T. Michele Walker
I believe it was July 5, the day after Independence Day, when I first spied the orange-black Halloween paraphernalia in the stores. The calendar may say it’s summer, but according to the aisles of Target and Walmart, it’s October 31. Summer vacation ends, school starts up again and before you know it, the family talk centers around making plans for Halloween.
Central Florida is a fabulous place for celebrations of all kinds, especially of the haunted variety. Walt Disney Resorts, SeaWorld, Universal Studios Orlando, all boast a wide variety of spooktacular shows, parades, celebrations that put other cities to shame. Of course, these locations aren’t really haunted. They’re fun and sometimes spine-tingling, but it’s all lights, smoke, mirrors and special effects.
It may surprise you to learn that there are quite a few real haunted spots in Central Florida and in the Sunshine State. If you’re the type who likes authenticity and is hankering for the real deal when it comes to your annual Halloween thrills, you’ve come to the right place.
If you want to get the inside scoop on local haunted locations, you need to go to an expert. I’m thrilled to be able to sit down with a real psychic medium to learn what’s truly haunted and what isn’t. Not just your everyday medium, Terri Rodabaugh comes from a family of gifted psychic intuitives and is a professional psychic medium featured on Hulu’s hit television show “Dance Moms.”
With Terri’s assistance, we are thrilled to present our official Central Florida Lifestyle Magazine official list of the top haunted locations in Central Florida and beyond. Terri will give us the inside scoop and will share her messages from spirit about each locale. We’ll rank each spot with A Big Bang for Your Buck, meaning definitely haunted and worth the trip, or A Bounteous Bust, meaning it’s a bunch of hype and skip the trip.
Central Florida’s Top Haunted Spots
1. Harry P. Leu Gardens
For those who have toured the mansion at Leu Gardens, it probably comes as no surprise that spirits roam the well-manicured lawns. Some visitors have reported sightings of apparitions, footsteps when the house is empty and mysterious figures hovering on the second-story porch. Many believe the figures to be the owner, Harry Leu and his wife, Mary Jane.
“I feel this place is definitely haunted,” says Terri, “and not just by the Leu family, but by the original owner that was murdered.”
After doing a little digging, I found that Terri is absolutely spot on. The Mizell family, Angeline and David W., staked their claim to the land that is now known as Leu Gardens in 1858. The land was settled by the Mizell family where they planted cotton and sugar cane. David Mizell is not only known for being the first owner of what we now call Leu Gardens, but he was the only sheriff of Orange County who died in the line of duty, as he was ambushed and murdered in 1870. Perhaps it is Sheriff Mizell and his wife Angeline that roams the property along with Harry and Mary Jane Leu.
Harry P. Leu Gardens: A Big Bang for Your Buck
2. The Mayfair Hotel, Sanford
The Mayfair Hotel located on East First Street in Sanford, was originally named the Hotel Forrest Lake after a beloved Sanford mayor. Built in 1926, it was a hot spot for dining, dancing and letting the good times roll. After all, it was the roaring twenties.
Through the years, the Mayfair building served as the Sanford Naval Academy, a school for boys and then headquarters for a religious mission. Celebrities like Arnold Palmer and the New York Giants baseball team have walked the halls.
Today there are rumors of other beings that roam the abandoned halls. Locals report sounds of a piano playing coming from the vacant hotel. Then there’s the shadowy figure that appears from time to time, along with a woman in white.
“This place actually feels like a time warp to me,” explains Terri. “Almost like the town is still thriving but in a different dimension. I’m not sure what would cause that, but I think you can feel it when you enter the town. It’s not an uneasiness, but an energy. It’s not harmful, just interesting.”
The Mayfair Hotel, Sanford: A Big Bang for Your Buck
3. Elijah Hand Building
This two-story building located at 17 West Pine Street has seen a lot of businesses come and go. Remember Déjà vu? Club Zen? The Blue Room and the Voyage Night Club? All businesses that once stood at 17 West Pine Street.
Originally built in the late 1800s and owned by a man named Elijah Hand, the building started off as a retail furniture store and, wait for it, a funeral business. That’s right. Elijah Hand was the first person in Orlando to introduce the process of embalming of bodies, allowing Orlando families time to bury their loved ones. In the old days, people who passed away had to be buried within two days due to decay.
By the way, Elijah’s son, Carey, took over the family business and is the owner of Carey Hand Funeral Home.
People who walk past the Elijah Hand building today claim they have an eerie feeling of someone watching them. Some have even experienced an object mysteriously hitting them on the head. Could it be Elijah Hand himself, making his presence known?
Terri agrees that something is haunting 17 West Pine Street. “I definitely feel a few presences there. I’m not sure I’d want to be there by myself at night. It feels a bit creepy. Someone needs to cross those poor souls over. They feel lost.”
Elijah Hand Building: A Big Bang for Your Buck
4. The May-Stringer House
While Brooksville is an hour’s drive from Orlando, it’s worth the trip. The May-Stringer House is four stories with seven gables and a charming gingerbread trim. It’s a 14 room, “Painted Lady” Victorian home built in 1856. The volunteers who restored the house into a museum, claim to hear footsteps, voices and children’s laughter. It is rumored that the spirits are those of the original family that owned the home and that the cries of Jessie Mae, a child born in the home and who died at the age of 3, can still be heard.
Terri agrees that the May-Stringer House is indeed haunted. “Yes! And it’s not just the spirit of Jessie Mae, but others that the doctor may have treated. Anytime there are huge renovations like that, the spirits can be unsettled. I feel like there’s more happening in the older part of the home than the newer additions.”
The May-Stringer House: A Big Bang for Your Buck
5. The Devil’s Chair in Cassadaga
Cassadaga, Florida, established in 1875 and once called the “Psychic Center of the World,” is famous for its spiritual activity, quaint shops and the landmark Cassadaga Hotel. They say the hotel is haunted by a man named Arthur who used to stay in room 22. Arthur was an Irishman who was fond of libations and a good cigar. Many people have reported the smell of cigars and alcohol as well as tapping on their shoulders when walking close to room 22.
According to experts of the paranormal, the Devil’s Chair located in the cemetery is downright spooky. Originally built as a “mourning chair” for visitors, local legend claims that if you leave an unopened can of beer on the chair in the evening, it will be empty the next morning.
Is this the real deal? Terri says, “I didn’t feel anything paranormal while I was there, really. And for one who really doesn’t believe in the devil per se, I would say this is just an old wives’ tale. If someone is drinking the beer, it’s not the devil.”
The Devil’s Chair in Cassadaga: A Bounteous Bust
6. The Kress Building
The Kress building is not only lovely to behold with its decorative terra cotta and Art Deco design. It’s also well known for being one of Orlando’s most haunted spots. Now home to Kres Chophouse (no relation), the building boasts practically every kind of “haunting” you can name, from creepy footsteps, ghost sightings and spooky sounds. There are even claims that extraterrestrial activity once took place in The Kress Building.
“For some reason, when I look at this building,” warns Terri. “I feel like it’s a gateway to hell. Not sure I’d be wanting to spend much time there. Lots of energy emanating off that building and it doesn’t feel nice.”
The Kress Building: A Bounteous Bust and A Big Bang for Your Buck
(While it is likely haunted, go at your own risk.)
7. The Bradford-Ma Barker House
Located in Ocala stands the infamous Ma Barker house, home to the longest gun battle in FBI history.
One cold Florida winter, an old lady approached the owners of the house, asking if she could rent their home. She explained she wanted to spend some quality time with her sons. She didn’t mention her name, as Ma Barker and her boys, better known as the Barker Gang, were on the FBI’s Most Wanted list. Ma Barker was considered “Public Enemy No. 1” at the time of her death.
Two months later, the house was riddled with bullets and became the scene of the biggest FBI shootout in history, lasting four hours. Ma and her son Fred may have lost their lives in the infamous shootout, but experts insist their souls still inhabit the house.
Terri agrees with the experts. “Oh yeah, I’m sure you can hear gunfire here on a quiet night and maybe flashes of light and possibly smell gunpowder. But it’s mostly residual, which means it’s not really haunted (so not intelligent), and it’s on a loop of energy that cycles around.”
The Bradford-Ma Barker House: A Big Bang for Your Buck
(Although the activity is residual energy and not an actual haunting, it’s worth the trip.)
8. The Ghost Dog at Lake Eola
I’m just as surprised as you to read that there are reports of an actual ghost dog gallivanting along with the geese and swans around Lake Eola. The first thing that springs to mind would be a Scooby Doo like canine, but for those who have experienced the apparition, they claim it’s a small and friendly brown terrier that roams the eastern side of the lake. They say as quickly as the pup appears; he vanishes into thin air.
My initial instinct was to dismiss the story. But Terri says it “feels like the dog’s owner used to live around there and moved and now the dog can’t find them.” The poor pooch apparently is searching for its owner, but Terri explains, “I don’t think it’s unhappy, though. It likes to just hang around people, so it seems in good spirits, so to speak.”
The Ghost Dog at Lake Eola: A Big Bang for Your Buck
9. Spook Hill
In the 1950s, long before Walt Disney World broke ground, there was a popular attraction in Lake Wales called Spook Hill. Families would drive to the hill on the weekends, where the driver (usually dad) would put the car in neutral. Miraculously, the car would roll uphill. It’s an interesting experience.
One of the advertisements for Spook Hill claimed, “See the spirits battle to the death.” That sounds pretty spooky to me. There are several legends surrounding the hill, such as a Florida pirate (Captain Sarsaparilla) is buried at the hill and pushes cars away. Another tale includes the spirit of a gigantic alligator that inhabits the area. Legend explains he is simply trying to protect his land.
Terri says, “Spook Hill feels like there’s science behind it instead of the paranormal.” She couldn’t be more correct. This famous hill in Lake Wales is an optical illusion caused by what is called the magnetic hill or “gravity hill.”
Spook Hill: A Bounteous Bust
(However, it’s worth the visit, even though not haunted.)
10. Orange County Regional History Center
It’s common knowledge that the Orange County Regional History Center used to be the Orlando courthouse. The most famous defendant was serial killer Ted Bundy, who was tried for the murder of Kimberly Leach in 1980.
There are claims that the building is haunted by the ghost of Ted Bundy with some experiencing oddities like levitating objects, laughs, screams and apparitions. The name “Ted Bundy” is even carved into a table where he reportedly sat during his trial.
“No, Ted Bundy’s spirit didn’t carve his name in the table,” explains Terri. “And I don’t think he haunts the courthouse. Why would he? He’d do better to haunt one of his places where he murdered someone. That would have more of a charge to it that this courthouse.”
In other words, while it may be haunted, it’s not Ted Bundy who’s doing the haunting.
Orange County Regional History Center: A Bounteous Bust
Florida’s Top Haunted Spots
1. St. Augustine
It makes sense that the oldest city in the United States would be one of the most haunted. That oldest city is in our own backyard, which is why St. Augustine made our list. This is a town that is no stranger to hauntings, ghost sightings and general, all-around spookiness. Some of the highlights include the lighthouse, the old jail and even the famous Castillo de San Marcos.
Terri says the St. Augustine Lighthouse has a lot of activity. Approximately 150 years ago, the Pittee sisters, Mary and Eliza, were killed in a tragic accident. Some claim to hear the girls laughing and some have seen them floating around the bay.
“I do feel the girls there,” says Terri. “No one came to get them when they passed so they are still hanging around. I feel them showing up as three lit orbs as well. Glowing orbs. I also see a man with a long dark coat and hat that walks the property.”
Terri also picked up on energy at the old jail. “There is definitely a dark feeling there. Why wouldn’t there be? Deaths, hangings, and some were innocent people. I hear the innocent still claiming they were wronged.”
The St. Francis Inn Bed and Breakfast is an especially active location. “Lots of activity there. Running, screaming, all kinds of things I’m hearing. If you’re up for staying awake all night, this is the place to be. Definitely haunted.”
St. Augustine: A Big Bang for Your Buck
2. Apollo 1 Launch Complex 34, Cape Canaveral
Who can forget the tragic Apollo 1 craft catching fire on January 27, 1967, killing all three astronauts aboard? Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Edward H. White II, and Roger B. Chaffee all lost their lives during a preflight test when a fire swept through their command module. Since then, visitors have reported hearing screams from the launch pad and feeling a sense of sadness.
Terri explains, “I feel an emptiness there. But wherever there has been a tragedy is ripe for residual hauntings (which is like a memory, but not actually intelligent). I can understand why people feel an energy there, but I do believe it’s just a reverence or sadness.”
Apollo 1 Launch Complex 34: A Big Bang for Your Buck
(I’ve rated this as a legitimate haunting, but as Terri explained, this is residual energy, like a memory and not a ghost experience.)
3. The Biltmore
If you’re craving a lavish-yet-creepy Florida hotel experience, look no further than The Biltmore. It has all the ingredients of a top haunted location. Once a World War II hospital? Check. Gangster activity? Check. Paranormal activity through the roof? Check.
Once a glamorous hotspot that hosted royalty, celebrities, sports stars, and even U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, it should come as no surprise that the Biltmore also hosted its share of gangsters, like Al Capone. In the 1920s, Thomas “Fatty” Walsh was killed on the 13th floor during a dispute about, what else, gambling. Since that time, many have experienced the elevator stopping suddenly on the 13th floor for no reason, messages on mirrors and shadows of military men roaming the halls.
“With so much history and so many different things this building housed, it’s no wonder that it might feel haunted,” Terri reports. “But I think it feels good. No evil here. Just a lot of old energy or memories that haven’t died out yet.”
The Biltmore: A Big Bang for Your Buck
4. The Nancy and David Bilheimer Capital Theatre – Clearwater
Opening in March 1921, The Capitol Theater has a rich history of hauntings. In 1980, the theater manager was robbed and murdered in the balcony. For sensitive theater goers who find themselves sitting upstairs, a presence may be felt. There are two other spirits that reportedly haunt the theater, an old sea captain (it is Clearwater, after all) and a young girl who enjoys pranking visitors. As someone who has attended a concert at this theater a few months ago, I can attest to the balcony spirit.
“There does seem to be some activity. Not sure of the exact people there, but it does feel a bit active. There’s an energy about it that is undeniable.”
The Nancy and David Bilheimer Capital Theatre: A Big Bang for Your Buck
(Especially if you sit in the balcony.)
5. The Arcadia Opera House
You know the song:
“They’re creepy and they’re kooky,
Mysterious and spooky,
They’re all together ooky,”
The ending to the verse could just as easily be, “The Arcadia Opera House.”
Built in 1906, this building looks like something out of a Stephen King novel. It was featured in a ghost hunter show on Bravo and is a regular haunt (pun intended) for paranormal enthusiasts.
As someone who has been to downtown Arcadia and has personally experienced the Arcadia Opera House, it’s even creepier than it sounds. It may be a long drive, but it’s worth it if you’re searching for the best Florida has to offer in the paranormal realm.
“I can imagine feeling watched in this place. I think the hairs on the back of your neck would definitely raise and you’d get some chills. Not only because of its past, but because it’s now an antique store and houses all kinds of energy that’s attached to the items inside. Wouldn’t mind spending the night in this place for the fun of it.”
The Arcadia Opera House: A Big Bang for Your Buck
You can check out Terri Rodabaugh on Hulu’s current season of “Dance Moms” or you can read her book, “Surrendering to Light: Ten Steps to Connecting With Spirit,” now available on Amazon.
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