St. Augustine Lighthouse – Haunted Lighthouse in St. Augustine, Florida

Standing tall since 1874, the St. Augustine Lighthouse has guided ships safely to shore for over a century, but it’s the spirits within that really light up this place. This iconic black-and-white striped tower isn’t just a historic landmark—it’s one of Florida’s most actively haunted locations, with tragic deaths and restless souls making it a paranormal hotspot.

Historical Background

Year Built: 1874

Original Purpose: The lighthouse was built to replace an older Spanish watchtower that had been claimed by coastal erosion. It served as a navigational beacon for ships entering St. Augustine’s harbor, helping prevent maritime disasters along Florida’s treacherous coastline.

Significant Events: The most tragic incident occurred during construction in 1873 when three young girls—daughters of the lighthouse superintendent—drowned after the rail cart they were playing in plunged into the ocean. The keeper’s house has also witnessed several deaths over the years, including a lighthouse keeper who fell to his death from the tower, and a painter who died after falling from the catwalk in 1859.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Visitors consistently report hearing the giggles and playful laughter of children echoing through the tower and grounds, even when no kids are present. Disembodied footsteps climbing the 219 spiral stairs, the smell of cigar smoke in areas where smoking has never been allowed, and mysterious cold spots are among the most frequent occurrences.

The apparition of a tall man in a blue keeper’s uniform has been spotted on the observation deck and stairs. Guests also report tools and equipment being moved overnight, doors slamming shut on their own, and an overwhelming feeling of being watched—especially near the keeper’s house basement.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The spirits of Eliza, Mary, and the unidentified third girl (believed to be an African American child who worked for the family) are the lighthouse’s most famous residents. They died tragically when their supply cart rolled into the water during a game, and their playful energy seems to have never left—visitors hear children’s laughter, singing, and the sound of small feet running up the tower stairs.

Joseph Andreu, a lighthouse keeper who fell to his death while painting the outside of the tower, reportedly still watches over his beloved lighthouse. People spot his figure on the observation deck and catch the distinct aroma of his favorite cigars wafting through the air, particularly in the basement workshop where he spent countless hours.

The “Man in Blue” is another frequently seen spirit, believed to be one of the early lighthouse keepers still faithfully tending to his duties. His full-bodied apparition has been photographed multiple times, and he’s known for interacting with equipment and appearing in windows when no one is supposed to be inside.

Most Haunted Spot Inside

The basement of the keeper’s house is hands-down the creepiest area, where visitors report feeling physically pushed, experiencing sudden temperature drops, and sensing an overwhelming presence of sadness and anger. The tower stairs between the 13th and 14th steps are notorious for mysterious cold spots and the sound of children’s voices, believed to be where the three girls loved to play.

Can You Visit?

Open to the Public? Yes

Entry Fee: General admission is around $15 for adults, with special Dark of the Moon paranormal tours costing approximately $50-$80 per person.

Tour Availability: The lighthouse offers daily historical tours from 9 AM to 6 PM, and special paranormal investigations called “Dark of the Moon” tours that run after hours, typically starting at 8 PM or 9 PM. These ghost tours book up months in advance, so reserve your spot early if you’re hoping to catch some supernatural activity.

Photography Allowed? Yes, and the lighthouse actively encourages visitors to snap photos—many have captured unexplained orbs, shadows, and even full apparitions.

Visiting Hours: The lighthouse is open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM, with the last admission at 5:15 PM.

Best Time to Visit

Evening paranormal tours during the fall and winter months tend to yield the most activity, with October being prime time for ghost encounters. The anniversary of the girls’ deaths in July also sees a spike in paranormal phenomena, with visitors reporting more frequent laughter and the sound of children playing near the water.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

A tour guide named Sarah reported seeing a little girl in period clothing vanish right in front of her eyes near the keeper’s house in 2019. Multiple visitors have shared online accounts of feeling their clothes tugged while climbing the stairs, with some even claiming to feel small hands grabbing their legs.

In 2015, a group of paranormal investigators captured EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) recordings of children’s voices saying “help us” and “play with us” near the spot where the girls drowned. Photography enthusiasts frequently capture unexplained orbs and shadow figures in their lighthouse photos, with some images clearly showing a man in period keeper’s clothing standing on the observation deck when no one was there.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The lighthouse has been featured on Ghost Hunters (TAPS), Ghost Adventures, and My Ghost Story, with investigators capturing compelling evidence including unexplained voices, shadow figures, and dramatic EMF spikes. The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) documented multiple instances of paranormal activity during their investigation, including doors closing by themselves and equipment mysteriously malfunctioning.

The St. Augustine Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program actively documents and preserves paranormal reports as part of the site’s historical record. Their ongoing Dark of the Moon tours allow visitors to conduct their own investigations using EMF detectors, digital recorders, and other ghost-hunting equipment under expert guidance.

Local Legends & Myths

Local legend says that if you stand at the base of the lighthouse on a foggy night, you can sometimes see the ghostly figure of the lighthouse keeper’s wife in the upper window, still waiting for her husband to return from the sea. Another spooky tale claims that the ghost of a Spanish soldier from the original watchtower still patrols the grounds, protecting the area from invaders that no longer exist.

There’s also a persistent rumor that anyone who disrespects the spirits or vandalizes the property will experience extreme bad luck, with several documented cases of troublemakers suffering mysterious accidents shortly after their visits. The most chilling legend involves the basement—some say a portal to the spirit world was accidentally opened during renovations in the 1990s, which would explain the surge in paranormal activity since then.