5 Most Haunted Places In Tampa Bay You Have To Visit
Halloween season is officially here. Some people are looking to fill their cup with some pumpkin spice. Others might be looking to find some fall foliage and pumpkin patches for their next IG story. But, what if you’re looking for something a bit more … scary? Well, you’re in luck. Here are the 5 most haunted places in Tampa Bay you have to visit this Halloween season.
Oaklawn Cemetery
Oaklawn Cemetery was originally pinned as the Tampa City Cemetery. It was built in 1850 and was filled with primarily wooden grave markers. Shortly after the Civil War, a large portion of the cemetery was misplaced and the location and identities of the bodies were lost. Built like a true horror movie, the walls are made of stone and the gates open up to shaded trails surrounded by the dead. No new burials are permitted in Oaklawn and it is considered to be at capacity, but the spirits of the lost inhabitants remain within the walls.
Plant Hall at University of Tampa
Plant Hall was originally the Tampa Bay Hotel and was constructed in 1988. The hotel was considered one of Henry Plant’s 7 luxury resorts across the southern US. This historical building was turned into Plant Hall at the University of Tampa in 1933 where the legend of “the brown man” was born. Henry Plant’s spirit, known as “the brown man” is said to haunt anyone who goes looking.
A student claims she was running late to class on one of the upper floors of the hall. As she ran up the stairs, she was stopped dead in her tracks. She saw a tall man hovering a few inches above the ground wearing a brown suit. As they stopped to acknowledge each other, Plant’s ghost looked up with big red eyes and disappeared. Could this have been simply her excuse for being late? Who knows, but many others reported experiencing the legend of Plant’s ghost making this one of the most haunted places in Tampa Bay. Just ask any student at the University.
The Vinoy
There’s something about old hotels that just ooze creepiness. The Vinoy is one of St. Petersburg’s oldest and well known hotels around. Rumor has it that the ghosts in the hotel aren’t angry, but instead play tricks on the guests. Many guests have said they saw a man dressed in a suit walking the halls only to disappear into thin air. Others say the faucets turn on and off on their own and have experienced seeing shadowy beings standing near their window sills at night. The Vinoy does not allow pets on the premises so if you’re throwing a disco themed party and find yourself asking, “Okay, who brought the dog?” you might want to b-line it for the elevators.
Don Cesar Hotel
The Don Cesar Hotel began as a love story between Thomas Rowe and a Spanish woman named Lucinda. They met on the beachfront of a pink hotel and promised to return to the hotel for a honeymoon, once they got married. Lucinda’s mother did not approve so Rowe set sail for America in hopes for something new. Rowe purchased 80 acres of land in St.Pete and began construction on his hotel. Rowe named the hotel after the famous opera, Maritana, which was Lucinda and Rowes first date. Night after night, Rowe stared out his beachfront resort longing for the day Lucinda would come back to him. After his abrupt death in 1940, his spirit is said to walk the beaches, hand in hand, with his long lost love, Lucinda.
A man was staying at the Don Cesar in the 1970s shortly after his wife’s passing. Legend has it, the man saw a couple walking in front of him in the distance. Half in the water. Half on the beach. The man, wearing a white suit and the lady, a pink dress. They were said to be floating above the ground walking hand in hand before disappearing into thin air.
Tampa Theatre
The Tampa Theatre, built in 1926, was one of the best movie houses at the time. When it opened, guests were stunned with the architecture and amenities. In 19789, it became an official Tampa City Landmark, marking its place in history, forever, with some of its original guests lingering within the walls. The Tampa Theatre is home to 4 residential guests: The Lady in White, Seat 308, Fink Finley, and Robert Lanier.
The Lady in White is said to be seen wandering the balcony in a white flowing dress. Seat 308 has been known to be occupied even after the doors close to a man who wears a fedora and is said to be one of the original guests in the theatre. Fink Finley was the projectionist and suffered a heart attack during a film leaving his cigarette smoke to linger within the back rows for generations of guests. Finally, Robert Lanier was the ticket taker and was found with his skull bashed in behind the ticket booth. His murder went unsolved. Will Fink remain in the walls forever waiting for redemption for his death? You can get tickets to tour the theatre, but be sure to get there early to save a spot in line!
If you’re looking for more haunted places in Tampa Bay, you can find different kinds of activities here.
