Most Haunted Places in Tampa, FL

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Tampa, Florida, isn’t just known for its stunning beaches and theme parks. It also boasts a rich history and a vibrant folklore, including tales of hauntings and otherworldly activity. If you’re looking for a spooky thrill, then check out these chilling Tampa locations.

Want to see some of these locations in person? Book a chilling ghost tour with Tampa Terrors!

The Old Federal Courthouse

The Old Federal Courthouse, a crown jewel of Tampa’s Beaux Arts architecture, holds a history far more captivating than its impressive facade. Built in 1905, the building originally served as a bustling post office and customs house, a testament to Tampa’s burgeoning role as a major port city. In the 1980s, it transitioned into a courthouse, witnessing countless trials and the echoes of arguments and pronouncements. These days, the Old Courthouse is an upscale hotel in the heart of Downtown Tampa. But even the building’s beautiful restorations haven’t completely removed the old courthouse’s restless spirits.

 

Now, whispers abound about the courthouse’s ghostly residents. Visitors report a pervasive sense of unease, a feeling of being watched by people nowhere to be found. Cold spots and unexplained sounds like disembodied whispers add to the unsettling atmosphere. Some believe these are the restless spirits of those wronged within the halls that once promised justice. Perhaps they are defendants who met unfair verdicts or victims yearning for a voice. The grand courthouse, once a symbol of authority, now stands as a chilling reminder of the unresolved business that lingers within its walls.

Tampa Theatre

Tampa’s historic Tampa Theatre, nicknamed the “Grand Dame of Ybor City,” opened its doors in 1926. This extravagant movie palace was built during the Roaring Twenties and offered a luxurious escape from the harsh realities of the Great Depression. Its opulent interior borrows from the Mediterranean Revival style, with twinkling stars, a mighty Wurlitzer organ, and intricate plasterwork. 

 

Who Haunts the Tampa Theatre?

 

Despite its grandeur, the theater has also garnered a reputation as a hotspot for the spectral. The theater’s most persistent presence is said to be that of Foster Finley, the chain-smoking projectionist who tragically passed away in the booth in 1965 after dedicating 35 years of his life to the theater.

Patrons and staff alike have reported the lingering scent of cigarettes and the eerie glow of a phantom cigarette ember emanating from the booth even when the equipment is off. There’s even a photo that someone captured of the ghost depicting a floating head amidst a sea of black.  Another spectral resident is the “Lady in Red,” a sorrowful figure seen gliding through the aisles or gazing out from the balcony. Some believe she could be a former actress or audience member who met an untimely end within the theater’s walls. 

Don Cesar Hotel

St. Pete Beach’s iconic Don Cesar Hotel, nicknamed “The Pink Palace,” boasts a history as colorful as its exterior. Built in 1928 during the extravagant Gatsby era, the Don Cesar was designed to resemble a Mediterranean castle and quickly became a playground for the rich and famous. Hollywood stars, socialites, and even presidents have graced its luxurious halls. 

 

Today, the Don Cesar remains a popular place for upscale vacationers to eat, drink, and relax in two spas and, of course, along the beautiful sandy beaches. However, some visitors are more interested in the otherworldly aspect of the hotel. That’s right – the Don Cesar is haunted. 

 

Who haunts the Don Cesar Hotel?

 

Legend has it that Thomas Rowe is forever searching the halls for his lost love, Lucinda. The founder of the hotel met Lucinda during a trip abroad in the 1890s. When her Spanish parents forbade the relationship, Thomas returned to America, heartbroken. He then built the Don Cesar and included a replica of the fountain and courtyard where the two young lovers would meet in Spain. 

 

If you believe the whispers, Thomas Rowe is still checked into the Don Cesar Hotel. Guests have reported unexplained flickering lights, disembodied whispers, and the unsettling feeling of being watched. Some even claim to have encountered objects mysteriously moved or doors opening and closing on their own.  

Cuban Club

Steeped in history and rumored to be a haven for the otherworldly, the Cuban Club in Ybor City is a captivating landmark and is considered by some to be Tampa’s most haunted building. Built in 1917 after a fire destroyed the original structure, the club served as a social center for Tampa’s Cuban cigar makers. Its grand neoclassical architecture with a spacious ballroom, theater, and lush courtyard offered a place for cultural events, celebrations, and even mutual aid during tough times.

Today, the appeal of the Cuban Club endures – despite its reputation as one of the Top 10 Most Haunted Places in America (as designated by the Travel Channel), the Cuban Club is a popular wedding venue. 

 

Ghost Stories from the Cuban Club

 

The fiery beginnings and a rumored past murder are believed to have left restless spirits behind. Police have been called to investigate horrific screaming, only to find that no one is inside the old club. Visitors have reported encounters with the apparition of a woman in a flowing white dress, often seen near the grand staircase. Eerie piano music playing of its own accord and the unsettling feeling of unseen touches are other ghostly occurrences recounted by those who dare to explore. 

Fort Brooke Parking Garage

Built in 1980 on the grounds of the historic Fort Brooke, the Fort Brooke Parking Garage looks incredibly unremarkable to the blind eye. Located in Downtown Tampa, just a few steps from the Tampa Riverwalk and Convention Center, this parking garage is an ordinary garage for commuters and visitors. But it also has a unique history and a strange appeal to anyone interested in the paranormal. 

 

Established in 1824, Fort Brooke played a role in the Second Seminole War and housed countless soldiers throughout the years. The lingering spirits of these soldiers are said to roam the area where the fort once stood, now occupied by the modern parking garage.

 

Visitors have reported car alarms going off and headlights flickering on and off even in broad daylight. Security cameras have also malfunctioned, capturing flashes of unexplained light or blurry figures darting through the shadows. The activity seems concentrated around the areas where the fort’s original structures would have been, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the hauntings of the Fort Brooke Parking Garage.

Plant Hall at the University of Tampa

Standing tall on the University of Tampa’s campus, Plant Hall boasts a rich history that predates the university itself. Built between 1888 and 1891 by railroad magnate Henry B. Plant, Plant Hall was originally known as the Tampa Bay Hotel. This grand structure served as a luxurious resort destination, attracting wealthy travelers during the Gilded Age and playing a significant role in transforming Tampa from a quiet fishing village into a flourishing city. 

 

In 1930, the economic downturn forced the hotel’s closure. However, a new chapter began in 1933 when the Tampa Bay Hotel found a new life as Plant Hall, becoming the heart of the newly established University of Tampa. Today, Plant Hall continues to serve as the university’s primary academic and administrative building while also housing the Henry B. Plant Museum, a testament to the building’s fascinating past.

 

The Ghosts and Hauntings of Plant Hall 

 

Plant Hall is a respected part of the University of Tampa system – but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t also have ties to the spectral underworld. Plant Hall is said to be haunted by the ghost of Henry B. Plant, the railroad magnate who founded the university. Students and faculty have reported flickering lights, objects mysteriously moving, and an overall feeling of unease in certain areas of the building. The most common story is of footsteps echoing in the halls late at night, even when the building is supposedly empty. Some believe it’s Henry Plant himself, forever keeping a watchful eye over his legacy.

Sulphur Springs Water Tower

Looming over the historic Sulphur Springs neighborhood, the 1927 Sulphur Springs Water Tower casts a long shadow. Originally built as part of a grand development plan in the early 1900s, the tower marked the end of a trolley line and stood as a symbol of a new era. This era was envisioned to be one of leisure and tourism, with the tower anchoring a luxurious resort complex. 

 

Josiah Richardson, a prominent developer, was a key figure in this vision. He poured a massive sum (over $180,000 at the time) into the project, but sadly, his dreams were cut short by the Great Depression. The economic crash devastated the area, and the promised resort never materialized. 

 

The Hauntings and Ghosts of Sulphur Springs Water Tower

 

Sulphur Springs Water Tower was once destined to overlook a sprawling area that attracted visitors from near and far. But, once the Great Depression hit, the tower sadly became a grim symbol of despair. During this period, it’s said that dozens of people, including Richardson himself, took their own lives by jumping from the tower. 

 

These days, the Sulphur Springs Water Tower is now known in otherworldly circles as the “Tower of Terror.” Strange lights flicker from within at night, and some claim to hear disembodied voices or even screams emanating from the structure. The windows, though seemingly boarded shut, are reported to open and close on their own. 

 

Adding to the unsettling atmosphere is the tower’s proximity to a Native American burial mound located several miles away. Legend has it that the restless spirit of this sacred site lingers around the tower as well. 

The Old Tampa Book Company

Bookstores are havens for knowledge and stories, but this bookstore is said to hold a different kind of story – a spooky one. The bookstore at 507 North Tampa Street used to house a tailor. When the owners converted the shop, they chose to keep the old tailor’s chairs – and, these days, they are said to move around of their own accord. 

 

Staff and customers have reported strange occurrences like books flying off shelves, disembodied whispers, and feelings of being touched by unseen hands. In addition to the moving chairs, the owners of the bookstore have found a pair of bloody scissors in the shop. Adding even more mystery to the story, visitors who take pictures of the shop say that they are shocked to find a man in a top hat and a woman with a pained expression in their photos. Although we can’t be sure who these people are, some speculate it could be a former employee or patron who lingers amongst the stacks, forever lost in the written word.

Crown Colony House

Located in the heart of Ybor City, this historic mansion was once a social club for wealthy elites in the early 1900s. Today, it’s part of Busch Gardens and has taken on an entirely new life as the Serengeti Overlook Pub, an African safari-themed restaurant decked to the nines with wilderness-themed art and decorations. 

 

Though the Crown Colony House may be almost unrecognizable to those who knew the grand mansion before, one thing hasn’t changed about the historic home: it is still packed with ghosts and otherworldly beings who don’t seem to mind the theme park crowds. 

 

Hauntings and Ghosts of the Crown Colony House

 

When the restaurant closes, the old Crown Colony ghosts come out to play. Staff have witnessed a woman in white who will appear and then suddenly disappear, as well as a mysterious piano player who can only be seen through a reflection in the window. Children can be heard laughing throughout the halls, and some visitors recount feelings of being watched. Whether it’s the socialite or another restless spirit, Crown Colony House offers a spooky side dish to your meal.

Oaklawn Cemetery

Established in 1847, Oaklawn Cemetery is Tampa’s oldest cemetery. It is the final resting place for many prominent figures in Tampa’s history, including cigar magnate Vicente Martinez-Ybor (the namesake of Ybor City). Another notable thing about this cemetery is that it is home to the remains of both whites and slaves—the cemetery is not racially divided like so many others. Not to mention, Oaklawn is the final resting place of many pirates, Confederate and Second Seminole War soldiers, and victims of yellow fever. 

 

Ghost Stories from Oaklawn Cemetery

 

With so many of its residents having died of traumatic experiences, is it any wonder that Oaklawn Cemetery is a hotbed of paranormal activity? Visitors have shared stories of apparitions wandering the grounds, unexplained noises, and an overall eerie atmosphere. 

 

One ghost in particular has attracted ghost hunters to Oaklawn. His name was Charles Owen, and he died in 1882 by hanging after he burglarized a wealthy family’s home and attempted to assault the family’s daughter. Some say that if you go to the cemetery on the right night, you’ll see the shadow of a noose hanging over the man’s grave. 

Haunted Tampa

Tampa has beautiful weather, beaches to match, and a whole lot of fun opportunities for families and solo travelers alike. But there’s also a darker side to this beautiful beachside metropolis. Whether you’re a seasoned ghost hunter or simply curious about the otherworldly, these haunted locations offer a glimpse into Tampa’s chilling past. 

 

If you’re feeling brave, embark on a guided adventure with Tampa Terrors! Our experienced guides will lead you on a thrilling journey through Tampa’s most haunted spots, sharing local legends and historical chills. 

 

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