🎃 FLORIDA KEYS: FRIDAY THE 13TH EDITION

Hey Road Trippers,

Friday the 13th is here—and if you're up for something thrilling (and just a little spooky), may I suggest Key West? Beyond the palm trees and turquoise sunsets lies a history drenched in tragedy, obsession, and restless spirits. And on this night, the veil between worlds gets dangerously thin.

Let’s take a haunted tour of four chilling sites that keep Key West's past alive.

🍻 1. Captain Tony’s Saloon – Where the Spirits Never Rest

Originally Key West's city morgue, then an icehouse, and later a Prohibition-era speakeasy, Captain Tony’s is now a famed bar with a sinister heart.

• Hanging Tree: An actual tree used for executions in the 1800s still pierces the bar—people leave notes nailed to it, seeking peace with whatever lingers.

• Lady in Blue: She was said to have murdered her husband and two children—and some say her ghost still roams, often seen in the corners of your eye.

• Paranormal Restroom: Female patrons report stalls locking themselves, icy touches, and whispers in the dark.

• Unearthed Bones: Workers renovating the bar in the '80s discovered real human bones beneath the floor—believed to be Elvira's, slain decades earlier.

Plan Your Visit

• 428 Greene St, Key West, FL 33040

• Try the Pirate Punch—and don’t forget to tip the unseen barkeep.

👉 Learn more about the hauntings at Captain Tony’s

🪆 2. Robert the Doll – Key West’s Cursed Icon

Inside the Fort East Martello Museum sits a three-foot sailor doll—Robert—and he’s far from just a cute antique.

• Cursed Gift: Rumored to be cursed by a voodoo-practicing servant, Robert is blamed for eerie voices, accidents, and unexplained laughter during childhood.

• Defiant Illness: Even as an adult, Robert’s button eyes seemed to follow people; attempts to lock him away failed—he “returned”.

• Global Fear: Visitors who snap pictures without asking permission often report broken electronics, accidents, and relationship troubles.

• Public Contrition: Hundreds of apology letters are pinned near his glass case—some come just to say “I’m sorry.”

Plan Your Visit

• 3501 S Roosevelt Blvd, Key West, FL 33040

• Open daily—just ask before you snap a photo.

👉 Braver souls can read more at Fort East Martello Museum Guide

⚰️ 3. Carl Tanzler & Elena Hoyos – A Love That Defied Death

This isn’t just dark—it’s horrifyingly real.

• Radiant Obsession: Dr. Carl Tanzler fell obsessively in love with 21-year-old Elena, who died of tuberculosis in 1931.

• Cemetery Theft: Two years after her burial, Tanzler dug up Elena’s body and took it home—together.

• Macabre Restoration: Over 7 years, he preserved her with piano wire, wax, perfume, silk—even rigging glass eyes and a hair wig from her deathbed remains.

• Scandal Explodes: In 1940, Elena’s sister confronted Tanzler and revealed the horrific secret. Authorities couldn't press charges, but... nearly 7,000 people came to view Elena before the remains were secretively reburied.

Plan Your Visit

• Key West Cemetery, 701 Passover Ln, Key West, FL 33040

• Elena’s grave is intentionally unmarked—but her story echoes through the stones.

👉 Read the full tragic saga: Carl Tanzler & Elena Hoyos

🕯️ 4. Barbara Mabrity – Keeper of the Lost at Key West Lighthouse

The Key West Lighthouse was built to protect against storms, but there’s another guardian not made of stone.

• Woman of Resilience: Barbara Mabrity took up the role of keeper after her husband's death, holding the post for decades.

• Heartbreaking Hurricane: In 1846, while the great storm destroyed the tower, Barbara lost six children who sheltered inside.

• Eternal Vigil: Many claim to have seen her silhouette climbing the 88 stairs, heard lullabies on storm nights, or sensed her guiding presence on step 44.

• Phantom Phenomena: The lantern room flickers unprompted; caretaker locks click on their own; icy gusts appear mid-climb.

• She’s Not Alone: Stories include sightings of her husband Michael, lost children, and other lighthouse staff ghosts.

Plan Your Visit

• 938 Whitehead St, Key West, FL 33040

• Climb at your own risk—and maybe count the stairs out loud.

👉 Explore the haunted history at Keeper’s Quarters Museum

🗝️ One Key Question for Friday the 13th

Which of these ghostly tales chills you the most? Reply and let me know—I’ll share your shivers in next week’s newsletter.

🔦 Want to Dive Deeper?

• Ghosts & Gravestones Key West: Trolley of the Doomed 🚍

• Dark Side of Key West Tour: Back alleys and haunted haunts

• Southernmost Ghosts: Whispered horrors from Key West’s edge

👉 Book your spooky tour of choice here: Guided Ghost Tours

So… feeling brave? Plan your haunted Friday the 13th itinerary—but remember: in the Keys, on this night, you're never really alone.

Stay spooky—see you on the other side 👻
Brian

Florida Keys Road Trip • US1 Keys

P.S. Dare to share your paranormal adventure on our Facebook page—it might just make our next issue.