Books about Florida Ghosts, Monsters, and Folklore
Bigfoot in Florida: Mysterious Encounters by ISBN: 9798391518150Publication Date: 2023-05-02
The Cryptid Creatures of Florida by ISBN: 9781905723775Publication Date: 2011-08-01
Florida's Unexpected Wildlife by
Throughout the world, sightings of animals unrecognized by modern science are reported on a daily basis. Since the 1950s, the study of these "hidden animals" has been known as cryptozoology and though many of the reports have been exposed as hoaxes, some have resisted explanation. In Florida's Unexpected Wildlife award-winning author Michael Newton describes exotic species recognized by state wildlife authorities; "extinct" species whose passing is disputed or disproved; various aquatic "monsters" said to occupy Florida's rivers, lakes, and offshore waters; alien big cats; and the search for the elusive, enigmatic Skunk Ape--a local relative of Bigfoot. Newton's tales are riveting, and include a six-foot tall emu encountered by a jogger in a subdivision and a "sea serpent" carcass discovered at the mouth of the St. Johns River in the mid-nineteenth century by passengers aboard a schooner. The stories are illustrated with photographs and the incomparable paintings of artist William Rebsamen, hailed as the "John James Audubon of cryptozoology." While "monster hunters" can use Florida's Unexpected Wildlife as a field guide, casual readers can simply enjoy the many fascinating tales and the wealth of evidence collected in this book. Grab your binoculars and enjoy the quest!
ISBN: 9780813031569Publication Date: 2007-09-30
Sun, Sand, and Sea Serpents by
Sea Serpent Territory Ever since Columbus spotted mermaids, sea monsters, and mystery lizards in the New World, sightings of a diverse array of marine cryptids have continued unabated in the waters of Florida, the Southeastern coast, and the Caribbean. Dinosaurs, mermaids, and sea serpents in a range of colors and lengths, along with monster sharks, mystery seals, and giant penguins, all seem to have made the tourist-friendly waters of the region their home. In Florida, it became a running joke that the tourist season officially started when the first sea serpent report appeared in the newspapers. What's behind all the reports? Hoaxes? Some certainly are. Yellow journalism? Yes, sometimes. Misidentifications? It's pretty common. A way to drum up business? Shocking, but true. But in that mix, there are probably some unidentified animals as well. David Goudsward digs up the original sources and interviews to sort fact from fiction, and tells some fascinating stories along the way.
ISBN: 9781949501117Publication Date: 2020-03-09
The Unquiet Others by
Florida is known for alligators, pythons, and venomous snakes. In this book, you will meet the other dangers that go bump in the night. R. Chris Yates will introduce you to seventy of the lesser known dangers that lurk in the swamps and wander the beaches of the sunshine state.
ISBN: 9798353450559Publication Date: 2022-9-18
Creepy Florida by
The sweltering heat of the Florida sun breaks as a chill runs down your spine. A dark shadow looms from a nearby tourist trap - you didn't expect to find this kind of shade in Florida. If only there was some sort of travel guide to steer you through the spookier locales. Well, you're in luck. Check in at The Biltmore in Coral Gables to spot the ghost of slain Fatty Walsh roaming the thirteenth floor. Sit down for a meal with the spirit of Ethel Allen at Ashley's Restaurant in Rockledge. Visit haunted graveyards, museums, parks and battlefields. Hear macabre stories of spectral pirates, gangsters, witches and madmen. From phantasmagoric packs of Madam McCoy's girls on Pensacola streets down to the ghostly clacking of Hemingway's typewriter in the Keys, Mark Muncy and Kari Schultz lead brave readers through the darkest locations in the Sunshine State.
ISBN: 9781467142007Publication Date: 2019-09-30
Eerie Florida by
Shiver with these eerie stories of the Sunshine State after dark. Surrounded by golden beaches, sparkling Atlantic waters, and palm trees as far as the eye can sea, Florida can give the appearance of a tropical paradise, but the Sunshine State is home to numerous eerie legends and mysterious creatures. From reports of an elusive Skunk Ape skulking around the Everglades, to an uncanny doll said to be cursed with a life of its own sits inside a glass case in the Florida Keys to welcome any tourists brave enough to come near, and even the tale of a man in South Florida who constructed his own castle by ways still unknown. Join Mark Muncy and Kari Schultz as they uncover the history behind the state's creepies stories and unusual locations.
ISBN: 9781625859853Publication Date: 2017-09-04
Florida Ghost Stories by
Stories of ghosts and spirits and tall tales of strange happenings fill this volume. If they don't give you goose bumps and make your hair stand on end, at least they will offer you food for thought. There are two stories of Indian legends from Silver Springs, stories of hauntings in the little town of Micanopy, an encounter with a specter at Fort Clinch near Fernandina, the tale of a ghost in the Castillo in St. Augustine, the legend of the choir boy who sings from beneath a church swimming pool in Jacksonville, and many more. Enough to keep you up at night reading--if you dare!
ISBN: 9781561644117Publication Date: 2008-03-01
Florida Lore by
Storyteller Caren Neile, PhD, shares myths, legends and folktales that reflect the diversity of characters and cultures that make Florida such a fascinating place. Florida boasts mysterious tales that stretch back more than twelve thousand years. Dive into the lives of the proud Wakulla Pocahontas and the Ghost of Bellamy Bridge. Meet local lawbreakers like John Ashley, as well as transplants like Ma Barker and Al Capone. Stalk stumpy gators or Hogzilla as they prowl Florida's swamps and suburbs. Discover the quintessential Cracker cowboy and the Barefoot Mailman, plus the origin of names like Boca Raton and Orlando.
ISBN: 9781467137829Publication Date: 2017-12-04
Forgotten Tales of Florida by
With such a rich and significant history, it's only natural that some of the best stories from the Sunshine State have been forgotten over time. Thankfully, master storyteller and St. Augustine resident Bob Patterson offers this collection of the strangest, most fascinating stories and legends in Florida's history from coast to coast, swamp to swamp. Enjoy the saga of William Ellis, a North Florida nature whisperer who escaped from his nursing home with the help of his varmint friends; step into the murk and mystery of the vanishing tribes of the Everglades; and could there really be gator-hungry sharks lurking in the St. John's River? These stories and so many more await when you explore the Forgotten Tales of Florida.
ISBN: 9781596297999Publication Date: 2009-09-01
Freaky Florida by
Millions of people flock to Florida for its beaches and tourist attractions. Most never learn about the strange locations just off the beaten path. In the beautiful Florida Caverns, a second Rip Van Winkle was woken from one hundred years of sleep. The Green Swamp is home to murders, monsters and mysteries galore. A shining castle made of recycled material, built by an artist like no other, gleams within a Florida swamp. A spectral horse heralds tragedy and caused a notorious scandal in a central Florida city. Join Mark Muncy and Kari Schultz as they share tales of Florida's myths, monsters, massacres and legends and the hidden history behind them.
ISBN: 9781467140355Publication Date: 2018-09-10
Myths and Mysteries of Florida by
Myths and Mysteries of Florida reveals the dark and ominous cloud of mysteries and myths that hovers over the Sunshine State. This book offers residents, travelers, history buffs, and ghost hunters a refreshingingly lively collection of stories about Florida's unsolved murders, legendary villains, lingering ghosts, terrifying myths, and haunted places.
ISBN: 9780762769674Publication Date: 2012-11-06
A Slightly Haunted Life by
In 1963, at age eight, Mark S. Murley awoke to find a cat in his bedroom, staring directly at him. Worth noting: The family didn't own a cat. When the feline fled the room by "melting" through a closed window, young Murley's life took a permanent turn for the Uncanny. A procession of curious encounters followed over the next five decades ranging from head-scratching to outright terrifying. Some of these events had rational explanations, but quite a few did not. In his first book, the author talks about his half-century challenge to come to terms with the procession of oddities that he and some close friends and kinfolk were experiencing. Murley presents over 50 stories, many in which he was personally involved, including: The Memphis Stairwell Spook; The Crone; The Trailer Ghost; The Kinsey Vault Incident; The Floating Thing; The Ghostly Lights House; Nine Tiny Graves; Cousin Jan's Ouija Board; Mom! Dad! There's a Gorilla in the Backyard!; The Weird, Close Giant "V" Flyover; Early Morning Sprint from the Floating Dish House; and many more.You'll also meet some of Murley's friends and relatives who waded neck-deep into the Inexplicable, including Zach Johnston, whose entire family had a front-row seat to the exhumation of their recently buried dog by a Skunk Ape; Wes Hardaway, who, along with the author, faced the chilling Trailer Ghost head-on; and the author's mother's account of the discomfiting "Man in the Coffin Apparition," which Murley calls "hands down the most disturbing ghost story I've ever heard." Other than a few anecdotal side trips to Iowa, California, and Tennessee, "A Slightly Haunted Life" is pure Sunshine State. Local lore is well represented by entire chapters on the mysterious Oviedo Lights, spooky-weird Cassadaga (aka the Psychic Capital of the World), and the inscrutable Chapman Road Ghost Kids. And all are previously unpublished stories. Written in an analytical but conversational style with plenty of humor sprinkled throughout, you'll find "A Slightly Haunted Life" to be unlike any unexplained phenomena book you've ever read.
ISBN: 9780578376851Publication Date: 2022-03-31- Strange Florida II by ISBN: 9781877633805Publication Date: 2007-01-01
Weird Florida by
Praise for Weird Florida: "...this series is distinguished by its focus on stories over places and its colorful photos." --Library Journal
ISBN: 9781402766848Publication Date: 2009-05-05
13 Paranormal Investigations into Central Florida's Unknown by
My desire to do paranormal investigations in Central Florida was not to embellish or damage the reputations of the establishments in which I visited, but rather shed new light on the folklore and mystery that surrounds them. All of my investigations are practiced without prejudice and with good moral logic. Assisting me were tools of the latest technology in uncovering electronic voice phenomena, electromagnetic fields, and photography. But be advised that "soul searching" is not for the weak hearted or the ill willed. Spirits are both benevolent and evil in nature, and could prove to be unpredictable at times.
ISBN: 9781426968686Publication Date: 2011-06-10
Field Guide to Haunted Orlando by
Written by expert Anomalous Phenomena Investigator-Cryptoarchaeologist David W. Whitehead, this field guide is your theme park ticket to the paranormal! It includes all the well-known and little-known haunted locations in downtown Orlando and beyond. Also included are all known UFO sightings, monster reports and much more! This guide is indispensible to anybody interested in visiting these sights in person or reading from the (so-called) safety of your armchair. Just remember to keep your lights on and...wait...what was that shadow you just saw in the corner of your eye....'
ISBN: 9781440421679Publication Date: 2008-09-18
Florida's Ghostly Legends and Haunted Folklore Volume 1 by
Haunting ancient cemeteries and primitive landmarks as well as modern apartment complexes and highway sides, ghosts and restless spirits abound. This volume of Florida's Ghostly Legends and Haunted Folklore offers a delightful--and somewhat spooky--look into the darker side of the south and central areas of the Sunshine State. Explore fortress ruins in New Smyrna Beach, and keep an eye out for mysterious shadows and dark figures in the nearby forest; visit the island of Islamorada, where the ghostly remains of Flagler's railway rumble over tracks destroyed in the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane; and, if you're especially brave, walk through the eerie corridors of the mausoleum in Myrtle Hill Cemetery near Tampa, where you are sure to hear whispers from the dead or the muffled echoes of a music box. Delve into the unknown with Greg Jenkins as he examines the history, legend, and paranormal rationale behind strange occurrences in many of south and central Florida's haunted locations. Get a fresh look at some of the state's most famous ghost stories and learn never-before-heard tales of the strange and the supernatural as you take a trip through Haunted Florida. The second volume of Florida's Ghostly Legends and Haunted Folklore, covering north Florida and St. Augustine, is also available. Next in series > > See all of the books in this series
ISBN: 9781561643271Publication Date: 2005-02-01
Florida's Ghostly Legends and Haunted Folklore Volume 2 by
Discover the haunts of northern Florida in this second volume in the series dedicated to uncovering the uncanny in the Sunshine State. Explore abandoned hospitals, ancient springs, and modern apartment complexes from Ocala to Jacksonville, from Lake City to Tallahassee. Encounter playful spirits and frightening specters and learn their tales of lost love and watery tombs, of lives cut tragically short and souls lingering through eternity. And unearth stories of darker phenomena that have yet to be explained. . . . Plus, take an exciting tour through ancient St. Augustine, America's oldest city--and perhaps its most haunted, too. See the ghosts of Spanish soldiers in a centuries-old fort; watch for the light of a spirited bootlegging widow on the roof of a quaint inn; and feel the presence of Henry Flagler (and his unhappy lovers) in the school that bears his name. Delve into the unknown with Greg Jenkins as he examines the history, legend, and paranormal rationale behind strange occurrences in many of north Florida's haunted locations. Get a fresh look at some of the state's most infamous specters and learn never-before-heard tales of the strange and the supernatural as you take a trip through Haunted Florida. The first volume of Florida's Ghostly Legends and Haunted Folklore, covering south and central Florida, is also available. < < Previous in series Next in series > > See all of the books in this series
ISBN: 9781561643288Publication Date: 2005-02-01
Florida's Ghostly Legends and Haunted Folklore Volume 3 by
From ancient graveyards and monuments to modern restaurants and hotels, this book offers a delightful collection of uncanny legends and eerie folklore about Florida's beautiful west coast. Walk through the picturesque city of Pensacola in Florida's Panhandle, where the spirits of the dead are beckoned by an eerie lighthouse shining through the night, or stroll through Pensacola's Seville Quarter, where you may spot the specter of a long-dead bartender. Visit the Island Hotel and Restaurant in Cedar Key, where thirteen spirits are said to roam the building. Venture again into the unknown with Greg Jenkins, who will guide you through some of Florida's most frightening haunted locations. Prepare yourself for the spine-chilling and uncanny tales of specters and ghosts that inhabit Haunted Florida. < < Previous in series See all of the books in this series
ISBN: 9781561643998Publication Date: 2007-09-01
Ghosthunting Florida by
Discover the Scariest Spots in the Sunshine State Author Dave Lapham visits more than 30 legendary haunted places, all of which are open to the public so visitors can test their own ghosthunting skills. Join Dave as he visits each site, snooping around eerie rooms and dark corners, talking to people who swear to their paranormal experiences, and giving you a firsthand account. EnjoyGhosthunting Florida from the safety of your armchair or hit the road, using the maps and the Ghostly Resources as your guide. Buckle up and get ready for the spookiest ride of your life.
ISBN: 9781578604500Publication Date: 2010-09-14
Ghosts of America - Florida by
These are true ghost stories told by people from Florida. These ghost stories have been featured in our first 12 books and include:- ''...Then we saw the driver, and I know I screamed at this point, because the driver had the same eerie bluish white glow about him...''- ''... As I began to drift off, something very strange indeed happened. The smell of cigarette smoke, an utterly alien thing in ...''- ''...The spirit went on to explain that the slave had been a musician and subsequently took a liking to me, ...''- ''...looking at me in wonderment as to whom I was talking to. When I looked back at the fireplace the figure of the woman was gone....''- ''...At that moment there was a door in the house that out of nowhere slammed shut. I no longer had to convince my wife we needed to leave ...''- ''...I felt someone in the tub behind me. I looked into the face of an old man with cuts all over his neck and face, then he disappeared. I grabbed my bathrobe and ran out of the house...''The stories in this book is a small selection of all the stories on our site ghostsofameica.com.
ISBN: 9781533586476Publication Date: 2016-06-02
Ghost Stories of Florida by
The Sunshine state may seem an unlikely venue for tales of the paranormal. However, this land of sun, orange groves and ocean breezes has its own dark and haunted past. St. Augustine, for example, is America's oldest city and has more than a few ghost stories to tell. Bustling Miami also has its share of haunted places, from Miami University to the historic Biltmore Hotel. Author Dan Asfar has culled this chilling collection of some of the most fascinating paranormal events recorded in Florida.
ISBN: 9781894877220Publication Date: 2005-07-27
Haunted Florida by
Florida's sunny climate and tourist attractions draw plenty of visitors--some of whom never leave. This compilation of supernatural tales shows Florida to be a state rife with eerie occurrences and ghostly denizens. Stories include the spirit of Uncle Charlie at Fernandina Beach's Palace Saloon, the infamous Chupacabras of south Florida, a count's strange obsession with his dead wife, and the mysterious Skunk Ape of Collier County.
ISBN: 9780811734981Publication Date: 2008-06-18
Historic Haunts Florida 2 by
Historic Haunts Florida 2 is the 3rd book in the Historic Haunts series and is dedicated to even more haunted locations in the sunshine state. From bridges, to lighthouses, forts, and haunted houses this is a great book for the paranormal lover. It even makes a fantastic ghostly tour guide.
ISBN: 9781499209136Publication Date: 2014-08-13
Orlando's Historic Haunts by
If you think Orlando, Florida, is only about everything Disney, you're missing out. Orlando was once an open frontier where cattle were herded to market, fortunes were made and lost, and citrus was king. Its history is studded with tales of restless spirits who can't seem to let bygones be bygones. Take a stroll through downtown Orlando, with its century-old buildings that used to house hardware stores, funeral parlors, hospitals, grocery stores, newspaper offices, hotels, theaters, and five-and-dimes. Over the years, these old-fashioned venues have been replaced by modern cafés, restaurants, bars, and assorted retail stores--but the ghosts that haunt them don't know that. They're still wandering original hallways, passing through walls that used to be doors, and ascending staircases long since sealed off.
ISBN: 9781561645619Publication Date: 2013-01-01
Orlando Ghosts by
Orlando, Florida, has more to offer than theme parks and vacation spots-there are ghosts aplenty! Meet an actress-turned-professor at Rollins College, still giving her students advice from beyond the grave. Take a stroll through Leu Gardens with a few of the ghostly residents that will not leave, and dare to walk around Rouse Road Cemetery to face the vengeful spirit of Benjamin Miles. Orbs and goosebumps await you in Oviedo with the strange green balls of ghost light that hover and sometimes chase those brave enough to go looking for them, known only as the Oviedo Lights. Be it folklore or fact, Orlando is waiting to disclose all its haunted secrets to you.
ISBN: 9780764331855Publication Date: 2008-12-31
Chronicles of the Strange and Uncanny in Florida by
Chronicles of the Strange and Uncanny in Florida explores the unknown for those who wish to look beyond the confines of everyday life to discover the truly unusual. It explores Florida's darker avenues for evidence of the extraordinary and the fantastic. Investigate sightings of flying saucers, extraterrestrials, and strange aerial phenomena. Meet skunk apes, chupacabras, and other creatures of the night. And in Florida's lakes and seas, meet aquatic abnormalities like sea monsters, the Everglades water serpent, and the three-toed beast of Clearwater Beach.
ISBN: 9781561644773Publication Date: 2010-10-15
UFOs over Florida by
Discover the secret history of UFO contacts and mysterious beings in the state of Florida. World renowned expert on Humanoid encounters and author Albert S. Rosales takes us on a guided tour of the cases; many of which he has personally investigated. Learn about witness reports from Florida of Ultraterrestrials, Alien beings; Nordics, Greys and others, Chupacabras, the 'Skunk Ape,' flying humanoids, Reptilians, Dogmen and more.
ISBN: 9781545451687Publication Date: 2017-05-11- UFOs in Florida and Where to Find Them by ISBN: 9798370994104Publication Date: 2022-12-26
