Don Pedro Horruytiner House – Haunted Historic Home in St. Augustine, Florida

Standing proud on St. George Street in America’s oldest city, the Don Pedro Horruytiner House has been giving people the creeps since 1821. This Spanish Colonial mansion once housed two Florida governors and now hosts spirits who apparently loved the place so much they decided to stick around for a few extra centuries.

Historical Background

Year Built: Approximately 1565-1763 (First Spanish Period)

Original Purpose: Private residence for Spanish colonial officials and governors

The house served as home to two Spanish Florida governors, Don Luis de Horruytiner (1633-38) and Don Pedro Benedit Horruytiner (1651-54). Built with 12-inch-thick coquina walls, it survived countless storms and fires that destroyed much of old St. Augustine.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Visitors and residents report seeing ghostly women wandering the rose garden and mysterious lights flickering through empty rooms. The most unsettling activity happens in the attic, where a coffin mysteriously moves around on its own. Cold spots, disembodied voices, and the overwhelming feeling of being watched are regular occurrences here.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The star ghosts are two translucent women who first appeared to gardener Brigita Gomez in 1821 while she was tending the roses. Rather than screaming and running (honestly, respect), Brigita struck up a conversation with them and even gave them some freshly cut yellow roses as a parting gift. The next morning, those same yellow roses appeared on her doorstep—which is either really sweet or really creepy depending on how you look at it.

Brigita later realized she’d seen these women before in paintings of the home’s previous owners. Today, these ghostly ladies are still spotted strolling through the garden, perhaps still looking for more rose arrangements. Former residents and members of the prominent Horruytiner family are believed to haunt various parts of the property, unwilling to leave their beloved home.

Most Haunted Spot Inside

The attic takes the prize for creepiest location, where a coffin has been known to slide around by itself when no one’s up there. That’s a hard pass for most visitors, thank you very much.

Can You Visit?

Open to the Public? The house is a private residence, but you can view the exterior from St. George Street

Entry Fee: Not applicable (private property)

Tour Availability: The house is included as a stop on many St. Augustine ghost walking tours, where guides share its spooky history from the street

Photography Allowed? Yes, exterior photos from the public street are permitted

Visiting Hours? The exterior can be viewed anytime from the public street, but please respect that it’s a private residence

Best Time to Visit

Ghost sightings have been reported consistently throughout the year, with no particular season showing more activity than others. Evening ghost tours offer the most atmospheric experience for learning about the house’s haunted history.

Local Legends & Myths

The legend of the rose-gifting ghosts remains the most famous story associated with the house. Some locals claim that yellow roses still occasionally appear in mysterious places around the property, left by the grateful spirits who continue to call this place home.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The Don Pedro Horruytiner House appears regularly on St. Augustine ghost tours and is featured in several paranormal books about Florida’s most haunted locations. Multiple ghost tour companies include it in their walking routes through America’s most haunted city.