7 Places in Pensacola for Paranormal Activity and Spooky Vibes

Pensacola is America's First Settlement, with a rich history of over 460 years. Haunts are seen and heard lurking around several places in Pensacola. There's more haunts and stories just waiting to be discovered by you, to tempt fate- if you dare.

In Pensacola, history doesn't just sit quietly; it haunts.

Seville Quarter

With a history dating back decades, Seville Quarter is our first stop. The building itself dates back to the 1800s and used to be a warehouse. It first opened in 1967 as Rosie O Grady's Good Time Emporium. Over the years, guests have reported different chilling encounters and unexplained phenomena inside Seville Quarter—these spirits won't be found in just your glass.

If you're brave enough, you can experience the ghosts of Seville Quarter yourself. The After Dark – Seville Quarter Ghosts, Murder, Mayhem, Mystery Tour, and Dinner, offered by Pensacola History Haunting Tours & Events, promises an experience that will leave you questioning every sound and shadow in that place. If that doesn't satisfy your paranormal activity, they offer several other tours that are more chilling than that.

Pensacola Lighthouse

The Pensacola Lighthouse has been casting a shadow over the coast since 1859. It's not known only as a historic landmark but also for the eerie tales surrounding history. Featured on The Travel Channel's "Most Haunted Lighthouses" segment and investigated by "Ghost Hunters," this lighthouse is a portal to the unknown. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the lighthouse is said to be home to six restless spirits who have never left. They even offer haunted tours. You might feel watched by the wife of one of the first keepers; her presence can be seen and sometimes felt. Don't say you weren't warned.

19th Century Historic District Homes

In the Historic District of Downtown Pensacola, there are several homes with hauntings and legends from years past. If you're brave enough, hop on one of the many tours and hear the tales for yourself. Some of the stops may include the Pensacola Victorian Bed & Breakfast, Dorr House, and more. If you think about it, a lot of the homes in the Downtown area were in existence in the 1800s holding stories that will chill you to the bone.

Pensacola History and Haunting Tours and Events, Go Retro, and Historic Pensacola offer these paranormal tours. If you dare to listen, the spirits of Pensacola have much to tell.

Fort Barrancas is across the waterway and was completed in 1844. It has several reports of paranormal activity, and its brick walls stand strong today. The fort is alive with spirits who once walked its corridors.

St Michaels and St Johns Cemeteries

St Michael's Cemetery was used as a burial ground as early as the mid-1700s. This is one of Pensacola's oldest burial grounds, where history and paranormal activity intersect. There have been reports of people seeing lights and voices at night, and Civil War soldiers were buried here. St John's Cemetery was established in 1876 and is Pensacola's second public cemetery. Step back in time and take a walk around these historic cemeteries if you dare.

Pensacola Museum of Art

Built in 1906 as the City Jail, the Pensacola Museum of Art looms over Downtown Pensacola today and is said to be haunted. What once was a space for confinement has now transformed into a space for art – and well, the hauntings of the past. Visitors have experienced unexplained strange occurrences. Maybe the spirits of those confined have never actually left? See for yourself.

Old Sacred Heart Hospital

Now home to several businesses on the lower floors like Lamonte Gelato, A Mano Panino, and more, the Old Sacred Heart Hospital still stands today in East Pensacola. Built in 1915, the historic structure served as Pensacola's primary medical facility for decades until the newer hospital came to be around the 1960s. Visitors and workers alike have reported nurse/patient apparitions have been seen, and as you walk down its dimly lit halls, you just might get the unsettling feeling that you're not alone.

And there you have it, Pensacola. The city’s paranormal past offers stories waiting to be discovered and adventures just waiting to be uncovered.

Author

Hannah Pinson

Website Associate, Visit Pensacola

Hannah is the Website Associate at Visit Pensacola. She has lived in Pensacola for close to ten years and grew up in the Florida panhandle. When she's not at work, you can probably find her at the beach going for a sunset swim, walking on the Pensacola Beach Pier, or snorkeling on a sunny day. Hannah is passionate about all things digital and loves content creation as well as taking photos and videos. Whether it be grabbing a bite to eat in Downtown Pensacola, shopping, or going for a swim in the Gulf, Hannah is definitely a Pensa-local.

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