Ghost hunting in the old prison in St. Augustine

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – One of St. Augustine’s biggest tourist attractions takes visitors inside a prison where executions often took place outside.

The Old Jail, built in 1891 and serving the city until 1953, housed some of the most violent criminals of its time.

It remained open until 1953, but was then closed due to the deplorable conditions and cruelty towards its residents; eight executions by hanging are documented at this site.

Heather Quinn, tour guide and entertainment director, says life in prison was not pleasant.

“No air conditioning and five women in one cell. It's like an open-air prison. That means the windows have no glass, just bars,” Quinn said, pointing to a window with metal bars.

And it could be overcrowded with inmates: at full capacity, 72 men and women were held in the prison at times.

Prisoners were put in prison for both minor and serious crimes.

You'll learn about the prison's notorious sheriff and see how the first crime-solving tools were developed.

“One of the first fingerprint sets is located in the old sheriff's office here at the jail and it was given to Sheriff Perry,” Quinn said.

The guided tour of the old prison costs $16.99 for adults and $8.99 for children and takes guests to both floors of the facility.

Visitors learn about the prisoners held here and have the opportunity to tour various cells and prison areas.

Another experience guests can sign up for is the After Dark Old Jail Tour, which takes place after midnight in the prison.

Paranormal investigator Fran Rafferty has been researching the paranormal since the 1980s and is firmly convinced that the old prison is full of ghosts of the inmates who were once housed there.

“I really believe in these spirits because we hear them talking to us all the time,” Rafferty said.

Rafferty uses various paranormal tools to track down the ghosts and spirits that haunt St. Augustine Prison.

The ghost hunting adventure uses tools such as a thermal imaging camera, an EMF meter, a death knell, a paranormal music box and a REM capsule.

Rafferty and prison staff have taken photographs of deviants of people they believe once lived or worked at the prison.

The after-dark tour of the old prison costs $99.00 per person.

Reservations can be made online or by phone.

For more information, contact the St. Augustine Old Jail.