With Halloween approaching, it’s time for ghost stories and spooky local legends.
Back in 2011, Chris Christian, host of Jacksonville’s "Local Haunts," investigated some of Northeast Florida’s supposedly most haunted places.
Are restless spirits really lurking, or are there other explanations?
Inspired by his findings, here are 13 reportedly haunted locations across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida that you can explore and decide for yourself this Halloween season.
1. TacoLu: Haunted Mexican restaurant
Location: 1712 Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250.
TacoLu is a Mexican restaurant known for its tacos, guacamole, and reported paranormal activity. The restaurant is rumored to be haunted by a woman
who may have been connected to the building’s earlier history as a home and restaurant called the Homestead.
Why TacoLu haunted?
According to local stories, people have reported seeing a woman looking through the windows or sitting at the bar when nobody else was there. Others have described shadows and flickering lights, especially near the women’s restroom. During a "Local Haunts" investigation, Steve Christian and his team reportedly recorded unexplained voices and sounds they believed were responses from spirits.
2. THIRTYTREESTAR: Haunted boutique
Location: 308 3rd Street South, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250.
THIRTYTREESTAR is a rock-and-roll boutique opened by Thressa Anderson in 2011 in a building that once housed Ossi Grocery Store in the 1950s. The boutique is known for its alternative fashion and reports of mysterious dimes, strange lights, and possible ghost encounters.
Why is THIRTYTREESTAR haunted?
According to Anderson, dimes frequently appear around the store, possibly connecting the building to neighboring Ginger’s Place. She said, "(The dimes are) just everywhere ... Even when we go out of town we find them … at one time we had enough to fill up an 8 ounce glass."
Anderson also reported stories about a spirit named Sarah in the upstairs bathroom. Describing one customer's alleged experience, she said, "The woman was trying to pull up her pants and Sarah yanked them down," followed by, "She ran out of the store crying."
Customers have reportedly felt pats on their backs in dressing room number three. Anderson explained: "Dressing room number three also has spirits ... It's always when girls are trying on formal dresses and they'll feel a pat on the back, like mom or dad would pat you on the back." Staff have also reported seeing balls of light, while Christian and his team believed they recorded possible communication from former grocery store owner Philip Ossi.
3. The Sandmark House: Haunted clock store
Location: 10913 Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida 32246.
The Sandmark House is a clock store selling timepieces of various sizes. The store is known for reports of missing objects and unexplained activity.
Why is the Sandmark House haunted?
Store manager Connie Allan said objects sometimes go missing, although she usually assumes they have been misplaced. During an investigation, Steve Christian and his team believed they encountered about five spirits. One local theory connects the alleged hauntings to people who reportedly died in traffic accidents near the former Papa’s nightclub across the street. Christian also believed a boss-like spirit was moving objects around the store.
After listening to investigation recordings, Allan said, "It was neat," adding, "I could hear stuff on the tape a little and I could for sure hear 'hey there.'"
4. Pete’s Bar: Haunted bar
Location: 117 1st Street, Neptune Beach, Florida 32266.
Pete’s Bar is a historic bar that opened in 1933 after Prohibition ended. The bar is known for its long history and reports of rattling bottles, mysterious noises, and moving pool balls.
Why is Pete's Bar haunted?
Co-owner Nancy Jensen has reportedly witnessed bottles shaking behind the bar, while bartenders have described seeing white figures near closing time. Bartender Harry Mercer said, "I do believe the place is haunted," explaining, "I hear weird noises and things have happened like I'll find a pool ball on the floor three hours after I cleaned the place and I'll know it wasn't there before."
During an investigation, Christian’s team reportedly recorded possible spirit voices and filmed a ping-pong ball moving on its own. Christian also believed he saw the apparition of the bar’s deceased original owner, Pete Jensen. He said, "I actually saw Pete," describing a floating head that appeared to smile at him before disappearing.
5. Old St. Andrews Church: Haunted historic church
Location: 317 A. Philip Randolph Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida.
Old St. Andrews Church is a historic church built in 1887. It was saved from possible demolition in the 1990s by the Weaver Foundation and the Jacksonville Historical Society. The church is known for its historic architecture and reports of unexplained voices during paranormal investigations.
Why is Old St. Andrews Church haunted?
During an investigation, Steve Christian and his team reportedly recorded several electronic voice phenomena (EVP) recordings and heard a disembodied voice inside the church. Christian described the building as especially active with paranormal activity. These experiences have contributed to the church’s haunted reputation, although the claims remain unverified.
6. Jacksonville Beach Museum: Haunted museum
Location: 381 Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250.
The Jacksonville Beach Museum preserves historical artifacts and exhibits about the area's history. The museum is known for its historical collections and reports of paranormal activity, particularly in the women’s restroom.
Why is the Jacksonville Beach Museum haunted?
During a 2011 investigation involving Florida Times-Union reporter Maggie Fitzroy and Steve Christian’s "Local Haunts" team, a museum employee reportedly said she felt uncomfortable in the women’s restroom. Christian identified it as a possible paranormal hotspot. The team also reportedly filmed the restroom door closing after a request and recorded unexplained voices, including one that sounded like someone saying the name “Michael.”
7. Jacksonville Beach Lifeguard Station: Haunted lifeguard station
Location: 2 Ocean Front North, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250.
The Jacksonville Beach Lifeguard Station was built in 1946 to replace an earlier lifesaving station established by volunteers in the early 1900s. The building also reportedly treated patients with medical conditions unrelated to beach accidents. The station is known for its lifesaving history and reports of moving shadows and mysterious voices.
Why is the Jacksonville Beach Lifeguard Station haunted?
During a Local Haunts investigation, Steve Christian and his team reportedly saw shadows moving past a doorway and across a window. An EVP recording led them to believe one spirit was named Todd. The team also captured other unexplained sounds and interpreted one recording as saying, "drowning is a killer of people."
8. Ginger’s Place: Haunted bar
Location: 304 3rd Street South, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250.
Ginger’s Place is a bar associated with former owner Darlene Edith Payson, known as Ginger, who was a burlesque dancer. The building reportedly dates back to the 1950s. The bar is known for its history and stories that Ginger’s spirit continues to visit the establishment after her death in 2003.
Why is Ginger's Place haunted?
Ginger’s daughter, Candyce Breidert, said nickels frequently appear around the bar. She explained, "She leaves us nickels, I mean you find them everywhere," adding, "They've told us it's just a way for them to say hi."
Breidert also described feeling and seeing what she believes is her mother’s spirit, saying, "I've felt my mother around me," and "But I've also seen my mother." Staff have reportedly noticed mysterious lights, objects falling, and the scent of Ginger’s familiar cologne. During an investigation, Christian’s team reported seeing moving shadows and recording a possible spirit saying “local haunts.”
9. St. Augustine Lighthouse: Haunted lighthouse
Location: 100 Red Cox Road, St. Augustine, Florida 32080.
The St. Augustine Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse on Anastasia Island overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Its current tower was built in the 1870s. The lighthouse is known for its maritime history and reputation as one of Northeast Florida’s most famous allegedly haunted locations.
Why is the St. Augustine Lighthouse haunted?
According to lighthouse representative Shannon O’Neil, three children died in an accident during the lighthouse’s construction. Visitors have reportedly heard children laughing and felt something tug at their clothes. During a 2005 investigation, the Ghost Hunters team recorded what sounded like a woman saying, "help me," and filmed possible shadow figures.
Steve Christian’s Local Haunts team also reported capturing mysterious lights and an EVP recording they interpreted as two spirits saying, "let's attack for the camera." O’Neil also described lights gradually dimming by themselves while she was closing the building. These reports remain unverified.
10. Florida Theatre: Haunted Historic Theatre
Location: 128 East Forsyth Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32202.
The Florida Theatre is a historic entertainment venue built in the 1920s and one of Florida’s surviving movie palaces. The theater is known for its historic architecture, live entertainment, and reports of possible apparitions.
Why is the Florida Theatre haunted?
Steve Christian and his team reportedly captured video of two possible apparitions, including a human-shaped figure in Section 500, Row E, Seat 2. The television series "Fact or Faked" later investigated the footage and reportedly detected an unusual heat signature in the same seat.
During another investigation, medium Pamela Theresa reportedly believed the theater contained a hierarchy of protective spirits. Christian’s team estimated that more than 50 spirits might be present. These claims have not been scientifically verified.
11. Jacksonville Fire Museum: Haunted fire station
The Jacksonville Fire Museum occupies a historic former fire station. Fire Station No. 3 opened in 1886 but was destroyed during the Great Fire of 1901. A replacement station was built using bricks salvaged from buildings destroyed in the fire. The museum preserves Jacksonville’s firefighting history and is also associated with reports of unexplained voices.
Location: 620 E. Bay St. in downtown Jacksonville, Florida (within the future Shipyards West Park). The structure was moved to its current Bay Street location in March 2022 to make way for riverfront development.
Why is the Jacksonville Fire Museum haunted?
During a Local Haunts investigation, Steve Christian and his team reportedly recorded voices they interpreted as conversations with two spirits. They also claimed to hear a disembodied voice without needing to enhance the recording. The words they reported hearing were "hang it up." These experiences have contributed to the museum’s haunted reputation, although the claims remain unverified.
12. Green Cove Springs Jail: Haunted historic jail
Location: 21 Gratio Place, near State Road 16, Green Cove Springs, Florida.
The Green Cove Springs Jail, also called the Old Clay County Jail, was built in 1894. It once served as a jail and is now used for historical and archival purposes. The former jail is known for its history of incarceration and reports of unexplained activity. Its history reportedly includes five executions by hanging, a sheriff’s assassination, and an inmate who died after slitting his own throat.
Why is Green Cove Springs Jail haunted?
Archival specialist Vishi Garig reportedly said she had seen apparitions and heard unexplained noises inside the building. During a Local Haunts investigation, a team member reported having her hair pulled. Investigators also reportedly recorded possible spirit voices and filmed an unexplained orb of light. The jail has also reportedly been investigated by the television series Ghost Hunters. These stories have contributed to its haunted reputation, although the paranormal claims remain unverified.
13. The King House: Haunted historic house
Location: Ocean Street, Mayport, Florida. The exact street address was not provided.
The King House is a historic building dating back to the 1800s. It once served as a boarding house for sailors and was rebuilt in 1907 by William King after a fire. The house is known for its history, its reported location atop an old Spanish graveyard, and local legends of a tragic murder and unexplained activity.
Why is The King House haunted?
According to stories shared by William King’s relatives and reported by Diane Uhley in the Florida Times-Union archives, the King House is believed to be haunted because of a tragic murder legend and unexplained activity. Legend says a jealous man killed his former lover with a pitchfork on the house’s porch. Relatives also reported that a rocking chair on the porch would move by itself, even when nobody was sitting in it. Adding to the house’s haunted reputation are stories that it was built over an old Spanish graveyard. These tales have contributed to the King House’s reputation as a supposedly haunted historic location, although the paranormal claims remain unverified.
Doris Alvarez is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for The Florida Times-Union. You can get all of Jacksonville’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free Daily Briefing and News Alerts newsletters at jacksonville.com/newsletters
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: 13 haunted places in Jacksonville and the chilling history behind them
