week. Peak season (March-May, October-November) commands premium rates and requires advance booking, often 2-3 months ahead for weekends. Packages that include ghost tour tickets or spa services may offer value. All rates include afternoon tea, evening wine service, full gourmet breakfast, and parking permits. The inn maintains a minimum age policy (varies by season), so confirm if traveling with children. Special requests for specific rooms (particularly the most haunted rooms 201 and 203) should be made when booking and are subject to availability.

For Paranormal Enthusiasts: While overnight stays offer the most authentic paranormal experience, The Kehoe House is included on most Savannah ghost tours as an exterior viewing stop with historical narrative about its haunted reputation. Tours typically spend 15-20 minutes discussing the building's architecture and paranormal history while guests photograph the facade and observe the building from Columbia Square. Some specialized paranormal investigation tours may offer limited interior access with advance arrangements—contact tour operators directly about these opportunities. The inn respects guests' privacy, so casual visitors cannot enter the building without reservations.

Best Times for Paranormal Activity: While supernatural encounters are reported year-round, paranormal researchers note increased activity during October (Halloween season), December (holiday season when family memories may be strongest), and during full moon periods. Room 201, Room 203, and third-floor rooms report the most frequent encounters. Guests seeking paranormal experiences should request these specific rooms when booking and plan for at least two-night stays to increase encounter probability. Bringing a digital voice recorder, EMF meter, and camera prepared for low-light photography can help document experiences, though the inn requests guests respect other visitors' peace and privacy during investigations.

Practical Considerations: The Kehoe House is a historic building with original staircases and no elevator access to upper floors—request main floor rooms if mobility is a concern. The inn provides complimentary parking permits for street parking in the historic district (a valuable amenity given limited downtown parking). Check-in time is 3:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM. The mansion is adults-only during certain seasons—confirm age policies when booking if traveling with family. The intimate nature of the thirteen-room inn means quiet hours are observed for all guests' comfort. Staff are knowledgeable about paranormal history and happy to share documented encounters, but they maintain a professional, neutral stance on supernatural beliefs, ensuring both believers and skeptics feel comfortable during their stay.

Explore More Haunted Savannah

The Kehoe House is just one stop on Savannah's haunted trail. The Marshall House, a former Civil War hospital just three blocks away, reports encounters with soldier spirits and has a particularly active basement where amputations were performed. The Sorrel-Weed House on Madison Square offers paranormal investigation tours focusing on the tragic story of Matilda Sorrel, whose spirit is said to remain in the mansion's basement. Colonial Park Cemetery, established in 1750, provides nighttime ghost tours among historic graves where apparitions have been photographed and documented for decades.

Multiple professional ghost tour companies operate in Savannah, offering walking tours that connect these haunted locations with historical narrative and paranormal investigation techniques. Tours typically run 90-120 minutes and cover 8-10 locations, including The Kehoe House, Sorrel-Weed House, Colonial Park Cemetery, and other documented paranormal hotspots. Most tours operate nightly year-round with multiple departure times, though October tours book weeks in advance. Specialized paranormal investigation tours provide EMF meters and other equipment for guests to conduct their own investigations. Booking a comprehensive ghost tour provides context for The Kehoe House's paranormal reputation within Savannah's broader haunted history.

Combining a Kehoe House overnight stay with Savannah's other supernatural attractions creates the ultimate paranormal experience. Spend the day touring historic sites and museums, join an evening ghost tour to hear documented paranormal accounts, enjoy dinner at one of Savannah's historic restaurants (many with their own ghost stories), and return to The Kehoe House for your own potential supernatural encounters. This combination of professional paranormal investigation, historical context, and personal experience provides the most comprehensive understanding of Savannah's haunted reputation. Whether you're a committed paranormal enthusiast or a curious skeptic, the concentration of documented supernatural activity in Savannah's historic district offers unmatched opportunities to explore the boundary between history and the unexplained.