A Ghostly Tour of Julianton

by Angus McLeod

The following article about a ghost hunt Jamie participated in appeared in the Darien News in Darien, GA.

Are you familiar with Julianton Plantation? This expansive acreage at Harris Neck was originally the home of one of the first successful planters of sea island cotton, Francis Levett. Named for his mother, Juliana, Julianton has over 1,500 acres of high ground and an equal amount in marsh, a fabled holding with abundant low country grace and centuries old charm.

In recent years, Julianton passed from the Stebbins family to a private owner, and then to a development group. With a soft real estate market and an economic recession, plans for development stalled time and again. A previous owner, Gene Slivka, moved three historic homes to the site, adding to the mystique and romantic appeal of Julianton. Rumor has it that these houses are haunted.

How I came to write this story

I never ate a meal at Hunter’s Café or took my boat out at Shellman Bluff without looking across the river at Julianton Plantation and wondering what it would be like to explore that mysterious area.

Previously, I worked as a realtor at Eagle Neck and Delta Plantation in North McIntosh County. During that time, I met a past owner of Julianton Plantation, Gene Slivka, hoping for an invitation to his property that never came.

I had seen pictures of the historic Thorpe house being barged from the east side of Harris Neck at Spring Cove down to Julianton. (This is the large home you see from the river as you boat from Shellman Bluff out to Sapelo Sound.) I heard stories of the owner living in the Thorpe house without electricity and of elaborate parties held under the adjacent oaks. Party guests were allowed to walk on the porch and peer in the windows but could not enter, adding to the home’s aura of mystery. These stories piqued my interest about Julianton and the secrets it held.

In 2008, I learned Julianton Plantation was purchased by a big company which planned to build a championship golf course, a twelve-story hotel and a high-end residential golf community.

Fast forward to January 2009 when I sat in a restaurant in Richmond Hill one evening with a dozen other people. We had just finished a ghost tour of Jim Williams’ home in Richmond Hill (Williams authored Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil). One of the ladies at the table was telling about visiting the Coldbrook Plantation in Chatham County a few years ago and looking for the plantation house recently only to find out it had been moved. (This reputedly haunted house was featured on the cover of Savannah Spectres, a book on haunted homes of Savannah written in 1984 by Margaret Wayt Debolt.)

As the lady told the ghost stories of the Coldbrook house, my son called. He was at Julianton in Harris Neck. The caretaker wanted me to do a ghost hunt at the Coldbrook house, which now resided at Julianton. Scarcely believing my luck, I jumped at the chance. The next day I made arrangements to view the Coldbrook house and the rest of the plantation for the purpose of having a ghost hunt.

My ghost hunt idea was to get a dozen or so folks together with an interest in psychic phenomena and visit a home or building suspected of being haunted. Each guest is armed with a digital camera in hopes of capturing a ghostly image or light orb in a photo. Psychics add to the fun by interpreting what the spirits have to say. Further, guests express their interpretation and feelings during the ghost hunt.

My first Julianton visit

On a cold January afternoon, I arrived at Julianton Plantation. The electronic gate, usually locked up tight, was wide open. I felt like a kid in a candy store as I drove to a midpoint on the property where the caretaker’s office was located. Just beyond the gate, I noticed a modest home on the right. This was the caretaker’s cottage recently built to look as though it was constructed in the 1800s. Flanked by stately oaks, it had a dirt drive and no established landscaping.

Continuing on, I traveled down a dirt track through the forest. I could see into the woods lining the road for a 150 yards or so because the underbrush had been cleared. Large oaks and hickory trees dominated. My feeling was that I stepped back in time, maybe late 1700s or early 1800s. This feeling stayed with me throughout my visit.

After meeting the caretaker, we drove toward the south end of the island. We came to a high brick wall with a white wooden gate. I was told this was originally a formal garden complete with a green house. When the plantation was last sold, Slivka removed the plants. Weeds and high grass were the only vegetation in this once thriving garden. This could have very well been a garden in the 1800s, but the formal architecture seemed more suited to England than Georgia.

We drove three or so miles from the north gate to the south end. Julianton is a haven for wildlife like the graceful osprey, the red-tailed hawk and the covey of wild quail that we flushed. I also saw deer, feral hogs, turkey and armadillo.

The first home we came to was the Thorpe house. This wonderful plantation home was built between 1790 and 1810, replete with spacious rooms and high ceilings. I was cautioned not to take my guests out on the story porch since it was in disrepair. The same with the two outbuildings. One had been used by the previous owner as a kitchen and the other was his library. The porch off the kitchen had nearly fallen off, and the steps were dangerous going into the library. In spite of this, all three buildings had been and still are grand structures.

Coldbrook 1 - Debbi Zepp

Credit: Debbi Zepp

Traveling behind the Thorpe house we passed a garage and then on to the Coldbrook house. I knew it at once, from the picture on the front of Savannah Spectres. From my research, the Coldbrook home was built in the 1700s and is possibly one of the finest examples of an 18th century southern plantation home still standing in America. I entered the home but the caretaker didn’t follow. Curious, I asked him why. He admitted being afraid, saying he felt spirits watched him from the windows. With a little prodding, he joined me for a quick inspection. We saw no spirits.

What was a little strange was the room on the right downstairs side was very cold, the hallway was warm, and there were warm and cold spots as you walked the halls and stairwells. There are no lights or running water in the Coldbrook house. It is a comfortable home with large rooms, high ceilings, two stories, and large attic. We hurried through the Coldbrook house, feeling it would be better to explore it with a group…. not that I was scared, you understand!

As we drove away, I looked back and in the upstairs window it seemed someone or something was watching us. But that could not be so because I had just left that room and there was no one in the house

On the southwest part of the island is a brick barn with the stables opening to the outside. It is a strange looking barn; one story and no breezeway. Perhaps it was a duplicate of something built for a nobleman? Although I did not go inside, I could tell this was not a traditional south Georgia working barn.

On the west side of Julianton, we explored an extremely nice dock and dock house. The building behind the dock house contained a walk-in cooler and storage room. In recent years, the cooler stored oysters from a commercial oyster operation that Slivka ran. In the dock house, a bay boat hung from the hoist.

North of the dock house and nestled back in the woods on the west side of the property is the River house. A plaque on the front door says “River House” and a year in the late 1800s. The River house is old, less elegant than the Thorpe house, less stately than the Coldbrook house. In the back of River house is a modern kitchen. There are two bathrooms in this one-story house. The forested setting of hickory and oak adds an air of enchantment to the old home.

Julianton Plantation did not disappoint. It was as grand as I had expected it to be. Now I needed to put a ghost hunt together. I knew of a famous psychic in Atlanta who has her own television show and is extremely busy. Jamie Butler (http://www.withloveandlight.com) accepted my invitation. Psychics Sara Richardson from Statesboro and Barbara Witton from Savannah also agreed, as did sixteen other folks.

The ghost hunt at Julianton

On a Friday evening in late January, a caravan of excited folks arrived at the River house on Julianton. They unloaded sleeping gear and light snacks before loading up and heading back to the Thorpe house. Here they divided into two groups. Sara and Barbara took half the group into the Thorpe house and Jamie Butler took the other group into the Coldbrook house.

It was well after dark when Sara and Barbara’s group reached the Thorpe house. They sat in a circle on the floor. Sara described the spirits in the house and talked about things that had occurred in and around the house.

Credit: Debbi Zepp

Credit: Debbi Zepp

She described a man in a wheelchair in the outbuilding that had been used as a library. She also described a lynching that occurred in the yard beside the Thorpe house. The group experienced strange noises and lights upstairs in the house.

They heard someone walking in the next room, but when they investigated no one was there. This group snapped pictures of light orbs.

As the group I was in entered the Coldbrook house, Jamie Butler said there were many spirits in the house. We went into the right downstairs room. This is where I previously noted feeling cold, and the room the caretaker said had watchful spirits.

Jamie brought a desktop computer and a recorder in the room with us. Both instruments worked fine before we left the River house. Neither worked in the Coldbrook house. (They worked fine the next day at the River house.)

Credit: Debbi Zepp

Credit: Debbi Zepp

Jamie talked about a little girl in the room being afraid of her grandfather, who was outside in the hall. Jamie said there were many more spirits in the house, spirits from many generations. The spirits were confused about being here, and they never went outside because of the Indians (spirits) in the woods around the Coldbrook house.

We asked questions of the spirits. The older spirit complained about the deteriorated condition of the house. This spirit, through the psychic, let us know he did not care for the previous owner, Gene Slivka. As we sat in a circle, Jamie Butler told each person in the circle who their guardian spirit was, and she also told people in the group things about the people that only they knew. For instance, she talked to my son about him being a boat captain in Alaska, a fact that is not widely known.

After the ghost hunt, we returned to the River house. Some spent the night. Others went on an adventure in the dark driving around the area. I doubt anyone got much sleep, including me, on this haunted estate.

Though the fate of Julianton continues to evolve, I am thankful for the opportunity to view the beautiful grounds and historic homes. The land feels unchanged, a land out of time. For now, this spirit-rich plantation remains a haven for wildlife and a storehouse of memories past, present and future.

24 comments to A Ghostly Tour of Julianton

  1. Ann
    July 21, 2009

    My husband and I lived at Julianton for 4 months in 1999. We were hired as caretakers and did historic preservation and gardening work. Gene Slivka was the owner then, and we had quite a difficult time with him, but the place was incredibly beautiful, as you say. The Coldbrook house was still a derelict at that time, and we saw a number of interesting things there. I’d love to talk to you about your experiences some time.

    Ann Hartzell
    Savannah, GA

  2. Jamie Butler
    July 21, 2009

    I would love to share with you what I saw and experienced that night. It was definitely a full evening of communication. I would love to know if you came across any of the same spirits :)

  3. Steve Meguiar
    October 2, 2009

    Is this house and plantation open to the public?

  4. Linda
    October 3, 2009

    My husband is a direct descendant of Francis Levett who built Julianton. I’d be fascinated to hear if you ‘picked up’ on him or his family. I believe he is buried on the property, as is his son, John. His daughter, Charlotte Julian is Brian’s 3x great grandmother.
    If you are visiting the property again, or you know of anyone who is, would it be possible to get a photo of the gravestones, and anything that remains of the old house? We live in Australia and are unlikely to visit ourselves.

  5. Jamie Butler
    October 27, 2009

    unfortunately no. it should be, it is amazing piece of history.

  6. Jamie Butler
    October 27, 2009

    i know the house was moved so the original graves were left behind. I will get you in touch with angus. he is a wonderful man full of the rich history of your family’s plantation. i am sure he would love to share any photos he has as well. it has been over a year since i have been there and the exact names of the spirits we contacted is escaping my memory as of now. Angus has documented it really well. It is great to hear from you across the pond.:)

  7. Amy
    January 2, 2010

    I am a descendant of Phillip Ulmer, who built Coldbrook Plantation. I tried to find the house and gravestones about 12 years ago only to find out that it had been moved to Darien. I have always wanted to visit the house and would appreciate any help you could give me in putting me in contact with someone who may be able to grant that wish. An interesting side note….Savannah Spectres describes one of the ghosts at Coldbrook (the one believed to be Phillip Ulmer) as tall and thin. My dad is 6′ 4″ and very thin. I would love to chat about your experiences there and if you think you may have contacted Phillip.

  8. sandi
    January 20, 2010

    I am also a descendant of Philip Ulmer…( he spelled his name with one L).
    I suppose that my family were the last Ulmers to have a relationship with Coldbrook as it was, and with the former caretaker, Mrs. Pauline Cooler ( god rest her soul).
    I was born and raised in Savannah, and grew up in the 60’s and 70’s. I spent many times at Coldbrook with the caretaker and her family,
    My brother has Philip’s bible. and we saw something in the attic once when we were up there.
    ( A tall black swirling “cloud”)…we got to the first floor in about 3 seconds. and it was years before I went back up there.
    The Halloween party at Coldbrook that is mentioned in the book “Savannah Spectres” was my Halloween party. It was Oct, 1972. I was 16 yrs old.
    We had a really great time, and Mrs. Cooler told me she did not hear anything in that house for several weeks after the party!…She said she felt that the spirits were happy with the party.
    Once when my brother and I , and my cousin and his girlfriend were up there, the caretaker was not home…we walked through the field to the cemetary….( there were still about 9 headstones left at that time)….when we got home we developed the picture that we had taken that day, there was a picture of the four of us, walking through the cemetary….taken from inside the car….!!!!
    We were sad to see it end the way it did, but our generation was not involved and the older ones did not care….so….
    Before Mrs Cooler left Coldbrook, I went there for a visit with my son….it was Oct 1979…my son was two months old…I held him in front of the fireplace in the parlor…and I ” told Philip”……that I named my son after him, so that he would not be forgotten.
    Mrs Cooler told me later that the house was “quiet” after that, until the day she moved.
    My mother is Mildred Ulmer, her father was George Ulmer Sr. his father was also George M. Ulmer, and his father was Joseph ulmer….he was one of the sons, of Philip Ulmer.

  9. Gary
    February 10, 2010

    I am a direct descendant of William John King, the former owner of the plantation house that is currently at Julienton and the first picture in the article above. William John King died just before the civil war started and he had the home at Spring Cove, just up the street from the current Julienton plantation site today. The house was moved by barge down the river to its current site and then restored to its previous state including painting it to is original colors – all done under the guidance of Mr. Slivka. After doing some geneological work, we found out that the house was still in existence and one of only 5 coastal plantation homes to survive the war and Mr. Slivka let our family tour the home and we saw the bedroom that my 5th great grandfather died in after an elders meeting for the Presbyterian Church of Darien. It was an amazing visit. After the civil war, the home stayed in the King family until it was sold in the early 1900’s. I have lots of pictures from our visit for those interested.

  10. Lorena Roberts Bussey
    February 10, 2010

    Hello:

    My Great Great Grandfather was William John King, who was the original owner of the house that was moved to the Plantation.

    He owned the house at Harris Neck Plantation.

    During the Civil War, while the family was eating at the dining room table, a cannon ball came through the window, missed the family eating at the table, and lodged in the Fireplace Mantle. The hole is still there and the cannon ball is on the hearth in front of the fireplace.

    Mr. Wm John King was the elder of the Presbytarian church, in Darien. There was a meeting of the church officers, but Mr. King was to ill to attend, so he had them come to his house to meet. After the meeting was over, he died.

    My grandson Gary McNeil, my neice Deb Billis, and my cousin Eula Andresen & I, were lucky enough to have permission to visit the homestead that was moved by Mr. Slivka. He gave us a tour of the house, it was restored to the time of when the Kings owned it. Mr. Slivka was a stoic man.

    Lorena King Roberts Bussey

  11. Eula Andresen
    February 11, 2010

    I am another direct descendant of William John King and his wife Martha Carter Cooper. It was such a joy and an honor to have the privilege to visit their former home while Mr. Slivka was the owner. He was very gracious to us and knew the history of the house. He had done so much research in Savannah about the house and had had the original paint especially made to be perfectly authentic. We are very grateful to him.

  12. edwin keller
    March 3, 2010

    i am a decendant of george keller who bought coldbrook after the ulmers and my dad was married to pauline coolers daughter i was raised on meinhard rd.(monteith rd.) till i was 22 ive been back there a few times with my grndfathr and he told me some stories i seen sum weird stuff but id like to know more of the history my grndfathr passd 10 yrs ago and i no longer have any photos of the house or nething does ne one have any

  13. Loyd Vernon Nease III
    April 12, 2010

    I am a distant relative of Joseph Philip Ulmer (as many of your other replys can attest) and my mother Anna Marie Juchter Nease became friends with ms DeBolt and as a result I have the original photo of the cover of “Savannah Specters”. Mom made gravestone rubbings in the family cemetary but i have been unable to locate them as of yet (mom passed in April of 2009). I am very pleased to know where the house ended up, and that the house has been restored and is continuing to “live”.I only wish that i had accompanied my mom on one of her many “geneology” visits to the property. fare well

  14. Bill Hilles
    June 14, 2010

    I loved the statements by the descendants of William John King, expecially the story about the Civil War cannon ball interupting the meal. Since I have a genealogical connection to King, I would very much appreciate being able to communicate with Lorena Bussey

  15. Sandi
    April 3, 2012

    EDWIN…..Coldbrook was never bought by the Keller family….it was just kinda “inherited”….the grandson of Philip Ulmer , Alexander Campbell Ulmer ( the first elected mayor of Tybee Island) was married to Adernene Keller ( spelling?) Alexander drowned in that big hurricane that struck Tybee Island in 1898. Adernene and her daughter survived…their house at Tybee was totally destroyed…so the widow and her child moved to the family house at Coldbrook…where she lived with her sister until she died…they left the house and land to the Georgia Baptist Association who sold it to Mr. Silka ( spelling)….

  16. Marion Lucas Fleming
    April 4, 2013

    I am a granddaughter of Elisha McDonald Thorpe and Maude Davis Thorpe. I grew up on Spring Cove Plantation, Harris Neck, with my siblings and cousins in the 40’s and 50’s. After my grandparents died, the property changed owners several times. When Mr. Slivka bought the property, he moved my grandparent’s house to Julianton. We had a wonderful childhood on Harris Neck, swimming off the dock, crabbing, picking blackberries, hunting, making syrup from the sugar cane, and riding the school bus for two hours to Darien. Granny told us many ghost stories about the ghosts who “lived” in our house. I would love to tour the Thorpe house, now at Julianton. If anyone knows how, let me know.

  17. Kim Stilwell
    June 18, 2013

    to Mr. Loyd Vernon Nease III:

    I believe I am distant cousin of yours, related through the Ulmers, Bakers, Thompsons, Steins of Darien, Georgia. Your mother mailed me boxes of information regarding the family history. If you ever find the gravestone rubbings referenced above I would love to have a copy of them.

    I have long wanted to see Coldbrook Plantation. I contacted Mr. Slivka in the 1990’s about touring the home but he refused my request. Are the current owners allowing people to tour the property?

  18. Jose A. Arroyo
    June 24, 2013

    I was a former employee at Julianton Plantation, im from Puerto Rico. When these houses were being reconstructed i had a wonderful experience maybe scary, there was a old man that knew a lot of history about the plantation i believe some of his relatives worked there by the 1800’s cant remember his name, but wow it was scary some of the things that happened in that place with past owners,employee’s at that time were slaves. To me it was a great experience. Love ghostly stuff….

  19. Amy
    August 18, 2013

    To Sandi:
    I have heard my Dad talk about an Uncle George before. I will have to get more info about him. My Grandfather was Charles Wahl Ulmer.

  20. Sandi
    November 3, 2013

    Amy, would love to talk to you….we are cousins!

  21. Cara Shearouse
    November 17, 2016

    I experienced some paranormal in 1991 at Coldbrook Plantation late one night with friends, We went out to where the house use to sit in Effingham County off Keller Road. We thought a car was coming down the dirt road with two head lights and thought maybe it was the police being we were out there exploring the grounds, when the lights reached us, it shot across the rice field. It scared us so bad, we jumped in our car and left. So the grounds is still haunted as well.

  22. Gunner
    September 22, 2022

    I thought John Berendt wrote Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil?

    I think this plantation is now renting homes out. I had some family work there for a couple of years ago.

  23. Belinda
    March 16, 2023

    Gunner: You are correct. John Berendt did author “the book”.

  24. ラブドール販売
    July 16, 2023

    女性 向け ラブドール なぜホット挑発人形は大人のセックス市場でそれほど主流なのですか?

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