Around Halloween, you’ll find dozens of places trying to pull you in for a good scare. Elaborate story lines are created, people are dressed up and lights are dimmed down. Most everyone loves a good scare, I know I do. It dose not matter if you really believe in the monsters learking around or not and you still have fun with a story that is not real. 

I love to visit these elaborate fictional creations every year but it will never be the same as ghost stories by the camp fire or wandering off into the dead of night with a few close friends were shadows naturally play on your imagination. The ghost tours in St. Augustine are the closest thing I have found to bring this side of Halloween a little closer. The true history from our past told in these tours is truly scary from our point of view today. They take you back to a time when being buried alive was a real concern and amputated body parts ended up in the back yard. It dose not get any more true or real then this.

For 2007, I took the Ghosts and Gravestones tour presented by Ancient City Tours in St. Augustine Florida. This takes you on tours of the old Spanish Military Hospital, the Old Drug Store and the Old Jail at night with tour guides that know the darker yet true history of St Augustine and play their part of your experience well.

The Tour Guides

Starting your tour by the city gates of St Augustine we were directed to board our trolley by our tour guide and convict trolley driver. Both will keep you entertained while transporting you between the 3 stops; do not expect to be board while in route to your destinations. Each stop has its own guide to tell you stories of St. Augustine’s past so your driver and transportation guide will not be the only soles encountered during the tour.

Spanish Military Hospital

First on our tour was the Spanish Military Hospital. Our guide Ophelia Pain was a torched woman wandering what was once the old hospital. She told us of the gory methods of amputation and common medical practices of years long past.

Old Drug Store

My personal favorite destination was the old drug store from the late 18^th and early 19^th century. The drug store was also a place where bodies where prepared for burial before embalming was a common practice and being buried alive was not uncommon. So if someone was buried alive, how would anyone know? By the scratch marks found inside the coffin when another dead body was added in the over populated graveyard.

Old Jail

Finally we ended up in the Old Jail where we were allowed to explore the jail and see where many where hung. Be prepared to clime the same dark steps many convicts traveled 100 years before. These ware the last steps taken many on their way to the gallows before their public hanging just outside.

Overall the tour lasts about one hour and 20 minutes. They give you a place to park your car but you will have to check in with your reservations before 5. This gives you plenty of time to explore the old city on your own before the tour starts but many shops close before then. So do not expect to do much shopping after 5.

Like all the ghost tours in St. Augustine this is not a big production like many theme parks put on; it’s not supposed to be. I think it is a great way to spend an evening during the Halloween season for most any age. The stories can be a bit gruesome for younger children but it’s a lot of true history. If your kids can handle the big bad wolf eating little red riding hood’s grandmother, they will likely be fine with this. If you only approve of the happy ending version, consider finding a baby sitter.  

So far I have found all tours in St. Augustine to be great, especially if you like history. If you are in St. Augustine during the evening, these tours are excellent and should not be missed.

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• Links