The Devil’s Chair – Haunted Cemetery Bench in Cassadaga, Florida

Tucked deep within the Lake Helen-Cassadaga Cemetery sits an imposing red-brick bench known ominously as the Devil’s Chair. Built in the 1920s as a simple mourning bench for grieving families, this oversized seat has become one of Florida’s most infamous paranormal landmarks, with legends claiming that the Devil himself appears to those who dare sit upon it at midnight.

Historical Background

Year Built: 1920s

Original Purpose: The Devil’s Chair was originally constructed as a Victorian-era mourning bench, a common cemetery feature that provided a comfortable place for visitors to sit while paying respects to departed loved ones. According to local accounts, the chair was specifically built by a man who lost his wife unexpectedly, giving him a place to rest after the long walk to her grave.

Significant Events: The cemetery is located adjacent to Cassadaga, founded in 1895 by spiritualist George Colby as the “Psychic Capital of the World.” Colby himself is buried in the cemetery, and the town’s reputation as a center for mediums and spiritual energy has contributed to the supernatural legends surrounding the chair. Due to decades of vandalism and legend-tripping teenagers, particularly on Halloween, the cemetery now has strict enforcement and security guards posted after dark.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Those who sit in the Devil’s Chair at midnight report hearing the Devil whispering directly in their ears, with some claiming these voices never stop. Visitors experience an overwhelming sense of dread and the feeling of an unseen presence pressing against them, as though someone invisible is already occupying the seat.

The most famous legend involves leaving an unopened can of beer on the chair overnight—by morning, the can is mysteriously empty yet remains sealed. Dark shadows have been witnessed lurking among the surrounding trees, and ghostly figures of former spiritualists wander the cemetery grounds.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The Devil himself is said to materialize beside anyone brave enough to sit in the chair at the stroke of midnight, whispering temptations and dark secrets. Some witnesses claim they feel an invisible weight pressing against them the moment they sit down, suggesting the Devil was already there waiting.

One particularly chilling tale tells of a young man who accepted a dare to sit in the chair at midnight on Halloween—he entered the cemetery and was never seen again, remaining missing to this day. His disappearance has become part of the chair’s dark legend.

George P. Colby, the spiritualist camp’s founder, is frequently seen wandering the cemetery grounds along with other spirits of mediums and psychics buried there. Visitors report encounters with shadowy figures moving between gravestones and hearing disembodied voices speaking in the darkness.

Most Haunted Spot Inside

The Devil’s Chair itself is the epicenter of all paranormal activity in the cemetery. The area immediately surrounding the brick bench experiences the most intense supernatural phenomena, particularly at midnight when the veil between worlds is said to be thinnest.

Can You Visit?

Open to the Public? Yes, during daylight hours only

Entry Fee: Free

Tour Availability: The cemetery is open to the public during daylight hours for respectful visitation. However, it is strictly closed after dusk (7:00 PM), and trespassing is actively enforced by local authorities with security guards posted, especially on Halloween.

Photography Allowed? Yes

Visiting Hours: Dawn to 7:00 PM daily; anyone on premises after dark is considered a trespasser and subject to arrest

Best Time to Visit

Visit during late afternoon before the 7:00 PM closure to experience the atmospheric setting without legal consequences. According to legend, midnight on Halloween would be the most potent time for paranormal encounters, but the cemetery is heavily guarded and closed at night, making legal access impossible.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Countless visitors have photographed the chair and discovered unexplained “energy orbs” and shadowy figures in their images that weren’t visible when the photos were taken. Paranormal investigators using specialized equipment have recorded unexplained phenomena and strange readings near the chair.

Multiple witnesses report feeling an overwhelming sense of being watched when approaching the chair, accompanied by sudden temperature drops despite Florida’s warm climate. Some describe hearing whispers and feeling invisible hands touching their shoulders when standing near the bench.

Local historian Deborah Bauer confirms there’s “a well-documented history of what I can only describe as the unexplained,” with paranormal psychologists capturing recordings and evidence of substantial supernatural activity.

Local Legends & Myths

The beer legend is perhaps the most famous—countless people have left unopened cans on the chair overnight, only to find them completely empty by morning while still sealed. Some variations claim the can simply vanishes, while others report finding it opened despite no visible tampering.

Local spiritualist Rev. Louis Gates admits there’s truth to the beer myth, though not supernatural—teenagers in the 1960s-70s would hide behind the chair, steal the beer, drink it, and return the empty can, perpetuating the legend. However, this explanation doesn’t account for all reported incidents, especially modern ones.

The missing young man on Halloween has become a cautionary tale, though his identity and the details of his disappearance remain shrouded in mystery, with some questioning whether the story is true or an urban legend designed to keep thrill-seekers away.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The cemetery has become a hotspot for paranormal investigators and legend-trippers, with the Devil’s Chair serving as a focal point for supernatural research. Teams have documented consistent EMF anomalies, EVP recordings of unexplained voices, and photographic evidence of apparitions and orbs.

The site’s connection to Cassadaga—built on what many believe is a spiritual vortex or point of concentrated psychic energy—may explain the heightened paranormal activity. The combination of this natural energy, the spiritualist community’s constant contact with spirits, and the cemetery’s history creates what investigators call a “perfect storm” of supernatural phenomena.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

Trespassing after 7:00 PM is strictly prohibited and actively enforced—violators will be arrested and prosecuted. On Halloween, the cemetery may be completely closed with multiple security guards and local mediums blocking roads to prevent access, as decades of vandalism have forced these extreme measures.

Many gravestones have been toppled by vandals over the years, and disrespectful behavior is not tolerated. Visitors must remain respectful, as this is an active burial site serving the Lake Helen and Cassadaga communities.