The Wandering Disciple

Osprey, Florida: For the third straight year, we went to Historic Spanish Point for their annual Ghost Hunting Tour. Life at Spanish Point dates back over 5,000 years and in turn has plenty of opportunities to have paranormal experiences. A little but of procrastination combined with a busy schedule almost caused us to miss this year’s event. But we managed to get booked on the 7pm tour. While I was a little worried that it would be a little too bright still at the beginning of the tour, it turned out to be dark at just the right time. Shortly after seven, our group led by our tour guide Kara set off on a journey through the haunted history of Historic Spanish Point. For much of the night, our paranormal phone app was relatively quiet which is unusual for Spanish Point. In the past, our app would be going off like crazy but tonight it seemed to not be as active. Even the stop at the Guptil House did not provide any hits on the app like in other visits. It wasn’t until...

Osprey, Florida: As be get closer to Halloween, our tour of historic haunts continued with a ghost tour in our own backyard. We have been looking forward for the Spanish Point Ghost Hunting Tour for over a year. After our experiences last year, which you can read about here , we could barely hold back the anticipation for this year's tour. Historic Spanish Point is a thirty acre historical preserve located along Sarasota Bay.  The grounds feature over 5,000 years of history dating back to the Native American, through the pioneers of the late 1800's and eventually ending with the Palmer family in early 1900's.  With so many era's living on the property, it is only fitting that Spanish Point would be rich with paranormal activity. We booked the middle tour at 7:30.  The sun just set over the bay and the bats were flying overhead, setting the stage for a great tour.  We met our group of thirty people at the gazebo and set out for the tour. The first stop ...

St. Petersburg, Florida:   Halloween is right around the corner and cool weather is in the air so we decided to take a ghost tour.  We originally wanted to take one in downtown Tampa but it was full so we decided on their sister tour in St. Petersburg.  The tour we took was called the Ghost Tours of Historic Haunted St. Petersburg. We headed north to Pinellas County right after dinner and I was hoping to get some photo time at Tampa International Airport.  But I misjudged my time and didn't have enough time.  As we were crossing over the Sunshine Skyway, my wife noticed a Carnival cruise ship coming towards the bay.  So we decided to pass some time by waiting for the ship to pass under the bridge.  Its amazing how little room remains, at least from our angle, from the ship to the top of the bridge. After watching the ship clear, we continued in to the bayfront in St Petersburg.  Boy was it hopping downtown.  The closest parking spot was...

This mysterious foot print appeared out of nowhere during our visit to the St Augustine Lighthouse. We arrived at the lighthouse before they opened and were the first ones on the grounds and up the tower, right behind the staffer who was opening the tower. My wife who is afraid of heights, chose to wait at the bottom and not climb the tower. My son and I went up the tower and when we returned, my wife quickly pointed out this footprint that appeared in front of her. There was no one else around and the three of us and the staffer were all wearing hard shoes. As you can see, this is clearly a barefoot footprint and the only one in the hallway. The St Augustine Lighthouse is considered haunted and has appeared on an episode of Ghosthunters. (Photo: November 13, 2011)

Tampa, Florida: After months of talking about going and life getting in the way, we finally made it to Ybor City for a ghost hunting tour. Friday after work we headed north for dinner and a night of ghost hunting in what would turn out to be the best ghost tour we have been on. Located in the heart of Tampa, Ybor City was the center of Cuban life in Tampa. Here Cuban immigrants worked in Cigar factories and lived in the small casitas located throughout the neighborhood. While the factories have gave way to clubs and restaurants, the Cuban culture is still evident throughout Ybor City.  After arriving in Ybor, we began our evening with dinner at Columbia Restaurant. Opened in 1905, it is an original landmark here in Ybor City. The restaurant is just as much of a reason to go as the food.  Spanning an entire city block, the building housing the Columbia is elegant in its design and the history within its walls is amazing. The food at Columbia was very good.  ...

Savannah, Georgia: As the sun sets over the historic city of Savannah, the nightlife kicks into high gear and ghost tours are one of the most popular evening attractions in the city. Savannah is considered one of the most haunted cities in the country and the Sorrel-Weed House is one of the city’s most haunted. Built in 1840 for Francis Sorrel, the home has a rich history. It was here that Francis through some of the biggest parties in the city. He entertained the most prominent socialites of the city including General Sherman and General Lee. It even had its place in Hollywood history as the opening scene of Forrest Gump was filmed from the roof of the house. But it is the darker history that draws people to the home. Shortly after moving into the house, Francis married 17 year old Lucinda Moxely. But Lucinda died in the home five years later. Francis would later marry her little sister Matilda. But later she caught Francis having an affair with a slave named Molly and...

Osprey, Florida: Our October tour of haunted sites continued with a stop at Historic Spanish Point for their Ghost Hunting Tour. Historic Spanish Point is reported to be one of the most haunted locations in Sarasota County and its reputation did not disappoint us on our tour. Located along the bay in Osprey, the 30 acre Spanish Point has a rich history. It was the site of a native American village as well as the pioneer homestead of the Webb family and eventually the vacation home of socialite Bertha Palmer. With burial mounds, a pioneer cemetery and original homesteads there was sure to be plenty of paranormal activity to witness at Spanish Point.  Our tour started at 8pm at the white gazebo. Here we were introduced to two of our guides Ryan (an archaeologist with Sarasota County) and Bill (a historical actor at Spanish Point). Then our group of twenty ghost hunters headed out to explore to property. On this tour, we came a little better prepared. The staff at Sp...

Tampa, Florida: Since 1926, thousands of movie goers have passed through the doors of the Tampa Theatre to catch a film in the historic theater. But its not just the guests that love the theater, the Tampa Theater has five ghostly spirits that love the theater that much they don’t ever want to leave. It is the actions of these spirits that makes the Tampa Theatre one of the most haunted places in the area. Today we took a look at the ghosts that haunt the Tampa Theatre as part of the Ghost Stories tour hosted by the theater. Guided by the theater’s Director of Marketing & Community Relations Jill Witecki, we took a look at the historic theater’s haunted history. Today’s tour combined the history and architecture of the theater with a detailed focus on the ghosts that still roam the halls. The tour began in the lobby of the theater were we heard the story of a box office attendant who died of a head injury on payday. The attendant known for his unique way of taking tic...

Sarasota, Florida: Sarasota has a rich and colorful past. Throughout history, the city has been home to many influential people as well as a hotspot for arts and entertainment. Many people have called the city by the bay home including John Ringling who’s mark can be seen throughout the city. But with all this glimmer, Sarasota also has a much darker side. A side filled with murder and suicide which can be explored with the Sarasota Ghost Tour. For the past few years, we have wanted to take the ghost tour through Sarasota’s Rosemary District. However I have always been hesitant to go. I have spent 13 years in public safety in Sarasota, working these same streets and visiting these same places in which the tour visits. I’ve worked deep inside the Golden Apple Dinner Theater, Sarasota Opera House, McCown Towers and many more of these haunted places. After countless visits to these places with no experiences, did I really want to pay for a tour of these places. But my wife d...

The eerie Warden Castle is the starting and ending point for your journey into the paranormal world aboard the Ripley’s Ghost Train. Board the train and your ghost host will take you on a trip through the haunted ancient city, hearing all the ghost tales the city has to offer. Once you return to the castle, your journey continues on foot through the Castle, one of the city’s most haunted places. (Photo: November 12, 2011)