The 10 Most Haunted Places in Miami

When you think of the Magic City, you probably picture sunshine, beaches, and fit bodies soaking up the Miami vibes. Maybe even some late-night clubbing and good times! But what if I told you Miami has a spookier side? Yep, some people come here not just for the nightlife but to dive into the city’s haunted history.

If you’re brave enough, here are 10 of the most haunted spots in Miami that’ll scare you senseless!

The Biltmore Hotel was built in 1926 and became the ‘go to’ location for those looking for a grand hotel experience. When World War II broke out, the hotel was converted into a hospital for soldiers returning home from battle. Some of those soldiers drew their last breath in the makeshift hospital.

Following the war, the Biltmore Hotel was eventually restored to its former glory and became a hotel that the wealthy and powerful enjoyed when away from home.

See also: The Most Haunted Hotels in Florida

For guests and employees of the Biltmore, it can be considered one of the haunted places in Miami, due to activity they have experienced.

One of the most common reports over the years, is the ghosts of soldiers who lost their lives in the hotel continue to roam its hallways to this day. Witnesses claim to have seen men wandering the grounds, in what can only be described as old uniforms worn by the military during WWII.

The elevator reportedly will randomly go to the 13 floor without anyone in the elevator. The thirteenth floor was the location where Thomas “Fatty” Walsh, a gangster, was murdered.

People on the 13^th floor can smell his cigars as well as see his ghost wandering the halls. | Check Availability

Villa Paula, built by Senior Don Domingo Milord, the first Cuban consulate in Miami, was home to Milord and his wife, Paula, for six years before her tragic death following complications from a leg amputation. Since then, the villa has been a hotspot for paranormal activity.

Various owners and even neighbors have reported strange phenomena, like the scent of blooming roses when none are present, the aroma of Cuban coffee, mysterious footsteps on the stone path, and unexplained knocking sounds.

The villa’s eerie vibes don’t end there. The most unsettling and grim occurrence is the strange deaths of numerous cats caused by the iron gate randomly slamming shut. With such a tragic history and these chilling events, Villa Paula has solidified its place in Miami’s haunted lore.

Ed Leedskalnin wasn’t exactly a giant—standing just over 5 feet tall and weighing in at 100 pounds—but that didn’t stop him from building the mind-boggling Coral Castle over 28 years.

This masterpiece consists of 1,100 tons of coral rock, carved and stacked into all sorts of shapes and designs. The kicker? Rumor has it, he did it all without modern tools, and all for the woman he loved. Talk about setting the bar high for grand romantic gestures!

Visitors to Coral Castle often talk about a strange energy that surrounds the place, like it’s got its own supernatural vibe. As if that weren’t eerie enough, some have spotted a shadowy figure lurking around the grounds.

Could it be Ed himself, keeping a watchful eye on his creation? Seems like he might not be done guarding his labor of love just yet!

When Miami was first established, they quickly realized they needed a place to lay their residents to rest. Enter the City of Miami Cemetery, founded in 1897, which soon became the final resting place for the city’s founders.

Among the most famous names buried here are the Burdine family and Julia Tuttle, the “Mother of Miami.” Today, the cemetery holds 9,000 gravesites spread across three sections. Ironically, this so-called “place of rest” is anything but restful!

Visitors flock here, hoping to catch a glimpse of the ghosts of Confederate and Union soldiers buried on the grounds. It’s not just the spirits causing the chills, though; many report an overall creepy vibe, cold spots, and the eerie sense of not being alone.

And if that’s not unsettling enough, the cemetery has seen its fair share of ritual sacrifices and grave desecrations over the years—because apparently, some folks can’t resist stirring up the supernatural!

If you’re on the hunt for Miami’s most haunted spots and live for ghostly encounters, the Deering Estate needs to be at the top of your list!

Long before Charles Deering built his estate here in 1915, the land served as a Native American burial ground. And as we all know, building over graves is practically a guarantee for paranormal activity! To up the spooky factor, there was an explosion during construction that claimed the lives of four workers. Talk about a recipe for restless spirits.

The estate is bursting with ghostly sightings and strange phenomena. Visitors often experience sudden temperature drops, hear doors slamming shut on their own, and catch faint whispering voices in the air. From shadowy figures to apparitions, this place has its fair share of spirits roaming the grounds.

On one visit, a psychic even heard a woman pleading for help for a young boy who seemed to be drowning. If you’re looking for a spot with serious ghostly vibes, the Deering Estate won’t disappoint!

One of Miami’s first skyscrapers was built in 1939 on the site of the old Hotel Halcyon, and ever since, it’s been a hotspot for wandering spirits. Among the most famous is Grant Stockdale, a local businessman and friend of JFK, who tragically fell from the 13th floor, landing on machinery on the 5th. It’s no surprise that the building’s corridors are filled with an uneasy, tense energy.

Maintenance workers have reported encountering a shadowy figure that vanishes the moment you lock eyes with it. And for an extra dose of creepiness, a group of air conditioning repairmen even filed an incident report after they entered a unit and saw a man’s burned face staring back at them. Not exactly your typical day at the office!

The Curtiss Mansion, built in 1925 by aviation pioneer and Miami developer Glenn Curtiss, has a history as colorful as it is spooky. Designed in the Pueblo Revival style, this massive estate originally spanned over 30 acres, complete with a lake that Curtiss stocked with water birds like flamingos and swans.

Curtiss lived in the mansion with his wife, Lena, for just five years before his death in 1930, leaving behind numerous unfinished and unpatented projects. After his passing, Lena claimed to hear him tinkering away in his old workspace, fueling early rumors of the mansion’s haunting.

Other visitors have reported hearing Curtiss talking with pilots as he “works” on his mysterious projects. Then there’s the darker tale: some say Curtiss transformed part of the mansion into a daycare due to his love for children, but after discovering that Lena had an abortion, a fiery altercation supposedly ended in the mansion being set ablaze with Curtiss inside.

Screaming is said to echo through the halls at night, lights turn on and off on their own, and ghostly figures have even been seen playing tennis on the grounds. | Check Availability

The Colony Theatre, endearingly known as “The Beauty Queen,” has been a Miami Beach landmark since it opened in 1934. Located in the heart of the arts district, this recently restored Art Deco gem has evolved from a premiere movie house to a top mid-sized performance venue managed by Miami New Drama since 2016.

With a rich history that includes celebrity appearances and a $6.5 million renovation, the Colony has drawn not just performers and audiences, but a few ghostly guests as well. Paranormal activity reportedly began after a major overhaul in 1953 and hasn’t stopped since.

Among the theater’s spectral residents is a small white poodle, described as energetic but disappearing if anyone gets too close. Then there’s the spirit of an unknown man, likely an unfulfilled actor or crew member, who’s been heard walking behind the stage and deliberately following staff through the lobby and elevator.

A female spirit, dressed in 1930s attire, is also a regular; often seen in the lobby waiting for the doors to open, she appears so real that patrons mistake her for a theater employee—until she vanishes into thin air. While ghost hunting isn’t allowed here, the stories persist, leaving visitors to experience the Colony’s haunting charm firsthand.

Miami is full of stunning villas, but none as famous—or as haunted—as Villa Casa Casuarina. Originally built in 1930 by Alden Freeman, an heir to the Standard Oil fortune, it was inspired by Christopher Columbus’s son’s home in the Dominican Republic. Freeman lived on the top floor and rented out the other 23 rooms to his wealthy bohemian friends.

Fast forward to 1992, when fashion icon Gianni Versace fell in love with the place, purchasing it for $2.95 million and pouring $32 million into renovations. Tragically, in 1997, Versace was murdered on the front steps by Andrew Cunanan, sealing the mansion’s eerie reputation.

See Also: Haunted Places in Florida

Now a luxury hotel owned by Jordache Enterprises, Villa Casa Casuarina has played host to celebs like Drake, Beyoncé, and even Justin Bieber. But ask anyone—celebrity or regular guest shelling out $1,000 a night—and they’ll tell you the mansion is undeniably haunted.

Some rooms have an unsettling, dark presence, and guests often hear shuffling sounds behind the walls, hinting at secret tunnels. There are even sightings of Versace himself, calmly walking the hallways as if still tending to his beloved villa. | Check Availability

Pinewood Cemetery, formerly known as Cocoplum Cemetery, is one of the oldest and most haunted spots in Miami. Dating back to 1855, this four-acre site has seen its share of neglect, improper record-keeping, and even a massive hurricane.

With only a few headstones still standing, it’s estimated that between 200 and 300 souls rest here, though the exact number remains a mystery.

Ghost hunters and curious visitors often report eerie experiences. Some have seen the figure of a man appear out of nowhere and then vanish just as quickly. Others describe that unsettling, “something’s-not-right” feeling common in old cemeteries.

One visitor even captured an EVP of a voice saying “thank you” after cleaning up some of the gravesites. Unusual white mists and strange sounds are also frequently reported, adding to Pinewood’s reputation as one of Miami’s most haunted spots.