Florida is better know for sun drenched beaches, orange groves and of course family attractions like Disney World and Universal Studios. It has long been a popular vacation destination for people from all over the world. However, there is a much darker side to the Sunshine State! There seems to be more than the fair share of haunted hotels, inns and other accommodation to be found!

Let’s take a look at the most haunted hotels in Florida.

1. Loews Don Cesar, St. Pete Beach

Loews Don Cesar, St. Pete Beach
3400 Gulf Blvd, St Pete Beach, FL 33706 [BOOK A STAY]
Loews Don Cesar is an iconic sight in St. Pete Beach. It is known affectionately as ‘the pink castle’ thanks to its distinctive pink facade and central tower. Thomas Rowe built it in the 1920s at the height of the Jazz Age.

It is said that the original owner and his forbidden lover Lucinda still haunt the hotel to this day. Thomas is often seen walking the grounds dressed in a white suit and Panama hat. Sometimes he is accompanied by a raven-haired woman, believed to be his Lucinda.

Guests and staff alike have also described other activity from spirits left over from the 1940s when the hotel was used as a VA hospital. There have been reports of patients and nurses haunting the building. [BOOK A STAY]

2. Marrero’s Guest Mansion, Key West

Marrero’s Guest Mansion, Key West
410 Fleming St, Key West, FL 33040 [BOOK A ROOM]
The Marrero’s Guest Mansion is a beautiful Victorian-style Bed & Breakfast in Key West, built by Francisco Marrero to convince his love, Enriquetta, to move to the island with him. She eventually agreed, and the pair married and had 8 children.

However, after his death, Enriquetta learned that Francisco had a previous wife who forced her and her children out of the house. Perhaps this is why her spirit remains in the house, angry that she was pushed out of her home.

See also: The Most Haunted Hotels in Key West

She tends to remain in Room 18 most of the time, but it is said that when she dislikes a particular guest, she will swing the chandeliers back and forth to demonstrate her displeasure.

Other than that, she is fairly benevolent and will appear and disappear in her room, leaving the scent of her lavender perfume behind her. [BOOK A ROOM]

Learn more about the haunted Marrero’s Guest Mansion 

3. The Vinoy Renaissance, St. Petersburg

The Vinoy Rennaisance Hotel, Florida
501 5th Ave NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 [BOOK A STAY]
The Vinoy Renaissance in St. Petersburg is another one of the most haunted hotels in Florida. It is a popular choice for prominent athletes, and they are among some of the guests who have experienced strange activity in the hotel.

Florida Marlins pitcher Scott Ryan Williamson says that during his stay, he has the feeling that he was being watched as he lay down to sleep, before feeling pressure like someone was sitting on him. He also saw the shadow of a man by his window.

Meanwhile, a strength coordinator with the Pittsburgh Pirates claims to have seen a transparent male apparition in his room. A member of the Toronto Blue Jays claimed that his wife experienced the bathroom taps turning on and off by themselves! [BOOK A STAY]

4. Quality Inn, Crestview

Quality Inn, Crestview
151 Cracker Barrel Dr, Crestview, FL 32536 [BOOK A ROOM]
The Quality Inn (formerly Jameson Inn) is a relatively new hotel, having only been built in 2000. However, people claim that it was haunted from the very beginning.

Many guests have reported seeing a male apparition hanging around the elevators, acting impatient as he had someplace to be in a hurry before disappearing!

However, this is not the only spirit in this hotel. There have been other far more unfortunate guests who have gotten quite the scare in the middle of the night. A handful of male guests claim to have woken up only to discover a bloody drenched headless woman in bed beside them!

She then slowly gets out of the bed and walks across the room, entering the next room via the wall! It is unknown which room this occurs in, or if it is always the same room, so anyone staying at the Jameson Inn will need to take their chances! BOOK A ROOM]

5. Casa Monica Hotel, St. Augustine

The reportedly haunted Casa Monica Hotel in St. Augustine FL
95 Cordova St, St. Augustine, FL 32084 [BOOK A ROOM]
When it first opened in 1887, Casa Monica Hotel was known as The Cordova. Today, most of the staff prefer not to talk about the ghosts that make their homes in the hotel, but the guests who have encountered them will do so freely!

See Also: The Most Haunted Places in St Augustine

There have been numerous and varied reports over the years. One of the most common reports is that late at night, waltz music begins to play out of nowhere, and several apparitions in 1920s attire appear and begin to waltz in the lobby! [BOOK A ROOM]

6. The Historic Peninsula Inn & Spa, Gulfport

The Historic Peninsula Inn & Spa, Gulfport
2937 Beach Blvd S, Gulfport, FL 33707 [BOOK A ROOM]
When you look at Gulfport’s Historic Peninsula Inn & Spa history, it is not difficult to see why it is haunted!

Since it was first built at the start of the 20th century, the property has served as a military hospital, a boarding house, and now a hotel. Many guests have seen the apparition of a man in fifties-style attire and a phantom cat! [BOOK A ROOM]

7. Seven Sisters Inn, Ocala

Seven Sisters Inn, Ocala
828 E Fort King St, Ocala, FL 34471

One hotel in Florida that certainly does not hide its haunted reputation is the Seven Sisters Inn in Ocala! They actively market themselves as the most haunted bed & breakfast in Florida but reassure guests that the spirits are all very benevolent and happy to welcome guests!

There are seven different spirits on the property, including the original residents Emma & Ben Rheinauer. The other ghosts include three playful children and a flirtatious male spirit named George. There doesn’t seem to be a day that passes without someone experiencing some unexplained activity.

(currently closed as of 06/27/2017)

8. Florida House Inn, Fernandina Beach

Florida House Inn, Fernandina Beach
22 S 3rd St, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034

The Florida House Inn was built in 1857 and is thought to be one of Florida’s oldest operating hotels. It is no surprise then that this is one of the most haunted hotels in Florida. Guests who have stayed here report seeing apparitions of a sad-looking man and woman getting into bed with them!

9. Coombs House Inn, Apalachicola

Coombs House Inn, Apalachicola
80 6th St, Apalachicola, FL 32320 [BOOK A ROOM]
The Coombs House Inn was built in 1905 as a private residence. However, the house was heavily damaged in 1911 due to a fire, and both Mr. and Mrs. Coombs died less than a month later – many say of a broken heart at losing their beloved home. However, the house was restored and converted into a hotel.

Many believe that the Coombs’s are still wandering around their former home. Many of the guests who have spent the night at The Coombs House Inn claim to have been plagued by horrific nightmares of a fire happening during their stay.

There have also been apparitions of the couple spotted around the hotel, and many guests say that they have had trouble breathing and have smelled unexplained smoke. [BOOK A ROOM]

10. The Biltmore Hotel, Miami

The Biltmore Hotel, Miami
1200 Anastasia Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134 [BOOK A ROOM]
One of Florida’s most haunted hotels has to be The Biltmore Hotel at Coral Gables in Miami. It was built in 1926 and quickly became a regular spot for royalty and A-list celebrities alike. Among the hotel’s known guests are the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, and Ginger Rogers.

In World War II is was repurposed as a hospital and stayed that way until 1968. The building was then completely renovated and reopened as a hotel in 1987, although it was not considerably more haunted than it had been back in the twenties!

Ever since the grand reopening, The Biltmore Hotel has had numerous paranormal events linked with it. The lights and the doors seem to have lives of their own, turning on and of or opening and closing all by themselves!

There are reports of a woman in white roaming around the guest rooms, and there are claims that notorious gangster Fatty Walsh is haunting the hotel. He was shot in the hotel back in 1929 during a fight that broke out over gambling. Several guests have seen an apparition resembling him in the hotel lobby. [BOOK A ROOM]