The 20 most haunted places in Tampa Bay

Comfort Station

Second Avenue NE & Bayshore Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL
The Comfort Station is a public restroom that not only serves as an historic landmark in St. Pete, but also as a haven for haunted spirits around the area. Allegedly, there have been sightings of apparitions in the women’s bathroom, including one lady that appears in the mirror at night and it has been said that some have even had conversations with her.

Photo via waymarking.com

Vinoy Hotel

501 5th Ave NE, St. Petersburg, FL
The Vinoy Hotel was built back in 1925 and has had a slew of reported ghost sightings across the property. MLB players often stay here, and one ghost, which has been described as a man wearing a top hat, has been said to haunt the sluggers that stay here.

Photo via marriott.com

Cuban Club

2010 Avenida Republica de Cuba, Tampa, FL
The Cuban Club has been named as one of the most haunted places in the country by Travel Magazine and for a good reason. There were two confirmed deaths that happened inside the club. One actor committed suicide on stage and another, who was a member of the board, was discovered murdered as a result of an argument with another member. Reportedly, both spirits have been tormenting the building ever since, along with a handful of other apparitions.

Photo via The Cuban Club/Facebook

Gulfport Casino

5500 Shore Blvd S, Gulfport, FL
The original casino was destroyed back in 1921 due to a hurricane, and took many lives with it. Now, it is said that a man can be seen dancing further out in the water, where the casino was originally located.

Photo via mygulfport.us

Swope-Rodante, P.A.

1234 E. Fifth Ave., Tampa, FL
What is now a personal injury law firm the building that currently houses Swope-Rodante, P.A. was once a Tampa brewery. Local legend says that during the early days of the brewery, a man died after a drunken fight and now his spirit roams the halls. Supposedly, people say they can hear a strange voice throughout the brewery.

Photo via Google Maps

Henry B. Plant Museum

401 W. Kennedy Boulevard Tampa, FL
What is now a national historic landmark, the Henry B. Plant Museum used to be a high-end, 511-room winter-resort for the rich and famous, such as Teddy Roosevelt, Babe Ruth and many more. Many people have reported seeing an abundance of ghostly spirits around the area, especially one known as the “The Brown Man.” This spectre has been said to be wearing an all brown suit with glowing red eyes.

Photo via Detroit Photographic co. [Public Domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Fort Brooke Municipal Parking Garage

107 N Franklin St, Tampa, FL
Fort Brooke Municipal Parking Garage was built on top of an old and forgotten cemetery. This graveyard held the bodies of over 100 soldiers that were killed by Seminole Indians during the two Seminole Indian wars. There have been reports that people can hear the ghostly sounds of Native Americans drumming and chanting, and have seen strange shadow figures at night.

Photo via tampagov.net

Beach Drive Inn

532 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL
Built in 1910, this inn has had its fair share of ghost stories. The most popular ghost is what the host of the A&E TV show “Psychic Kids” called “Montego Mary.” It has been said that she lives in the Montego Room, and haunts the guests that stay in it.

Photo via beachdriveinn.com

Gaspar’s Grotto

1805 E 7th Ave., Tampa, FL
Gaspar’s Grotto is not only a great bar and restaurant, but apparently it’s also haunted. Supposedly, people have seen many different apparitions, along with photographic evidence of what appears to be some kind of ghost.

Photo via gasparsgrotto.com

Patty & Friends Antique Village Mall

1241 MLK St N St. Petersburg, FL
According to many customers, this St. Pete antique store Patty & Friends, is filled with paranormal activity. The owner says that many of the objects in the store have spirits attached to them, so that’ll explain some items being moved around, lights flickering off and on and even apparitions.

Photo via Patty And Friends Antique Village Mall/Facebook

David Falk Theatre

428 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL
What used to be Park Theatre, is now a stage at the University of Tampa. Reportedly, an actress by the name of Bessie Snavely hung herself in a third-floor dressing room, and is still roaming the theater to this day.

Photo via Google Maps

Sunshine Skyway Bridge

Built in 1982, the Skyway Bridge has a long history with death. The bridge’s first major incident was in 1980, when a freighter collided with the bridge, sinking several cars and a greyhound bus. Ultimately, 35 people plunged to their death, and only one man survived. Now, late at night, a ghostly woman reportedly walks the bridge, and occasionally hops into vehicles before vanishing.

Photo via Adobe Images

The Old Federal Courthouse

601 N.. Florida Ave. Tampa, FL
Today, the Old Federal Courthouse has been transformed into the Le Meridien Hotel, but before that, it was home to the grueling unsolved murder of Gangster Charlie Wall. His ghost has reportedly been seen hanging out at the doorsteps of the hotel, most likely looking for revenge.

Photo via flmd.uscourts.gov

Oaklawn Cemetery

606 E Harrison St, Tampa, FL
Known as downtown Tampa’s oldest public burial ground, the Oaklawn Cemetery was founded in 1850 and is home to a variety of haunted spirits. One of the most notable men in that graveyard is Charles Owen who was hanged in 1882, for attempting to rape the daughter of a wealthy Tampa family. Some residents say that at night you can see his body dangling from a tree.

Photo via tampagov.net

The Don CeSar

3400 Gulf Blvd, St. Pete Beach, FL
Built in 1928, The “Pink Palace” sits on St. Pete beach and is not only known for its extravagant grounds, but also for its haunted hotel rooms. Many guests reported seeing a man with a top-hat walking into rooms and terrorizing guests. Others report the hotel’s original owner, Thomas Rowe, wandering around the property.

Photo via doncesar.com

Tampa Theatre

711 N Franklin St. Tampa, FL
The Tampa Theatre opened back in 1926, and since then many local residents have reported seeing multiple spirits roaming the building, including the theatres first projectionist, Foster "Fink" Finley. He worked at the Tampa Theatre since the 1940’s and eventually died inside the building in 1965 due to a heart-attack.

Photo via Tampa Theatre/Facebook

Safety Harbor Resort and Spa

105 North Bayshore Dr. Safety Harbor, FL
Back in the mid-90’s the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa had some chilling ghost encounters. Employees at the front desk reported getting calls from empty guest rooms and the housekeepers swore that they heard someone yelling their name from the women’s bath area. The original owner has also been known to haunt the grounds, twisting off salt shaker tops.

Photo via safetyharborspa.com

Crown Colony House

3000 E Busch Blvd, Tampa, FL
Opened back in 1964, the Serengeti Overlook Restaurant, which used to be known as the Crown Colony House is currently sitting in the middle of Busch Gardens and many people have said to have seen some pretty haunted activities over the years. Reports of trays being flipped, dancing orbs and moving shadows have been some of the recurring events. The theme park even had the ghost-hunting team, Haunted South, record some of the spooky happenings that went down.

Photo via buschgardens.com

The Cordova Inn

253 2nd Ave., N. St. Petersburg, FL
Established in 1921, the Cordova Inn is said to be haunted by a former employee. Many guests have reported seeing an apparition of a well-dressed man in an old-fashioned suit, and have concluded that he might be a former butler who saved the building from demolition on several occasions.

Photo via cordovainnstpete.com

Sulphur Springs Water Tower

455-479 E Bird St, Tampa, FL
Built on top of an old water well in 1927, Sulphur Springs Water Tower was created to provide water pressure for the Sulphur Springs Hotel. Supposedly, the water tower was a popular place for suicidal jumpers during the Great Depression.

Photo via Florida Memory