Haunted Hotels in St Augustine – St Francis Inn

It’s no secret that I adore St. Augustine, Florida. It’s filled with history, fabulous restaurants, and stunning waterway views. The historic district is fabulous for walking and riding bikes (my favorite!). On a recent trip, I learned something new. There are haunted hotels in St Augustine! I had the pleasure of staying at one – the St. Francis Inn – St. George Street.

I was a guest of the St. Francis Inn St. Augustine, but all opinions are my own.

St. Francis Inn, St. Augustine FL

I want to preface this post by saying that I personally did not experience anything strange at this historic hotel in St. Augustine. Truthfully, I sleep very deeply, so probably wouldn’t have noticed anything amiss at the St. Francis Inn. Haunted rooms are full of tales, and here are just a few.

St. Francis Inn Haunted Rooms – Lily’s

It is believed that the ghost of a former servant, named Lily, makes the St. Francis Inn haunted. Rooms are named after various people, and Lily’s Room seems to be where most of the ghostly happenings take place.

Major William Hardee owned the St Augustine bed and breakfast in the mid-19th century. His nephew came to visit and quickly fell in love with Lily. Their love was forbidden – both because of their differing social statuses and also because Lily was from Barbados and dark-skinned.

Even so, they carried on a secret love affair, which was eventually found out. Lily was dismissed, and the nephew was in love and so devastated that it is said that he hung himself in what is now Lily’s room.

Strange Happenings at St. Francis Inn

St. Augustine is steeped in history, so the area lends itself to stories of hauntings, but for some guests, the stories are all too real. Judge for yourself if St. Francis Inn haunted rooms exist.

• One woman heard an unnaturally loud thud in the middle of the night, and her purse was open with the contents strewn about.
• A newlywed was woken up by an intense kiss only to find her husband sleeping peacefully beside her.
• A man awoke underneath the bed instead of on top and needed help to be freed.
• One woman’s cosmetic bag was found filled with water for no apparent reason.

Other simpler happenings have occurred at greater frequency such as seeing figures, hearing whispers, electronics flickering on and off, books falling, hot water that never runs cold, falling books, and radio stations being changed while onlookers watched the dial spin.

No matter what, the people who have had encounters at this historic hotel in St. Augustine say that the experiences are friendly and do not evoke fear. So, if you choose to stay at the St. Francis, you don’t have to worry at about the spirits that may be there.

St. Augustine Ghost Hunters

Several paranormal investigators have visited the St. Francis Inn. St. Augustine ghost hunters have recorded activity and said they had experiences with spirits – mostly male – while they were conducting studies at St. Francis Inn. St. Augustine, FL truly is a fabulous place for those who are intrigued by ghosts.

Other hotels in St. Augustine are said to have paranormal activity, and more information about haunted hotels in St. Augustine, including the St. Francis Inn can be found here.

Now, on to the St. Francis Inn – St. George St.

As I said, I didn’t experience anything scary while at the inn, but I did thoroughly enjoy my time! I stayed in Miss Emily’s room, which was upstairs in The Wilson House across from the main building of the St. Francis Inn, one of the finest St. Augustine hotels. Historic district sights are close by, and you can borrow complimentary bikes for going out to explore.

My Room in St. Augustine

Hotels downtown are quaint, and the St. Francis Inn is no exception! Each room is unique, and I enjoyed my time in Miss Emily’s room. It was spacious and had a balcony. The property was perfectly quiet, which was helpful for sleeping after long days of touring the city. Take a peek!

Grounds of St. Francis Inn – St. George Street

The grounds were very well kept. Haunted hotels in St Augustine tend to be in fairly densely packed areas, which don’t allow for natural landscapes, but the St. Francis Inn, St. Augustine was stunning! They have a koi pond, a pool, lots of plants, and plenty of places to sit and relax.

My Favorite Part about St. Francis Inn

Haunted rooms aside, there are many amazing things about St. Francis Inn. St. Augustine, FL is such a treasure, and the inn is one of the many hotels in St. Augustine that truly cares about their guests. A lovely breakfast is available each morning to offer a good start to the day at this St. Augustine bed and breakfast.

An afternoon social hour also provides a bit of sustenance for guests who want to grab a bite to eat and have a glass of wine on the property. Tea and coffee are also available in the lobby.

Although these things are wonderful additions, my favorite part about the St. Francis Inn is the fact that there is a resident cat! He’s not allowed in the buildings, but I love cats and was so glad to see him at the St. Francis Inn. He was black, so those of you who believe in ghosts or are superstitious may find that a bit interesting.

As far as St. Augustine hotels downtown, the St. Francis Inn is a fabulous choice. It is centrally located in the historic district and within walking or biking distance of the major attractions. You can also find the inn on Airbnb.

St. Augustine also has the luxury of having a second property owned by the owners of the St. Francis Inn. Casa de Suenos St. Augustine is a sister property that is equally as pristine as St. Francis Inn. Discounts and packages are available by booking directly through the inn’s website.

Are there haunted hotels in St Augustine?

Evidence seems to lean towards the presence of ghosts, but whether or not there are any haunted St. Augustine hotels is really up to the beholder. There are people who have personally experienced encounters. Others may want to test their wits and stay in Lily’s room to see if they feel or see anything. The choice is yours!

Thank you again to one of my favorite hotels in St. Augustine – the St. Francis Inn – for hosting me and giving me a taste of what the city has to offer at one of the haunted hotels in St Augustine.