Old Jail – Haunted Prison in St. Augustine, Florida

The Old Jail in St. Augustine stands as one of Florida’s most notorious haunted locations, having housed some of the state’s most dangerous criminals from 1891 to 1953. Built during a time when justice was swift and punishment was harsh, this Victorian-style jail is now famous for its paranormal activity and the restless spirits that refuse to leave.

Historical Background

Year Built: 1891

Original Purpose: The Old Jail served as St. Johns County’s primary detention facility for over 60 years, housing everyone from petty thieves to murderers awaiting execution. The facility was designed by the Pauly Jail Building and Manufacturing Company and featured the latest security innovations of the era.

Significant Events: Multiple executions took place here, including hangings in the jail’s gallows area where condemned prisoners met their fate. The jail also witnessed violent riots, prisoner deaths from disease and overcrowding, and countless tales of torture and abuse by guards who ruled with an iron fist.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Visitors and staff report hearing disembodied voices, phantom footsteps echoing through empty corridors, and the sound of chains dragging across concrete floors. Shadow figures are frequently spotted moving through cells, and many people experience sudden temperature drops and an overwhelming sense of dread in certain areas.

The spirits here seem particularly active, with reports of physical interactions including being touched, pushed, or having objects thrown at visitors. EVP recordings have captured voices of former inmates calling out, and some guests have even reported being locked inside cells by unseen hands.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The most famous spirit is that of Charlie Poppell, a violent prisoner who died in the jail and now terrorizes visitors with aggressive behavior and menacing appearances. Another prominent ghost is believed to be a female prisoner who was mistreated during her incarceration and now cries out in the women’s cell block.

Visitors report seeing the apparition of a former sheriff who still patrols the corridors as if on duty, checking cells and maintaining order from beyond the grave. Many have encountered the spirit of a young boy who was wrongfully imprisoned and died of illness, now playing in the cells and seeking attention from visitors.

The jail’s maximum security area is particularly active, with reports of angry male voices shouting profanities and threats at tour groups. Local folklore tells of a curse placed on the jail by a condemned man moments before his execution, declaring that the jail would never know peace.

Most Haunted Spot Inside

The maximum security cells on the upper floor are considered the most terrifying location, where the most violent and dangerous criminals were kept in isolation. Cell #8 is especially active, with visitors reporting intense feelings of being watched, sudden panic attacks, and even physical sensations of being grabbed or scratched.

Can You Visit?

Open to the Public? Yes

Entry Fee: General admission is around $13-$15 for adults, with special ghost tour packages available at higher prices.

Tour Availability: Standard historical tours run daily, while special paranormal investigations and ghost tours are offered in the evenings, particularly on weekends. The jail also hosts overnight ghost hunts for serious paranormal enthusiasts.

Photography Allowed? Yes, and it’s actually encouraged – many visitors capture strange orbs, shadow figures, and unexplained mists in their photos.

Visiting Hours: Daily tours typically run from 10 AM to 5 PM, with special evening ghost tours starting at 8 PM on select nights.

Best Time to Visit

The paranormal activity seems to peak during evening hours after sunset, especially during the autumn months of October and November when the veil between worlds is said to be thinnest. Many investigators report the most intense experiences during overnight investigations between midnight and 3 AM, known as the “witching hour.”

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

One visitor reported being physically pushed by an unseen force while standing in the maximum security area, leaving her shaken and with unexplained bruises. A paranormal investigation team captured compelling EVP evidence of a male voice saying “get out” when no one else was present in the building.

Tour guides have shared stories of seeing full-bodied apparitions walking through walls and disappearing into thin air. Multiple guests have reported their cameras and electronic devices malfunctioning or draining completely of battery power within minutes of entering certain cells.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The Old Jail has been featured on several paranormal television shows including “Ghost Adventures” and “Most Haunted,” where investigators documented compelling evidence of supernatural activity. These investigations captured unexplained voices, shadow figures on thermal cameras, and instances of objects moving on their own.

Professional ghost hunting teams have recorded extreme EMF spikes in areas where no electrical sources exist, suggesting spiritual energy. Several psychic mediums have independently identified the same spirits and their stories without prior knowledge of the jail’s history.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

Visitors must stay with their tour groups at all times and are not permitted to explore the jail independently due to safety concerns. Some areas of the building are structurally unstable, and certain cells are off-limits to the public to preserve the historical integrity of the site.