Enter Scarlett O'Hara's, where Confederate spirits and Southern belles continue their antebellum revelry in St. Augustine's most romantically haunted restaurant.

Where the Old South Lives Forever

Housed within an elegant 1879 Victorian mansion that epitomizes Southern grandeur, Scarlett O'Hara's restaurant captures the romantic essence of the antebellum period while harboring the restless spirits of those who lived through the Civil War's tumultuous years. Originally built as the private residence of Colonel Benjamin Hampton, a Confederate veteran who relocated to St. Augustine to rebuild his fortune after the war's devastation, the mansion was designed to recreate the gracious lifestyle that the Civil War had seemingly destroyed forever. With its sweeping staircases, crystal chandeliers, and ornate plasterwork, the building served as a gathering place for Confederate veterans and their families who sought to preserve Southern traditions in post-war Florida. Today's diners experience not only exceptional Southern cuisine but also frequent encounters with the spirits of Civil War soldiers, Southern belles, and antebellum aristocrats who continue their eternal celebration of a way of life that exists now only in memory and ghost stories. From the grand dining rooms where phantom cotillions still unfold to the intimate alcoves where Confederate officers continue their strategic discussions, Scarlett O'Hara's offers visitors the chance to dine with the dead while experiencing the supernatural persistence of Southern hospitality.

Reconstructing Southern Dreams in Ancient St. Augustine

Scarlett O'Hara's mansion was constructed in 1879 by Colonel Benjamin Hampton, a former Confederate cavalry officer who had lost his Georgia plantation during Sherman's March to the Sea and sought to rebuild his family's fortune in post-war Florida. Colonel Hampton chose St. Augustine specifically because its Spanish colonial heritage and established aristocratic traditions provided an environment where Southern social customs could flourish without the painful reminders of war devastation that plagued other Southern cities. The mansion's design incorporated elements from Hampton's lost Georgia plantation, including a grand central staircase, multiple formal dining rooms, and servant quarters that reflected the hierarchical social structure the Colonel was determined to preserve. During the 1880s and 1890s, the mansion became the unofficial headquarters for Confederate veterans throughout Florida, hosting elaborate reunions, memorial services, and social events that celebrated Southern heritage while providing mutual support for families still struggling with war's aftermath. The building's most significant historical moment occurred during the Spanish-American War in 1898, when it briefly served as a Union Army officers' club—a bitter irony that caused Colonel Hampton to die of apoplexy upon learning that his beloved Southern sanctuary was being used by the federal forces he had fought against thirty-three years earlier. Following the Colonel's death, the mansion passed through various owners who maintained its Southern character while gradually converting it into a restaurant that celebrated the romantic mythology of the Old South, complete with period furnishings, Confederate memorabilia, and cuisine that evoked the gracious dining traditions of antebellum plantation life.

The Confederate Cotillion That Never Ends

The most prominent spirit at Scarlett O'Hara's is Colonel Benjamin Hampton himself, whose dedication to preserving Southern traditions transcended death and continues to manifest through his supernatural oversight of the restaurant's adherence to proper Southern hospitality. Guests consistently report encounters with a distinguished gentleman in Confederate dress uniform standing near the mansion's grand staircase, nodding approvingly at diners who demonstrate proper etiquette while expressing visible displeasure when modern customs violate his strict standards of social behavior. The Colonel's presence is accompanied by the distinctive aroma of Virginia tobacco and Kentucky bourbon, and his spirit seems particularly active during dinner hours when he conducted his historical social gatherings. The restaurant's most beloved spirit is Miss Magnolia Beauregard, a young Southern belle who died of consumption in 1885 while attending one of the Colonel's elaborate cotillions. She appears as a beautiful woman in an elaborate ball gown, often seen gliding through the dining rooms as if still attending the eternal party that began over a century ago. Miss Magnolia's spirit is accompanied by the sound of a waltz being played on an invisible piano and the scent of magnolia blossoms that seem to appear regardless of season. She is particularly drawn to romantic couples dining at the restaurant, often appearing at their table as if blessing their relationship with her presence. The mansion also houses the collective spirits of the Confederate Veterans' Circle, a group of Civil War soldiers who died during a reunion celebration in 1889 when a gas lamp explosion claimed eight lives during their annual memorial dinner. These phantom soldiers manifest as the sound of military conversations, the clink of invisible swords against chairs, and rebel yells that echo through the dining rooms during evening hours, particularly when the restaurant hosts private parties reminiscent of their historical gatherings.

Antebellum Atmosphere and Spectral Celebrations

Paranormal activity at Scarlett O'Hara's reflects the romantic elegance and social sophistication of its Confederate-era residents, with supernatural phenomena that enhance rather than disturb the restaurant's antebellum atmosphere. The mansion's grand staircase serves as a focal point for spiritual activity, with guests consistently reporting the sound of ball gowns rustling on the steps and the vision of elegantly dressed figures ascending and descending as if attending eternal social events. The restaurant's crystal chandeliers respond to supernatural presence by swaying gently and producing mysterious prismatic light effects that create rainbow patterns on the walls during peak paranormal activity. Temperature fluctuations throughout the dining rooms are subtle but consistent, with certain tables maintaining the cool, comfortable atmosphere preferred during formal Southern dining, while other areas radiate warmth reminiscent of plantation parlors during winter gatherings. Electronic equipment responds to the spiritual presence with period-appropriate behavior—digital cameras often produce sepia-toned images reminiscent of Civil War photography, while audio recordings capture the sounds of period music, genteel conversation, and military discussions conducted in authentic Southern accents. The mansion's antique mirrors serve as windows into the past, frequently reflecting scenes of elaborate dinner parties, military planning sessions, and romantic encounters that occurred during the building's Confederate heyday. During Confederate Memorial Day and other Civil War anniversaries, the restaurant becomes extraordinarily active, with witnesses reporting full-scale phantom celebrations complete with invisible orchestras, ghostly toasts to the Confederacy, and the appearance of entire companies of Confederate soldiers attending memorial dinners that recreate the camaraderie and brotherhood that sustained them through war and death.

Dining in the Supernatural South

Scarlett O'Hara's offers diners the unique opportunity to experience authentic Southern hospitality while encountering the spirits of those who embodied the romantic ideals of the Old South. Evening dining provides the most comprehensive supernatural experiences, as the restaurant's ghostly residents seem most active during traditional dinner hours when Confederate social events would have been conducted. Guests should come prepared to observe proper Southern etiquette, as the spirits maintain the formal social standards of their era and respond favorably to visitors who demonstrate appropriate courtesy and respect for Southern traditions. The restaurant's grand dining room provides the best opportunity for encountering the full spectrum of paranormal activity, from Miss Magnolia's graceful appearances to the Colonel's supervisory presence and the Confederate Veterans' celebratory manifestations. Photography throughout the restaurant produces exceptional evidence of supernatural activity, particularly when capturing the ornate mirrors and crystal fixtures that seem to serve as portals between the physical dining room and the spiritual celebrations that continue from the Civil War era. The mansion's multiple dining areas each offer distinct supernatural experiences—intimate alcoves where Confederate officers continue their strategic discussions, formal dining rooms where phantom cotillions unfold, and private party rooms where the Confederate Veterans' Circle maintains their eternal reunion. Guests interested in Civil War history will find the restaurant particularly rewarding, as the resident spirits seem eager to share their experiences through telepathic impressions, sudden knowledge of historical events, and emotional connections that allow modern visitors to understand the passion and dedication that drove the Confederate cause. The restaurant's commitment to authentic Southern cuisine enhances the supernatural experience, as the ghostly residents seem to approve of meals that reflect traditional Southern cooking methods and ingredients that would have been familiar during their lifetimes.