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Just an hour drive from Chickamauga is New Echota Historical Site, the former capital of the Cherokee Nation.

Northwest Georgia was the beating heart of the Cherokee Nation during the early 1800’s, with settlements all over the region, including at our very own Chickamauga. As the Cherokee interacted more with the American colonists moving into the region to settle down and were pushed further southwest, figures like the famous Sequoyah worked to adopt customs and technologies from these newcomers to prevent losing more of their land. New Echota became the center of their government, with their council house, supreme court, and a printing press all being established there.

Ultimately, the Cherokee would still be driven out of our area when the Indian Removal Act was passed on the tragic journey to Oklahoma we now refer to as the Trail of Tears, with many families around Chickamauga being forced to move. Their memory lives on through the preservation of the site of New Echota, a great place to visit to learn more about the Cherokee Nation and its impact on North Georgia.

You can also learn all about their local impact on our history and folklore when you take a tour with Southern Shadows! Hear us discuss the original local Cherokee settlement, how Chickamauga got its name, and much more!

Keep your eye on the sky our tours!

One of our guides' favorite parts of our ghost and history tours in downtown Chickamauga GA, is having run-ins with local wildlife, especially during our segment at Crawfish Spring. Here are a few pics we captured from a distance of barred owls on a recent tour!

Book a tour soon for the chance to have a run-in with a few local critters while exploring our beautiful town after dark!

What do you think is the most haunted area within the Chickamauga Battlefield?

The site of the 2nd bloodiest battle of the American Civil War and littered with iconic spots, reports of paranormal encounters come from all across the park. A few of the most common spots reported are Snodgrass Hill, near Wilder Tower, the Brotherton Cabin, and along Dyer Road. Have you had an encounter at any of these spots or another part of the park? Let us know!

Think Crawfish Springs is named after crawdads? Think again!

The mountain spring that makes up the heart of downtown Chickamauga and that gave the town its original name of Crawfish Spring is not, in fact, named for its local wildlife, but for a man.
Chief Crawfish was the leader of the Tsikimagi group of the Cherokee who called the local area home and who early colonists would have met in the early 1800s. The Tsikimagi would have been among the many local Cherokee peoples who were forced off the land in the Indian Removal Act of 1838, being taken first to nearby LaFayette, before being marched up to Ross’s Landing in Chattanooga, beginning on the infamous Trail of Tears.

Do ghosts haunt your local railroad?🚂

Stories of specters appearing on and off the rails are common all over the country, including in our neck of the woods. Some of the most noticeable ghosts said to haunt the railways of Northwest Georgia include the lost souls of soldiers from the Civil War and the people who died laying down these very tracks.

Do you have any tales of paranormal phenomena from your local railroad?

Have you heard the tale of the “Rock of Chickamauga?”

General George Henry Thomas, a Virginian who chose loyalty to the Union despite many of his close colleagues resigning to fight for the Confederacy, led the XIV Corps of the Army of the Cumberland at the Battle of Chickamauga.

As the battle turned for the Union and they began their retreat back to Chattanooga, Thomas rallied his troops and brought them together at the area around and on Snodgrass Hill, pictured above. He was approached by the army's Chief of Staff, future president James Garfield, bringing orders to retreat, but Thomas instead insisted that he would hold the line, buying the rest of the Union army time.

When Garfield returned to General William Rosecranes, who held command over the entire Army of the Cumberland, Garfield reportedly told Rosecranes that Thomas was “standing like a rock”.

This would go on to earn Thomas the nickname of the “Rock of Chickamauga”. His forces held the area for several hours, only falling back when night fell. While the Battle of Chickamauga would be a Confederate victory, Thomas and his men are often credited as having prevented it from being a disaster for the Union.

Thanks to their efforts, the Union forces would be able to regroup in Chattanooga, and the “Rock of Chickamauga”, General Thomas would actually be put in command of the whole Army of the Cumberland a few months later, where he would have great success in securing Chattanooga and the areas around it for the Union.

The streets grow quiet… but Chickamauga’s stories never sleep.

Join Southern Shadows for an unforgettable evening exploring one of America’s most historic—and haunted—communities. From Civil War legends and Cherokee history to mysterious encounters, forgotten crimes, and local folklore, every stop reveals another chapter in the town’s remarkable past.

🌙 Haunted Heart of Chickamauga Walking Ghost Tour
🕗 Most Tuesday–Saturday evenings
📍 Historic Downtown Chickamauga, Georgia

Perfect for history lovers, paranormal enthusiasts, families, and anyone looking for a memorable night out.

The stories are true.
The history is real.
What happens after dark… is up to you.

🎟️ Book your tour tonight and experience Chickamauga after sunset.
www.southernshadows.com

👻 OPEN MIC GHOST STORIES OF CHICKAMAUGA — NOW SEPTEMBER 4TH 👻

Southern Shadows, Railhead Station, and the Green Eyes Festival are excited to announce that our Open Mic Ghost Stories of Chickamauga event will now take place on:

🗓 Friday, September 4, 2026
🕡 6:30 PM Until Close
📍 Railhead Station – Chickamauga, Georgia

We're using the extra time to gather even more local legends, Green Eyes encounters, battlefield hauntings, railroad ghost tales, family folklore, and paranormal experiences from across Northwest Georgia and beyond.

Do you have a story to tell?

Whether it's something you experienced yourself, a family legend passed down through generations, a haunted location you've encountered, or a chilling Green Eyes sighting, we'd love to hear from you.

🎤 Storyteller registration is now open!

📧 Register at: [email protected]

Please include your name, contact information, and a brief description of your story.

🏆 The winning storyteller will earn the opportunity to tell their story LIVE at the Green Eyes Festival.

🍔 Railhead Station will be offering food and drink specials throughout the evening.

👻 In the meantime, don't forget that the Haunted Heart of Chickamauga Tours continue throughout the summer and fall!

Join Southern Shadows for our nightly walking ghost tours through downtown Chickamauga as we explore the legends of Green Eyes, Civil War hauntings, railroad ghosts, Cherokee folklore, true crime, and the eerie history that still lingers after dark.

Many of the stories shared during Open Mic Night may sound familiar after you've walked the haunted streets with us...

🎟 Tour tickets available now at southernshadows.com

Come experience the legends. Then come share your own.

Because the dead do not wish to be forgotten — and neither should their stories.