Once upon a time in a town called Cornelia, lived a man more like a wisp, a librarian shrouded in mystery. He lures families from their homes, guiding them through the sleepy towns, graveyards, and footpaths of Clarkesville and Cornelia, Georgia. His name was Jim Betz, and he has a story to tell—many stories, in fact, of moonshine, murder, history, and the ghosts that still linger.
Jim Betz has been a cornerstone of these quiet North Georgia towns for years, working as a librarian at Banks County Primary School, where he’s spent nearly three decades as an educator. But it’s after sunset when Jim’s true calling begins. His ghost tours in Clarkesville and now Cornelia are part history lesson, part theatre, and part spine-chilling adventure, crafted for those who dare to follow him into the past.
It all started three years ago when Jim, inspired by Dahlonega’s famous ghost tours, launched his own in Clarkesville. The idea was simple: mix local history with ghost stories and bring the town’s courthouse, cemetery, and historical landmarks to life in a way that no classroom or book ever could. And for Jim, it worked. His tours quickly became a local favorite, drawing history buffs, teachers, and armchair philosophers alike. Each tour is carefully tailored to the crowd, with some nights focused on deep historical tales and others leaning heavily on the ghostly apparitions said to roam the hills and valleys of the area.
The heart of Jim’s storytelling lies in the people who once called these towns home. From the courthouse to the cemetery, Jim’s ghost tours reveal how the county was organized and introduce the audience to famous residents—some still resting in the local cemetery. With the flick of a candle and a voice that knows both drama and history, Jim weaves these tales together with eerie ghost stories, leaving listeners wondering just how thin the veil between the living and the dead really is.
But Jim isn’t just a storyteller for adults. A theater person at heart, he loves working with kids and often uses his acting talents to engage younger audiences. Whether it’s moonshine, murder, or true crime, his stories capture the imaginations of all ages. Even the practicalities of his tours are thoughtfully designed—each walk lasts just over an hour, covering about a quarter of a mile with restroom stops along the way, making it accessible for families.
When Jim isn’t guiding families through the haunted streets of Clarkesville and Cornelia, he’s busy hosting his podcast Moving Through Georgia, which dives deep into the state’s history, focusing especially on the Northeast region. Over the last three years, he’s produced 160 episodes, each running about 10 minutes, giving listeners bite-sized lessons on everything from old local legends to forgotten stories. Though the podcast’s audience is small—around 78 listeners—its reach is steadily growing as Jim continues to uncover the hidden gems of Georgia’s past.
On Fridays, you can find Jim leading ghost tours starting at 7:30 PM in Clarkesville, meeting outside the library. Saturdays, he takes his stories to Cornelia’s Train Station, and on Sundays, the tour resumes at 5:30 PM back in Clarkesville. And while every tour features the same local landmarks, no two nights are ever the same. Jim adjusts his stories based on his audience, allowing them to soak in the rich history or lean into the chilling ghost tales, depending on their interests.
As if his ghost tours and podcast weren’t enough, Jim is preparing for another major event in October. The Historical Harvest will bring together local authors, stage performers, and storytellers at the Mauldin House, where the town’s history will be digitized, and stories from Cornelia’s days as a railroad town will be recorded for future generations.
For those brave enough to join Jim Betz on one of his ghost tours, the night promises to be a walk through the past—filled with the stories of people long gone, and perhaps a few who’ve never really left. So, if you ever find yourself in the sleepy towns of Clarkesville or Cornelia, keep an eye out for a man shrouded in the aforementioned mystery, a storyteller who lures you into the shadows of history with a flickering candle and a whisper of the unknown.
