From a luxury hotel with a military hospital past to a neoclassical villa with reports of apparitions, Miami is certainly no stranger to things that go bump in the night. And this October, you can embark on an actual ghost tour at one of the city’s most mysterious landmarks — the Deering Estate!
Built in 1896 by S. Howard Richmond for his family, the home became part outpost for those working on Henry Flagler’s East Coast Railroad. It was famous for being the southernmost hotel on the mainland of the U.S. at the time, and would go on to be purchased by wealthy industrialist Charles Deering in 1916 to be used as a winter retreat.
To showcase his art collection, Deering commissioned the construction of a Mediterranean Revival mansion known as the Stone House, which he mandated be built with 18-inch thick poured concrete walls, copper and brass doors, and no kitchen stove as he was spooked by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The Stone House featured modern 1920s marvels, including an Otis elevator and a secret wine cellar hidden behind a Diebold bank vault door and false shelving to house his extensive liquor collection during Prohibition.
But long before it was an estate, the land was home to incredible biodiversity and early human settlements. It preserves an ancient Tequesta burial mound dating back to roughly 1600 A.D., making it one of the few surviving prehistoric mounds in Miami-Dade County.
Since opening to the public as a 444-acre ecological preserve and museum, now managed by Miami-Dade County Parks, many visitors and staff have reported inexplicable happenings, such as faint cries for help near the boat basin and have even encountered a spirit in the Richmond Cottage.
What to expect during the Deering Estate’s ghostly tours
If historic buildings with roaming spirits pique your interest, the Halloween tradition of offering ghost tours continues at the estate, set for Tuesdays and Thursdays in October, beginning the 1st and running through the 29th.
From 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., visitors will venture into the Richmond Cottage and walk the same paths that Indigenous People, Miami’s early settlers and even Deering have walked as they hear chilling tales.
The ghost tours allow for paranormal equipment and cameras to be brought, and if you’re interested in using their pendulums or EMF meters, there is limited availability. Guests are asked to dress comfortably with closed toe shoes and to bring along a flashlight.
The event, which is open to adults and youth aged nine and up, starts promptly as scheduled. Late arrivals will not be permitted to participate.
You can learn more and reserve your space on the Deering Estate website.
