Bonaventure Cemetery reopens Thursday

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - One of Savannah's oldest cemeteries has been closed to the public since Hurricane Matthew came through.

But on Thursday, Savannah opened the gates to Bonaventure Cemetery.

Bonaventure is a place where many tourists come through to check out Savannah's rich history, but for most of us, it's a sacred place where generations of families are buried and where people pay their respects to loved ones.

Bonaventure Cemetery was severely damaged during the hurricane. It has been closed to the public, not just tours, but people wanting to visit a loved one's grave. They've done their best over the past month though to accommodate funerals.

While monuments and structures suffered limited damage, hundreds of trees were damaged or uprooted, or simply broken off in the cemetery. Barricades are still up, surrounding certain graves, but the roads in and out of the cemetery are drivable once again.

"To be mindful that we have crews working and these barricades are here for their safety if you see a barricade or caution tape avoid the area," said City of Savannah Cemetery Director Richard Gerbasi.

Directors were very happy to get at least the gates open before Veterans Day.

While the gates are open at Bonaventure, still a lot of work to be done and some hazardous areas in the cemetery. That's why the cemetery is only open from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., meaning you have to leave by 2 p.m.

Stay on the road or walk on the aisle way, at all times. Please be patient, but the recovery continues.

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