Journey with Scary Savannah and Beyond to Georgia's historic and haunted Jekyll Island, once the exclusive Gilded Age retreat of America's wealthiest families—Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, J.P. Morgan, Pulitzer, and more. In this episode, we dive into the island's luxurious past, its role in birthing the Federal Reserve, the rise of modern golf, and its darker side: ghostly sightings at the Jekyll Island Club Resort, spectral bellhops, phantom cigar smoke, pacing presidents, eerie cottage hauntings, shadow figures in ancient cemeteries, and firsthand accounts of overwhelming dread from guests and staff. Blending history, mystery, and haunting lore, we uncover why Jekyll Island remains one of the most fascinating—and paranormally active—places on the Georgia coast. Whether you love true ghost stories, Southern history, or haunted travel, this episode brings the island's restless echoes to life.

Experience one of the South's most haunting true stories as Scary Savannah and Beyond dives into the tragic 1915 Con T. Kennedy Circus Train Wreck near Columbus, Georgia—a fiery collision that destroyed an entire traveling circus and sparked over a century of chilling ghost legends. Discover the history of the famed Kennedy Shows, the devastating crash that claimed performers, animals, and crew, and the eerie paranormal reports that followed: phantom train whistles, ghostly circus music, shadowy figures, and the heartbreaking spirit of a lost little girl. Blending true crime, Southern history, and paranormal mystery, this episode uncovers why the Con T. Kennedy wreck remains one of America's most terrifying and unforgettable circus disasters.

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Sources:

Sources: Columbus State University Archives – Circus Train Wreck Photographs (SMC 124) Two contemporary photographs of the wreck site taken by John B. McCollum. Columbus State University Columbus State University Archives – Vertical Files on the Circus Train Wreck (1915) Archival vertical files with newspaper clippings, manuscripts, and other documentation. ArchivesSpace "12 Known Dead & Missing in Show Wreck" – Atlanta Georgian, Nov 24, 1915 Reports on death toll, missing persons, injuries, and Kennedy's statement. Georgia Historic Newspapers "Nearly Forty People Killed or Wounded …" – The Intelligencer (Anderson, S.C.), Nov 23, 1915 Coverage of the collision: number of missing / injured, and descriptions of the crash. Historic Newspapers HistoricColumbus.com — "From the Circus Train Wreck to the Man o' War" A detailed historical narrative of the accident, its aftermath, and community response. historiccolumbus Atlas Obscura — Circus Train Wreck Victims Memorial Description of the memorial in Riverdale Cemetery, with photos and historical context. Atlas Obscura Waymarking.com — Historic Riverdale Cemetery, Columbus, GA Information about the cemetery, including the circus‑tent shaped monument placed by Kennedy. Waymarking+1 ReadThePlaque.com — Historic Riverdale Cemetery Plaque Text of the plaque that mentions the Circus Train Wreck and the Kennedy Show memorial. Read the Plaque The Billboard Magazine, Nov 27, 1915 (Vol. 27, Issue 48) Trade‑magazine report of the crash, listing casualties and basic details. Wikimedia Commons

In this Scary Savannah and Beyond Halloween 2025 episode, Brett and Crystal take listeners from the haunted streets of Savannah up to Charleston, South Carolina, uncovering the chilling legend of Dr. Heinrich Ryngo—the so-called "Doctor to the Dead." Blending dark history, ghostly romance, and gothic horror, the hosts recount Ryngo's obsession with resurrecting his lost love, Angelique, through forbidden experiments that led to gruesome discoveries and his monstrous transformation. With humor, Southern charm, and eerie storytelling, they discuss Halloween costumes, America's favorite candies, and Charleston's haunted past before diving deep into Ryngo's twisted tale. Perfect for fans of true crime, paranormal legends, and Southern ghost stories, this episode is a haunting mix of mystery, history, and Halloween fun.

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References:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JqO31M-XxY

https://www.forbes.com/sites/laneelee-1/2025/10/27/best-halloween-candy-2025-what-to-hand-out-and-what-to-skip/