You won’t find tumbleweeds in Florida’s “ghost towns”—instead, you’ll discover thriving historic communities where spirits mingle with the living. Book a room at Cassadaga’s spiritualist camp since 1894, spend the night in St. Augustine’s Casa Monica Hotel with its phantom children, or check into Ocala’s Rheinauer House where seven resident ghosts roam Victorian hallways. These aren’t abandoned ruins; they’re atmospheric destinations where you can actually sleep among the supernatural. The accommodations below reveal which haunted rooms offer the most paranormal activity.
Key Takeaways
- Gibson Inn in Gibson City offers overnight stays with paranormal experiences including phantom footsteps, haunted piano music, and mysterious phone calls.
- Cassadaga, Florida’s oldest active religious community since 1894, provides accommodations in 55 homes offering readings, séances, and supernatural experiences.
- The Cassadaga Hotel, built in 1922, welcomes overnight guests specifically seeking encounters with the supernatural and paranormal healing sessions.
- St. Augustine’s historic hotels like Casa Monica and Cedar House Inn feature room-specific hauntings with documented spectral activity for overnight guests.
- Rheinauer House in Ocala offers themed suites where guests can experience documented paranormal activity from seven resident spirits dating to 1891.
Cassadaga: Florida’s Spiritualist Camp and Paranormal Headquarters
Deep in the heart of Central Florida, tucked between Orlando’s theme parks and Daytona’s beaches, lies a town where the living and the dead supposedly share the same streets. Cassadaga’s been operating as a spiritualist community since 1894, making it the oldest active religious settlement in the Southeast.
Since 1894, Cassadaga has existed as a living spiritualist community where mediums claim the dead walk alongside Florida’s tourists and residents.
You’ll find 55 homes packed with mediums and healers offering readings, séances, and paranormal healing sessions from their porches.
The 1922 Cassadaga Hotel still welcomes overnight guests seeking supernatural encounters.
Whether you’re a believer or skeptic, you’re free to explore this National Historic District without judgment.
Book a palm reading, wander past founder George Colby’s homestead remnants, or visit the Haunted History Museum. Legend has it that Colby was led to this location by his spirit guide Seneca, who prophesied the community’s creation back in 1875. The camp’s name comes from Cassadaga, New York, near Lily Dale spiritualist camp where Colby first attended séances before bringing the tradition south.
This isn’t your typical ghost town—it’s thriving, weird, and unapologetically mystical.
St. Augustine: Historic City With Jazz Age Spirits
You’ll discover St. Augustine’s Jazz Age spirits don’t just haunt cemeteries—they prefer dancing in grand hotels where flappers once twirled.
At Casa Monica, guests report hearing phantom waltz music drifting through hallways at midnight, echoing the 1920s revelries when this Moorish palace hosted society’s elite.
The nearby Casablanca Inn harbors even darker spirits from the same era, where a heartbroken woman in period dress still watches ships from the widow’s walk, forever waiting for a lover who never returned.
Beyond the hotels, the St. Augustine Lighthouse stands as a beacon for paranormal activity, where visitors on ghost tours report shadow figures and the laughter of children who tragically drowned during its construction in the 1870s.
The Cedar House Inn is recognized for ghostly encounters, offering guests the chance to experience paranormal activity firsthand in one of the city’s most historically haunted accommodations.
Casa Monica’s Ghostly Waltzes
You’re stepping into living ghostly legends.
Room 511’s icy winds mark where a man hanged himself.
In 411, you might wake to figures in vintage clothing watching you sleep.
The fourth floor’s so active that housekeepers refuse to work alone, hearing phantom children racing through empty halls.
Most unnerving? The Flagler Suite’s radio switching on by itself, whispering “We’ve been expecting you” to nobody there.
The hotel opened in 1887, making it one of St. Augustine’s oldest architectural witnesses to centuries of spectral activity.
A Confederate soldier has been spotted haunting Room 318, particularly around significant anniversaries.
Book your room—if you dare face what won’t check out.
Casablanca Inn’s Haunted History
Just blocks from Casa Monica, another building watches the waterfront with secrets darker than forgotten luggage. You’ll find the Casablanca Inn perched on Matanzas Bay, where its 1914 Mediterranean walls conceal Jazz Age rebellion.
The owner once waved lanterns from her widow’s walk—not for romance, but signaling Cuban rum-runners when federal agents weren’t watching. She fed bootleggers, housed G-men, and got paid by both sides.
Today’s ghostly legends claim she’s still signaling. Guests report spectral sightings of a lantern-carrying woman on the second floor, while deeper spirits haunt the foundations—Spanish colonial soldiers from the 1600s military hospital below. Former innkeeper Jayne James has documented these paranormal encounters that continue to intrigue visitors.
You’ll sleep in 22 restored rooms where Prohibition outlaws once crashed, breakfast vouchers included, paranormal activity complimentary. From your window, watch passing boats and fish in the bay, with sunrise reflections stretching toward the St. Augustine Lighthouse.
Key West: Tropical Paradise With Ghostly Residents
While Key West draws millions seeking sun-soaked beaches and vibrant nightlife, this tropical paradise harbors a darker legacy beneath its swaying palms. You’ll find urban legends woven through historic inns where former residents refuse to leave—Dr. William Warren still tinkers with his vintage typewriter at Old Town Manor, while Luke Hamilton Kemp locks doors at The Ridley House like he’s still protecting the property.
Book a night at The Artist House for encounters with ghostly art and Robert the Doll’s lingering presence. Guests staying in the turret suite often report the most intense paranormal activity, making it a favorite destination for ghost hunters seeking authentic supernatural experiences.
At Marrero’s Guest Mansion, you’ll feel unseen visitors sitting on your bed’s edge. The mansion’s Woman in White appears mainly in upstairs rooms, often seen at night moving through hallways as if searching for someone lost long ago. Join the Trolley of the Doomed for murder tales and cemetery visits, or explore Curry Mansion Inn and La Concha Hotel where spirits outnumber the living guests.
St. Petersburg: Coastal Elegance and Playful Ghosts
St. Petersburg’s elegant coastal hotels harbor some of Florida’s most active spirits, from mischievous children to unseen presences that rattle chains in the night.
You’ll find the historic Vinoy Renaissance Resort particularly alive with paranormal activity—guests routinely report flickering lights, phantom footsteps, and bathroom faucets that turn themselves on while you’re trying to sleep.
At Hotel Indigo, a playful little girl ghost has been skipping along the third-floor landing since renovations disturbed her rest in 1987, and she’s even charmed enough to follow visitors home.
Historic Vinoy Resort Hauntings
Rising majestically along Tampa Bay‘s glittering waterfront, the Vinoy Resort stands as a Mediterranean Revival masterpiece that’s captivated guests since Aymer Vinoy Laughner completed its construction in just ten months back in 1925.
Today, “The Pink Lady” harbors mysteries that’ll challenge your skepticism.
You’ll encounter haunted elevators where a gentleman in top hat and coattails rides to the fifth floor before vanishing—possibly Karl Abbott, the original manager, or J.P. Williamson, the landowner.
Spectral butlers patrol fourth-floor corridors in tuxedo coats.
Baseball players staying here report genuinely unsettling experiences: phantom observers, mysterious scratching sounds, and relentless plumbing activity.
The Lady in White—a murdered socialite—glides through fifth-floor hallways.
You’ll hear shuffling footsteps, witness closet doors swinging open with tremendous force, and feel unexplained presences throughout your stay.
Child Spirit Third Floor
When renovations disrupted the former Martha Washington Hotel in 1987—now transformed into the modern Hotel Indigo—construction crews inadvertently awakened something that had slumbered within its walls for decades. The haunted third floor became a playground for child spirits, particularly a little girl who skips and plays along the landing.
You’ll find her energy most active in the early evening hours, when she’s been known to follow curious guests. One visitor’s daughter befriended the ghostly child, who attached herself so strongly she followed the family home. The father’s firm command sent her back to the hotel, where she remains.
If you’re brave enough to request third-floor accommodations, you’ll experience moving objects, eerie sounds, and fleeting shadows dancing through the corridors.
Don Cesar Beachfront Encounters
Guests report paranormal encounters along the shoreline and within this architectural fortress:
- Phantom figures strolling the beach at twilight, vanishing near the waterline
- Unexplained cold spots in oceanfront rooms despite Florida’s subtropical warmth
- Mysterious laughter and conversations echoing through corridors after midnight
The building’s reinforced concrete construction—once housing traumatized Air Force pilots—now preserves both luxury and lingering presences.
You’re free to explore these haunted corridors yourself, booking directly into history where military ghosts and Jazz Age spirits still refuse to check out from paradise.
Ocala: Home to Florida’s Most Haunted Bed and Breakfast
Nestled in Ocala’s Historic District, the Rheinauer House stands as a Gothic Victorian masterpiece that’s earned the unsettling title of “Most Haunted Inn in Florida.” Built in 1891 and gracing the National Register of Historic Places since 1984, this bed and breakfast at 828 East Fort King Street doesn’t hide its supernatural residents—it celebrates them.
Seven spirits reportedly roam this haunted architecture, including original owners Charles and Emma Rheinauer. SyFy’s Ghost Hunters validated the paranormal legends during their 2008 investigation, capturing evidence of footsteps, whispers, and mysterious knocks.
You’ll find four boutique suites—Beijing, Casablanca, Cairo, and Paris—each offering private baths and possible spectral encounters.
Book through Airbnb and explore the inn’s collection of guest-captured EVPs and ghostly photographs. You’re centrally located near downtown Ocala’s attractions while experiencing authentic paranormal activity that’s documented daily.
Small Town Hauntings: Cedar Key, Apalachicola, and Fernandina Beach
While Cedar Key and Fernandina Beach guard their spectral secrets closely, Apalachicola opens its haunted history like a well-worn diary. You’ll find overnight paranormal experiences here that Cedar Key legends and Fernandina folklore only whisper about.
At the 1907 Gibson Inn, you’ll encounter Captain Wood’s footsteps echoing through hallways and phantom phone calls from “Sunshine Gibson.” Guests report mysterious tap dancing sounds penetrating floors, walls, and ceilings.
Your Apalachicola haunting options:
- Gibson Inn – Historic hotel where piano music drifts through midnight corridors
- Coombs House Inn – Victorian mansion featuring alphabet blocks that rearrange themselves
- Cemetery Ghost Walk – Actors recount tragic tales of razor-wielding Marie Hickey and drowned lovers Louisa and Frank
Book your room, embrace the unknown, and let Apalachicola’s restless spirits welcome you home.
Central Florida’s Historic Haunts: Mount Dora and Monticello
When darkness settles over Mount Dora’s hilltop streets, Victorian Architecture cast long shadows that hide more than century-old architecture. You’ll find Florida’s oldest surviving Victorian hotel, the Lakeside Inn, where spectral guests include financier John Alexander and a young girl who appears by the fireplace.
Paranormal Tours run $26.50 for two hours through downtown, revealing macabre mysteries without trespassing on private property.
The 1883 inn survived the Great Depression, gangster visits, and near-demolition before its 2011 renovation. Today’s guests report flickering lights, phantom phone calls, and cold spots.
One housekeeper refuses to clean a particular second-floor room alone.
You’re free to explore the Gothic Donnelly House tower, where ethereal forms pace at night, or book the 1910 Mount Dora Historic Inn for your haunted Central Florida adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should I Pack for a Haunted Hotel Stay in Florida?
Pack light layers for Florida’s unpredictable weather, a camera to capture paranormal moments, and comfortable shoes for exploring. Don’t forget packing essentials like flashlights and your sense of adventure—you’ll want room for spooky souvenirs too!
Are Ghost Tours Included With Overnight Stays at These Locations?
Ghost tours aren’t included with your overnight stays at these haunted Florida hotels. You’ll book spooky experiences separately to explore historical legends. However, Cassadaga’s cemetery and Devil’s Chair await nearby—you’re free to investigate independently after check-in.
Can Children Stay at Florida’s Haunted Hotels and Inns?
Most Florida haunted hotels welcome children, letting your family experience ghostly encounters together. However, Hotel Cassadaga restricts guests under 21 to preserve its spiritual atmosphere. Always verify age policies before booking, especially at properties with intense haunted legends.
Do I Need to Book Séances Separately From Hotel Reservations?
Yes, you’ll need to book séances separately from your hotel reservation. Cassadaga’s spiritualists offer independent spirit communication sessions using various séance techniques. Your haunted hotel stay doesn’t include paranormal services—you’re free to arrange those experiences independently.
What’s the Best Time of Year to Visit Haunted Locations?
Fall’s your sweet spot for haunted Florida adventures. You’ll dodge summer’s brutal heat while catching Halloween events and séances. Seasonal weather stays mild, and peak visiting times align perfectly with paranormal activity when spirits roam freely after dark.
References
- https://wanderflorida.net/haunted-hotels-in-florida/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZxhH53sW0c
- https://crimereads.com/a-tour-of-floridas-haunted-hotels/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lgdwomCieU
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iuFzb9iovw
- https://www.ghostsandgravestones.com/florida-haunted-hotels
- https://www.floridarambler.com/historic-florida-getaways/old-florida-towns/
- https://www.islandhotel-cedarkey.com/ghost-stories/
- https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g34678-d85892-r680284322-The_Godfrey_Hotel_Cabanas_Tampa-Tampa_Florida.html
- https://delandhistoricalsociety.com/blog/history-of-cassadaga-florida
