he Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, in Georgia, holds a unique history—two graves are embedded beneath its active runway. These graves belong to Richard and Catherine Dotson, early farming pioneers who once owned the land before it was transformed into an airport in 1942. Despite relocation of most of the Dotson family’s cemetery, Richard and Catherine’s graves were left in place, along with two other family members, John Dotson and Daniel Hueston.

The Dotsons were buried on their property in the late 19th century, with over 100 graves in their family cemetery, including former slaves and workers. When the airport was expanded for military use during World War II, the government negotiated with the Dotson descendants. While most of the graves were moved to Bonaventure Cemetery, the Dotson patriarch and matriarch remained on the land they had worked for most of their lives.

Today, these graves are the only known ones located on an active runway, which serves thousands of flights each year. The airport’s staff acknowledges the historical significance, with pilots and crews often sharing ghost stories linked to the graves. Savannah itself is known for its haunted sites, with many tours focused on the eerie history of the area, making the graves at the airport a part of its spooky legacy.