Haunted Ocala National Forest

Gear up for a frightful journey into the mysterious Ocala National Forest. Central Florida is known as the happiest place on Earth. But an hour's drive from the amusement parks lies a forest swirling with mystery. For generations, locals have whispered about a dark energy coming from the Ocala National Forest and drifting into nearby towns. Supernatural beasts and apparitions. Ghost lights galore. From cults to monsters to the spirts of those who ventured in yet never reemerged, the woods have long been a source of rumor and tragedy. The vengeful Coyote Woman who dispatches those with evil natures. The soldier of Fort King who vanishes when addressed. The spectral monk of Astor, on the hunt for his killer. Author and folklorist Christopher Balzano takes readers among the trees and beyond to offer a glimpse into the true stories, urban legends and haunted folklore whispered among the residents of these deep woods..

Ghost stories from Ocala National Forest have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery! Welcome to spooky Ocala National Forest! Stay alert! Ghosts lurk around every corner. Even the most unexpected places might be haunted by wandering phantoms. Did you know that not far from the "happiest place on earth," ghosts roam the swamps and woodlands of Central Florida? Or that eerie children ask passing cars for rides along the famously haunted Tiger Trail Road in Dunnellon? Can you believe a mysterious wanderer stalks the streets of Astor at night? Pulled right from history, these ghostly tales will change the way you see Ocala National Forest forever, and have you sleeping with the lights on!

Wide eyes, sweaty palms and a racing heart. Are these the tell-tale marks of a love story or a haunted tale? If the story is set in Florida, there's a good chance it's both. From the infamous Bellamy Bridge to a haunted lighthouse in Key West, love is in the air--but it isn't always a good thing. Author and folklorist Christopher Balzano follows lingering campus whispers and trails that vanish into the swamp to track down the urban legends and ghostly lore of Sunshine State love affairs that live on even after death.

Author and Haunted DeLand tour guide Dusty Smith recounts a century of ghostly history in the bustling historic community of DeLand, the Athens of Florida. Specters include those of Jeannette Barnhill, whose ghost drove her real estate mogul widower mad by standing behind him to keep a constant watch on his accounting books, and of the guest killed in the 1917 Putnam Hotel fire who leaves the smell of burnt wood and flesh in the air. Forlorn lovers Ruby and Joshua, a freed slave and a plantation foreman, and Suzanna Brown, who jumped to her death with unrequited love for a Stetson professor, are included, as well as the ghostly horse-drawn hearse that has been seen parked alongside what was once the Old Casket Company. From steamboat captains to Spiritualist camp residents, DeLand’s ghosts are sure to delight visitors and residents alike in this stirring account of the area’s historic haunts.

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!

A brilliantly illustrated guide to the secret splendors, quieter haunts, and wilder side of Florida, from spectacular shores and otherworldly swamplands to historic sites and cultural gems.

Set in 1969 and played out across northeast Florida, from the quiet river city of Palatka, FL down into and across the 600 square miles of the mysterious Ocala National Forest, Groundfog tells a story of murder and a vengeful spirit. It follows Mason Jackson, a twenty-something lost soul, struggling with a destructive lifestyle of drugs and alcoholism. His only friend, Chevron Thomas, is a recent immigrant from Haiti, the youngest member of a family ofvoodoo practitioners who have brought their powers and beliefs with them.Deep in the Ocala National Forest on a drinking binge, Mason accidentally witnesses a young woman's brutal rape and murder. He begins to be haunted by the spirit of the murdered girl. After a voodoo ceremony, the entire event comes back to him, but it is worse than he knows. Mason believes it is a man, not a woman he has to help bring to justice so that the spirit will be satisfied. But it is neither. After finding evidence at the murder scene, he is discovered by the witch, who plots to kill him before he can go to the police. When he tries to go underground to escape, his car is run off the road. Mason manages to survive and has no choice but to retreat into the wilderness of the forest on foot. Relentlessly pursued by the witch, it is the forest itself that finally claims revenge.Loosely based on actual events that took place in 1964 near the setting described in the book, the narrative weaves together spiritualism, the land and southern culture in a timeless tale.