This National Ghost Hunting Day, here's where you might find a ghost in Northeast Florida
Halloween isn't until October 31, but fans of the paranormal should put another date on their calendar: National Ghost Hunting Day.
Celebrated on the last Saturday of each September, National Ghost Hunting Day falls on Sept. 30 this year.
And in Northeast Florida, there are plenty of places rich in haunted history, from the Palace Saloon in Fernandina Beach to the American Red Cross lifeguard station in Jacksonville Beach to the Florida Theatre in downtown Jacksonville where the ghost of a former organist is said to haunt two seats in the balcony.
Here are some of our favorite haunted places in the area.
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King House, Mayport
The King House on Ocean Street in Mayport is known for its rich history. Built in 1800s, the building is on top of an old Spanish graveyard. For a while, the building was a boarding house for sailors. The stories shared by relatives of William King, who rebuilt the house in 1907 after a fire, include a jealous man killing his ex-lover with a pitchfork on the porch. Relatives said a chair on the porch would later rock even when no one was sitting in it. — Diane Uhley, Florida Times-Union archive
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Florida Theatre, downtown
The Florida Theatre in downtown Jacksonville opened in 1927. Since then, millions of people have been through its doors. And quite a few of those have reported some strange occurrences. When it was featured on a local haunts television show, the host said cameras caught movement in the balcony and the creaking of chairs. Some have reported that a former organist who used to work in the theatre haunts it. In 2020, the theater replaced all of its seats except for two in the balcony, where the ghost is said to reside. — Jeff Davis, Florida Times-Union archive
Eppes House, Amelia Island
The Eppes House in Amelia Island is said to be haunted by the ghost of one of its former owners, Celeste Eppes. As the story goes, Thomas Jefferson Eppes killed Maj. F.C. Suhrer in 1884, saying he did it because his wife Celeste had told him about advances Suhrer made toward her. But according to the stories, Celeste Eppes lied, and later told those she haunted that she had to roam the earth as punishment. — Diane Uhley, Florida Times-Union archiveite:jac
Lifeguard station, Jacksonville Beach
The Jacksonville Beach lifeguard station is considered to be one of the most haunted places in Northeast Florida. It’s been featured on a local haunts television show, where the host said unexplained shadows were caught on camera. — Maggie FitzRoy, Florida Times-Union archive
A Look Back: Jacksonville Beach lifeguards
Casa Marina, Jacksonville Beach
Casa Marina Hotel and Restaurant, on First Street in Jacksonville Beach, welcomed many celebrities in its heydey. Some say Fatty Arbuckle, a silent film star and comedian, is still strolling around the old hotel and boardwalk. The hotel, which opened in 1925, has been featured on a local television haunts show. — Bruce Lipsky, Florida Times-Union archive
Palace Saloon, Fernandina Beach
The Palace Saloon in Fernandina Beach is said to occupy the ghost of Charlie Beresford, an employee of the saloon for 50 years in the early 1900s. Beresford died in the room behind the saloon where he lived for many years. Some say the door of his room would open and close for no apparent reason. And later, reports said a fire burned every room at the Palace except the one where “Uncle Charlie” used to live. The sign on the side of the saloon has the face of Charlie on it. — Diane Uhley, Florida Times-Union archive
Ginger's Place, Jacksonville Beach
Ginger’s Place, on Third Street in Jacksonville Beach, was built sometime around the 1950s, and if you walk in today you’ll see black and white photos of an alluring burlesque dancer named Darlene Edith Payson, also known as Ginger, the former owner. The bar was featured on a local haunts television show in which the producer said he caught a mysterious voice on a recording at Ginger’s Place. He said the voice said: “We can’t talk to you.” Some believe Ginger herself is haunting the place. — Bob Mack, Florida Times-Union archive
Beaches Museum, Jacksonville Beach
Jacksonville Beach Museum, on Beach Boulevard, is surrounded by some older structures rich with history on the campus of the Beaches Museum & History Center. Still, the museum itself has been featured on a local haunts television show, where the producer said he caught sounds of a door slamming and footsteps. — Bob Mack, Florida Times-Union archive
St. Peter's Episcopal, Fernandina Beach
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, located on Atlantic Avenue in Fernandina Beach, has a ghost story about the ashes of Amelia Duryee, wife of Maj. William Duryee. When Amelia died, her ashes were returned to St. Peter’s cemetery to be buried next to her husband’s remains. As the story is told, church employees put the ashes temporarily in front of a mirror that the husband had donated. The next morning, the mirror had a huge crack, they say. — Amelia A. Hart, Florida Times-Union archive
Old Clay County Jail, Green Cove Springs
The old Clay County jail is in Green Cove Springs’ Historic Triangle off Florida 16. Built in 1894, it’s the second-oldest jail in the state and was the site of numerous executions. It hasn’t been used as a jail since the 1970s, but it has housed some of the county archives. Those who’ve been inside report hearing voices, doors that open and close on their own and creaking sounds. — Clerk of the Court Photographic Archives
St. Augustine Lighthouse, St. Augustine Beach
The St. Augustine Lighthouse has been featured on a national television show for its haunted reputation. Guests have said they’ve seen “the man in blue” in the basement of the former lighthouse keeper’s duplex. The story goes that the man was a sailor who hanged himself while staying in the duplex. Others have talked about supernatural experiences they’ve had at the lighthouse. — Christina Abel, St. Augustine Record archive
Thirty Three Star, Jacksonville Beach
33 Star, on Third Street in Jacksonville Beach, is a rock 'n' roll boutique. But some say it’s also haunted, so much so, it was featured on the "Local Haunts" national television show. The store was built in the 1950s and was once the Ossi Grocery Store. 33 Star is right next to Ginger’s Place, a local watering hole, that has its own reported ghost-sighting reports. Some believe Ginger visits 33 Star. When the building was being renovated in 2011, the owner and crew said they’d clean an area, turn around and then find a dime where they’d just cleaned. Customers have also reported finding dimes out of nowhere. — Bob Mack, Florida Times-Union archive
Pete's Bar, Neptune Beach
Pete’s Bar in Neptune Beach has been featured on a show about local haunts. The host of the show said he once saw a floating transparent head with no body attached and ping pongs ball flying off a table at Pete’s. — Bob Mack, Florida Times-Union archive
TacoLu, Jacksonville Beach
Taco Lu, on Beach Boulevard in Jacksonville Beach, is in a building that’s long been considered haunted by locals. Once called the Homestead and also the Copper Kettle, the building is said to still be home to Alpha Paynter, a well-known Beaches restaurateur and once the owner of the older restaurants. After her death, people reported seeing Alpha looking out the windows or sitting at the restaurant’s bar.— Bob Mack, Florida Times-Union archive
Fort Clinch, Fernandina Beach
Fort Clinch State Park is in Fernandina Beach. There were actually no battles fought at the fort. But it was garrisoned during both the Civil and Spanish-American wars. And for years, people have told stories of old Union soldiers haunting the fields. — Jon M. Fletcher, Florida Times-Union archive
Flagler College, St. Augustine
Flagler College, in the heart of St. Augustine, is on many local ghost tours. Some of the biggest believers throughout the years have been the students living in the building that was once the Ponce de Leon hotel. Some have said that Henry Flagler, who built the hotel, continues to haunt the rotunda. Though for many years the solarium at the top of the main hall was closed, students used to visit the area to tell ghost stories and read Ouija boards. — Daron Dean, St. Augustine Record archive
Florida House Inn, Fernandina Beach
The Florida House Inn, which opened in Fernandina Beach in 1857, is known for its famous guests, including Cuban revolutionary Jose Marti and U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant. But it’s also known for its ghost stories. For a while, in the 1930s, the hotel was a brothel, and legend has it that one of the ladies who used to work in the establishment later haunted the inn. — Alison Trinidad, Florida Times-Union archive
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: National Ghost Hunting Day: Where to find ghosts in Northeast Florida
