posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Nov 29
Halloween has forever been a period of time when we permit ourselves to get away from the “logical” and open our minds to the possibilities of the “illogical”. We entertain the reality that there are spirits haunting our planet for one reason or another. October, 31st is a great day to break from our usual thinking and go beyond what we typically understand as normal phenomena. It is alternatively called “All Hallows Eve”, and of course all of the younger ones run about the streets getting a sweet tooth and filling their sacks with goodies that will keep them up too late. The Parents do not like this aspect as much. Adults typically dress up as well and attend parties. What if instead of the traditional Halloween options you were presented that opportunity to do something unique?
While many believe there are in fact spirits in the world with us, most believe that ghost stories are purely for entertainment. Yet despite that, there are places where strong claims are still made to this day that “real” hauntings are still taking place at these places. What if instead of doing that “same old routine” this Halloween, you went out and tried to discover some of these “haunted” places first hand? If you are in the regions of Myrtle Beach, St Augustine, or the Florida Keys take the opportunity to explore these haunted attractions and you may discover something that you thought could only be a component of your imagination, and why not research these on Halloween, the most frightening day of the year.
Myrtle Beach is Bootiful and Amazing
Visitors and residents are offered a very unique experience in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Ghosts and legends Theater is a neat attraction you can visit any day of the year. The unique thing about this location is you can pass through a secret wall and enter into a world where you meet 4 spirits that appear in human form. You’ll get to encounter Sonny Jim, a slave ghost, or Alice of Hermitage, Edward Teach or Blackbeard, or even a ghost who warns of coming hurricanes who is known as The Grey Man.
While the busy time of year for this attraction is the summertime because of its location they do offer Halloween activities for those looking to visit on that particular day. In addition to the theatre performances and walking tours that are offered, there is trick-or-treating for the children. To create that spooky mood you want on Halloween they have plenty of decorations that do the job just right for that time of year.
St. Augustine’s Ghostly Tours
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. This tour will introduce you to a famous spirit names Osceola, who is the Ghost of an old Seminole chief. 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. In 1838 he contracted Malaria and died in Fort Moultrie, South Caroline. He had been transferred there after his capture, probably because his captors knew there would be outrage after the news spread.
His documented hauntings at Castillo de San Marcos are rumored to be the result of what occurred after his death. His lifeless head was cut off by an Army doctor named Frederick Weedon and the head was then embalmed. The head was later lost, and then found again, and finally ended up in the Smithsonian Institution’s collection in Washington in 1885. 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. See if you can find the Spirit of Osceola this Halloween by making the journey to a ghostly tour.
Who cast the “spell” in the Florida Keys?
If you happen to end up in Key West in the Florida Keys this Halloween, you might want to check out their annual Fantasy Fest (not recommended for kids) If you’re looking to be haunted on Halloween there are countless chances to do so on ghost walks and tours that are offered. 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.
Also present in the Florida Keys is Fort Zachary Taylor where a yellow fever epidemic swept through in 1862 and killed hundreds of Union soldiers. Howard England, a civil engineer was excavating the site in the 1960′s and said the ghost of Wendell Gardner, a Civil War soldier, visited him and pointed him to another excavation site nearby. An enormous mass of Civil War weapons were discovered on this site. It ended up being the largest collection of Civil War weapons ever found. The yellow fever epidemic that swept through the fort, later confirmed by the Gardner family, is what had killed Wendell during the Civil War. The tour is called The Haunting of Fort Zachary Taylor and if you take this tour both Howard England and Wendell Gardner are supposedly the ghosts that will be haunting you.
There are only a handful of chances out there if you’re really looking to encounter a spirit. Many on Halloween will dress up and attend parties or go trick-or-treating, but if you want a truly unique experience check out one of these places. All 3 of these places offer various great alternatives and lodging accommodations, dozens of beautiful hotels and Bluegreen vacation options. There are several sites, tales and tours that could put you in touch with spirits and modify what you believed previously to only be fictitious, and what better time to go into the obscure than on Halloween.
