The Hauntings of the Casablanca Inn

The now upper-class Casablanca Inn - formerly the Matanzas Hotel - was once a hot spot for illegal activity. Despite Prohibition bearing down on St. Augustine, the resilient establishment kept liquor flowing throughout the 1920s and 1930s.

Today, smuggled spirits have been replaced by restless spirits, earning the Casablanca Inn the title of most haunted hotel in St. Augustine.

Did you know?

• When the building housed the Matanzas Hotel, the establishment was a popular meeting point for smugglers.
• During Prohibition, Cuban rum importers would arrive at the bay and secretly set up shop at the hotel..
• The Casablanca Inn is allegedly haunted by an elderly woman, a child, and even the hotel’s architect.

The Spirits of Bootlegging

When Prohibition (1920-1933) brought the party to a screeching halt, people began devising plans to import booze into the country. Bars became speakeasies, and even funeral homes began hosting vice-oriented customers.

The Casablanca Inn was no different.

The Ghosts of Casablanca Inn

Not all of the spirits in the Casablanca Inn came from the bottle.

Mrs. Bradshaw’s Lantern

At the time, the Matanzas Hotel was managed by an elderly widow by the name of Mrs. Bradshaw. Faced with financial hardships, Bradshaw began to assist the rum smugglers arriving at the nearby harbor.

Rumor has it, she even developed a romantic relationship with the head honcho, which secured a substantial compensation for her services. Given that she was of advanced age, this romance is highly unlikely, but stranger things have definitely happened.

Soon, the Matanzas Hotel became one of the best places to get booze and other contraband in St. Augustine. The inn was the perfect cover as no one questioned the unusual amount of people going in and out of the establishment.

But what can a senior possibly contribute to an illicit operation? Simple, she kept watch.

Mrs. Bradshaw kept a lookout from the roof of the hotel and waved a lantern if law enforcement was nearby. Upon seeing her signal, the incoming smugglers would turn their ships around, waiting for the right moment to approach the bay.

Beware the “Lantern Lady”

Mrs. Bradshaw's remains may be buried in St. Augustine's Huguenot Cemetery, but her spirit has remained in the old, ill-reputed hotel.

The "lantern lady," as she's often called, has been spotted by late-night boat trippers and fishermen arriving at the St. Augustine Bay. People describe the ghost sighting as a strange light on the Casablanca Inn’s roof. The light seemingly sways back and forth, promptly disappearing as soon as anyone gets too close.

But the rooftop isn't the only reported sighting of the lantern lady. She is also known to walk the halls of the Casablanca Inn and, on occasion, even enters guests' rooms.

Ghostly Room Service

Another common event reported by Casablanca guests is the sweet smell of oranges in their rooms, which Mrs. Bradshaw is believed to be responsible for.

We're not sure why she dislikes tablecloths or why out of all the scents, orange is her favorite. We do know, however, that if your room smells like Tropicana, you should probably get out of there.

Mr. Butler’s Spirit

Another friendly yet terrifying ghost of the Casablanca Inn is known simply as Mr. Butler.

Mr. Butler was a local architect who built the Matanzas Hotel in 1914. Not much is known about this man, but the hotel's construction must've left a lasting impression on him, as his spirit has remained in the same room since his passing.

Said to haunt room 11 exclusively, Mr. Butler is notorious for manifesting fully in front of people's eyes. According to witnesses, the finely-dressed apparition likes to comfort the living. Those who have come face-to-face with this ghost claim he assured them they were safe and there was nothing to be afraid of.

Mr. Butler is believed to have something to say, unfinished business that has kept him from crossing over. But so far everyone he has encountered in room 11 has fled in panic.

Are you brave enough to stay and listen?

Other Ghostly Phenomena

Throughout the years, staff have witnessed plenty of unsettling occurrences in the bay-side hotel. Some of which have not been attributed to any of the known Casablanca entities.

Given their position, housekeepers and room service staff seem to encounter ghosts most often.

Housekeepers have described cold spots and the sensation of being watched when they enter certain rooms. They've also witnessed unseen entities sitting on their freshly-made beds, making an imprint. Bizarrely, as they try to straighten out the sheets, they are unable to, as if someone is still there.

The sound of a child laughing can be heard in the halls, even when there are no children present. This occurrence can be explained by the fact that during the Great Depression (1929-1933), the hotel was turned into the Bayfront Boarding House which provided safe refuge to struggling families.