
The 10 Most Haunted Places in Pensacola
Posted: 02.03.2025 | Updated: 02.01.2025
A city with a strong military heritage and beautiful beaches, Pensacola is a location rich with history and culture. But to those interested in journeying beyond its sunlit surface, it holds many eerie attractions along its coastline and city streets.
Some say that ghosts are attracted to water, using it as a conduit for their otherworldly energies. Given Pensacola is surrounded by more than 50 miles of coastline, it is no surprise that it contains so many restless souls.
From historic homes haunted by 19th-century occupants to haunted forts home to Civil War soldiers, the city of Pensacola contains a cast of ghostly characters as diverse as its current residents.
Depart from the everyday activities of the living and embark on a voyage into the strange past of the City of Five Flags, exploring 10 of its most haunting locations. Daring enough to hear the stories of the ghosts of Pensacola in the flesh? Come and book a Pensacola ghost tour with Pensacola Ghosts.
What are the most haunted places in Pensacola?
To those in search of spooky happenings, Pensacola offers many prospects to choose from. Selecting the most haunting from all its options is a difficult task. Yet some of the most famed locations include the Pensacola Lighthouse, haunted by numerous spirits, as well as Seville Quarter, rumored to be inhabited by a former bartender who loved the nightlife.
Neither can one forget about Fort Barrancas, which was said to be home to the spirits of ghostly Confederate soldiers. From historic houses to haunted forts, Pensacola is rife with undead activity.
Pensacola Lighthouse
Having been popularized on the Travel Channel’s Most Haunted Lighthouses section in addition to being visited by Ghost Hunters and TAPS, the Pensacola Lighthouse remains a steadfast hotspot for the otherworldly. Boasting anywhere from six to eight spirits, depending on who you ask, this classically spooky location could be the most haunted in all of Pensacola.
Just who are these restless souls that haunt this 1800s-era beacon? One prominent spirit is that of Ellen Mueller, a woman raised and married within the lighthouse who later died in childbirth. Other ghostly inhabitants include a former lighthouse keeper, runaway slaves, and child spirits who were victims of yellow fever.
Seville Quarter
Stretching back nearly six decades, Seville Quarter is another fantastic venue for entertainment and spooky stories. Although the business opened in 1967 under the name Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Emporium, the building it resides in is much older.
The spirits found within the seven-room entertainment hall are varied, likely drawn in by the vibrant atmosphere and lively music. Although its most famous spirit is that of Wesley Gibbs, a previous bartender who died in the walk-in cooler on site after having a heart attack, he is far from the only specter patrons have encountered.
Other apparitions include children in the hallway and a female figure that appears in the upstairs bathroom. Meanwhile, the ghostly Gibbs enjoys tampering with the light switches, moving items, and playing with the restroom faucets.
Fort Barrancas
Completed back in 1844, Fort Barrancas holds many tales of specters within its sturdy brick walls. More than one visitor to this site has claimed to see figures of deceased Confederate soldiers lurking about, occasionally mistaking them for reenactors when none are present. Still more have encountered cell doors moving without explanation and heard the sounds of disembodied moans and groans.
Many say these are the spirits of soldiers who died in battle, while some legends tell a different tale. One story involves two Confederate soldiers executed for their transgressions. The first was reportedly for falling asleep while on guard duty, and the other for assaulting a superior.
Those who work as volunteers and rangers have had other experiences, including catching the scent of cigar smoke and the oppressive feeling that they were not alone in certain parts of the Fort.
The Gray House
When it comes to haunted houses, the Gray House might be one of Pensacola’s finest. Believed to be haunted by a Spanish Sea Captain named Thomas, a startling amount of strange activity has been reported in the house over the years, such as thudding footsteps, the opening and shutting of doors, moving chairs, pockets of cold air, and a strange aroma of medicinal ointment.
Thomas also seems to have quite an affinity for leisure. His past antics have also included turning on a record play to spin some tunes and stealing tools. According to a clairvoyant who visited the house with Zak Bagans and the Ghost Hunters team, Thomas isn’t a fan of work.
Old Christ Church
If you thought churches were safe from ghosts, you’d find yourself firmly in the wrong before those who’ve encountered apparitions in the Old Christ Church. Found near Seville Square in the Historic District, this holy house lies atop the remains of three church rectors.
After being identified, their bodies were reinterred beneath the floor of the building, and a service was performed. An attendee at the event claimed to have witnessed a trio of unfamiliar-looking priests entering the church along with the regular clergy. Garbed in robes and scarves and completely shoeless, they carried Bibles and later disappeared.
Who were these barefoot clergymen? It is believed they might have been the rectors themselves, as Episcopalian ministers are customarily laid to rest with no shoes on their feet.
Pensacola Victorian Bed & Breakfast
This beautifully decorated bed and breakfast holds just four guest rooms within its picturesque walls. Perhaps this is all the spirits will allow. Every room is elegantly furnished, and guests are said to arise each and every morning to a home-cooked breakfast, although occasionally, the chef is nowhere to be found.
That’s right — ghostly accounts include the overwhelmingly delicious smell of bacon and eggs wafting throughout the room, yet there is no visible cook to speak of. Children giggling and the mysterious sound of classical music drifting within the quaint B&B are also counted among the guests’ strange experiences. There’s also the visage of a woman in a flowing dress from the Victorian age wandering about the place.
Coon Hill Cemetery
Coon Hill Cemetery remains an elusive haunt to many, as it is now accessible only by appointment. Yet — perhaps this is for the best. A melee of strange happenings has transpired within this hallowed ground, from the mysterious fog that accompanies a child singing to visitors being pushed off its century-old wall when they climb atop it.
Perhaps these ghosts are out for vengeance. The 1800s-era cemetery has been marked by vandalism over the years, with many stones and slabs being desecrated.
Old Sacred Heart Hospital
While the hospital is no longer in operation, the ghosts within don’t seem to care. The Old Sacred Heart Hospital was constructed in 1915 but relocated some 50 years later. Now, its lower levels are occupied by multiple restaurants and businesses, while its higher levels remain reserved for the spirits.
Stories circulate of a ghostly nurse roving the building on the 4th and 5th floors. The basement of the former hospital, reputed to be the hospital morgue at one time, now is the site of Ozone’s Pizza Pub. The bottom three floors also contain manifold displays and curiosities for visitors to observe.
Dorr House
The Clara Barkley Dorr house is a solemn setting. It is believed to be haunted by its former owner, Mrs. Dorr, a 19th-century woman who dearly loved roses. The scent of freshly cut rose blossoms has been noted in the home, accompanied by the presence of cold spots.
Some who have visited the historic house have claimed to feel a tugging of their skirts or to hear muffled weeping emerging from the sewing room. Why the tears? Clara Dorr was widowed before moving to the house on Adams Street. Perhaps her husband has yet to find her.
St John's Cemetery
Although St Michael’s Cemetery may be older, St John’s lays claim to some interesting hauntings. Standing at nearly 150 years old, this graveyard dates back to 1876. Multiple specters are said to have been cited on the grounds, including the outlaw and train robber Railroad Bill.
Other spirits said to linger amongst the tombstones are the ghosts of children. It is also the final resting place of notorious madam Mary McCoy, whose grave marker is reputed to bestow love into the life of anyone brave enough to touch it.
Haunted Pensacola
These locations may number among the most haunted places in Pensacola, and yet there are many more spooky destinations still to explore. From Pensacola haunted houses to ghostly theatres, the City of Five Flags possesses countless spaces for spooky goings-on.
Plunge deeper into the lesser-known stories of this vibrant city by taking a ghost tour of Pensacola with Pensacola Ghosts. Check us out on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok, and keep reading our blog for more terrifying tales and frightening forays into the dark past.
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