On Halloween we allowed ourselves to swerve away from what we know to be rational and become more accepting of the so called non-status quo. At this time, we may actually give some credit to that possibility that spirits or ghosts may be haunting people around the world. We step outside of our usual personal beliefs on this holiday because that is part of the fun. Every “All Hallows Eve”, as it is also known, the little ones grab sacks and buckets and stroll from door to door around the neighborhood usually getting a piece of candy or 2 in return. Even the adults love putting on costumes and having parties. What if you could do something special? Something that really will stand out in your Halloween memories.
While many believe there are in fact spirits in the world with us, most believe that ghost stories are purely for entertainment. Despite that, there are many places in this world that have been said to have actual spirits or ghosts that haunt the sites even to this day. So as opposed to participating in the “usual” Halloween activities this year, why not venture out to some of these places and see if you can encounter some of these ghosts? If you are in the general vicinity of Myrtle Beach, St Augustine, or the Florida Keys take the opportunity to explore these ghostly attractions and you may detect something that you believe could only be a component of your imagination, and why not explore these on Halloween, the spookiest day of the year.
The Thrills of Myrtle Beach Are Bootiful!
In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina people are offered a unique experience unlike any other attraction in the world. At the Ghosts and Legends Theatre on any day of the year you can step through a secret wall at this attraction and enter into a world where you will meet four ghosts represented in human form. These spirits are known as Alice of Hermitage, Edward Teach or Blackbeard, Sonny Jim who is a slave ghost, and a spirit who warns residents of approaching hurricanes identified as The Grey Man.
They offer special Halloween activities on the day of October 31st, but the real busy time of the year is actually the summertime because of where it is located. In addition to the theatre performances and walking tours that are offered, there is trick-or-treating for the children. The Halloween decorations are completely appropriate and set the stage for a truly scary atmosphere that is kind of fun this time of year.
Go on a Ghostly Tour in St. Augustine
Since St Augustine is one of the most haunted places in the country, seemingly because it is the oldest city, the Ghost Tours of St Augustine is a most appropriate attraction to visit on Halloween where ghost walks and other themed activities are available. Here you’ll find the ghost of an old Seminole chief, a famous spirit named Osceola. The poor soul got tricked into thinking there was going to be a truce and was instead captured and held in Castillo de San Marcos during the Second Seminole War. Fort Moultrie, in South Caroline was where he ended up being transferred after his capture to avoid the outrage that had ensued. He died there in 1838 of Malaria.
His recorded ghostly appearances at Castillo de San Marcos are rumored to be the consequence of what happened after he died. Frederick Weedon, an Army doctor, detached his head and embalmed it. In 1885 this head was entered into the collection at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, but that was not before it was lost and then found again. Many believe the reason Osceola’s spirit is so restless and why he haunts Castillo de San Marcos is because his head traveled so much after his death. Want to see if you can find the spirit of Osceola this Halloween? You’ll have the chance if you come take a ghostly tour.
Who cast the “spell” in the Florida Keys?
If you find yourself in the Florida Keys around Halloween you should venture to Key West and experience their annual Fantasy Fest (not recommended for children). In addition to the activities this festival presents there are chances to take ghost walks and tours for those looking to be haunted on Halloween. Furthermore people can visit Tony’s Saloon which was a morgue between 1852 and 1875 in addition to being a stop for pirates and other questionable individuals.
The Florida Keys also has a place called Fort Zachary Taylor, where a yellow fever outbreak swept through and killed hundreds of Union soldiers in 1862. In the 1960’s there was a claim by an excavator named Howard England (a civil engineer) that he actually was visited by the ghost of Wendell Gardner there, and that the ghost pointed him in the direction of a previously unknown excavation site. The largest collection of Civil War weapons ever found was discovered at the site. The yellow fever epidemic that swept through the fort, later confirmed by the Gardner family, is what had killed Wendell during the Civil War. If you decide to go to The Haunting of Fort Zachary Taylor, you’ll definitely be haunted by the ghost of Wendell Gardner, but some say also the ghost of Howard England.
Opportunities available to encounter a ghost are very rare, so you must jump on it when you have the chance. While your boring friends are reading a book by the doorway passing out candy this Halloween, you now have the knowledge of a way to really make your Halloween memorable this year. All 3 of these locations offer many wonderful alternatives and lodging accommodations, dozens of beautiful hotels and Bluegreen vacation options. There are many places, tales and tours that will put you in contact with ghosts and modify what you thought earlier to merely be fabricated, and what better time to embark into the strange than on Halloween.