10 Haunted Hotels in Florida Where Guests Claim They Still Hear Footsteps

Florida’s sunny beaches and tropical vibes hide a darker side – historic hotels with chilling ghost stories. These elegant establishments have hosted both the living and, if stories are to be believed, the dead who refuse to check out.

From the hallways of century-old mansions to the grand ballrooms of beach resorts, unexplained footsteps echo through the night, leaving guests both terrified and fascinated by their supernatural encounters.

1. The Pink Palace’s Lingering Founder at The Don CeSar Hotel

Built in 1928, this flamingo-pink landmark on St. Pete Beach carries the heartbreaking tale of Thomas Rowe, who constructed the Mediterranean-style resort for his lost love. After his death in the hotel lobby in 1940, staff and guests report seeing Rowe’s ghost wandering the hotel corridors late at night.

Security guards frequently investigate reports of footsteps in empty hallways, particularly on the fifth floor. One front desk employee described hearing distinct footfalls approaching the desk at 3 AM, yet nobody appeared.

The most common occurrence involves the ghostly couple believed to be Rowe and his beloved Lucinda, seen walking hand-in-hand toward the ocean before vanishing into thin air. Room 552 generates the most paranormal reports, with guests describing the sensation of someone sitting on their bed.

2. Gangster Hauntings at The Biltmore Hotel

Standing majestically in Coral Gables since 1926, the Biltmore became a military hospital during World War II before reclaiming its luxury hotel status. Its 13th floor reportedly houses the restless spirit of gangster Thomas “Fatty” Walsh, who was murdered there during the Prohibition era.

Guests staying near the old gambling suite report hearing mysterious footsteps pacing back and forth at night. The elevator mysteriously stops at the 13th floor without buttons being pressed, and glasses at the bar occasionally move on their own.

Hotel staff share stories about room 1229, where lights flicker without explanation and guests report being awakened by the sound of someone walking around their bed. One security guard quit after repeatedly finding the ballroom lights on despite locking up hours earlier.

3. Medieval Mysteries at Casa Monica Resort & Spa

This Moorish Revival masterpiece in historic St. Augustine dates back to 1888 and features Spanish-inspired architecture that houses more than just paying guests. Housekeepers refuse to clean certain rooms alone after encountering shadowy figures that vanish when approached.

Room 411 generates the most complaints, with guests reporting footsteps crossing the floor when no one is there. Several visitors have checked out early after hearing children laughing in the hallway late at night, only to find empty corridors.

The fourth floor corridor regularly triggers EMF detectors during ghost tours, particularly near the spot where a hotel worker allegedly died in the 1920s. The most frequent paranormal activity occurs in the Flagler Suite, where heavy furniture reportedly moves overnight despite no one entering the room.

4. Spectral Jazz at The Vinoy Renaissance Hotel

The Vinoy’s pink Mediterranean Revival façade has graced St. Petersburg’s waterfront since 1925, hosting celebrities, politicians, and apparently, guests who never left. During renovations in the 1990s, construction workers reported tools moving overnight and unexplained cold spots throughout the building.

The fifth floor generates numerous reports of phantom footsteps following guests down the hallway. One frequent business traveler requested a room change after being awakened three nights in a row by the sound of jazz music and party chatter from the empty room next door.

Hotel staff share stories about a ghostly gentleman in 1920s attire who appears in the restaurant, believed to be Aymer Vinoy Laughner, the hotel’s original owner. The basement storage areas particularly unnerve employees, who report hearing their names whispered when working alone among the historic artifacts.

5. Colonial Spirits at St. Francis Inn

As St. Augustine’s oldest inn, this colonial-era structure from 1791 has accumulated numerous spectral residents across its centuries of operation. Lily, the most famous ghost, reportedly haunts the Lily Room where she died of a broken heart after her soldier lover was killed.

Guests report hearing military boots marching down the third-floor hallway at dawn. The inn’s night manager documented dozens of instances where the antique piano in the parlor plays by itself, typically just a few notes before stopping.

Room 3 generates the most paranormal activity, with guests reporting bedsheets being gently tucked around them while sleeping. Multiple visitors have captured orbs and strange mists in photographs taken in the garden courtyard. The rocking chair in the library frequently moves on its own, accompanied by the scent of pipe tobacco when no one is smoking.

6. Roaring 20s Remnants at The Casa Marina Hotel

Overlooking Jacksonville Beach since 1925, this Spanish-Mediterranean gem hosted Hollywood royalty during Florida’s golden age. The hotel’s most famous ghostly resident is believed to be a young flapper who died tragically during a beachside party in the 1920s.

Guests in the historic wing report hearing the clickety-clack of high heels on hardwood floors at night, even in carpeted rooms. The grand ballroom experiences frequent temperature drops, with wedding photographers capturing unexplained orbs and mists in formal pictures.

Room 107 generates the most paranormal reports, with guests feeling someone sitting on their bed or hearing a woman humming vintage tunes. Hotel staff avoid certain storage areas after hours, particularly the original wine cellar where full-bodied apparitions have been reported. The beachfront veranda often fills with the phantom scent of cigarettes and perfume around sunset.

7. Medical Mysteries at Loews Don Vicente de Ybor Historic Inn

Originally built in 1895 as a hospital and medical office for Dr. Vicente Martinez-Ybor, this Tampa landmark later served as a hotel where guests report encounters with spirits from its medical past. The third floor, once housing surgical suites, generates reports of moaning sounds and phantom footsteps at night.

Room 305 receives the most paranormal complaints, with guests reporting medical instruments appearing on nightstands only to vanish moments later. Several visitors have described being awakened by the sensation of someone checking their pulse or temperature.

The grand staircase is a hotspot for apparitions, particularly of a nurse in vintage uniform seen ascending the steps before disappearing. Hotel staff report frequent issues with electronics, especially in the former treatment rooms where lights flicker and devices turn on by themselves. The basement, once the hospital morgue, remains the most active area, with maintenance workers refusing to go there alone.

8. Captain’s Quarters at The Historic Peninsula Inn

This charming Victorian structure in Gulfport began as a medical facility for returning Spanish-American War veterans before becoming a hotel in the early 1900s. Its most famous spectral resident is Isabelle, a young woman who died there during its hospital days and now playfully moves objects throughout the building.

Guests staying in the Captain’s Room report hearing sea shanties softly sung at night and the distinct sound of a wooden leg thumping across the floor. Several visitors have awakened to find their personal items rearranged into neat patterns.

The hotel’s restaurant experiences frequent paranormal activity, with plates sliding across tables and wine glasses clinking together without being touched. Staff members report seeing a full-bodied apparition of a military officer in period uniform standing at the top of the main staircase before fading away. Room 302, once the surgical area, remains the most actively haunted space.

9. Victorian Visitors at The Seven Sisters Inn

Located in Ocala’s historic district, this Victorian mansion-turned-inn consists of two adjacent historic homes filled with antiques and apparently, former residents. Each themed room reportedly hosts its own spectral entity, with the Victorian and Renaissance rooms generating the most paranormal activity.

Guests frequently report hearing children laughing and running down hallways late at night. The inn’s most active spirit, believed to be a former owner named Emma, makes her presence known by the scent of rose perfume and footsteps in the main parlor.

Multiple paranormal investigation teams have captured EVPs (electronic voice phenomena) throughout the property, particularly on the second floor landing. Staff members report finding doors unlocked that were securely locked the night before, and objects in the gift shop often move positions overnight. The breakfast room experiences frequent temperature drops, even during Florida’s hottest months.

10. Plantation Presences at The Herlong Mansion Inn

Built in 1845 as a simple farmhouse and transformed into a grand Greek Revival mansion in 1910, this Micanopy landmark sits on land that was once a plantation. Guests and staff report encounters with Inez Herlong, the matriarch who transformed the home and apparently never left.

The Zebra Room generates the most reports of paranormal activity, with guests feeling someone sitting on their bed at night. Multiple visitors have described being awakened by the sensation of a gentle hand stroking their hair, particularly female guests with long hair.

The grand staircase frequently captures mysterious orbs in photographs, and the chandelier in the main foyer swings gently without any breeze. Kitchen staff report hearing their names called when working alone, and doors throughout the mansion open and close by themselves. The veranda rocking chairs often move on their own, as if someone invisible is enjoying the evening air.