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These are the most haunted places in the Orlando area to celebrate Halloween

By on Fri, Oct 7, 2022 at 4:48 pm

Orlando has plenty of high-production, incredible haunts to celebrate the spooky season. But three decades of demented clowns and ghouls roaming local theme parks can leave true thrill-seekers looking for something stronger.

You know, the real thing. Actual haunted places.

Luckily for these thrill-seekers, the new construction sheen on nearly every corner of Central Florida doesn't keep the area from being very, very old. In ruins, historical buildings and former sites of cursed places, actual haunts are on offer for the brave and overly curious. Take a look at some of our favorites below.
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Carey Hand Building 36 W. Pine St., Orlando What is now the UCF Ying building was once the Carey Hand Funeral Home. First opened in 1920, it was once the largest funeral home in Central Florida and the very first in Florida to also house a chapel. And it’s thought to still house some of those lost souls. Sounds of footsteps and whispers continue to be heard inside the building.
Photo by Sarah Cavacini

Carey Hand Building

36 W. Pine St., Orlando
What is now the UCF Ying building was once the Carey Hand Funeral Home. First opened in 1920, it was once the largest funeral home in Central Florida and the very first in Florida to also house a chapel. And it’s thought to still house some of those lost souls. Sounds of footsteps and whispers continue to be heard inside the building.
Hamburger Mary’s 110 W. Church St., Orlando For years, Hamburger Mary’s staff has reported sightings of little girl dressed in Victorian clothing. They have said she has a tendency to tap on the windows and wave at guests, as well as skip down the street late at night.
Hamburger Mary's/Facebook

Hamburger Mary’s

110 W. Church St., Orlando
For years, Hamburger Mary’s staff has reported sightings of little girl dressed in Victorian clothing. They have said she has a tendency to tap on the windows and wave at guests, as well as skip down the street late at night.
Greenwood Cemetery 1603 Greenwood St., Orlando As one of the oldest places in Orlando, this spooky cemetery houses some of Florida's most prominent residents, including Mayor Bob Carr and Joseph Bumby. Tales of children playing with flashlights and Confederate soldiers roaming the fields have been reported by those who dare to go there after dark.
Photo via Orlando.gov

Greenwood Cemetery

1603 Greenwood St., Orlando
As one of the oldest places in Orlando, this spooky cemetery houses some of Florida's most prominent residents, including Mayor Bob Carr and Joseph Bumby. Tales of children playing with flashlights and Confederate soldiers roaming the fields have been reported by those who dare to go there after dark.
Rogers Building 37-39 S. Magnolia Ave., Orlando Originally an English gentlemen's club first opened by Gordon Rogers in 1886, the Rogers Building is one of the oldest buildings in downtown Orlando. Employees and visitors have reported strange occurrences (like the sound of laughing and talking) inside the building for years, but the most notable ghost thought to be haunting the spot is Rogers’ wife. As the story goes, she was upset that only wealthy men were allowed in the club and continues to haunt its patrons to this day. Today, the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo via citydistrictorlando.com

Rogers Building

37-39 S. Magnolia Ave., Orlando
Originally an English gentlemen's club first opened by Gordon Rogers in 1886, the Rogers Building is one of the oldest buildings in downtown Orlando. Employees and visitors have reported strange occurrences (like the sound of laughing and talking) inside the building for years, but the most notable ghost thought to be haunting the spot is Rogers’ wife. As the story goes, she was upset that only wealthy men were allowed in the club and continues to haunt its patrons to this day. Today, the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Albim Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens 633 Osceola Ave., Winter Park This museum in Winter Park, founded in 1961, features more than 200 Albin Polasek sculptures, and some of the staff believe that the artist’s spirit continues to loom over the art. Years ago, one guest took a picture of Polasek's "Stations of the Cross" and in the photo was a tear suspended on the sculpture's cheek. To this day, the staff has no idea how that got there.
Photo via Albim Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens/Facebook

Albim Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens

633 Osceola Ave., Winter Park
This museum in Winter Park, founded in 1961, features more than 200 Albin Polasek sculptures, and some of the staff believe that the artist’s spirit continues to loom over the art. Years ago, one guest took a picture of Polasek's "Stations of the Cross" and in the photo was a tear suspended on the sculpture's cheek. To this day, the staff has no idea how that got there.
Church Street Station Downtown Orlando Visitors report seeing a 19th-century woman standing in front of an antique mirror at the bar and feeling hands tugging at their clothes. Additionally, a priest’s soul supposedly lingers outside the building.
Photo via Google Maps

Church Street Station

Downtown Orlando
Visitors report seeing a 19th-century woman standing in front of an antique mirror at the bar and feeling hands tugging at their clothes. Additionally, a priest’s soul supposedly lingers outside the building.
Floor and Decor 3113 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando This particular building was part of a much larger shopping plaza that housed a mall back in the 1970s. After the mall's decline, however, it was torn down in the 1990s, save for this building. Rumor has it that as one of the construction workers made his last rounds before demolition, he was halted by voices telling him not to tear down their home.
Photo via Google Maps

Floor and Decor

3113 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando
This particular building was part of a much larger shopping plaza that housed a mall back in the 1970s. After the mall's decline, however, it was torn down in the 1990s, save for this building. Rumor has it that as one of the construction workers made his last rounds before demolition, he was halted by voices telling him not to tear down their home.
Annie Pfeiffer Chapel Florida Southern College, Lakeland Famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel in Lakeland, and it's believed that his ghost still haunts the building. The choir screen was reportedly improperly placed and an apparition of Wright can now be seen in the screen. Lesson learned: Don't mess with his buildings, or he definitely will come back to haunt you.
Photo via flsouthern.edu

Annie Pfeiffer Chapel

Florida Southern College, Lakeland
Famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel in Lakeland, and it's believed that his ghost still haunts the building. The choir screen was reportedly improperly placed and an apparition of Wright can now be seen in the screen. Lesson learned: Don't mess with his buildings, or he definitely will come back to haunt you.
Pritchard House 424 S. Washington Ave., Titusville Some say that one of the former owners, Lola Pauline Smith Pritchard, still walks the halls of her 1891 home in Titusville. You don't want to go trespassing in Miss Lovie's house, but if you do find yourself inside, prepare yourself for some spooky voices, flickering lights and a grandfather clock that pings even though it's broken.
Photo via Google Maps

Pritchard House

424 S. Washington Ave., Titusville
Some say that one of the former owners, Lola Pauline Smith Pritchard, still walks the halls of her 1891 home in Titusville. You don't want to go trespassing in Miss Lovie's house, but if you do find yourself inside, prepare yourself for some spooky voices, flickering lights and a grandfather clock that pings even though it's broken.
Hyatt Regency Orlando 9801 International Drive, Orlando This hotel, formerly known as the Peabody, was once the second-highest building in Orlando. According to its story, the hotel claimed several lives, too. After reports of suicides, the ghosts of these lost souls can are seen roaming around the hallways.
Photo via Google Maps

Hyatt Regency Orlando

9801 International Drive, Orlando
This hotel, formerly known as the Peabody, was once the second-highest building in Orlando. According to its story, the hotel claimed several lives, too. After reports of suicides, the ghosts of these lost souls can are seen roaming around the hallways.
Maitland Art Center 231 W. Packwood Ave., Maitland Look out! It’s Andre Smith, Maitland Art Center’s founder and friendly ghost! As the building’s architect and resident artist, Smith was the guiding spirit of the studio, so it’s no wonder he still roams the place. Local artists who work here claim to see Smith standing or sitting in various areas.
Photo via Maitland Art Center

Maitland Art Center

231 W. Packwood Ave., Maitland
Look out! It’s Andre Smith, Maitland Art Center’s founder and friendly ghost! As the building’s architect and resident artist, Smith was the guiding spirit of the studio, so it’s no wonder he still roams the place. Local artists who work here claim to see Smith standing or sitting in various areas.
Ma Barker House 13279 SE 115th Ave., Ocklawaha This house in Ocklawaha once held Ma Barker and her four sons, all gangsters. As the story goes, the Feds used more than 2,000 bullets to take out the family, and the house still holds these hardened criminals’ ghosts. To this day, the shootout is re-enacted every January by locals.
Photo via ocalamarion.com

Ma Barker House

13279 SE 115th Ave., Ocklawaha
This house in Ocklawaha once held Ma Barker and her four sons, all gangsters. As the story goes, the Feds used more than 2,000 bullets to take out the family, and the house still holds these hardened criminals’ ghosts. To this day, the shootout is re-enacted every January by locals.
Lakeside Inn 100 Alexander St., Mt Dora This ancient bed and breakfast in Mount Dora houses a total of four harmless ghosts: two small girls who roam the Inn looking for some fun, a small top-hat-wearing man and a specter of a gangster wearing a suit and fedora.
Photo via Lakeside-Inn.com

Lakeside Inn

100 Alexander St., Mt Dora
This ancient bed and breakfast in Mount Dora houses a total of four harmless ghosts: two small girls who roam the Inn looking for some fun, a small top-hat-wearing man and a specter of a gangster wearing a suit and fedora.
Highland Manor 604 E. Main St., Apopka Located in Apopka, this house passed through several owners including the McBride family and the Townsend family before becoming a wedding event location. Strange noises are said to happen in the attic and ghost-like presences get a little bit too friendly with guests.
Photo via DubsdreadCatering.com

Highland Manor

604 E. Main St., Apopka
Located in Apopka, this house passed through several owners including the McBride family and the Townsend family before becoming a wedding event location. Strange noises are said to happen in the attic and ghost-like presences get a little bit too friendly with guests.
Boot Hill Saloon 310 Main St. Bridge, Daytona Beach Bikers just can't get enough of the Boot Hill Saloon in Daytona Beach. Even in death, some bikers make a pit stop at their favorite watering hole and have a riotous time. The spirits here make the jukebox play even when unplugged, hurl items across the bar and turn on the faucets in the bathroom when no one is around.
Photo via boothillsaloon.com

Boot Hill Saloon

310 Main St. Bridge, Daytona Beach
Bikers just can't get enough of the Boot Hill Saloon in Daytona Beach. Even in death, some bikers make a pit stop at their favorite watering hole and have a riotous time. The spirits here make the jukebox play even when unplugged, hurl items across the bar and turn on the faucets in the bathroom when no one is around.
Kress Building 130 S. Orange Ave., Orlando The Kress building is one of Orlando’s greatest hotspots for paranormal activity. The building, which is now home to Kres Chophouse, has been host to just about every kind of haunting, from mysterious footsteps when no one is around to ghostly apparitions.
Photo via Google Maps

Kress Building

130 S. Orange Ave., Orlando
The Kress building is one of Orlando’s greatest hotspots for paranormal activity. The building, which is now home to Kres Chophouse, has been host to just about every kind of haunting, from mysterious footsteps when no one is around to ghostly apparitions.
Inside Outside House 112 Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs This home-turned-gift shop was built by Captain W. Pierce, who later became director of Orlando’s National Bank. Some believe that Captain Pierce’s spirit still lives there with his beloved cat, Brutus, as evidenced by strange cold spots and mysterious voices.
Photo via HistoricLongwood.com

Inside Outside House

112 Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs
This home-turned-gift shop was built by Captain W. Pierce, who later became director of Orlando’s National Bank. Some believe that Captain Pierce’s spirit still lives there with his beloved cat, Brutus, as evidenced by strange cold spots and mysterious voices.
Wops Hops Brewing 419 S. Sanford Ave., Sanford Mediums have reported five spirits in the vicinity of this Sanford brewery, the town's very first microbrewery. Jennifer and Claudia haunt the connected buildings, Stephen stalks the bathroom, David lurks in the beer garden and the fifth spirit is a bit of a mystery, but it's been speculated that it could be a child.
Photo via Google Maps

Wops Hops Brewing

419 S. Sanford Ave., Sanford
Mediums have reported five spirits in the vicinity of this Sanford brewery, the town's very first microbrewery. Jennifer and Claudia haunt the connected buildings, Stephen stalks the bathroom, David lurks in the beer garden and the fifth spirit is a bit of a mystery, but it's been speculated that it could be a child.
Cassadaga Cast as Florida’s most spirited settlement, this quaint town is quite normal ... if you don't count all the mediums that live here, the haunted hotel and the creepy cemeteries. If you’re in the mood to talk to a dead relative, you might want to consider taking a trip to old spirit land. Get your future read and take a seat (if you dare!) in the Devil's Chair.
Photo via Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp/Instagram

Cassadaga


Cast as Florida’s most spirited settlement, this quaint town is quite normal ... if you don't count all the mediums that live here, the haunted hotel and the creepy cemeteries. If you’re in the mood to talk to a dead relative, you might want to consider taking a trip to old spirit land. Get your future read and take a seat (if you dare!) in the Devil's Chair.
Super 8 International Drive 5900 American Way, Orlando Room 206 is the room of all your fears. If you make the bed, a human imprint might appear under the sheets. Guests have reported feeling a body next to them in the bed and said that the bed has suddenly shaken violently. The room has been reported to be shivering cold even when the air conditioning unit is turned off. Yeah, go ahead, make a reservation.
Photo via Google Maps

Super 8 International Drive

5900 American Way, Orlando
Room 206 is the room of all your fears. If you make the bed, a human imprint might appear under the sheets. Guests have reported feeling a body next to them in the bed and said that the bed has suddenly shaken violently. The room has been reported to be shivering cold even when the air conditioning unit is turned off. Yeah, go ahead, make a reservation.
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