Forget sunny beaches and vibrant nightlife for a moment–South Florida harbors a chilling secret beneath its tropical facade. Beyond the shimmering resorts and bustling avenues, whispers of spectral residents and eerie occurrences linger in the humid air. If you’ve ever felt a goosebump on a perfectly warm evening or heard a faint, unexplainable sound in the quiet hours, you might just be tuning into the region’s surprisingly active paranormal scene. So, dim the lights, perhaps grab a cozy blanket (even in this heat!), and prepare to delve into the most haunted corners of the Sunshine State, where history and mystery intertwine to create truly spine-tingling tales.
South Florida’s Spookiest Haunts
Coral Castle
This haunted landmark, in the southern part of Miami-Dade County, is well-known not just for its immense coral structures, but also for the great mystery that surrounds this sculpture garden in stone. Quarried, cut, transported and constructed by Edward Leedskalnin, the huge pieces of stone are often compared to the pyramids of Egypt in their questionable construction. How one man managed to achieve this amazing feat has remained a mystery since Coral Castle opened to the public. Did he have supernatural powers? More of a mystery than a traditional haunt, Coral Castle has always been surrounded in a heavy shroud. Many believe aliens helped Ed; others believe he possessed magical powers. But the undeniable fact is that we may never know the truth. Today, it is one of the must-see museums and attraction you can tour, with narration available in English, Spanish, French or German. Opens daily at 8 am.
Charlotte Jane Memorial Park Cemetery
The Charlotte Jane Memorial Park Cemetery, located in the Coconut Grove neighborhood of Miami, is a historic burial ground with deep roots in the city’s Bahamian community. Established in the early 1900s, the land was purchased by five prominent families to serve as a final resting place for the area’s early Bahamian settlers, according to the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. The cemetery’s distinct above-ground vaults are a notable feature, a common burial style in areas prone to flooding. In addition to its historical significance, the cemetery is widely known for a different reason: its rumored connection to pop culture. According to multiple sources, including Secret Miami, the graveyard is said to have been the inspiration for the cemetery scene in Michael Jackson’s iconic Thriller music video, leading some locals to claim they’ve seen his ghost moonwalking through the grounds.
Deering Estate
Care for a whisper in your ear? That’s just what you’ll experience at Deering Estate at Cutler, an environmental, archaeological and historical preserve in Palmetto Bay. Although no one has lived at Deering Estate since the 1980s, many claim supernatural sightings still haunt this beautiful mansion, which is the site of prehistoric burial mounds and fossils that date back 50,000 years. The estate’s ghostly sightings have frequently been documented by members of the League of Paranormal Investigators. Now you can experience for yourself Miami’s most haunted property through Deering Estate’s variety of ghost tours, paranormal investigations and overnight experiences. Tour prices range from $30 for a two-hour ghost tour to $65 for the overnight SPOOKOVER. Visit the website for a schedule of upcoming public tours offered seasonally.
Villa Paula
Located in Little Haiti, Villa Paula is sure to grab one’s attention for its history and its beauty. Built in 1925 as the first Cuban Consulate in Miami, the mansion served as the primary residence of Consul Domingo Milord and his wife, Paula. The house, named in honor of Milord’s wife, features 18th-century architecture and consists of 10 rooms, 18-foot ceilings, hand-painted floor tiles and Tuscan columns. After six years of living there, Paula died unexpectedly from complications of a leg amputation, and there began the stories of ghostly activity. Witnesses report hearing footsteps, doors and windows slamming, the smell of Cuban coffee and roses wafting through the air, and apparitions of a one-legged woman in a full-length gown. In 1989, The Miami Herald named Villa Paula the most haunted house in Miami. After renovations and change in ownership since 2003, the villa is now used as an art gallery exhibiting a few Picassos, a Renoir sketch and works by Cuban artists.
Blue Anchor
At first glance, you wouldn’t think Palm Beach with its luxurious environs could be the site of a spooky English pub with lots of spellbinding tales. But in Delray Beach on Atlantic Avenue, you’ll find the Blue Anchor. A popular London bar, first opened in 1864, it was transplanted to the U.S. and re-assembled with its original doors and stained-glass windows at its current location in 1996. With it came a lot of history: Winston Churchill as a young lad was known to frequent the spot for his nightly French cognac. But this pub is better known for its notoriety than celebrity clientele; it has been reported that two victims of Jack the Ripper were spotted with a dapper gentleman before their untimely demise. And the death of Bertha Hackey, who was killed by a jealous husband 100 years ago, still haunts the bar, even across the pond. These are a few of the stories that helped annoint it as the “most haunted pub in the U.S.” by the Travel Channel in 2004. Go in for some pints and the bangers and mash with a side of terror. The Blue Anchor opens daily at 11:30 am.
