Ghosts are big business for Tampa Bay.

A few years ago, Jim and I went on a ghost tour of Ybor City on a cold January evening. There are similar tours at several locations around the Tampa area, including an old hotel in St. Petersburg. I’ve also done ghost tours in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I just found out that should a ghost tour not be spooky enough for you, you can stay at one of these haunted hotels. What a truly hair raising experience!

The closest haunted hotel to my house is the Don CeSar Beach Resort & Spa in St. Petersburg, Florida. Built by Thomas Rowe in 1925, the hotel has had reports of a couple walking hand in hand around the grounds. The couple is presumed to be the spirits of Thomas Rowe and his beloved, Lucinda, who were forbidden to continue their relationship.

As for me, I’m too chicken. I don’t even like staying in a regular, non haunted hotel room by myself…so I will not be booking an overnight stay with the spirits and ghosts anytime soon!