There’s a certain chill in the Amelia Island air that has nothing to do with the weather. Maybe it’s the sea breeze drifting through the moss-draped oaks, or the way the old brick buildings downtown seem to hold onto their secrets. Beneath all the sunshine and Southern charm, Amelia Island has a spooky side—and locals will tell you, its ghosts never really left.

Spirits and Stories

Step into The Palace Saloon, Florida’s oldest bar, and raise a glass to Uncle Charlie—the resident ghost said to still keep watch behind the bar. Just down the street, the Florida House Inn, built in 1857, has its own share of mysterious happenings. Guests and staff have reported various paranormal experiences, such as disembodied voices, unexplained touches, and objects moving on their own. 

If you’d rather not explore the supernatural alone, you’re in luck. Several local companies offer ghost tours through Fernandina’s historic district, some including stops at haunted bars and the island’s centuries-old cemeteries. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, Anchor Trolley and Transport promises an unforgettable ghost tour into the supernatural heart of Fernandina Beach. And, for an even deeper dive into the island’s storied past, visit the Amelia Island Museum of History, where a docent will bring these haunted tales to life.

Cemeteries, Comfort Food, and Soul Food

There’s no better place to feel Amelia’s history than Bosque Bello Cemetery—“Beautiful Woods” in Spanish. Dating back to the late 1700s, it’s one of Florida’s oldest resting places, filled with weathered headstones, graceful live oaks, and the hush of stories untold.

When you’re ready to come back to the land of the living, comfort food is the cure. Try a hearty bowl of shrimp and grits or fresh local seafood for dinner at The Crab Trap, housed in the historic Seydel building downtown. Afterward, head to the Tigre Island Room, a gathering place for musicians and artists in a landmark building designed in 1878 by French architect Anton “C.H.” Hout, once a dry goods store, now reborn as a music house with soul.

Folklore and Legends

Amelia Island’s ghost stories run deep, made up of centuries of sailors, soldiers, and settlers. Pirate legends echo along the waterfront, and some locals say a buried treasure is still waiting to be discovered at Egans Creek. If you’d rather read about these tales from the comfort of your hotel or home, you can find books about local haunts and history at The Book Loft, which coincidentally is said to have it’s own resident ghost on the second floor.

Even today, the past feels close here. From haunted inns to graveyard strolls, ghost tours to grits, this coastal island paradise proves that a little Southern spookiness only adds to its charm.