The Spirits of the Wren’s Nest

Posted: 12.18.2024 | Updated: 12.18.2024

Atlanta. If you’ve watched Donald Glover’s hit show of the same name, you’ll know just how haunted and spooky that this Georgia city can really be.

Maybe the heat makes people see the things they do around here. Or perhaps it’s the rich history around the area that causes so many ghosts to flock around these parts. But whatever the reason, people seem to keep seeing strange things around Atlanta. 

Nowhere is that more apparent than the Wren’s Nest house in the city. It’s got quite a number of spooky tales and unexplained hauntings. Keep reading to see us go in-depth into the whole tale of the old Snap Bean Farm, why the name changed, why the place became famous, and who used to live there. 

As always, be sure to take our in-person Atlanta Ghosts tour to learn more about Georgia ghosts.

Happy (ghost) hunting!

Is The Wren’s Nest Haunted?

The Wren’s Nest would still be famous without rumors of ghosts. Its Victorian architecture has stood the test of time, and it boasts a rather famous inhabitant (you’ll learn more about him below).

But despite that, there is another interesting fact about the Wren’s Nest: the rumors that this home has not only had a famous inhabitant but also some ghostly ones.

At least, that’s what the stories suggest. We’ll let you decide for yourself whether you believe them or not. We’ve compiled all the most notable tales and rumors about the Wren’s Nest’s various hauntings in this blog below.

Whether you’re a true believer, a history buff, or just interested in the idea of ghosts in Atlanta, there’s something in the article below for everyone to enjoy. Read on and let us know whether or not you’re convinced that the Wren’s Nest has a couple of ghostly inhabitants residing in it. 

History of the Wren’s Nest

As mentioned above, this place was originally called Snap Bean Farm (you can guess what crop they grew here). 

However, the house owner discovered a small family of wrens had taken up residence in his mailbox. Yep, they’d built their nest in his postal box, and he didn’t have the heart to evict them. 

Just who was this benevolent, wren-loving owner? None other than Joel Chandler Harris. Don’t know the name? Well, you’re probably more familiar with his work – he was a writer and editor for the Atlantic Chronicle. Still, he’s perhaps more famous for collecting and retelling the Brer Rabbit stories through the fictional character Uncle Remus. These stories were collected in several children’s books and famously adapted into the controversial Disney film The Song of the South. 

Harris called the Wren’s Nest home until his death in 1908 and was quite proud of it. He’d originally purchased it in the 1880s to escape a rash of yellow fever that had infected Savannah, Georgia. During his residence, he used his wealth to fund several upgrades and renovations, including Victorian architecture, indoor plumbing, and even electricity. 

Even after his death, his upgrades paid off, as his beloved home was turned into a museum. In fact, Teddy Roosevelt – a fervent admirer of Harris –  actually led the effort to raise funds to purchase it and turn it into a museum. It’s still a museum to this day – a living time capsule from the early 20th century – and has the achievement of being the oldest house museum in Atlanta. 

Wren’s Nest Hauntings

Hidden in the walls of this old museum house are some secrets. And maybe even some ghosts. You see, Joel Chandler Harris evidently loved this house so much that he may not have ever left it, even after he died. Many have said over the years that Harris refused to leave after moving on from this mortal world. 

After his death in the early 1900s, there have been a number of reports talking about paranormal activity in the house and unexplained happenings. Objects will mysteriously go missing and then reappear in places that no human could seemingly reach. 

At other times, visitors to the house report seeing a strange, portly figure dressed in nice—if outdated—clothing. The figure moves up and down the hallways or occasionally walks on the grounds. If onlookers ask museum staff about the figure, the staff sometimes tell them that no such person matching that description works at the Wren’s Nest. However, that description does match that of Joel Chandler Harris.

While there’s perhaps no definitive proof that the figure behind these strange happenings is Harris, the best evidence that it is him is the fact that the figure, when he’s done with his walks, is known to take a rest…right in the rocking chair that used to belong to Harris. 

If it truly is Joel’s ghost, it’s anyone’s guess why he remains in the Wren’s Nest. Perhaps, as we alluded to above, it’s because he fell in love with the house so much and didn’t want to leave. Or maybe he wants to stick around and look at people enjoying his house.

Or maybe, just maybe, he lurks around to see if he can’t come up with another good story, just one more, in the afterlife.  

Other Ghosts of the Wren’s Nest

Sharp-eyed readers will have noticed that the above section was only about covering Joel Chandler Harris. And yet, we specifically mentioned that there were ghosts (as in more than one) that might call the Wren’s Nest home. 

Who these ghosts are is hard to pin down, as much of the evidence isn’t firm sightings but unexplained events, mysterious presences, and eyewitness accounts. It’s possible that some of the incidences were the result of one ghost or multiple, but we’ll let you be the judge. 

First, there is a recurring phenomenon where members of the Georgia Ghost Society – experts on the subject, if there ever were any – reported seeing a man’s face leering in the mirror when they visited the Wren’s Nest.

This wasn’t the only unfriendly greeting to a visitor either. Somebody who had been trying to find Harris’ typewriter reported finding it almost impossible to locate, almost as if someone were deliberately keeping it hidden from her. As she left the house, her car, previously in fine condition, suddenly stalled. Was this the work of a ghostly protector? A prankster? Or maybe Harris himself? 

Whoever it was, maybe they were behind some of the other unexplainable incidents that have occurred at the Wren’s Nest over the year. Many, including ghost hunters, have heard the unexplained sounds of a crowded room, even in empty spaces. Perhaps there’s some kind of unseen gathering going on?

Of course, we have to mention the two boys. They have been commonly seen, usually playing on the stairwells or in the yard, before vanishing upon closer inspection. These boys’ identities are a mystery, though curiously, their ages do seem to match those of Harris’ grandchildren. Maybe they’re keeping their old grandpa company in the afterlife?

Haunted Atlanta

So, what do you think? Is there a chance that the Wren’s Nest houses some of Atlanta’s ghosts in its halls still? Whether you believe in the ghost of the tall, thin man or the two mystery boys, it seems hard to deny that there is some reason that these strange happenings and sightings keep occurring on the Wren’s Nest. 

From an unusual name to an unusual history, it’s a hauntingly quirky bit of Atlanta history.

Of course, be sure to book a ghost tour with Atlanta Ghosts, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, and keep reading our blog for more real Georgia hauntings.

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