Nestled serenely atop a scenic bluff overlooking the Wilmington River is Savannah’s famed Bonaventure Cemetery.
In 1994, when its “Bird Girl” statue graced the cover of John Berendt’s Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, the cemetery rocketed to international notoriety. But nearly 150 years before CNN Travel declared Bonaventure one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world, naturalist John Muir felt “awe-stricken” by its “depth of life.”
Founder of Savannah Cruzers, Tess Scheer, puts it this way: “Surrounded by centuries-old live oaks and Spanish moss, full of jaw-dropping statuary and steeped in symbolism, Bonaventure is an outdoor museum set in a Victorian garden.”
But at more than 100 acres, this “garden” is not for the faint of foot. “I saw a void in the tour offerings at Bonaventure,” says Scheer, who bought a five-passenger golf cart in 2018 and started out running all the tours herself. “They were almost all walking tours, so those with physical challenges. This caused time constraints and excluded young children.”
Hopping on rather than hoofing it allows for the coverage of far more ground, of course.
But what you really don’t want to miss are “the stories,” Scheer enthuses, “strange, unbelievable, heart-tugging narratives.”
Ask the internet, though, and the best reason to take a Savannah Cruzer tour is its guides. Members of the Bonaventure Historical Society all, these top-notch tour operators are in their element as they analyze and interpret Victorian symbolism; reveal personal stories, burial practices, quirks and customs of the time; and discuss the meaning and historical relevance of the foliage, crypts, headstones and sculptures. Tour-goers report feeling transported, and often call out their Savannah Cruzers tour guides by name for their depth of knowledge, humor, and deep sense of reverence for Bonaventure’s sacred grounds. It’s no surprise, then, that Savannah Cruzers has earned TripAdvisor’s coveted “Traveler’s Choice” badge for its rave reviews. “I am humbled by the wonderful response” says Scheer, “and so proud of the amazing team we have assembled.”
Tours run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week, year-round. Reservations are requested, but walk-ups can hop on when seats are available, and outings usually last around an hour. All members of the family are welcome at Savannah Cruzers — furry friends, too!
Savannah Cruzers
330 Bonaventure Rd.
Thunderbolt, GA 31404
(912) 944-7153
www.savannahcruzers.com
by Dani Ray
