Top 7 haunted spots in Tampa Bay, from Pinellas to Hillsborough

It’s true — Halloween is really right around the corner. Since the 90-degree heat might not have you in the mood for All Hallow’s Eve — or perhaps you’re just burned out on Howl-O-Scream already — we took it upon ourselves to find out about some of the real nearby haunts you may not have heard about. 

We delved into local lore to find 10 places around Tampa Bay that have their own scare factor. Read on… if you dare.

7. Patty & Friends Antique Village Mall

This curious antique store in St. Pete is brimming with interesting finds — and ghosts, apparently. Items are regularly reported to be moved around after hours, lights turned on and even apparitions themselves have been seen. You see, as the store’s owner tells it, spirits will often attach themselves to objects that were important to them during their lives (and often the ghosts will disappear after an item has sold.) So you can imagine what a whole store full of them will be like! The store offers a free guided ghost tour around the shop twice a year. 1241 Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. St. N., St. Pete.

6. The Don CeSar

You most likely know about The Vinoy’s ghosts (the hotel was featured on Ghost Hunters after MLB players reported seeing a man in a top hat hovering over their beds), but did you know St. Pete Beach’s crown jewel is supposedly haunted? Don CeSar staff and guests alike have reported strange feelings, creepy noises and ghostly sightings. The most retold story is the sighting of the hotel’s original owner, Thomas Rowe, wandering around the property in a white suit. 3400 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach.

5. Comfort Station

Anyone who has walked the waterfront along downtown St. Pete has noticed the Comfort Station, the public restrooms that serve as a historic landmark. Turns out, these were built by Henry Taylor, the same architect who designed The Vinoy. Reports say apparitions have been spotted in the women’s restroom mirror, with one lady even reporting she had a conversation with someone named Agnes in the next stall. Only to realize, of course, that no one was there. Spooky. Second Avenue NE & Bayshore Drive NE, St. Pete.

4. Swope-Rodante, P.A.

The law offices here are housed in the former Tampa Brewery. Local legend says that during the brewery’s early days, a Cuban man died after a drunken brawl. His ghost has supposedly been seen here, and some folks have reported hearing a mysterious voice with a heavy Spanish accent. 1234 E. Fifth Ave., Tampa.

3. Gaspar’s Grotto 

This reportedly haunted hangout has photographic evidence of what appears to be an apparition appearing in the establishment. It might be tough to believe what you see, but something tells us these photos probably get more and more convincing the longer you stay. 1805 E. Seventh Ave., Tampa.

2. David Falk Theatre 

What is now a stage for the University of Tampa’s Theatre and Dance students was formerly known as the Park Theatre. Legend has it an actress named Bessie Snavely hung herself in a third-floor dressing room, continuing to haunt the theater to this day. 428 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa.

1. Beach Drive Inn

A cozy bed-and-breakfast on Beach Drive in downtown St. Pete has its own famous ghost story to share. The inn was featured on the A&E TV show Psychic Kids. The hosts nicknamed the ghost “Montego Mary,” as she is said to reside in the Montego Room. Guests staying in the room have reported a rocking chair that moves by itself. Is it Mary? 532 Beach Drive NE, St. Pete.

Other popular haunts (so to speak):

El Centro Español de Tampa

Dating back to 1912, stories from this historic community center in Ybor City include wailing babies (but no babies are to be found) and even candles mysteriously being relit on their own. Nope! Seventh Avenue and 16th Street, Tampa.

The Cuban Club 

This local gem, named one of the "Top 10 Most Haunted Places" by The Travel Channel, was originally a gathering place for the Cuban community when it was built in the early 20th century. After a fire in the 1900s and a rebuild, the Ybor building is now used for special events. Story has it that the building is haunted by an actor who killed himself on stage and another actor killed by a fellow board member. Some have also reported seeing a lady in red heels and a child playing. 2010 Republica de Cuba (14th Ave.), Tampa.

Ybor Resort & Spa

Another spot infamously featured on Ghost Hunters, the gay spa caught fire earlier this year. Built in 1904 and previously known as Trelles Clinic, visitors here have told of strange happenings. Reports range from a child pulling at their clothes and windows suddenly slamming shut to an apparition of a woman, supposedly the deceased wife of a doctor who worked here. No word on whether these ghosts stuck around after the flames. 1512 E. Eighth Ave., Tampa.

This article appears in Sep 27 – Oct 5, 2018.