Florida is well-known for its bright beaches and exciting nightlife, but it also has a darker side that has captured people’s attention for generations. Beneath the gloss and sparkle is a realm of unexplained events and ghost encounters.
Come see some of Florida’s most notorious haunted locales as we delve into the state’s ghostly history. As we reveal the terrifying mysteries hidden underneath these eerie Florida communities, get ready to feel chilled.
Blue Anchor Pub, Delray Beach
With roots in 1840s London, the Blue Anchor Pub boasts a distinctive past. Constructed during the reign of Jack the Ripper, it was eventually destroyed in a fire a few years later.
Following that, the interior and wooden facade that remained were rescued and sent to America. Till 1996, the remains were still present in New York City. Then the bones were transported to Delray Beach.
Bertha Starkey, a Victorian ghost, lived in the ancient wooden frame, it turns out.
One tragic night, Bertha’s husband found her in bed with a lover. Bertha used to reside above the bar in London. The husband brutally murdered both Bertha and the other man.
Some claim Bertha’s ghost is still present at the Blue Anchor Pub more than a century later. Bertha announces her presence every night at ten o’clock by banging pots and crying loudly, like a mechanical creature.
Coral Castle, Miami
This 1,100-ton coral rock monument, lovingly referred to as “Florida’s Stonehenge,” was created over the course of 28 years by an enigmatic individual by the name of Edward Leedskalnin.
Leedskalnin built Coral Castle on his own between 1923 and 1951, crafting it with his bare hands. He never disclosed exactly how he created this bizarre Floridian marvel.
For the final eleven years of his life, Edward resided inside his magnificent creation. One of the haunted locations in Florida that is worth visiting is where some claim he stays even after he passes away.
There have also been reports of UFO activity in the area around Coral Castle. Amazing stories about this man-made marvel include sightings of enormous UFO formations and alien life forms.
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Casa Monica Hotel, St. Augustine
Designed by renowned architect Franklin W. Smith, the original structure was purchased by tycoon Henry Flagler in 1888. It was bought by Richard C. Kessler in the 1990s, and he reopened it as the Casa Monica Hotel in 1999.
The fourth level of the hotel is well-known for having a lot of paranormal activity.
When the floor is unoccupied, visitors and former workers claim to hear the sound of children’s footsteps. Guests in room 411 report being startled to wakefulness by multiple dark silhouettes in the room.
The ghost of a man who hanged himself is rumored to make nighttime visits to room 512, one level higher.
Radios in the Ponce de Leon suite on the first floor have been observed to turn on and off on their own. The spirit of a woman in all white also resides in the same chamber.
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Bellamy Bridge, Marianna
Dr. Edward C. Bellamy bought land on both sides of the Chipola River in 1830, marking the beginning of the bridge’s lengthy history. Terre Bonne Plantation was the name Bellamy gave to the newly occupied area. He constructed a sizable manor residence roughly 0.5 miles to the east of the river.
The plantation home is long gone, but there is still a small family cemetery. The location is marked by two gravestones, however the ancient stones only have Elizabeth Jane Croom Bellamy’s name readable on them.
According to folklore, Elizabeth passed away in 1837 and her spirit has since remained to haunt the bridge. Newspaper articles from Marianna published the earliest accounts of the haunted bridge around the close of the 1800s.
Elizabeth was immediately dubbed “the burning bride” because the night she married Edward Bellamy’s brother Samuel, her bridal gown caught fire and killed her.
Irrespective of your experience with Elizabeth, the Bellamy Bridge is definitely among the haunted locations in Florida that you should see.
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The Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables
Constructed in 1926 by George Merrick, a developer, the structure soon became known as the main venue for glitzy fashion exhibitions, golf tournaments, and galas. Its swimming pool used to be known as the biggest in the entire globe!
The Biltmore served as a military hospital during World War II and as a post-war medical facility for veterans. When the hospital closed in 1968, neighborhood youngsters would frequently break into the shuttered structures.
They came out with stories of ghosts and spirits prowling the property. Urban legends about ghosts in military uniforms and flying specters quickly took root.
Both visitors and staff continue to describe paranormal activity and ghost sightings, which include babies screaming through the walls and guests appearing out of nowhere.
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To Conclude
Florida’s haunted places provide a terrifying look into the sinister side of the state.
These terrifying locations, which range from the paranormal experiences at the Blue Anchor Pub to the mysterious happenings around Coral Castle, guarantee a spine-tingling journey.
Whatever your level of interest in paranormal phenomena or your love of a good scare, Florida’s haunted towns are guaranteed to make an impression.
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