You probably think of Florida and think of the beaches, the sunshine, and tourist attractions. However, there are plenty of shadowy places in the Sunshine State, and a number of haunted places in Florida. All of these can still be visited, and in some of them you can even spend the night!
1. Cassadaga
This town is called the "Psychic Capital of the World," because it has a large number of resident psychics and spiritualists. There are several places in Cassadaga that are rumored to be haunted, from the Cassadaga Hotel to the Devil's Chair in the Lake Helen-Cassadaga cemetery.
2. Historic May-Stringer House Museum
This is often called Florida's most haunted house. It's rumored to be occupied by past residents who passed away on the property. The historic house is now a museum displaying antiques and artifacts of the Victorian era. At night, it hosts adult-only haunted tours and groups of paranormal researchers.
3. Clewiston Inn, Clewiston
Rumors swirl around two rooms especially in this historic South Florida inn. Room 118 is inhabited by a mysterious female ghost., and room 255 is often visited by a longtime resident who passed away in the room in the '90s. The kitchen has also been the location of some reported encounters. The staff at this hotel is very aware of its haunted status, and they might even show you some proof that has been gathered over the years.
4. Ashley's of Rockledge
The main spirit here is tied to a story that is truly gruesome. It has been verified by local reports from the time. A young woman, Ethel Allen, was last seen at the restaurant (then Jack's Tavern) before her body was found near the Indian River. Workers and visitors have reported being tapped or pushed, seeing objects move on their own, and a woman in period clothing.
5. Bellamy Bridge Historic Site,
Built in 1914, this steel-frame bridge is more than 100-years-old, and the oldest of its kind in Florida. Elizabeth Bellamy and her husband, Samuel, had been married for three years when she died in 1837. Elizabeth actually died from fever, and her infant son died a week later from the same illness. Her husband became deeply depressed and turned to alcohol. 15 years after her death, he slit his own throat with a straight razor at Chattahoochee Landing. He was not buried next to his bride, despite his last request. Sightings of a ghostly woman near the bridge have been reported since the late 1800s.
6. Herlong Mansion, Micanopy
Although the current owners of this historic inn cast doubt on the old ghost story promoted by past owners, there have been unexplained experiences reported here by some guests and paranormal researchers. You'll just have to spend a couple of nights at this beautiful mansion and judge for yourself.
7. Spook Hill, Lake Wales
If you park at the bottom of this hill in Lake Wales and put your car in neutral, you will be stunned as it seems to roll backward up the hill. Although some people will brush this off as an optical illusion, others believe this mysterious phenomenon is caused by the ghost of a Native American chief who died in battle on this site.
8. The Opera House, Arcadia
This 1905 theater is currently occupied by an antique store and museum. The theater has been rumored to be haunted by a little girl who some say jumped out the second story window. Phantom footsteps and laughter have also been heard here.
9. St. Augustine Light
Although many people are familiar with this landmark, not as many are aware of the lighthouse's tragic past and rumored haunting. Since the lighthouse was constructed in 1874, several people have passed away in or near the lighthouse. The most famous story is that of the Pettee girls. Their father was hired to work on the lighthouse, and the girls, one 13 and one 15, got in the construction cart and it rolled into the Bay. No one could reach them quickly enough, and they drowned. Children's laughter and footsteps on the stairs, among many other occurences, are often reported here.
Have you visited any of these reportedly haunted places? Have you experienced or heard of paranormal sightings in any other places in the Sunshine State?
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