Miami’s haunted hotspots are as intriguing as they are spooky. From abandoned estates to eerie cemeteries, here are ten of the city’s most spine-chilling locations.
Villa Paula
Once the Cuban Consulate in Little Haiti, Villa Paula is steeped in both history and ghost stories. The wife of the original owner, Paula Milord, passed away unexpectedly after a leg amputation and was buried in the garden. Visitors have reported hearing piano music and smelling coffee, along with sightings of a one-legged apparition in the hallway. Despite its haunted reputation, the villa now hosts various events, including Shabbat dinners and art shows.
Biltmore Hotel
The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, established in 1926, has a long and eerie history. Once a glamorous spot for fashion shows and high-profile guests like Al Capone, it became a military hospital during WWII. The hotel’s dark past includes a murder in 1929 and a long period of abandonment from 1968 to 1983, which contributed to its ghostly reputation. Ghost stories are so prevalent that a resident used to recount them every Thursday night in the lobby.
Deering Estate
Located in Palmetto Bay, the Deering Estate is a historical landmark with a haunting backstory. Built in the 1920s on tribal burial grounds, it’s known for paranormal activity. Ghost hunter Colleen Kelley recorded numerous ghostly voices here in 2009. The estate, now a museum and ecological field station, offers historic ghost tours in September and October.
Coconut Grove Playhouse
The Coconut Grove Playhouse, originally the Player’s State Theater, has been closed since 2006. The venue, known for its state-of-the-art air conditioning and large Wurlitzer organ, has fallen into disrepair. Tales of hauntings include dark rituals performed by trespassers and sightings of ghostly figures, adding to the theater’s mysterious aura.
Pinewood Cemetery
Pinewood Cemetery in Coral Gables, one of Miami’s oldest cemeteries, is the final resting place of many early settlers. Reports of hauntings include sightings of a ghostly figure, Dora Suggs, who was murdered in 1905. Though the cemetery fell into neglect, restoration efforts have helped maintain its eerie, rural charm.
Miami City Cemetery
Operating since 1897, Miami City Cemetery is the city’s oldest burial ground. It contains the graves of notable figures like Julia Tuttle, Miami’s “Mother.” Ghostly encounters are reported, particularly in the military section. The HistoryMiami Museum offers tours each October, delving into the cemetery’s spooky history.
The Alfred I. Dupont Building
Built between 1937 and 1939, the Alfred I. Dupont Building in Downtown Miami has a haunted reputation. After a mysterious death in 1963, sightings of a ghostly figure and unexplained phenomena have been reported. The building, now used for events, has an air of supernatural intrigue, especially in its closed upper floors.
The Curtiss Mansion & Gardens
The Curtiss Mansion in Miami Springs, built in 1925, was once home to aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss. The mansion, abandoned for 30 years, is rumored to be haunted, with reports of doors closing on their own and eerie feelings experienced by visitors. The mansion now serves as a museum and event space, with Halloween transformations adding to its spooky allure.
The Betsy
The Betsy Hotel on Ocean Drive has a WWII past as a barracks and military hospital. Stories of hauntings include ghostly footsteps and documented gunshots. The hotel’s history of soldier training and death contributes to its reputation as a haunted location.
Hotel Redland
Opened in 1904, Hotel Redland in Homestead was the city’s first rooming house and mercantile store. After a devastating fire in 1913 that claimed several lives, the hotel gained a reputation for hauntings. A ghost hunter confirmed the presence of paranormal activity in one of the rooms, adding to the hotel’s ghostly legacy.
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