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Florida Has ‘The Most Haunted Restaurant in America’

Author Daniel Morabito
A ghostly woman in torn wedding dress floats along a dark haunted hallway.

Florida has no shortage of ghost stories and haunted buildings. The haunted shores of Tampa Bay, to St. Augustine having the most haunted lighthouse in the country. The Sunshine State is home to hundreds of different haunted legends, but one particular place stands out. Over 800,000 search results exist for this restaurant and it is said to be the most haunted restaurant in America.

Ashley’s Tavern in Rockledge, Florida is considered to be the most haunted restaurant in America according to SmokyMountains.com. Customers share their own paranormal experiences with each other online and we’re here to shine the light on some of the best.

Ashley’s Tavern may be known for its many ghostly stories, but one particular story has customers at the edge of their seats. Ashley’s Tavern (previously known as Jack’s Tavern) was originally built by Jack Allen. The body of Ethel Allen was said to be brutally murdered within the walls of the tavern. Her body was found in the Indian River after being mutilated and burned.

Ethel was 19 years old and her murder went unsolved leaving her spirit to haunt the walls of the tavern. Legend has it that Ethel was involved with a crowd of gangsters so it’s possible an ex-boyfriend was jealous and took his rage out on Ethel.

Sightings of Ethel Since Her Murder

There have been many sightings of Ethel since the 1930s. One of the most notable was when a staff member noticed boots and socks under the stall next to her that resembled the attire of the 1930s. The staff member left her stall to check out the one next to her, but the feet had vanished. Even though Ethel’s killer was never found, the killer’s presence is felt throughout the entire restaurant. Ethel is one of many ghosts that haunt the tavern.

You can catch Steve Kurtzke, a paranormal investigator, at Ashely’s Tavern on Mondays between 5:30 – 9:00 PM for a look inside the hauntings of Ashely’s Tavern. The restaurant serves American style food from burgers, nachos, and wings to calamari and other seafood. If you’re into paranormal activities, grab a burger and some fries and soak in the spirits of the tavern.

The paranormal activity from Ashley’s Tavern draws in customers from across the country who share their stories here.

Originally from the Midwest and moved down to Tampa Bay after college. When Daniel is not working on Beasley Content, you can find him fishing or skateboarding. Daniel enjoys writing about local restaurants across the Tampa Bay area, Florida lottery stories, and concert reviews/photos.

5 Infamously Haunted Spots In The Tampa Area

  • Florida Brewery Company

    It’s not a brewery anymore. Attorneys occupy the space now on 5th Avenue. Tampa Terrors says the bar made a big mistake when they decided to serve up free beer when they opened. Fights broke out and one man died and they say the beer “never left his hand!”

  • Tampa Theatre

    This place has embraced its hauntedness so much they do ghost tours. If you’ve ever dropped in during Halloween season to watch a classic horror movie during their “Nightmare on Frankland Street” series, it’s not hard to believe the place is haunted. The creepy vibes are abundant as you wander through the classic theatre when it’s dimly lit. Foster Finley was a projectionist and is said to have never left after his passing. Some say they’ve seen him enjoying a cigarette as smokes comes out of the projection booth. And some still hear music from an organist Rosa Rio who died at 107, according to Channel 8.

  • The Cuban Club

    Two died about 100 years when there was a theater. One was an actor who died by suicide ON STAGE, according to Tampa Terrors. The other was a board member who got into an argument. Both are said to still makes occasional appearances. They say there have also been reports of a piano playing – even though there was nobody near it. Other sightings include a female ghost in a “misty dress” and a boy playing with a ball. The Cuban Club even made the list of the Top 10 Most Haunted Places on the Travel Channel.

     

  • University of Tampa

    Plant Hall used to be a hotel. Babe Ruth and Teddy Roosevelt were some famous guests, according to Tampa Terros. Students say they’ve seen some wild things at night. But with college students, that’s par for the course. But they say to keep an eye out for a man in a brown suit, long gray hair and scary red eyes. It’s thought to be Henry Plant.

  • Sunshine Skyway Bridge

    When the bridge was hit in 1980, it collapsed and 35 were killed. Some say they’ve seen a ghost bus as they fished at the pier.

  • Need some proof?

     

     

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Author Daniel Morabito
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