How to Take a Ghost Tour of St. Augustine, Florida

Located on the Florida coast, St. Augustine holds the distinction of being the oldest European-settled city in the United States. Ponce de Leon was the first European to visit St. Augustine, in 1513. The city has a long and turbulent history that includes wars, famines, plagues and hurricanes. St. Augustine also has a reputation for having more than its fair share of ghosts, making it a great choice for those seeking to take a ghost tour.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Visit with the Hostess of the Casablanca Inn. During the Prohibition, the St. Augustine establishment now known as the Casablanca Inn was a bayfront boarding house, run by a local widow who lined her pockets by working in partnership with bootleggers. The widow's ghost--referred to by locals as the Hostess--is said to haunt the halls of the Casablanca Inn to this day.
2. Greet Elizabeth at the city gates. The gates of St. Augustine, Florida are said to be haunted by the spirit of a teenager named Elizabeth, who was reportedly a victim of the yellow fever epidemic that devastated the town in 1821.
3. Get your thrills at the Fort Castillo de San Marcos. Home to many battles in years gone by, this site is said to feature ghostly "battle echoes." Some report that if you place your ear to one of this location's walls, you'll hear sounds of cannon fire and soldiers yelling from a long-ago skirmish.
4. See spirits at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind. Both staff and students here have reportedly witnessed ghost sightings and other occurrences that go hand in hand with paranormal activity. Cold spots and unexplained sounds and smells are commonly experienced by those who live and work on campus.
5. Scare yourself silly at the Spanish Military Hospital. Many who have visited this site have spotted the apparition of a one-legged man.
6. Sleep with the ghoul of your dreams at the St. Francis Inn. This site is said to be haunted by the ghost of a servant girl. It's reported that a guest once awoke to find himself pinned under his bed in a manner that made it necessary to call in the fire department to free him.
7. Take a guided ghost tour of St. Augustine by booking reservations with Ghost Tours of St. Augustine (see Resources below). Choose from riding, sailing and walking tours.

Tips & Warnings

• Guided ghost tours of St. Augustine are inexpensively priced.