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Where to Go Ghost Hunting in Central Florida this Halloween
If you want to have a hauntingly good time this Halloween, there are plenty of locations throughout Central Florida where you have the opportunity to experience a real ghost encounter.
The cities of Central Florida, including Orlando, Mount Dora, Sanford, and Winter Garden, are considered to be haunted by many ghosts and spirits thanks to the mix of historical tragedies and strange occurrences in this area that cannot be logically explained
Central Orlando is full of haunted hotspots, such as the Cheyenne Saloon in Orlando.
Once you’ve finished trick-or-treating and visited your favorite haunted house attractions, consider visiting one or more of these spooky places that have been the inspiration behind countless urban legends in the area, if you dare.
Orlando
Orlando, FL is believed to be the most haunted city in all of Central Florida. This popular tourist location has a dark history filled with tragedy and conflict. Home to historic events like the Seminole Wars of the 1830s, many believe the deaths on the battlefield left a bloody stain on the area. Here are some of the most popular haunted locations in Orlando for you to check out.
Elijah Hand Building
In the late 1800s, a skilled carpenter named Elijah Hand opened his retail furniture shop in Orlando. His furniture business was successful, but he had another skill that benefited the people of Orlando even more than his home furnishings: he was the first undertaker in town. He was also the first person to introduce the process of embalming to the area, allowing families to preserve the body of their loved one so that family members from out of town could travel to pay their respects.
Elijah set up shop for both his funeral and furniture businesses in downtown Orlando in a two-story structure located on Pine Street. After he passed away, his son Carey took over the undertaker business and moved into a new funeral home across the street known as the Carey Hand Funeral Home. It was the first of its kind in the area with a chapel, and a few years later a crematorium was added, which was another first for Orlando.
Elijah Hand’s original funeral home was resold and renovated several times. It eventually became a nightclub in 1985. Today, many believe the building is haunted by Hand’s former customers. People have reported seeing apparitions of women and children running around on the second floor. A psychic once visited the location and encountered several spirits as she walked through the building.
1-4 Dead Zone
Known as the Dead Zone, this creepy stretch of interstate highway located at the south end of the bridge above St. John’s River is known to give weary travelers a fright as they pass through. According to local lore, this section of the interstate was built on an old Swedish settlement that was plagued by the Yellow Fever epidemic, wiping out the majority of the community. All of the graves were plowed over when the highway was constructed.
Those who drive through the area have reported seeing ghosts in pioneer-era apparel standing on the side of the road. Truckers have also heard strange voices ask, “Who’s there?” and “Why?” over their CB radios. There have also been a significant number of accidents occurring in that very location, as many as 2,000 since it first opened.
Orange County Regional History Center
The Orange County History Center is located on the site of the former courthouse where serial killer Ted Bundy was on trial for the murder of Kimberly Leach in 1980. While the courthouse has since been demolished and replaced by the history center, there are several relics inside linked to Bundy and the case.
According to the legend, the building is haunted by the ghost of Bundy himself. Several strange occurrences have been reported by visitors, such as objects levitating. His name is carved into the same table that was used during his trial, but no one is sure if he was the one who carved the letters into the wood or if it was the work of his ghost.
There is also the ghost of a 12-year-old girl named Emily. Her favorite toy is her stuffed rabbit that will appear in different places whenever she is around. She will dart around the courtroom, sometimes playful and sometimes out of fear. Emily has also been known to show up in photographs taken at the history center.
Room 206 Super 8 Motel on International Drive
Haunted hotel rooms can be some of the creepiest places to visit. Many ghost hunting enthusiasts will stay overnight at these locations hoping to contact a spirit or two. Guest room 206 at the Super 8 Motel in Orlando on International Drive has been known to frighten guests away at times. Guests have reported seeing an imprint on the bed in the shape of a body when no one has slept there. Some have even mentioned the disturbing presence of a body lying next to them in bed. The room is also freezing cold, even if the air conditioner has not been on.
The Greenwood Cemetery
The Greenwood Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in Orlando. It was established in 1880 by esteemed locals who pulled their money together to purchase the 26 acres of land to consolidate burial space for the city. Before the cemetery was established, bodies would be buried on the individual’s own property, which made it difficult to keep death records.
The first tombstones in the cemetery were made from cypress wood, and almost all of them were destroyed in a fire. Tombstones made from marble and stone were used from that point on. The cemetery has now been expanded to more than 80 acres, and some of the most well-known individuals throughout the history of Orlando are buried there, including Harry P. Leu, who founded the Leu Gardens, and the local Dairy company founder T.G. Lee.
During the day, the Greenwood Cemetery is a peaceful place to visit, but at night it takes on a very different vibe. There isn’t a lot of ambient light around, so it can become very dark there once the sun goes down.
One section is known as Babyland, where infants and children were buried many years ago. It is a hotspot for spiritual activity, and guests will often sing lullabies or play games to entice the ghosts of the children to make their presence known. Some have reported seeing a small ball rolling out from behind the tombstones by itself. And ghost hunters have mentioned their equipment will stop working when they go near that area.
Hamburger Mary’s
The former location of Hamburger Mary’s bar and grille was located inside the historic Bumby Building on West Church Street in Orlando. The lively burger joint was one of the most popular restaurants in the city, and many customers would eat there in hopes of catching a glimpse of their resident ghost, a little girl from the Victorian era.
Staff members and customers have reported seeing the ghost wandering around near the street outside the front of the building. She has been seen skipping along the road, popping up in windows, and smiling and waving at the customers as they enjoy their meal. She will also tap on the windows to get the customer’s attention before vanishing in front of their eyes. According to the lore, she is the ghost of a girl who lived during the 1800s, and it is likely she died due to an incurable disease or illness that was around at the time.
The ghostly girl appeared at the Hamburger Mary’s location on West Church Street for many years until the restaurant closed its doors in 2024 and relocated to a new Dinner & Show venue in Kissimmee. There have not been any reports of her showing up at the new location yet.
Winter Garden
Winter Garden is a small city located in Orlando’s metropolitan area, also popular for its ghost tours. The town was founded in the 1800s, and its economy was built around the citrus industry. It soon became a top shipping center for oranges and other citrus fruits. The name of the city derives from the fact that both citrus and vegetables could successfully grow there any time of the year.
There are several places in Winter Garden that are believed to be haunted, including the Garden Theatre.
Garden Theatre
The Garden Theatre, located in the Downtown Winter Garden area, is a historic performing arts center that hosts live shows, movies, and other events. From 1935 to 1960, the venue was a movie theater and was later converted and reopened as a performing arts center in 2008.
It is believed that the Garden Theater is haunted, but the ghost is not a traumatized spirit that has returned to seek vengeance. Instead, this ghost has been described as a very dedicated apparition named Carol, who some believe had a great admiration for the arts. Her love for the theater and dedication to performing has caused her spirit to cling to the historic venue and take in a show while seated among the living. People have also mentioned hearing voices and seeing apparitions and shadowy figures while seated in the venue.
The Winter Garden Train Depot
Another location found in Downtown Winter Garden that is supposedly haunted is the Winter Garden Train Depot, built in 1913. It is also known as the Central Florida Railroad Museum. There are many artifacts inside the museum showing the history of the railroad in Central Florida. And according to locals, there are also a few spirits hanging around.
People have heard footsteps while walking down the halls, seen ghostly apparitions, and noticed shadows moving around inside the building. Visitors have also reported seeing the ghost of an old conductor, waiting around for a train to arrive, hoping to continue to do his job.
Mount Dora
The small town of Mount Dora is known for its historic downtown area, a spirited arts and culture scene, antique shopping, and numerous outdoor activities. It is also known for one of the most haunting places in Central Florida, the Lakeside Inn.
The Lakeside Inn
The Lakeside Inn is the oldest hotel in Florida and the last standing Victorian-era hotel in Central Florida. Located in the historic Mount Dora district, the hotel has been welcoming guests since 1883. Many of the Northerners who were traveling south during the frigid winters of the 1920s would seek temporary warmth and rest at this location. It was an oasis of sorts that helped to increase the economic comeback in the South.
With so much history involved, it is no wonder that there is a lot of ghostly activity happening at this location. Visitors have reported hearing strange noises and having the general feeling of unease while inside the building.
The hotel’s back stairwell is also known to be a popular area for spotting ghosts. One employee claims that she no longer uses it due to a frightening experience she had. As she was walking up the stairs one night, she felt the presence of a spirit walking behind her. As she paused, the spirit leaned in to whisper something in her ear.
The Donnelly House
The Donnelly House is a historic home in Mount Dora that was built in 1893 and owned by John P. Donnelly. He built the Queen Anne-style home after a number of successful business ventures. He was a part of the community’s high society circle and one of the founders of the local yacht club. Donnelly also served as the first mayor of Mount Dora in 1910.
People are often drawn to the Donnelly House not just because of its historic charm but also because of the paranormal activity that has been reported from there. According to the lore, the family suffered an untimely demise, and the spirit of John’s wife, Annie, haunts her former home. Annie died in the upstairs master bedroom in 1908 from influenza.
Sanford
Sanford is a pleasant historic district located along the shores of Lake Monroe in Central Florida. It was incorporated in 1877 by Henry Shelton Sanford. The town endured a devastating fire in 1887 that eliminated a large portion of the downtown area. The residents came together to rebuild many of the structures, which are still standing today.
According to the locals, there are many spirits of the dead who remain in Sanford and have appeared at several locations, including The Mayfair Hotel.
The Mayfair Hotel
Originally known as the Hotel Forrest Lake, the Mayfair Hotel was built in 1926 and was a local hotspot for dancing, dinner, and relaxing. Two years after opening, the hotel closed down due to financial instability. It was reopened in 1937 after being purchased by new owners and remained open until the 1960s.
Decades later, the building was home to the Sanford Naval Academy, a military school for boys. Later it was converted into the headquarters for a religious mission. Today, the hotel is known by many as one of the most haunted places in Central Florida.
There are several entities that haunt this historic hotel, including a dark, shadowy figure and a Lady in White. Locals claim to have heard the sound of a piano playing when no one was around, as well as the ghost of a playful little boy who likes to prank guests. There is also the ghost of a little girl who is often seen inside the hotel’s Hollerbach’s German Restaurant.
WOP’s Hops Brewing Company
WOP’s Hops Brewing Company was the very first microbrewery to open in Sanford. The establishment is inside a historic building that was built in 1916 and is the former home of the Stokes Fish Market, and it remained a fish market until the 1970s.
According to local ghost tales, there are five spirits who reside inside the brewery: Claudia, Jennifer, David, and Stephen, and the fifth ghost, who has yet to make their name known. The five of them have all been seen hanging out in the building by visitors. People have mentioned seeing misty apparitions and noticing random cold spots. Dog owners who stop by the building have mentioned their pets will become very uneasy and bark as they get closer to it.
Tours throughout central Florida and beyond are available through Lizzie Borden Ghost Tours, which runs tours throughout the country. Check out their full list of tours!
