Experience Tallahassee's Spooky Side
...if you dare!
Whether it’s Halloween, Friday the 13th or just a full-moon… Tallahassee is full of spooky attractions that’ll have you questioning every creak, shadow, and cold draft (or maybe just the air conditioning). Surrounded by mysterious {yet boo-tiful} ancient oak trees, Tallahassee is a hauntingly historical destination!
Enjoy this list of hair-raising sites and stories in and around Florida’s Capital City that will surely give you a good fright. From ghostly graves, haunted homes, walking tours and more, these local landmarks are so good – you’ll scream!
Warning: Ghost sightings may cause extreme goosebumps!
* Locations are fright-rated with our 1 – 5 Goose Bump Meter.
Goose Bump Fright Meter Ratings:
1 out of 5 Goosebumps: Barely a tingle. Perfect for those who enjoy a gentle ghost story with minimal chills. You’ll sleep like a baby after this one!
2 out of 5 Goosebumps: A few shivers down the spine. Enough to make you glance over your shoulder but not enough to keep you up at night.
3 out of 5 Goosebumps: Moderately eerie. Expect some hair-raising moments and the occasional chill that lingers just a bit longer than you’d like.
4 out of 5 Goosebumps: Pretty spooky! Get ready for some serious thrills and chills that might just make you rethink turning off the lights.
5 out of 5 Goosebumps: Terrifying! This one’s for the bravest of the brave. You’ll be clutching your flashlight and wondering if you’ll ever feel warm again.
Grave of Elizabeth Budd-Graham
Nestled in Tallahassee’s oldest public cemetery, the curious grave of Elizabeth “Bessie” Budd-Graham is a unique memorial for what some believe was a kind, “white witch.” What makes the story curious is Bessie’s tombstone – a towering ornate obelisk, which happens to be the most visited grave in the entire cemetery. What was even stranger about Bessie’s tomb is the epitaph chiseled on the front (which historians have translated to have many dark witch references throughout). While some have claimed Bessie was a “good witch,” others are not so sure when they feel the energy of the grave itself. Take a self-guided tour—if you’re brave enough to face the ‘friendly’ ghost vibes. Who knows, you might feel a friendly chill (or is that the wind?).
5 out of 5 Goosebumps
The Columns
This historic home was initially designed for Benjamin Chaires, a well-known plantation owner and banker in the 1800s – today, it’s the home of the James Madison Institute, an organization that encourages free-market ideas. There have been reports of paranormal activity here, which center around the first floor – or on the porch, where the figure of a woman dressed in period clothing is sometimes seen walking into the house and straight into the fireplace.
3 out of 5 Goosebumps
Knott House Museum
Built in 1843, this historic home is the former residence of state official William Knott and his wife, Luella. In 1865, the home served as temporary Union Headquarters – where the Emancipation Proclamation was first read in Florida on May 20, 1865, a full month before June 19, 1865, when the remainder of the nation recognized that all enslaved persons were emancipated. Restored to its 1928 grandeur, the home is now a museum, which is said to be haunted by a ghost who appeared in a photograph one of the staff members took while doing inventory. The photograph is now displayed proudly in the museum’s collection. Often, when staff members arrive in the morning to unlock the house, those inside doors are all closed – while people who have passed by late at night reported seeing lights switching on and off inside the locked and empty house – as if someone was going from room to room. The cabinet filled with the family’s fine china will sometimes open as visitors pass by as if to offer a cup of tea, and a strange man has been reflected in the mirrors throughout the home.
4 out of 5 Goosebumps
Please note that the museum’s interior is currently closed for renovations, but the exterior is well worth a visit.
Velda Mound Park
Velda Mound is an archaeological site that people of the Fort Walton culture first occupied during the late prehistoric period. The site, now owned by the State of Florida and managed as a community park, is where some have reportedly seen visions of Native Americans keeping warm by a fire, complete with the sounds of crackling wood – but after a split second… they vanish. There has also been talk of many people seeing a glowing white wolf – while neighbors agree they’ve heard howling in the middle of the night.
2 out of 5 Goosebumps
Ghost Tours
Discover the haunted history of Tallahassee with local ghost tours that blend eerie legends with fascinating facts. Operated by seasoned guides, these tours will take you through the city’s spookiest spots, offering tales that are as chilling as they are captivating.
Storied Paths
Embark on a spine-tingling journey through downtown Tallahassee’s haunted past with Storied Paths offering guided walking ghost tours that lead through eerie pathways and share whispers of old town lore, making the past come alive. As you traverse the ghostly nooks, each step will unveil the stories that have lingered through centuries. Venture if you dare and let Stephanie from Storied Paths guide you through the spectral side of this charming city, sharing a unique history that even gives locals the spine shivers.
5 out of 5 Goosebumps
Historic Monticello Ghost Tours
Venture 25 miles east of Tallahassee to Monticello, Florida, known for being one of the most haunted small towns in the south. Home to Indian mounds, historic buildings, superstitious tourists, history lovers and supernatural hobbyists. Visitors can walk the town’s dark streets, take an exclusive look inside the old jail, and explore the ghostly nooks and crannies with an expert guide.
All Victorian Haunted History tours and Moonlight Cemetery Walks are currently being scheduled on an as requested basis. Follow their Facebook page at Historic Monticello Ghost Tours to reserve your tour dates.
5 out of 5 Goosebumps
