Florida Guide > Days Out
Ghosts and Gravestones Tour
On one of the few cloudy evenings in St Augustine we decided to go on the Ghosts and Gravestones Tour thinking that the weather might add to the atmosphere!
The tours take place nightly except of Christmas Eve or Christmas night and lasts about eighty minutes. The times can vary so you need to check before you go.
The prices are approx $24 for adults and $12 for children 4 to 12 years. However this tour may not be suitable for children under13 years of age and due to the loud noises on the tour children under the age of 4 are not allowed onboard.
Part of the tour is walking, so be sure to have comfortable shoes. The tour is not wheelchair accessible.
You hop on board the “trolley of the doomed”, and then you prepare yourself for strange happenings. Your “Ghost Host” thrills you with tales of misfortune and mayhem and stories of long gone residents who can still be seen in numerous locations around the city!
It was in 1565 when Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles landed on the shoreline of St. Augustine; he had discovered a wonderful place full of natural beauty and never ending possibilities. He claimed the land for his country of Spain, beginning a period of Spanish power that would last nearly 200 years. During those years, the original settlers suffered through illnesses, plagues, famine and devastating hurricanes.
There are many who believe that their strife still weighs heavy throughout the city. Be wary of weird noises and lights as you pass by two of the city' s oldest cemeteries. Both are home to long lost residents whom many believe still linger about.
All the stories that are told are well researched and there are many books of the Haunting of St Augustine available. You are told to have your cameras ready as “globs, energy bands and other paranormal activity are frequently caught on film”!
On the tour you will pass by some of the scariest and most sacred sites including the Huguenot Cemetery, the final resting place of the victims of yellow fever or as your host will ask was it the final resting place? There are plenty of noises and weird lights about.
Look out as you pass the City Gates, you might catch a glimpse of Elizabeth, a child victim of the yellow fever, waving to passersby.
We ended our journey with a visit to the Old Jail, one of the city’s most haunted locations. We had been here before during the day but it was so different at night. It is actually listed on the Florida and National Register of Haunted Places and has been the site of countless supernatural occurrences. Many criminals died as a result of the Hangman’s noose here and visitors have experienced cold spots, strange odours, loud banging noises and flashes of light.
This tour was an experience we were glad we did not miss but at the end we headed back to our hotel for a large brandy.
Viewed 47741 times.
We aim to provide accurate and useful information, but if you feel anything provided here is not accurate or out of date, please email us with the address of the page concerned and any comments so we can amend as necessary.
Villa Owners: Upload A Photo To This Article
To upload a photo for consideration, click here. Please only submit photos relevant to this article.
Other Articles Viewed
The following articles were also viewed by people who looked at this one: