Tall Victorian windows and a wraparound porch make this South Carolina house impossible to ignore. It began as a family home, then spent more than a century as a funeral home.
After the business moved out in 2015, the house sat empty for about eight years while rain and broken glass took their toll. Whispers in the hallways and an original embalming room add to its reputation.
Today visitors gather after dark to explore its rooms with recorders and flashlights in hand. The floors creak underfoot, and the rooms hold the weight of all the lives that passed through them.
Some say the halls are not entirely empty, even now. The comeback story here mixes history with a shiver or two.
South Carolina keeps this kind of layered past alive, and the house rewards anyone curious enough to step inside. It is the kind of place that stays with you long after the flashlight goes off.
A Family Home Built With Love and Heartbreak
Old houses always make me wonder about the people who first lived inside them. The 1895 Holliday House was built as the private home of Jesse Gray Holliday and Sarah Norman Davis Holliday, and its story starts with real family life.
Sadly, that life held a great deal of sorrow. Three of the couple’s young children passed away inside the home, including an infant at six months, a son at two years old, and a daughter at three.
Sarah herself passed away at only 32 after fighting a blood infection while living there.
Knowing these facts changed how I pictured the place. The rooms stopped feeling like museum spaces and started feeling like a home where people laughed, worried, and grieved.
Many visitors say this history is the heart of the experience. The reported presence of ghostly children makes more sense once you learn about the family’s losses, and guides share these details with care.
My tip is simple. Read a little about the Holliday family before you go, because that background makes every creak and quiet corner feel more meaningful.
You will notice small things, like the fireplaces and stair rails, and picture the family who once gathered around them each evening.
More Than a Century as a Funeral Home
Here is a twist I did not see coming. In 1903, only eight years after the house was built, the Pace family bought it and opened Pace Funeral Home.
Later, the building became Smith-Collins Funeral Home, and it served the Marion community for well over a hundred years. Think about how many families walked through those doors during some of their hardest days.
That long chapter shaped the house in ways you can still sense. Big parlors that once held Victorian guests became spaces for viewings and services, and the layout tells that story if you look closely.
The building earned national respect too. In the 1970s, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing property within the Marion Historic District, which is a big deal for any small town landmark.
I found it fascinating that one house could hold two such different roles. It was a cozy family home first, then a quiet place of goodbyes for generations.
When you visit, ask the hosts how the rooms were used during the funeral home years. Their answers help you imagine the past and add depth to the tour long before the lights go down.
Eight Silent Years of Rain and Ruin
Empty buildings have a sound of their own, a kind of heavy hush. After Smith-Collins Funeral Home moved to a modern facility in 2015, this grand house fell into that silence for about eight years.
Nobody was there to fix the roof. Water crept in, windows shattered, and parts of the plaster ceiling on the first floor came crashing down.
Furniture and personal items were left behind when operations ended, which makes the abandoned years feel even stranger. Reports also say homeless people sought shelter inside during that time.
I have seen photos of those years, and they are hard to look at. Peeling walls and fallen plaster sat beside reminders of a busy past, like the house was holding its breath.
Still, the bones stayed strong. A building with six massive bedrooms, three half-baths, and a fireplace in every room does not give up easily, even after years of neglect.
For travelers who love urban exploring, this chapter is a great lesson. Abandoned places should only be visited legally and safely, and the Holliday House now gives you that chance with permission, guides, and a roof that will not drop on your head.
Jennifer and the Rescue Mission
Every good comeback needs a hero, and this house found one in late 2023. Jennifer of Raven Paranormal bought the property with a clear goal of saving and restoring it.
That is no small job for a home spanning over 6,800 square feet on 2.37 acres. A new roof went on in 2024, which was a huge first step after years of leaks.
Restoration work is still underway, and that is part of the fun. Visitors have praised the owners for uncovering hidden treasures, like recessed pocket doors that had been covered up for years.
I really enjoy seeing a place in the middle of its makeover. You get to watch history come back to life one room at a time, and each return visit can reveal something new.
Reviews mention Jennifer and Ken as warm, patient hosts who answer questions and make guests feel at home. That welcoming spirit stands out in a house known for spooky stories.
If you want to support the effort, simply booking a tour helps. Ask about recent discoveries during your visit, since the owners clearly love sharing what they have found behind old walls and under layers of paint.
Inside the Embalming Room
Not every room in a house makes your arms prickle, but this one might. The original embalming room, complete with its embalming table, is often called the most important spot for investigations at the Holliday House.
It is a working reminder of the building’s funeral home years. Seeing the table in person gives you a very real sense of what happened here for generations.
Investigators like to spend extra time in this space. They set up recorders, ask questions, and wait quietly to see what responds.
I would suggest going in with respect rather than jokes. This room cared for many people after passing, and treating it calmly fits the mood and helps you notice small changes in sound or temperature.
Bring a notebook or use your phone to jot down times when something feels off. Comparing notes with your group later is half the excitement, especially if your recorder catches something you did not hear in the moment.
For anyone nervous, stay near the group and your guide. Nothing about the visit forces you to linger, and simply stepping into the doorway still counts as a brave and memorable part of the night.
Whispers, Cold Spots, and Shadowy Figures
Picture a dark hallway, a small group, and a voice recorder blinking red. That is how most nights unfold at the 1895 Holliday House, where guided ghost hunts run.
Visitors often describe whispers in the halls and sudden cold spots that appear out of nowhere. Others report sensing ghostly children and shadowy figures moving near the staircase.
Several paranormal teams have posted about strong results, including clear answers captured on voice recorders. Many people consider the activity here truly phenomenal.
The best part, in my opinion, is how approachable it feels. Hosts provide equipment if you do not own any, and many guests bring their own gear to compare readings.
Groups are kept small, which people love. Fewer voices means cleaner recordings and a calmer, more personal experience.
Special nights, like a Friday the 13th investigation, have drawn excited crowds of enthusiasts. Watch the official website and social pages for event dates so you do not miss one.
A quick tip from me: wear soft shoes and layers. Quiet footsteps help recordings, and those famous cold spots are easier to enjoy with a sweater.
Planning Your Own Visit to Marion
Getting ready for this trip is half the adventure. The house sits in the Marion Historic District, a peaceful small town spot in northeastern South Carolina.
Listed hours run from 11 am to 10 pm daily, though tours and investigations are usually booked ahead.
Guests often mention the ample parking and the curved staircase leading up to the front porch. Inside, a small foyer opens into a main hall with a beautiful preserved staircase that grabs your eye right away.
The house is not only for ghost hunts. Historic walking tours are offered, and the space has hosted event rentals, with overnight stays possible by special request.
I would pack a flashlight, spare batteries, comfy shoes, and a curious mind. A light jacket helps too, since old houses can feel chilly at night.
Give yourself time to stroll the nearby historic streets before your tour. Seeing the town in daylight makes the house feel even more connected to its community.
Address: 619 Willcox Ave, Marion, South Carolina 29571
