Florida’s Most Famous Haunted Locations
Florida is known for its rich history, eerie swamps, and numerous haunted locations. Here are some of the most infamous haunted places in the Sunshine State:
1. The Devil’s Chair (Cassadaga) – Cassadaga Cemetery
- Located in the “Psychic Capital of the World,” this haunted cemetery has a notorious brick chair where visitors leave beer and cigarettes for spirits. Some say sitting in the chair invites paranormal encounters.
2. The Robert the Doll (Key West) – Fort East Martello Museum
- A cursed doll named Robert, once owned by artist Robert Eugene Otto, is said to be possessed. Visitors who disrespect him report bad luck, accidents, and even hauntings.
3. The St. Augustine Lighthouse – St. Augustine
- One of Florida’s most haunted spots, the lighthouse is said to be home to the ghost of a former keeper who fell to his death. Visitors report disembodied voices, shadow figures, and the sound of children playing.
4. The Biltmore Hotel (Coral Gables) – Miami
- This historic hotel is haunted by the ghost of Thomas Walsh, a mobster who was murdered in Room 1125. Guests report strange noises, flickering lights, and unexplained cold spots.
- Built in 1926, this theater is haunted by Foster “Fink” Finley, a former projectionist who died in the building. Staff and visitors report seeing his ghost in the balcony and hearing unexplained footsteps.
6. The Riddle House (West Palm Beach) – Yesteryear Village
- This former funeral home is haunted by Joseph, a former caretaker who hanged himself in the attic. Visitors report doors slamming, disembodied voices, and shadow figures.
7. The Oviedo Lights (Oviedo) – Black Hammock Road
- Mysterious floating orbs, believed to be ghost lights, appear near an old railroad track. Some say they are the spirits of railroad workers who died in accidents.
8. The May-Stringer House (Brooksville) – Hernando Heritage Museum
- This 19th-century home is haunted by multiple spirits, including a little girl named Jessie. Visitors report disembodied laughter, footsteps, and objects moving on their own.
9. The Halifax River Ghost (Daytona Beach) – Ponce Inlet Lighthouse
- The ghost of a drowned woman in a white dress is said to wander the beach near the lighthouse, asking visitors for a ride home before vanishing.
10. The Bellamy Bridge (Marianna) – Chipola River
- A ghostly woman in a flaming wedding dress is said to haunt this bridge, the spirit of Elizabeth Bellamy, who died tragically in a fire on her wedding night.
11. The Cuban Club (Tampa) – Ybor City
- This historic social club is haunted by multiple spirits, including a woman in white and a cigar factory worker who fell to his death. Visitors report shadow figures, disembodied voices, and phantom cigar smoke.
12. The Don CeSar Hotel (St. Pete Beach)
- Known as the “Pink Palace,” this luxury hotel is haunted by its original owner, Thomas Rowe, who supposedly still roams the halls searching for his lost love.
13. The Spook Hill (Lake Wales)
- A gravity-defying road where cars roll uphill when put in neutral. Legend says it’s the spirit of a Native American chief or a gator wrestler pushing vehicles away from his grave.
14. The Old Jail (St. Augustine)
- Built in 1891, this jail housed violent criminals, and many died here. Visitors report sudden cold spots, ghostly whispers, and even full-bodied apparitions of former inmates.
15. The Pensacola Lighthouse
- Said to be haunted by a former keeper’s daughter who fell to her death. People hear giggling, footsteps, and see a ghostly woman in a blue dress.
16. The Koreshan State Park (Estero)
- Home to a 19th-century cult called the Koreshans, who believed the universe existed inside a hollow Earth. Some say their spirits still linger in the abandoned settlement.
17. The Ashley Gang’s Haunt (St. Lucie River)
- Notorious outlaw John Ashley and his gang were gunned down here in 1924. Locals claim their ghosts still roam, especially near the old Indiantown Bridge.
18. The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (Hollywood)
- A glamorous 1920s hotel where mobsters partied—and some say died. Guests report ghostly figures in vintage clothing and unexplained knocking on doors.
19. The Greenwood Cemetery (Orlando)
- One of Florida’s oldest cemeteries, known for shadow figures, phantom voices, and even sightings of a ghostly Civil War soldier.
20. The Haunted Doll Island (Boca Raton)
- A small, eerie island in the middle of a lake, covered in creepy dolls tied to trees. Some say they move on their own or whisper at night.
Bonus: The Skunk Ape (Everglades)
- While not a haunted place, Florida’s version of Bigfoot, the Skunk Ape, is said to lurk in the swamps, terrifying locals with its foul odor and eerie presence.
Florida isn’t just about sunshine and theme parks—it’s also one of America’s most haunted states. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the stories and legends make for a spine-tingling adventure. Many cities offer haunted tours.
