In Key West, history lingers in every shadow where echoes of the past still mingle with the rhythm of island life. From shipwrecks and storms to restless spirits said to wander Old Town’s streets, the island’s haunted reputation runs deep, and Southernmost Beach Resort embraces that mysterious spirit through its own moonlit storytelling gatherings.

To understand why Key West is considered one of America’s most haunted cities, we caught up with David Sloan, the island’s paranormal expert and author of Ghosts of Key West, whose research and tales continue to bring this island’s ghostly past to life.

Why Key West Feels So Haunted

Sloan says Key West is often cited among America’s most haunted cities, and he believes there are good reasons why. “I believe Key West is one of America’s most haunted cities because the remains of the dead are rarely allowed to rest in peace,” he explains. “The island has a long history of bodies and bones requiring more than one burial. Even the name Key West is derived from a Spanish phrase, “Cayo Hueso”, which translates to ‘island of bones.’ No one has successfully completed a ghost census, so claims for a ‘most haunted’ city are highly subjective, but the top five are usually old port cities like Key West. There are theories that water energizes spirits, and salt contains them. I suspect most people who live here don’t want to leave when they die. What’s the point when you’re already in heaven?”

Having lived in the Florida Keys for three decades, he says new stories still surface all the time. “The old houses regularly provide new paranormal experiences,” he notes.

Echoes of the Island’s Past 

From Sloan’s decades of research and storytelling, it’s clear Key West’s history isn’t just written in archives; it lingers in the streets, houses, and gathering places that define the island’s character. Here are a few places where its haunted past still comes to life.

At Fort East Martello Museum, visitors can meet Robert the Doll, Key West’s most famous and unnervingly mysterious artifact, whose legend anchors many of the island’s ghost stories.

Across town, the old Key West Firehouse Museum keeps alive the enduring mystery of Chief “Bun” Farto, a tale that fuels local lore and whispered what-ifs. Photo credit: Ghost Key West.

Even the island’s lively watering holes hold secrets. At General Horseplay, locals share barroom lore that one of Hemingway’s fishing captains lingers in the men’s room—an oft-retold tale that adds color to Old Town nights. Nearby, the towering Kapok Tree by the courthouse is frequently cited in local legend as a bridge between realms.

And then there’s Carl Tanzler and Elena Hoyos—one of Key West’s most infamous tales of love and obsession—retold across the island’s ghost lore and museum histories.

From Haunted History to Southernmost Beach Resort

Key West’s haunted energy isn’t confined to museums or bars; it drifts through the island’s streets, stories, and shoreline.

Southernmost Beach Resort carries that tradition forward through on-site ghostly gatherings led by Experience Director Amy Andrade. Her evenings balance mystery and meaning, blending folklore, history, and island humor to reveal how the past still lives within Key West today. From Full Moon Magic on the Dewey Deck to Spooky Stories & Spiked Cider at the nearby Avalon House, Amy connects guests with the island’s most enduring legends.

Full Moon Magic on the Dewey Deck

Under the glow of the full moon, guests gather on the Dewey Deck for Full Moon Magic, a monthly oceanfront ghostly gathering led by Experience Director Amy Andrade. With the ocean just steps away, Amy shares the island’s most captivating tales, from eerie encounters to legends that define Key West’s haunted reputation. She calls it “part history, mystery, and the unexpected,” an evening that’s less about fear and more about connection — to the island’s past, its people, and the spirit that continues to live on. It’s part history, part mystery, and just the right amount of shiver. Photo courtesy of Amy Andrade.

Full Moon Magic: 7–9 PM on full moon nights | Dewey Deck | Weather-permitting | Complimentary for resort guests | Seating limited; RSVP at the front desk.

Spooky Stories & Spiked Cider at the Avalon House

Did you know the Avalon House was once a hospital during the island’s yellow fever era? Today this Victorian-era home on Duval Street, one of Southernmost Beach Resort’s Guest House properties, carries its own ghostly reputation rooted in that medical-era history and local lore.

Guests sip cider, spiked or not, while Amy shares stories tied to the Avalon’s past and other local legends, haunted happenings, colorful characters, and the eccentric spirits Key West is famous for during this relaxed one-hour gathering.

Spooky Stories & Spiked Cider: Weekend afternoons | Avalon House porch | Schedule varies; check at the front desk for weekend day/time.

Experience the Mysterious Side of Paradise

Whether you join a moonlit night on the Dewey Deck or cozy up with cider on the Avalon porch, Southernmost Beach Resort keeps Key West’s haunted heritage beautifully alive. Because here, every breeze carries a story, and some guests swear they can still hear the past whispering through the palms. 

Experience the charm, history, and mystery of Key West year-round at Southernmost Beach Resort. #somolife