Creepy Ghost Stories About St. Augustine, FL From Visitors Who Swear They’re True

Each year, over 1.5 million visitors explore St. Augustine's history, architecture, scenery, and beaches.

The oldest city in America is home to many incredible historic attractions. But inside the walls of the historic buildings, along cobblestone streets, and wandering among the tourists are the spirits of those who’ve lived and died and those who have chosen never to leave.

It is no wonder that after 400 years, St. Augustine is considered one of the most haunted cities in America.

Here is a collection of real ghost stories and paranormal experiences from people who have visited a few of St. Augustine’s most haunted places.

Flagler College

There are hundreds of tales of ghostly sightings on the Flagler Campus. Students have reported strange noises echoing through the halls, misty figures appearing in dorm rooms, objects moving by an invisible touch, and the feeling of an eerie presence when walking through the grounds.

This student had two unhappy visitors in her dorm room:

I was a student at Flagler College and lived in a dorm. When I was moving in, my mom mentioned that she felt like someone was watching her when she was alone in my room. I didn’t give that much thought until a few weeks later when the sound of a man and woman arguing inside my room started waking me in the middle of the night. The first few times it happened, I thought I was imagining it. Eventually, I realized if I wanted to get any sleep, I had to tell them to STOP!

And then there were these tourists who stumbled upon a rocking chair with an invisible occupant...

My girlfriend and I spent an afternoon walking around St. Augustine. As evening approached, we were meandering through the gardens at Flagler College and came upon a row of empty rocking chairs overlooking the entrance to the college. There was no breeze then, but one chair rapidly rocked back and forth while the others were not moving. I took a step closer to the chairs. The one rocking abruptly stopped, and a blast of icy air blew past me. It made the hair on my arms stand up! We turned and ran as fast as we could back to King Street!

Lincolnville

Historic Lincolnville was founded after the Civil War by formerly enslaved people. The area is a hotbed of paranormal activity.

Shortly after moving in, these renters learned that their home had a few spirits that made things go bump in the night.

I once lived in a house in Lincolnville that was over 100 years old. At night, my roommate and I would hear footsteps going up and down the stairs in the hallway. Occasionally, there would be a knock on our bedroom door, but no one would be there when we opened it. Our small dog was utterly miserable the entire time we lived there. It would bark at something invisible in the hallway, and its fur would stand straight up as he slowly followed something – or someone – to the stairs that lead to our bedrooms.

Downtown St. Augustine Historic District

The heart of St. Augustine is the Downtown Historic District, where many buildings date back to the 1700s. There, tourists will find shopping, restaurants, hotels…and a few visitors from another realm.

Keeping employees isn’t easy when your store is haunted…

When I was growing up, my family owned a store in downtown St. Augustine. We had trouble keeping employees. At some point, new hires would mention seeing a dark figure in the back of the store. There were occasions when the lights in the store would turn off and on by themselves, and once, an employee claimed to see an item move off a shelf and float in the air for at least half a minute before slowly and steadily dropping to the floor. Although my family was used to the happenings in our store, quite a few employees left their jobs because they were too afraid to venture into certain areas alone.

Scarlett O’Hara’s restaurant is closed, but the building has long been rumored to be haunted…

My boyfriend and I did a Saint Augustine ghost tour. Our last stop was Scarlett O’Hara’s. While the rest of the tour group remained downstairs, I excused myself and went upstairs to use the bathroom. When I returned downstairs, I noticed my boyfriend wasn’t among the rest of our group. Our guide took me aside and explained that he had left the restaurant because, in her words, “He saw a woman wearing a cape pass me on the steps and then disappear once she reached the bottom.” I don’t know what my boyfriend saw, but no one had passed me on those steps.

St. Augustine Lighthouse

According to the St. Augustine Lighthouse’s official website, seven people have died on the grounds of the lighthouse over the years. Is it possible their spirits still roam the property?

A skeptic becomes a believer…

I went on a tour of the lighthouse grounds as a skeptic but left a believer. I didn’t experience anything paranormal in the lighthouse, but during our tour of the caretaker’s house, it felt like someone put a hand on my shoulder and pushed me. At the same time, a girl beside me had an EVP monitor that went off with green lights flashing, signaling a presence.

Could a ghost be haunting the gallery at the top of the lighthouse?

My mother and I were touring the St. Augustine Lighthouse grounds. At one point, I went off on my own to explore. I heard someone walking behind me and thought it was my mother, but when I turned around, no one was there. Later, while we were in the caretaker’s house, something kept pulling my hair hard enough to move my head. I climbed to the top of the lighthouse that evening with our tour group. My mother stayed below and swore she saw a man resembling the Gordon’s Fisherman standing on the gallery at the top of the lighthouse – except our small group consisted of only five women.

Old Jail Museum

Sheriff Joe Perry, who was known for his cruelty, oversaw the jail in the 1800s. Perhaps he is still monitoring the property and it’s other ghostly inhabitants from beyond the grave.

Did these students on a class trip see a ghost…or two?

Our class went on a field trip to St. Augustine when I was in elementary school. One of our stops was at the Old Jail, where we sat in the courtyard and ate lunch. A few of us peeked into the windows of the jail. In one window, we saw a tour group. In another window, a man was lying on a cot in what appeared to be a jail cell. There also seemed to be a large, dark figure standing at the cell’s entrance. We turned around and called over a friend to see what we were looking at, but both figures were gone when we all looked in the window again.

Castillo de San Marcos

The 17th-century Castillo is the oldest masonry building in the United States - and the most haunted. Tourists often experience otherwordly activity while touring the fort.

Mysterious whispers…

I was walking up the stairs near the fort’s entrance toward the canons and the flag when I heard someone behind me say, “Flota!” I turned around, but no one was there. Later, I Googled the word “flota” and learned that it is a Spanish word that means “fleet.” I’m assuming someone...or something...wanted me to know they saw a fleet coming towards the fort.

Casa De Solana

Casa de Solana is believed to be one of St. Augustine’s most haunted inns. Its paranormal activity may be attributed to its location between Aviles Street and Charlotte Street, an area of the city where many deaths occurred over several centuries.

Was this a case of sleep paralysis, a ghostly visitor, or both?

My mom, sister, and I visited Saint Augustine for a girl's getaway. We were staying at the Casa de Solana. One evening, after touring the town, I went to bed and fell into a deep sleep before a loud noise woke me. As my eyes adjusted to the dark, I noticed a dark figure gliding towards me. I tried to scream for help, but no words would come out. My next memory is of my mother shaking me awake as I said, “Help me...help me” over and over.

This couple quickly learned a restful night’s sleep in a haunted inn was almost impossible...

My husband and I stayed at Casa de Solana. We booked the Montejurra room for three nights. When we checked in, the manager mentioned that the room was haunted. Okay, whatever. How scary can that be? We decided to make it an adventure. Well, let me tell you that having something shaking you by your shoulders, running an invisible hand over your head, and tugging at your blankets while you sleep is terrifying. If you want to experience ghosts, Casa de Solana is the place to be. If you want a relaxing few nights sleeping, DON’T STAY THERE!

Final thoughts…

St. Augustine, Florida, is a city rich in legend and history. Its numerous haunted locations have frightened and fascinated visitors for decades, and its ghost stories have continued to be a popular topic of discussion. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, there is no denying that the city is seeped in mystery. So the next time you visit, pay attention! You might also see a ghostly apparition, unexplained phenomena, or a spiritual surprise!