Places to Visit During Spooky Season in Liberty County

Spooky season is here! There isn’t a better time than now to learn about the haunted and eerie places in Liberty County. There are lots of historic buildings and sites where you’re likely to encounter stories from the past. Keep reading to discover more about our top 6 places to visit this Halloween!

1) Bacon Fraser House

Our office is a well-known historic and haunted location. The Bacon Fraser House was built in 1839 and had members of the original family living in it for 6 generations before we purchased it in 2017. Mary Elizabeth Fraser is the resident ghost, or so the stories go, passed down from the family to our staff during the transition of ownership.

Occasionally you may see lights flickering on and off or see something move out of the corner of your eye, but her presence here is peaceful. Visitors are welcome to stop by for a tour, but we do not allow any ghost hunters… we don’t want to upset Mary Elizabeth!

2) St. Catherines Island

A bonus site for those who like adventure would be Liberty County’s barrier island, St. Catherines. Visitors can only access the island by boat and are only allowed on the interior of the island by invitation. It is said to contain the ghost of Mary Musgrove, also known as the Queen of Georgia, who died on the island sometime after 1763. It is said that on a particular hill you can see her ghost haunting the island. Musgrove served as Oglethorpe’s chief interpreter for many years before being given the island where she remained for the rest of her life!

3) Midway Cemetery

The Midway Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in the entire state of Georgia, so it’s no surprise there are ghost stories associated with it! Local legends have many different stories about the cemetery, but there are two that stick out more than the rest!

Story #1

While you walk through the grounds, you may notice a crack in the northern wall of the cemetery. Back when the wall was being built, two slaves were made to stay late to finish their work. The night ended with one man killing the other with a brick and burying the body beneath the wall. Soon after, the wall began to crumble at an unnatural pace so they ordered the wall to be torn down and rebuilt. During the demolition, the remains of the deceased slave were found and after removal the wall was rebuilt. However, the crack is still there forever marking where the body was buried.

Story #2

It’s hard to imagine the tale of two young lovers being associated with a cemetery but for Sylvia and her lover, that is just the case. The story goes that Sylvia and her lover would meet at the cemetery but once her father found out, life would be forever changed. Sylvia’s father had him hung inside the cemetery and upon seeing her dead lover, she took her own life. Locals say you can still see two shadowy figures together under the trees.

Want to hear about more haunted happenings at the Midway Cemetery? The Midway Museum oversees the Midway Church and its sacred grounds, and they host cemetery tours around Halloween each year! Visit their website for more information about the historic church and cemetery.

4) Fort Morris & the “lost city” of Sunbury

Located in Midway is Fort Morris State Historic Site. It was created to protect the lost city of Sunbury and its harbor during the Revolutionary War, but it’s not a fort in the traditional sense of a concrete structure. It is made out of the original earthworks! During the time it was being built, there were soldiers on both sides of the war who died. Some people claim that they can still hear Lachlan McIntosh telling the British to, “Come and take it!”

5) Old Liberty County Jail

Just a few roads over from the Bacon Fraser House, you will find the historic Liberty County Jail. Built in 1892 and utilized until the 1960s, the Old Jail has seen its fair share of inmates and jailers through its time. There are no records showing that anyone passed away inside the jail, but there is no shortage of eerie things that happen! Paranormal teams have heard disembodied voices, whistling, shadowy figures and have even felt a presence touch them. You never know what you may encounter while taking a tour of this historic gem! Stop by and tour this spooky stop by contacting the Hinesville Downtown Development Authority during regular business hours.

6) Downtown Hinesville

The majority of businesses in downtown Hinesville are housed in buildings that are over 100 years old. Zum Rosenhof, an authentic German restaurant, used to be the home of the first Hinesville Bank. Martin Mercantile and the Hinesville Area Arts Council building was once voter registration and before that it was a pharmacy! We don’t know for sure that these buildings are haunted, but that’s what the word on the street says. Check them out and find out for yourself!

Looking for even more spooky things to do this season? We suggest that you attend the Scarecrow Rock and Stroll in Hinesville while you #ExploreLiberty!