Haunted Places in New Smyrna Beach, Florida

When it comes to ghost hauntings and paranormal activity, New Smyrna Beach is the place to go! This laid-back beach town is located on Florida's east coast, nestled between Daytona Beach and Cape Canaveral. Originally inhabited by Timucuan Indians for more than 2,000 years, many of the legends and hauntings in NSB are connected to this tribe.

One of the most notorious places for close encounters with the other side is Flagler Avenue. The best way to get up close and personal with these entities is to participate in the New Smyrna Beach Historical Ghost Tour. This 90-minute guided tour is led by Susan Thompson, renowned psychic medium and spiritual guide. It begins at twilight and is filled with mystery and intrigue.

The tour consists of numerous places along Flagler and the surrounding area which are believed to be haunted. Breakers Restaurant is one of those locations. According to Thompson, the female spirit who frequently visits this popular beachside restaurant was burned to death in a hotel fire across the street. Many of Breakers patrons report seeing her image in the restaurant's upstairs window.

Continuing west on Flagler, the next stop on the ghost tour is a tiny abandoned restaurant, which had previously been a home. This location is believed to be haunted by the spirit of the man who used to live in the house. Just walking by the location in broad daylight sends shivers up my spine. At twilight, it's the freakiest stop on the tour.

There is a negative energy that surrounds this building that feels as if it is pushing you away. I attempted to walk up to the broken out windows and take a peek inside, but became so freaked out by the energy that I practically ran away from the building. Creepy!

The next stop on the tour is known as Bauer's House. Although this house is in extremely poor condition, you can tell that at one point in time it was quite a magnificent home. It's a huge two-story house with French doors and a large porch. According to Susan Thompson, the Bauer family resided in this home during the 70s. The family consisted of the mother, father and their son and daughter who were twins.

The story goes that in 1974, Barbara Bauer, who was 17 years old at the time, drove to Daytona to pick up fabric for her cheerleading outfit. On the way home, she stopped to help a stranded motorist who turned out to be serial killer, Gerald Stano.

Stano murdered Barbara Bauer and disposed of her body in a dump. When her parents were notified that Barbara's body had been found, Mrs. Bauer had a nervous breakdown and the family literally walked away from the house, leaving all their belongings behind.

It is believed Barbara Bauer watches over the house to protect it from vandals and thieves. I don't know if it was hearing the story, or if this place is truly haunted, but while there I felt a heavy, sad energy surrounding the Bauer House.

Continuing on to 384 Flagler Avenue, the tour stops at Lo Lo's Boutique. It's hard to believe this quaint retail shop with its hot pink stripped canopy is haunted, but Thompson tells us a female ghost frequently visits the shop. She has been known to move things around and patrons report seeing cosmetics levitating above the counter.

Next, we take a short detour off Flagler and head to Canova Drive. Smack dab in the middle of the road is the grave of Charles Dummett. Thompson tells us that this 16 year old male died on April 23, 1860. He had been hunting with a friend and was on his way home when he tripped over the gun, accidentally discharging it and killing himself. Legend has it that his father buried Charles where he fell.

When the property was later developed, the grave was left in place and Canova Drive was split down the middle to accommodate it. Residents have reported ghost sightings in the area for several decades and many believe it is the spirit of Charles.

The ghost hunter tour concludes at the Indian River Inn, located at 1210 Riverside Drive. This house is built on a Timucuan Indian mound and reportedly haunted by voices and lights being turned on and off throughout the night. The mound is not a sacred burial ground; however, it is believed to be a sacred ceremonial place and many people believe it to be haunted by the Timucuan Indians.

Whether you are a skeptic or a believer, the New Smyrna Beach Historical Ghost Tour provides a wonderful history lesson and many things that make you go "Hmmmmm."