When you’re searching for an journey that’s equal elements eerie and unforgettable, Florida provides a full itinerary of ghostly locations inside driving distance from South Florida. From centuries-old forts to haunted motels, these locations carry tales of affection, loss, and lingering spirits. Right here’s a highway map for these courageous sufficient to discover them.
St. Augustine Lighthouse – St. Augustine (310 miles from Fort Lauderdale)
The St. Augustine Lighthouse has lengthy been a magnet for ghost hunters and historical past buffs alike. Constructed within the 1870s, this towering beacon witnessed tragedy when two younger sisters—often called the “Pittee Ladies”—drowned after a building cart rolled into the water. Guests nonetheless report the sound of kids’s laughter echoing via the spiral staircase, the looks of tiny moist footprints, and shadowy figures on the catwalk at evening. Whether or not you consider in ghosts or not, the nighttime “Darkish of the Moon” tour will check your nerves because the Atlantic wind howls via the lantern tower and footsteps echo behind you.
Biltmore Resort – Coral Gables (30 miles from Fort Lauderdale)
Nearer to residence, the Biltmore Resort’s Spanish-style arches and grand ballroom conceal a darker aspect. In the course of the Twenties, the resort was the scene of a infamous gangster’s homicide—Thomas “Fatty” Walsh—who was shot throughout a playing dispute. Friends and workers have since reported elevator doorways opening to an empty thirteenth ground, the faint scent of cigars, and flickering lights in empty hallways. The Biltmore’s glamorous previous, from internet hosting FDR to serving as a World Battle II hospital, appears to have left behind extra than simply recollections. Some say Walsh nonetheless roams the corridors, eternally holding watch over his previous haunts.
Could-Stringer Home – Brooksville (275 miles from Fort Lauderdale)
Typically referred to as Florida’s most haunted home, this Victorian mansion dates again to the 1850s and is now a museum—and a hotspot for paranormal investigators. Guests declare to see the spirit of Jessie Could, a younger lady who died of sickness within the residence and now allegedly lingers, laughing or weeping within the upstairs nursery. Others have captured eerie EVPs, felt sudden temperature drops, and even seen curtains transfer when no breeze was current. The museum provides ghost excursions, however be warned: quite a lot of skeptics have left satisfied that one thing—or somebody—remains to be dwelling there.
Cassadaga Resort – Cassadaga (240 miles from Fort Lauderdale)
Referred to as the “Psychic Capital of the World,” the tiny city of Cassadaga was based by spiritualists within the late 1800s, and its resort is the beating coronary heart of its supernatural popularity. Friends continuously report whispers in empty rooms, transferring objects, and doorways that shut on their very own. Room 22, particularly, has develop into notorious for sudden chilly bursts and flickering lights. Whether or not it’s spirits or suggestion, Cassadaga’s power is difficult to disregard—particularly after a session with one of many city’s mediums or tarot readers.
Key West Cemetery & Robert the Doll – Key West (160 miles from Fort Lauderdale)
You don’t want to go away South Florida for a dose of paranormal exercise. The Key West Cemetery, with its eccentric epitaphs (“I Informed You I Was Sick”) and sun-bleached tombs, has lengthy been rumored to host wandering spirits. However the island’s most well-known haunting belongs to Robert the Doll on the Fort East Martello Museum. As soon as owned by an area boy, Robert is claimed to maneuver on his personal, change expressions, and even curse those that take his image with out permission. Museum workers insist he’s chargeable for a whole lot of apology letters they obtain annually from guests begging forgiveness for disrespecting him.
Castillo de San Marcos – St. Augustine (310 miles from Fort Lauderdale)
Florida’s oldest masonry fort may also be considered one of its most haunted. Constructed within the 1600s, the Castillo has survived sieges, executions, and centuries of battle. Legend has it that Spanish troopers nonetheless patrol its coquina partitions, and guests report seeing ghostly sentries pacing the ramparts at nightfall. Others have claimed to listen to footsteps echo via the stone corridors or to really feel a sudden chill whereas standing close to the dungeon the place prisoners as soon as languished. The fort’s heavy silence at evening looks like an echo of centuries previous.
Spook Hill – Lake Wales (150 miles from Fort Lauderdale)
Not each haunting wants a ghost. In Lake Wales, automobiles left in impartial seem to roll uphill—defying gravity and logic. Based on native legend, the hill was the positioning of a battle between a Native American chief and an enormous alligator spirit. In the present day, guests park their automobiles on the white line and watch them mysteriously drift backward “uphill.” Whether or not it’s an optical phantasm or one thing supernatural, the phenomenon has puzzled and entertained vacationers for many years.
The Final Haunted Highway Journey
From the candlelit streets of St. Augustine to the ghostly glamour of the Biltmore, Florida is a haunted traveler’s paradise. Most of those locations could be reached inside a day’s drive from South Florida, making them excellent for weekend explorers with a style for thriller.
So seize a number of mates, refill the tank, and hit the highway—however maintain your eyes on the rearview mirror. Within the Sunshine State, even the ghosts don’t retire.
