About This Location
Housed in Castle Warden, built in 1887 as a private residence and later converted to a hotel. The building witnessed unsolved murders and unexplained phenomena, earning its reputation as "the most haunted place on the Southeastern Seaboard."
The Ghost Story
Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum in St. Augustine occupies Castle Warden, an 1887 mansion built by William G. Warden, partner of oil tycoons John D. Rockefeller and Henry Flagler. The castle served as an elite winter retreat until the Wardens moved to Palm Beach in the 1920s. For two decades it sat vacant, becoming a refuge for homeless during the Depression. Locals called it "Doom Castle" as rumors spread of deaths from illness, violence, and misfortune inside.
In 1941, wealthy hotelier Norton Baskin and his wife, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (who wrote The Yearling), converted it into upscale hotel accommodations. Then came the fire.
On April 23, 1944, flames erupted in the hotel. Two women died: Betty Norvelle Richeson and Ruth Hopkins Pickering. Both were found in bathtubs, wrapped in towels, with no burns—officials blamed smoke inhalation, but unusual details fueled speculation. Betty may have been moved from another room before discovery, while Ruth ignored a nearby fire escape. Whispers of a mysterious guest known only as "Mr. X" added to suspicions. The mystery was never solved.
Robert Ripley had tried to buy the castle during his lifetime but failed. His heirs finally acquired it after his 1949 death, opening America's first Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum in December 1950.
T.A.P.S. (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) claims at least 18 entities linger inside. Staff have experienced hair pulling, the sensation of being choked, and—in one memorable case—a tour guide suddenly speaking only French before retiring the next day.
Strange sounds, whispers, sudden temperature drops, and unexplained voices are common. The spirits of Betty Richeson and Ruth Pickering reportedly remain, still searching for answers about the night they died.
Researched from 6 verified sources including historical records, local archives, and paranormal research organizations. Learn about our research process.
