Orlando is a well-liked tourist spot, famous for its theme parks, attractions, and entertainment. However, amidst the enjoyment and adventure, there are also eerie tales associated with a few of the city’s historic buildings and landmarks.
For those seeking a thrilling experience, here are some of Orlando’s most haunted places that will send shivers down your spine.
1. The Kress Building
The Kress Building, situated at 17 West Church Street in Orlando, is a prominent downtown landmark constructed in 1936 by the S.H. Kress & Co. department store chain. Notable for its exquisite Art Deco style, the building also carries a dark past.
During the era of segregation, the store enforced separate entrances and amenities for white and black customers, leading to mistreatment and abuse of black employees by their white superiors.
Tragically, some individuals met their demise within the building, either by suicide or murder, and it is believed that their spirits continue to haunt the premises.
Today, the Kress Building has been transformed into Kres Chophouse, an upscale dining establishment, where both guests and staff have reported encountering ghostly apparitions, hearing inexplicable footsteps and voices, experiencing sudden cold spots and touches, and detecting the lingering scent of cigar smoke. The basement, elevator, and third floor are particularly notorious as hotspots for paranormal activity.
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2. The Bumby Building
The Bumby Building, situated at 110 West Church Street in Orlando, is a notable downtown landmark. Constructed in 1886 by Joseph Bumby Sr., a prominent businessman and citrus grower, it originally served as a hardware store. Over time, it also functioned as a funeral home and a morgue.
Presently, the building houses various businesses, one of which is Hamburger Mary’s—a bar and grill known for its drag shows and bingo nights. However, alongside the intentional entertainment, the Bumby Building is also renowned for being haunted by several spirits.
Visitors and employees have reported encountering paranormal activities within the building. Among the documented entities are a young girl dressed in Victorian attire, who delights in playing with toys and knocking on doors; a suited man who vigilantly observes the bar area; and a woman donning a white dress, who gracefully dances on the stage.
These apparitions are accompanied by a range of supernatural occurrences, including objects mysteriously moving or vanishing, lights flickering inexplicably, doors opening and closing on their own, unexplained music emanating from nowhere, and eerie voices and laughter echoing through the halls.
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3. The Orange County Regional History Center
The Orange County Regional History Center is a museum in Orlando, located at 65 East Central Boulevard. It is dedicated to showcasing the rich history and vibrant culture of Central Florida.
The museum occupies a historic building that was originally constructed in 1927 as the Orange County Courthouse. Over the years, this building has witnessed significant events, including the notorious trial of serial killer Ted Bundy in 1979.
Interestingly, the old courthouse is believed to be haunted by several spirits, possibly former inmates or victims of crimes. Visitors and staff have reported eerie phenomena throughout certain areas of the building, such as the old jail cells, the courtroom where Bundy stood trial, and the basement where executions once took place.
These reported experiences include sightings of shadowy figures, sounds of screams and footsteps, sensations of cold drafts and mysterious touches, as well as unexplained equipment malfunctions and sudden battery drains.
The Orange County Regional History Center offers an intriguing combination of historical exhibits and the potential for encountering the supernatural.
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4. The Sunland Hospital
The Sunland Hospital, situated on North Hiawassee Road in Orlando, was a mental institution for children that operated from 1955 to 1983. Throughout its existence, the hospital gained notoriety for its abysmal conditions, overcrowding, instances of abuse and neglect, as well as the unethical experimentation conducted on its young patients.
Tragically, numerous children succumbed to diseases like tuberculosis and polio while under the hospital’s care. Eventually, due to public outcry and legal actions, the hospital was forced to shut down. Despite its closure in 1983, the dark legacy of Sunland Hospital continues to linger.
For several decades, the abandoned hospital stood as an eerie attraction, drawing urban explorers, vandals, thrill-seekers, and ghost hunters. Reports emerged of apparitions resembling children and doctors, eerie cries and laughter echoing through the halls, chilling cold spots and sudden gusts of wind, and unsettling odors of decaying flesh and disinfectants.
However, in 2015, the hospital was finally demolished, bringing an end to its physical presence. Nevertheless, some still believe that the spirits of Sunland Hospital persist in the surrounding area.
5. The Greenwood Cemetery
The Greenwood Cemetery in Orlando is one of the city’s oldest cemeteries, established in 1880. It spans over 100 acres and holds more than 70,000 graves. Notable individuals buried there include Joseph Bumby Sr., Charles Deering, and Mayor Carl Langford.
The cemetery is known for its ghostly reputation, possibly due to past disturbances like vandalism, grave-robbing, and improper burials. Some of the spooky areas within the cemetery are the Confederate section, the pauper’s field, the mausoleum, and the Moonlight Walking Tour route.
Numerous visitors and staff have reported eerie sightings, hearing whispers and moans, feeling cold spots and touches, and experiencing strange occurrences like equipment malfunctions and drained batteries.
Location: 1603 Greenwood Street, Orlando
