10 Most Haunted Places in Florida You’ve Never Heard Of
With its sunkissed beaches and lush landscapes, Florida has a darker side that most visitors miss. There’s a chilling history of scary ghosts and spooky mysteries, beyond the theme parks and busy cities. Forget about inns long forgotten and cemeteries hidden from all sight, the Sunshine State boasts its fair share of haunted places to uncover.
Whether you like spine-tingling stories or are a brave soul in search of an adventure, this list is for you. These places may not be on every ghost hunter’s radar, but their terrifying backstory and unexplained events are enough to give you the willies.
Cassadaga Hotel, Cassadaga
This historic hotel is rumored to entertain more than just earthly visitors, and it sits in the small spiritualist town of Cassadaga. To this day guests regularly report that doors open and close by themselves, lights flicker for no reason, and on occasion even the odd sighting of shadowy figures. The hotel is a popular stop for paranormal enthusiasts, who say the friendly ghost, ‘Arthur,’ is behind the mischief.
The Devil’s Chair, Lake Helen
The sinister reputation of this unassuming cemetery bench in Lake Helen. Local legends say that if you sit on it at midnight those brave enough just may hear wolves or ghosts or feel an eerie chill crawl over them. It’s a portal to something otherworld, they say, and skeptics say it’s over-active imagination. Either way, the stories are chilling.
Rockledge, Ashley’s Restaurant
The diner has a menu as interesting as its history as a popular dining spot. The building, from the 1930s, is haunted, it’s said, by the ghost of a young woman named Ethel, who met her fateful end there. There have been reports of cold spots, mysterious footsteps, and even glasses flying off shelves by employees. If you’re feeling brave, grab a table and see if Ethel steps out of her picture.
Koreshan State Park, Estero
This state park is home to an unordinary religious group with the name, Koreshan Unity, and used to be haunted by its strange previous inhabitants. This has reportedly caused visitors to hear faint voices, feel sudden cold drafts, and indeed see ghostly figures in 19th Century dress. It’s not serene and it’s not spooky, it’s a curious mix.
The Old Jail, St. Augustine
This imposing structure was built in 1891 and was home to many of Florida’s most hardened criminals. It’s today a ghost hunters’ hotspot where visitors claim to have heard disembodied voices, phantoms, and even strange tapping sounds. It has none of the charms of the European site minus the inexplicable spikes of energy recorded by paranormal investigators, thus adding to its allure.
Florida Keys, Indian Key Historic State Park
This tiny island, accessible only by boat, was once the scene of an 1840 massacre. The island’s ruins have been reported to have visitors hearing phantom cries and footsteps. Others even say they feel very sad as if the sad things from the past are still in the air.
Coral Gables, Biltmore Hotel
Famous for its ghosts, this opulent hotel is famous for its luxurious accommodations as well. There have been reports of a mobster, who was murdered there during Prohibition, and a lady in white who roams the halls. The architecture alone is grand, and the place is rife with creepiness with just the right feel for ghost stories.
Brooksville, May-Stringer House
The Victorian home, built in the 1850s, is often called one of Florida’s most haunted houses. The ghost said to haunt there was that of a young girl named Jessie Mae who died there. Today, the house is a museum and visitors report that it continues to be a cold spot, strange orbs show up in photos and the feeling of being watched is unsettling.
Spook Hill, Lake Wales
Ghostly tales defy gravity—or at least that’s what it feels like—or so the stories go—defying gravity—or so the stories go—to the magnet that this hill is. When you put your car in neutral and park it at the base, it seems to roll uphill. The phenomenon is attributed to a defeated Native American chief whose spirit still roams the area according to local lore. The chilling vibe is explained by scientists as an optical illusion, but that doesn’t stop it.
Fort Dade, Egmont Key
This is an abandoned military fort on a remote island near Tampa Bay that is chock full of history and creepy stuff. It is said that soldiers haunt the ruins who were stationed there during its active years. Over the years, visitors hear marching boots, unexplained noises, and even report seeing ghostly figures in old military uniforms. Its ghostly mystique is just added to by its isolation on the island.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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