Haunted Places in Gardner, Florida
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Old Blue House
Arcadia, FL
10.1 miles from Gardner, FL
Numerous paranormal websites claim there's an "Old Blue House" in Arcadia, FL where an entire family haunts the place. They supposedly were murdered in the house more than a century ago (though some reports say a new house has been rebuilt over this one). We've been told this house has …
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Old Opera House
Arcadia, FL
10.1 miles from Gardner, FL
Now a museum, with an antique shop as well, the Old Opera House in Arcadia has a number of weird goings-on. One worker tells of hearing the distinctive noise of a crowd in the old auditorium, but of course when she went to investigate, there was no one there. The …
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Plaza Hotel
Arcadia, FL
10.2 miles from Gardner, FL
The restaurant on the ground floor of this 1925 building is supposedly haunted. Staff have reported the apparition of an African American woman in a white apron in the kitchen and dining room, as well as a pair of ghostly men who have been arguing after the establishment has closed …
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Popash School
Zolfo Springs, FL
12.0 miles from Gardner, FL
This eerie abandoned school building stood on the outskirts of Wauchula for years and years before it was finally demolished in 2008. Before it was torn down it was a favorite place for ghost hunters, as the sounds of children playing were constantly heard in the area, even when no …
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Bloody Bucket Bridge
Wauchula, FL
13.1 miles from Gardner, FL
This spooky story starts more than a century ago with a slave midwife who was concerned that parents were having more babies than they could support. She is said to have smothered many babies and buried their bodies near the bridge. After many babies were killed, the midwife began to …
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Ghost Lights
Wauchula, FL
16.3 miles from Gardner, FL
People have been reporting ghost lights since the 1950s on Heard Bridge Road in Fort Meade, as well as on Keller road, past Disong. We've marked the Keller Road location on the map below.
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Hardee Correctional Institution
Bowling Green, FL
21.0 miles from Gardner, FL
There are vague reports of "voices" and a feeling like someone's walking just behind you at this correctional institution... though I'd venture to say its not uncommon to experience either in a high security prison!
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Harder Hall
Sebring, FL
22.0 miles from Gardner, FL
Built in the 1920s, urban legend states that every owner of this hotel has died under "strange circumstances" - often within the limits of the property. And we wouldn't want the facts to get in the way of a good story. Other ghost stories abound of former visitors who've decided …
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Ghost Lights of Bereah Road
Fort Meade, FL
23.0 miles from Gardner, FL
You may have to wait for a while, but supposedly if you hang about at night near the four-way stop of W. Bereah Road and County Line Road in Frostproof, you'll see some eerie "Ghost Lights" approach your car.
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Kenilworth Lodge
Sebring, FL
24.0 miles from Gardner, FL
There are a number of ghost stories surrounding this building, which dates back to 1916. Eerie feelings are reported on the staircase, and doors have been seen opening and closing entirely on their own. One guest heard voices outside his door throughout the night, and when he complained to the …
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Central Fire Station
Sebring, FL
24.3 miles from Gardner, FL
Forrest Howard, Sebring's fire chief in the 1940s and 1950s, is said to still roam the halls of his favorite fire station. Modern day firefighters swear they see him in the bunk area, and they occasionally smell faint scents of his much-beloved cigars.
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The Mailman of Avon Park
Avon Park, FL
24.9 miles from Gardner, FL
There have been persistent claims of seeing a ghostly mailman walking the streets near the intersection of Main Street and Lake Avenue, especially on foggy mornings. He disappears the moment you try to contact him.
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The Fisherwoman of Lake Arcola
Avon Park, FL
25.2 miles from Gardner, FL
Lake Arcola is no more - it dried up decades ago and is now mostly open fields with some water and a few small structures. And that's what makes it so weird that drivers on North Buckingham Road, which skirts the western edge of what used to be Lake Arcola, …
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Arbuckle Creek Bridge
Lorida, FL
29.6 miles from Gardner, FL
Legend has it that an old woman, one who was knowledgable with potions and healing, used to live nearby, and her spirit still haunts the bridge. So the tales say, the woman was hired to make a love potion, for which her payment was to be the client's first-born child. …
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Restlawn Memorial Gardens
Port Charlotte, FL
30.9 miles from Gardner, FL
There is (or was) supposedly an old worn-down shack on the premises of this cemetery where people experienced cold spots, bad smells, and ghostly visions of a woman. There is also a peculiar phenomenon in the immediately-surrounding area that locals call the "Killer Bee Phenomenon"... people continually hear the sound …
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Sandlin House
Punta Gorda, FL
32.8 miles from Gardner, FL
The Sandlin House has been advertised for sale for $1.59 million, and the ghost is included. The remodeled Victorian-style house is around 120 years old and is haunted by the spirit of then-owner James Sandlin's 14-year-old daughter Mary Leah, who in 1909 was ironing on the front porch and died …
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Indian Spring Cemetery
Punta Gorda, FL
34.6 miles from Gardner, FL
This is one of the oldest cemeteries in the area - there's even a former Governor of Florida buried here, named Albert Gilchrist (d. 1926). Lots of activity is reported, including ghost lights, disembodied noises that sound like screaming and moaning, and shadow figures.
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The Stanford Inn
Bartow, FL
37.5 miles from Gardner, FL
A "noisy" apparition, believed to be a former owner named Lee Meriwether, is said to inhabit this quaint modern-day bed and breakfast. Doors also allegedly close on their own, and disembodied footsteps can be heard on the staircase. The Stanford Inn was featured the 1991 film "My Girl," starring Dan …
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Webber International University - Camilla Hall
Babson Park, FL
37.6 miles from Gardner, FL
Camilla Hall, one of the girls-only dormitories at Webber International University, supposedly has a shadowy figure haunting the second floor.
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Old Polk County Courthouse
Bartow, FL
37.8 miles from Gardner, FL
The Old Polk County Courthouse in Bartow was built in 1909 on the foundations of the original courthouse, which dated back to the early 1880s. There are many claims here, including: - Screams from the basement (supposedly from a worker killed in an explosion on the site) - Apparitions appearing …
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Spook Hill
Lake Wales, FL
40.9 miles from Gardner, FL
Spook Hill is a gravity hill (an optical illusion where cars appear to roll up the spooky hill) in Lake Wales, Florida. Spook Hill is located on the Lake Wales Ridge, a geologically significant range of sand and limestone hills, which were islands from two to three million years ago, …
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Ringling Towers
Nokomis, FL
43.1 miles from Gardner, FL
No longer around (it was demolished in 1998), this old-school monster of a hotel was left to rot for many, many years in downtown Sarasota. It was a popular haunt for ghost hunters, who swore there were evil presences residing there.
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Pelican Alley Restaurant
Nokomis, FL
43.9 miles from Gardner, FL
This restaurant is said to be haunted by an earlier owner. Footsteps are heard late at night, doors open and close on their own and objects move without anyone touching them.
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Timber Chase Apartments
Sarasota, FL
44.0 miles from Gardner, FL
Supposedly the site of a 1992 stabbing murder, the ghost of the young female victim is said to still haunt the premises.
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The Hermitage
Englewood, FL
44.8 miles from Gardner, FL
This home, built around 1900, was a former nudist colony--but don't worry, we aren't dealing with a naked ghost here. Rumor has it that original builder, Swedish immigrant Carl Johanson, had a mother who was a healer. The mother used folk remedies and a mystical holy lead. When she passed …
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Ringling School of Art and Design
Sarasota, FL
45.9 miles from Gardner, FL
Once the "Bay Haven Hotel," the Keating Center building of Ringling School of Art and Design is believed to be the "haunt" of a young girl who hanged herself there years ago. She appears walking down the hallways of the building. Some art students say she swishes their paintbrushes around …
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JPV Woods
Winter Haven, FL
45.9 miles from Gardner, FL
Locals say if you go on the old dirt trail around midnight of August 13th, every year, you'll hear children screaming and crying for help.
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Belle Haven Inn
Sarasota, FL
45.9 miles from Gardner, FL
Orbs and full body apparitions have been reported here. One report says that flashes (on cameras) routinely fail while investigating this location.
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Braden Castle
Bradenton, FL
46.0 miles from Gardner, FL
This mid-1800s castle-like structure, now protected ruins, has had a long history of being haunted due to its years as a dilapidated, abandoned building. One amusing story centers on three men who set to explore the haunted site. They went through some harrowing scares before they were brave enough to …
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Manasota Memorial Park
Bradenton, FL
46.6 miles from Gardner, FL
A man and his wife claim to have heard a disembodied voice say "Hey you! Come here!" twice during a late-night visit to a family member's grave.
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Manatee Avenue
Bradenton, FL
46.7 miles from Gardner, FL
A single claim here dates back to 1992, from a law enforcement officer who was patrolling the 1700-1800 block of Manatee Avenue in Bradenton. He claimed to see a Victorian-era man in all black clothing, with a very pale, white face for about 2-3 seconds, who then disappeared and was …
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Scotty's Distribution Center
Winter Haven, FL
47.3 miles from Gardner, FL
No longer a Scotty's Distribution Center, but back in the day there was supposedly the ghost of a forklift driver that would continually haunt this area - particularly on the 4th of March.
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Florida Southern College
Lakeland, FL
47.7 miles from Gardner, FL
Vague tales from the night staff saying "eerie presences" touched or breathed on them.
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Florida Southern College - Annie Pfeiffer Chapel
Lakeland, FL
47.8 miles from Gardner, FL
Florida Southern College's chapel, one of the campus's famous Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings, may be home to the ghost of Wright himself. Rumor has it that the chapel's choir screen was installed incorrectly, and Wright's apparition has been seen in the chapel, poring over the improperly placed choir screen.
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City Walk Condominiums
Bradenton, FL
47.9 miles from Gardner, FL
Formerly known as Cedar Tree Village Apartments - now known as City Walk Condominiums. A spirit of a young man playing guitar has apparently been seen all over the Bradenton area. One sighting was allegedly under the 2013 building staircase here. (No staircase can be seen via Google maps however... …
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Manatee Playhouse
Bradenton, FL
48.2 miles from Gardner, FL
This old 1920's era playhouse is rumoured to be haunted by the apparition of a young girl. Staff also claim to have heard running footsteps in the hallways after dark. (Submitted by Callum Swift)
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Chart House
Longboat Key, FL
48.2 miles from Gardner, FL
This haunting is most often referenced as the "Old Ritz Carlton" haunting, but that's misleading, because there never was a Ritz-Carlton here. One was begun in the early 20th century but was never completed. During its initial construction, so the story goes, a worker's child fell down an elevator shaft …
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Hampton Inn and Suites
Bradenton, FL
48.4 miles from Gardner, FL
This 1920's style hotel was recently refurbished, which appears to have stirred up a whole lot of paranormal activity. Workers renovating the building reported that their tools would go missing, and that they would occasionally catch of a mysterious woman in a white dress on the seventh floor, who vanished …
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Palm View Cemetery
Palmetto, FL
48.9 miles from Gardner, FL
This is listed on several paranormal websites as a "haunted location," but without a single story to back it up. If you happen to know of anything odd that's happened here, please let us know. Otherwise, as far as we're concerned, it's just a normal graveyard!
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First National Bank Building
Fort Myers, FL
49.1 miles from Gardner, FL
This 1914 granite building, one of the grandest in its time, was more recently used as a setting for the film "Day of the Dead." Seen in the opening credits, the building was spattered with blood and filled with zombie actors. But the place is said to have a real …
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Harlee House
Palmetto, FL
49.2 miles from Gardner, FL
When a young family from Palmetto bought and restored the historic Harllee house on the Manatee River they were excited to renovate itl. Ironically, the original owner saw its potential all along. The new buyers found a love letter in one of the closets, only it was from Mrs. Harllee …
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James McCabe Theatre
Valrico, FL
49.8 miles from Gardner, FL
Reports say that paranormal groups have offered ghost tours as fund-raisers here. The 1915 building, once the Valrico Civic Center and then a woman’s club, is rumored to have more than a few haunts. Witnesses have seen apparitions and heard strange sounds, and experienced other odd occurrences.
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Center Place
Brandon, FL
49.9 miles from Gardner, FL
A spirit called (for some reason) "Matilda" is said to haunt this building. She was seen by at least one witness, and others claim to have either felt her presence or actually seen paintings and other objects move without explanation. Allegedly at one point local news reporters came into the …
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Fogartyville Cemetery
Bradenton, FL
50.4 miles from Gardner, FL
Some folks say there's a generally "creepy" feel to this cemetery, and maybe a bit more fog there than is usual or to be expected. Judge for yourself. There's also this, from HauntedFlorida.com: There was many years ago a slab with a crypt top. The crypt box had apparently cracked …
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Madira Bickel Mound
Terra Ceia, FL
50.9 miles from Gardner, FL
This state park was the first Native American location to be designated a "State Archaeological Site" in all of Florida. Occupation here goes back to around the 1st century AD. The mound itself is about 20 feet high and as wide as 170 feet, made of shells, sand and general …
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Port Boca Grande Light
Boca Grande, FL
52.2 miles from Gardner, FL
The Port Boca Grande Lighthouse was first used on December 31st, 1890. It served local shipping trafic for nearly 80 years before it was finally abandoned in 1969. It nearly fell to complete ruin due to erosion, but Lee County took control of the building in 1972 and eventually began …
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Useppa Island
Captiva, FL
54.0 miles from Gardner, FL
This island is named after a girl named Useppa who was kidnapped in Havana and imprisoned on this island by the pirate, Jose Gaspar. He murdered her here (beheaded her), and people swear they still see her headless ghost along the shore.
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Cabbage Key Inn
Captiva, FL
54.6 miles from Gardner, FL
According to the locals, the inn’s restaurant specialty “Cheeseburger in Paradise” inspired the Jimmy Buffett hit. Another of its claims to fame is its ghost. The apparition of a woman with long brown hair has been known to visit guest rooms, and a busboy's tub once flew across the kitchen. …
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Coquina Beach
Bradenton Beach, FL
55.0 miles from Gardner, FL
On the far southern end of Coquina Beach, just before the bridge, there used to be a hotel that is now just a picnic area. Supposedly a "male figure" in black clothing walks back and forth between the picnic area and the beach, even during daylight.
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Sun House Restaurant and Bar
Bradenton Beach, FL
55.7 miles from Gardner, FL
This upmarket restaurant appears to have changed ownership and name, but the ghosts that inhabit the building appear to have stayed behind. Staff working late hours have reportedly heard a man and woman arguing outside the managers office, but upon investigation, no one is there. Other reports of paranormal activity …
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