St. Augustine, FL
When you think of haunted structures, it usually involves the unexplained, mystery, and creepiness. Some fictional houses that come to mind are the mansion in The Haunting and the farmhouse in The Conjuring. Even the Victorian-style house in Beetlejuice is super creepy. And then there is the Old Jail, a real piece of haunted history.
Recognized as one of the most haunted buildings in the country, the Old Jail is shrouded in mystery and lore. The Romanesque Revival-style historic building was built in 1891 by the Pauly Jail Company, the same company that built Alcatraz. It housed some of St. Augustine’s most notorious prisoners until 1953 when it was closed due to its deplorable conditions and the cruelty that it inflicted on the inmates. The jail carried out eight hangings on the gallows of the property where the public was invited to watch the executions. In addition, there were many other deaths that can only be described as suspicious.
The property has never been vacant. After it closed, it was turned into a museum and has changed hands three times. It was purchased by H.L. McDaniel, who then sold it to Melvin Bayer in 1986, who renovated the property, adding a restaurant, gift shop, and snack bar. He then sold it to the current owners, Historic Tours of America in 1999.
The Old Jail Museum consists of the old sheriff’s living quarters, weapons, and a guided tour, going over the history of the building including the hangings that took place on the property. For many years, visitors to the jail have experienced everything from doors slamming while there is no one else in the building to seeing shadowy figures to even being physically assaulted. Perhaps these are the reasons why many believe the Old Jail to be a hotbed for paranormal activity and why it has become a popular destination for ghost hunters everywhere including on popular TV shows such as Kindred Spirits and Ghost Hunters.
Visit
To get in on the paranormal action, I recommend booking their Ghost and Gravestones Tour, which offers a ghost tour with nighttime access to the site. Experienced guides share investigative techniques to prepare you for any strange and peculiar phenomena that you may encounter. Each guest will be provided with and trained to use ghost-hunting equipment. These run year-long, but you need to schedule in advance as slots book up fast.
For more info visit: trolley tours
167, San Marco Avenue, Uptown, Saint Augustine, Saint Johns County, Florida, 32084
Comments