Southern Ghosts Part Five - Warden Castle in St. Augustine, Florida

This photograph shows several "orbs" photographed in Warden Castle (now Ripley's Believe It or Not!) in St. Augustine, Florida.

Personally, I think that most orbs are just light effects caused by camera flashes interacting with dust or other light sources, but some people believe they are indicative of supernatural activity.

The castle was built in 1887 by William G. Warden, a business partner of John D. Rockefeller and Florida's famed railroad builder, Henry Flagler. The Warden family used the unique structure as a winter home until the 1930s.

In 1941 it was remodeled as a hotel and a tragic fire there claimed lives. It is said that the spirits of the unfortunate victims still haunt the old structure. People report seeing strange figures in the old Moorish building late at night and tourists often photograph "orbs" and unusual streaks of light there.

Now fully renovated, Warden Castle is the home to Ripley's Believe It or Not! In fact, this was the nation's first Ripley's museum, a distinction that makes it something of a pop culture icon.

In true Ripley's style, those interested in Warden Castle's "ghostly" occupants can take part in nightly "Ghost Train" tours that give them a chance to learn some tales of St. Augustine ghosts and walk through the spooky old structure and museum after dark.

To learn more about Castle Warden, please visit: www.exploresouthernhistory.com/wardencastle.

St. Augustine, Florida - Part Nine

Continuing our look at the historic city of St. Augustine, Florida, this is Castle Warden. One of the most popular attractions in the old city, it is the home of the nation's first Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum.

The unusual Moorish Revival castle was built in 1887 as a winter home by William G. Warden, a business partner of John D. Rockefeller and Henry Flagler. Prominent in business and community affairs in St. Augustine, Warden's castle became a hub of winter activity in the city and remained in the hands of his family until the 1930s.

It was remodeled in 1941 and converted into a grand hotel that hosted many prominent visitors. Famed novelist Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and her husband, owner of the hotel, kept a penthouse apartment on the top floor. She is famed for contributions to Florida literature that included The Yearling, Cross Creek and South Moon Under. (Read comments to see more about this).

Another prominent visitor to the hotel was the famed newspaper writer Robert S. Ripley, noted for his popular Believe It or Not! items that featured unusual facts and ran in newspapers around the world. Ripley tried to buy the castle, but was turned down.

After his death in 1949, however, his estate managed to obtain title to the landmark and the nation's first Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum opened here in 1950, giving the castle an usual role in American pop culture.

To read more about St. Augustine and Castle Warden, please visit http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/ and look for the St. Augustine heading.