Looking for the most Haunted Places in Florida?
Florida is known for its white sandy beaches, fruity cocktails, and tons of activities in paradise. If you’re interested in a less traditional vacation, you’ve come to the right place.
I’ve concocted a list of fourteen of Florida’s most haunted hang-outs (outside of St Augustine, which is known for being the most haunted city in Florida) that are sure to give you a vacation of Florida paranormal hot spots that you will never forget!
Keep reading and add these haunted locations in Florida to your itinerary the next time you visit the Sunshine State… if you dare.
Ghost seen by a friend in St Augustine.
14 Most Haunted Places in Florida For Spooky Fun!
1. Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables
The Biltmore Hotel was built in 1926 and used for many purposes throughout its history. In the beginning, it was a common meeting place for the high class, often hosting galas, gatherings, events, and pool parties in what was the largest pool in the world at its time. There was a huge party held on the 13th floor.
During this party, a legendary gangster known as “Fatty” Walsh was shot and killed. This was the starting point of ghost rumors regarding the hotel. During World War II, it was transformed into a military hospital and remained a veterans hospital after the war ended.
In 1952, the University of Miami took over the property as a medical lab. The hospital closed in 1968 and became a well-known hangout for young people to search for paranormal phenomena. The city allotted a large sum of money to restore the hotel and eventually reopened in 1987.
The ghost of “Fatty” Walsh is the most commonly seen on the premises. He is known to open doors for waitresses holding trays, write messages on mirrors, steal lampshades, and sometimes actions even more sinister.
He is known to send guests riding the elevator to floors they don’t wish to go to. A couple was visiting the hotel once and intended on going to the fourth floor. The elevator was taken to the thirteenth floor, which was closed at the time.
The wife stepped out of the elevator only to have the doors quickly slam shut behind her, with her husband inside. He got down to the lobby and asked for assistance.
When they found the woman again, she was extremely rattled. She had heard someone walking through the shadows, talking and laughing. She also smelled cigar smoke wafting through the halls. If you visit the Biltmore, you may just get a chance to see “Fatty” for yourself.
Commonly thought of as the most haunted place in Florida, it’s certainly worth checking out if you like spooky! Plus you can book a room if you really want to be spooked!
Address on google maps: 1200 Anastasia Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134
Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables/ Facebook
2. Ashley’s, Rockledge
Ashley’s is a staple of Rockledge, a small town south of Cocoa Beach. It has been the local hangout for almost a century. Ashley’s is a quaint little restaurant adorned with varnished wood and stained glass windows.
Its beautiful antiquated facade holds some mysterious dark secrets. The restaurant now offers a variety of American comfort food, such as hamburgers, soups, salads, and more.
They are also known for housing both an indoor and outdoor bar. The establishment was originally opened in 1933 under the name “Jack’s Tavern” but shortly after the restaurant opened in the early 1930s, a tragedy occurred. Some believe it happened within the walls of the restaurant.
A nineteen-year-old girl who frequented the eatery, Ashley, was viciously murdered. Her mutilated body was found along the shores of the Indian River near where the restaurant stood. Her spirit is said to be trapped within the walls of the establishment, and many visitors say they see her still to this day.
While dining at Ashley’s, you may look over in the stall next to you while using the bathroom and see Ashley’s shoes perched in front of the toilet. Patrons also report seeing her reflection in the mirror of the restroom. There are also often flickering lights, just before glasses begin to fall and crash on the floor.
Some employees and restaurant-goers have seen furniture move from one end of the room to the other, seemingly by itself. If you visit Ashely’s, be sure to bring your camera. Photos taken on the property often contain white orbs, a well-known sign that spirits are present. For sure one of the most creepy places in Florida!
Address on google maps: 1609 US-1, Rockledge, FL 32955
Ashley’s, Rockledge/ Facebook
3. Villa Paula, Miami
Wondering what is the most haunted place in Florida? This may well be it.
Villa Paula is a gorgeous, classic-looking building with a ton of history, some of it containing darkness. It was originally built in 1926 to house the Cuban consulate. Its neoclassical style with stained glass windows, stucco walls, eighteen-foot high ceilings, and Tuscan columns is reminiscent of Havana.
All of the building supplies and builders were imported from Cuba. Cuban console Domingo Milord moved into the home shortly after it was constructed.
A few years later, Milord’s wife, Paula, had to have her leg amputated due to unknown medical reasons. There were complications during her amputation that ultimately led to her death. Following her passing, Villa Paula soon ceased to serve in an official capacity for Miami Cuban consulate and was bought and sold multiple times over the next several decades.
In the 1970s the building was abandoned and falling apart; its stained glass windows were shattered and graffiti covered the walls. Cliff Ensor decided to buy the property in 1974.
He eventually restored Villa Paula back to her former glory. Paula’s spirit began to visit Ensor very soon after he bought the house. Ensor claimed he would see a black-haired lady float down the hallway in a long dress with only one leg.
He also had occurrences where he could smell coffee and roses wafting through the home, although he was not making coffee, nor had any roses. Three of his cats were killed by the back gate slamming onto them on windless days.
One day, Ensor’s silverware and glassware were smashed on the ground. Immediately after, a glass chandelier fell from the ceiling. The stories spooked local Haitians and Ensor had difficulty selling the home.
It ended up under the ownership of multiple peopleover the years, primarily paranormal skeptics. Although, almost everyone who has lived there can confirm that some odd occurrences happen on the property.
Villa Paula is now available for events but you can feel free to visit the house’s exterior (it is often considered the most haunted house in Florida), you may even get to meet Paula herself, if you’re lucky.
Address on google maps: 5811 N Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33127
Villa Paula, Miami/ Facebook
4. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater
The Capitol Theatre was built in 1921. In 1981, the Taylor family bought the property and began renovations. It was during this time that a murdered body, belonging to Bill Neville, was found on the balcony.
In 1996, the Taylor family sold the building. In 2008, the theatre went under foreclosure. The property was renamed the Royal Theatre after the city of Clearwater and Ruth Eckerd Hall teamed up to restore the site.
There are three main entities that are said to haunt the premises. The first is an old man known as Captain who has a goatee and stalks the hallways in a blue coat and fisherman’s cap. The Captain is said to have a habit of inappropriately touching female patrons as they try to enjoy the performance they are there to see.
The second entity is a ghost of a man named Bill who was murdered on the balcony by a group of tourists. Many believe this is the spirit of Bill Neville. Some believe that he chose to stay in the theatre because he was such an avid supporter of the arts.
It is said that he was beaten to death and left to die in a place that typically brought him peace, the theater. The third spirit is said to belong to a 10-year-old girl, who plays and sings throughout the theatre. She is known to be a playful and harmless staple in the theatre.
It is an operational theatre so you can book a ticket to see a show.
Address on google maps: 405 Cleveland St, Clearwater, FL 33755, United States
Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater/ Facebook
5. Robert the Doll-East Martello Fort, Key West
Robert the Doll belonged to Robert Eugene Otto, who commonly went by “Gene”. He was the son of a prominent family in Key West. One of his family’s servants gifted him an unusual, straw-filled doll. He named the doll Robert, after himself. The family quickly became aware that Robert was no ordinary doll.
They would often hear Gene sitting alone in his room speaking to someone with a different voice that his parents didn’t recognize. His parents awoke one night to Gene’s screams, only to find his bedroom door locked. Once they managed to get into the locked bedroom, they found Gene terrified inside.
His room was completely ransacked, and Gene claimed that Robert did it. Gene’s parents would often find toys destroyed and left throughout the house, and every time Gene blamed it on Robert. Gene’s family began to hear Robert moving about the house and laughing, even when Gene wasn’t home at the time.
Pedestrians passing by claimed to see the doll moving from one window to another, without assistance from any of the tenants. The family decided to relocate Robert to the attic, where he stayed for years.
Gene ended up inheriting his parents’ mansion. He grew to become an artist and spent his days painting. Some say he spent his days painting with his old friend Robert. The doll was moved back to Gene’s old room, which they once shared. Gene’s wife supposedly died from “insanity”.
She was said to have a strong resentment towards Robert the Doll and her husband’s obsession with it. The residence now functions as a bed and breakfast. Robert is safely tucked away inside of the East Martello Fort in Key West. Tourists can visit the doll, but beware. Robert is said to cast a curse on anyone who takes his picture without asking permission first.
One of the most unique things to do in Key West! You can book a tour here.
Address on google maps: 3501 S Roosevelt Blvd, Key West, FL 33040, United States
Robert the Doll-East Martello Fort, Key West/ Facebook
6. Gilbert’s Bar-House of Refuge, Stuart
Gibert’s Bar has had a traumatic life, and has housed many unfortunate souls during its time. It was built in 1876 as a haven for shipwrecked sailors. It is the last remaining out of the ten that were built along Florida’s east coast spanning from Key Biscayne to Daytona Beach.
The most infamous shipwreck to happen within proximity to the House of Refuge was that of George Valentine, on October 16, 1904. A violent hurricane blew his Italian ship from Havana to what is present-day Stuart, Florida. The vessel smashed against the limestone, resulting in five crew members losing their lives. The wreck is still there to this day. It is now a popular snorkeling and diving spot and is abundant with marine life.
Gilbert’s Bar is also rumored to be the birthplace of “Koreshanity”, a cult consisting of 250 members during its peak. It was led by Dr. Cyrus “Koresh” Teed, who was seen by his followers as a messiah. Teed died in 1908. His body was put on display for weeks following his death in an attempt to encourage his body to reincarnate.
Eventually, authorities insisted that he had a proper burial for health concerns. He was then placed in a large tomb. Shortly after, the tomb was washed away in a hurricane.
After the property was done fulfilling its use as a haven, the US Coast Guard took it over and transformed it into a Coast Guard station. The military utilized the wooden tower as a crucial lookout for spotting German U-boats during WWII. The Coast Guard decommissioned the building in 1945, and it sat abandoned for years.
The Martin County Historical Society took control of the property in 1955 and converted it into a maritime museum. Being the oldest building in Martin County, and having such a tragic backstory, it’s no surprise that Gilbert’s Bar is one of the most haunted places in Florida.
Beef stew can regularly be smelled wafting out of a kitchen that has been out of use for decades. Cigar smoke is another scent that is commonly picked up throughout the property. But don’t take my word for it. Go smell the scents and see the spirits for yourself.
You can find information on how to visit the museum here.
Address on google maps: 301 SE MacArthur Blvd, Stuart, FL 34996
Gilbert’s Bar-House of Refuge, Stuart/ Facebook
7. The Devil’s School, Jacksonville
Still looking for scary places in Florida and more specially haunted schools in Florida?
The Devil’s School was initially a wooden schoolhouse built under the name Riverside Park School in 1891. The Great Jacksonville Fire erupted in 1901 and destroyed a good portion of the city. Soon after, the school was declared a fire hazard and replaced with a brick structure.
The school was named Public School #4, because it was the fourth public school to be built in Jacksonville. It was later renamed Annie Lytle Elementary School after a beloved former teacher and principal. The school has four large columns at the entrance, a large auditorium, and a fireplace in the middle of the cafeteria.
The classrooms were all on the second floor, while the offices, auditorium, and cafeteria were on the first. The school was shut down in the 1960s after the city built an interstate that secluded the school from the rest of the city and made it inaccessible. The school became a regular hang-out for graffiti artists and teenagers looking for trouble.
In 1955, a fire broke out that caused the roof to cave in, which gave it an eerie appearance to match the legends told about the place. One of the legends said that there was once a cannibalistic principle. Kids who were misbehaving would supposedly be sent to the principal office never to return.
Students believed that the closet in his office was converted into a meat locker where he would hang children until they were ready to be devoured. It was also rumored that the janitor would take children down to the boiler room and boil them alive. It is believed that these rumors are mostly untrue.
Although the stories attracted some interesting folks. The graffiti that coated the walls often included satanic symbols, and it was believed that there were regular satanic rituals that occurred on the property.
You aren’t allowed to go inside but you can check it out from the outside. If I had to think of the scariest places in Florida then this school would certainly be up there! This school often tops the list of abandoned places in Florida too!
Address on google maps: 638-698 Chelsea St, Jacksonville, FL 32204
The Devil’s School, Jacksonville/ Facebook
8. The Palace Saloon, Fernandina Beach
Given that the Palace Saloon is the oldest continuous bar in Florida, it’s no wonder that the place is said to be haunted. During her heyday, she was known to be a watering hole for the higher class and held the nickname of “Ship Captain’s Bar”.
The most common ghost to be seen on property belongs to Charlie Beresford, also known as “Uncle Charlie”. Charlie was a staple of the establishment and bartended there from 1906 to 1960. He was known for betting patrons that they couldn’t make a coin toss into a shallow bust behind the bar.
Most people were unsuccessful, and Charlie simply collected the loose change and put it in his tip jar. After Charlie passed, the next bartender tried to carry on the game.
However, every time he started he felt a cool hand on his shoulder, and would stop the game from continuing. People also began to see human-shaped apparitions wandering about the bar around closing time. In 1999, a fire erupted that burnt the majority of the saloon, but Charlie’s old office was left virtually untouched.
The spirit of Uncle Charlie has brought an influx of tourists who are trying to get a glimpse of him. One of the most popular Florida ghosts for sure. There is now a pizza spot on the same block known as “Uncle Charlie’s Pizza”, and a sports bar that also has adopted his name.
The bar is highly rated and worth a visit.
Address on Google Maps: 117 Centre St, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
The Palace Saloon, Fernandina Beach/ Facebook
9. Florida Theatre, Jacksonville
The Florida Theater was constructed in 1926, although it wasn’t open to the public until 1927. The theater is said to have been constructed on the site of a disorganized police station that previously stood there.
Some theorize that this is the reason for all of the strange hauntings. Employees of the theater regularly report hearing humming and loud crashes while they are alone in the theater.
There are also commonly shadows lurking on the balcony, and odd orbs of light that show up in pictures taken. There are often lights turning on and off and equipment malfunctions on the balcony.
Some believe that one of the ghosts that haunted the theater is Joseph Hilton. He was an organist who worked in the theater in the 1920s, and later committed suicide. Another spirit said to haunt the theater is that of Doc Crowther. He worked as a film technician during the years preceding the theater opening.
In 1997, a psychic consultant by the name of Jill Cook-Richards visited the theater to do a psychic reading. She claimed to have a male spirit contact her who said he wanted to be called “J” for the joy that the theater brings him. He also said that he had no need for his name from the past, he only needed a name for the future.
You can check out what’s on at the theatre here.
Address on Google Maps: 128 East Forsyth Street Suite 300 Jacksonville FL 32202
Florida Theatre, Jacksonville/ Facebook
10. Gator Club, Sarasota
The Gator Club is a two-story brick building situated between Main Street and Lemon Avenue. It was built in 1912 by William David Worth to be a grocery store with a living space on the second floor for him and his family.
The building has had a number of different uses over the years including a cigar shop, ice cream parlor, speakeasy, and a brothel. Larry Siegel bought the location in 2005 and says he has seen a multitude of ghosts or ghostly activities since purchasing the place.
Shortly after he bought the place, he turned off the lights upstairs only to walk downstairs and notice the lights were back on. At one point, he was having a pre-shift meeting with one of the bartenders at the bar.
The register began going off and rang in over a dozen drinks at a time. After the receipts stopped scrolling, Siegel felt a damp chill pass over his body. Danny Hernandez, a bartender at the nightclub for over thirty years, has claimed to see Mrs. Worth over fifty times.
He has said that he’s walked up on her sitting in a loveseat patiently waiting, as if she was there to meet someone. Take a visit to the Gator Club and you might get lucky enough to see Mrs. Worth for yourself.
This nightclub is now one of the most popular and spooky things to do in Sarasota!
Address on google maps: 1490 Main St, Sarasota, FL 34236
Gator Club, Sarasota/ Facebook
11. The Devil’s Tree, Oak Hammond State Park, Port St. Lucie
The Devil’s Tree has been witness to countless gruesome, demonic situations, from cult activity to attempted exorcisms. People of the town and government officials have tried to take down the tree with no luck.
When you visit the tree you can still see burn marks and chainsaw scars from attempts to take it down. The most well-known story that is tied to the tree is that of Gerard John Schafer. Schaefer had an unpleasant childhood full of abuse. His alcoholic father did not believe in punishing his sister. Instead, he would punish Gerard twice as hard and say that he is receiving the punishment for both him and his sister.
This led to Schaefer holding a resentment towards women and also gender dysmorphia. He began to steal women’s clothing and then proceeded to go on secret walks in the woods and tie himself to a large oak tree, what would later become the Devil’s Tree. He would then harm himself after securing himself to the tree.
Later in life, he worked his way up the police force to the position of sheriff’s deputy. He then used his position to lure young hitchhiking women to this oak tree and tie them up. After tying them up, he would psychologically and sexually abuse them for a week or so before killing them. Often, he would decapitate his victims, before sexually assaulting their corpses.
He would also wait another week or so before burying the body at the base of the tree with the noose still around their necks. His onslaught came to an end when he received a dispatch in the middle of a double kidnapping. He had made no effort to conceal his identity during the kidnapping.
The two teenage girls managed to escape and quickly reported Schaefer. In 1973, Schaefer received two life sentences for murdering two teenage girls, Susan Place and Georgia Jessup.
After his arrest, authorities searched his home and found a considerable amount of teeth, jewelry, and personal items from women they believed were more of Schaefer’s victims. While Schaefer was incarcerated he admitted to killing over 30 more women and girls. Schaefer was killed in prison by a fellow inmate in 1995.
Address on Google Maps: 1982 SW Villanova Rd, Port St. Lucie, FL 34953
The Devil’s Tree, Oak Hammond State Park, Port St. Lucie/ Facebook
12. The Cuban Club, also known as El Circuló Cubano de Tampa
Ybor’s history is colorful but also has seen some dark stages. The Cuban Club, also known as El Circuló Cubano de Tampa, is a four-story yellow brick Neoclassical building that was built in 1917. Interestingly, the club was built to replace a club that sat there previously but burnt down.
Currently, there is a large ballroom and theater. However, it once contained a restaurant, swimming pool, bowling alley, and large spaces for other events and activities.
Ghost tour guide claims that the Cuban Club is home to over 300 spirits. One of these spirits includes Victorio, a playwright who crushed his dreams by forgetting his lines during the debut show of his own play. In 1919, he hung himself on the second floor of the theater.
His soul is said to shaunt the second floor to this day. Another legendary spirit said to haunt the Cuban Club is that of Little Jimmy. Little Jimmy decided to go swimming in the swimming pool unsupervised. At the time, this was the only swimming pool in Ybor. Unfortunately, Little Jimmy’s excitement was short-lived as he took his last breaths before he drowned. His ghost is said to always have a playful air about his pranks.
It’s believed that he sends the elevator up and down to different floors with no one inside of them. He also likes to mess with guests of the ghost tours by causing their flashlights to blink and flicker, giving the ghost tour guests a run for their money. There is also the spirit of a woman who died a cruel death from being thrown off the third-story balcony after turning down a man who asked her to dance with him.
She is said to haunt the third-story floor to this very day. There have also been reports of female ghosts and strange orbs wandering down the halls. Go on a ghost tour and meet some of these fabulous souls for yourself, if you dare.
You can read more reviews and book a tour here.
Address on Google Maps: 2010 N Avenida Republica de Cuba, Tampa, FL 33605
The Cuban Club, Tampa/ Facebook
13. The Devil’s Chair, Lake Helen-Cassadaga Cemetery
Many cemeteries that were constructed in the 19th century had layouts similar to parks. There would often be stone chairs constructed for those mourning to have somewhere to sit and rest as they paid their respects. These chairs slowly adopted the name “Devil’s Chairs” and became focal points of many legends and tales.
If you are looking for a haunted town in Florida, this is a good choice. The town of Cassadaga was full of spiritual oddities. The Cassadaga Spiritual Camp was founded in 1865 by George Colby and quickly caught the attention of mystics and psychics alike, it soon gained the reputation of being the “Psychic Center of the World.”
Cassadaga is said to sit on a point of concentrated psychic energy known as a vortex. Cassadaga’s Devil’s Chair is a large red brick structure and one of the most famous in the country.
It is said that if you sit in the chair, the Devil himself speaks to you telepathically. People who have sat in the chair claim to hear voices in their heads. Locals believe that if you leave a can of beer on the chair at night, when you return the next morning it will be empty or gone completely.
There is also a story of a young man who was stolen by the Devil’s Chair. He was dared by some friends to sit in the chair at midnight on Hollow’s Eve.
It is said that right when he sat in the chair, he disappeared completely as if he evaporated. The young man was never seen again. Would you have the guts to take a seat in the Devil’s Chair? I dare you.
Address on Google Maps: Lake Helen FL
The Devil’s Chair, Lake Helen-Cassadaga Cemetery/ Facebook
14. The Pensacola Lighthouse, Pensacola
The Pensacola Lighthouse was built in 1859, is fifteen stories high, and contains 117 steps. It has drawn in paranormal hunters in for decades. Jeremiah Ingraham was the first person to take the role of the keeper who moved into the lighthouse with his wife Michaela in 1826.
According to historians, Michaela began to show a passionate interest in tending to the lighthouse and keeping it in tip-top shape. Her meticulous care grew to a point of unhealthy obsession.
She would often criticize and berate her husband for not completing a task to her satisfaction, or cleaning certain objects to the level of cleanliness that she found appropriate. Jeremiah then mysteriously died in 1840. It was unclear how he died for many decades.
Michaela happily took over the role of lighthouse keeper until 1855. Years later, a blood stain was uncovered, and people began to confirm their suspicions that Michaela killed her husband.
It’s believed that Michaela’s spirit remains in her beloved lighthouse because she couldn’t bear to leave it. Visitors of the lighthouse often report hearing footsteps and laughter from above them, while they are alone in the lighthouse.
There are multiple other entities that are said to haunt the Pensacola Lighthouse, but you might just have to go see them for yourself.
Book a ghosts and graveyards tour of the area here.
Address on Google Maps: 2081 Radford Blvd Pensacola, FL 32508
The Pensacola Lighthouse, Pensacola/ Facebook
