OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Ocala has a long history of haunted locations and spooky hotspots. Locals have spread these tales throughout time, however, whether they’re true or not is up for debate. Here are some of Ocala’s reported hotspots for paranormal activities and apparatus sightings.
1. Fort King National Historic Landmark
The Fort King National Historic Landmark is a reconstructed fortress built in 2017 to be as historically accurate as possible after its deconstruction due to inactivity and preservation of building materials in 1846. Now, it stands as a historic and educational landmark where reenactments are performed, and stories are told to preserve the fascinating and long history.
With the long history of the first and second Seminole wars, the fort comes rumored with ghostly sightings and legends. One such legend is a haunting love story between a soldier and a Seminole woman. They fell in love, however, in Romeo and Juliette fashion, the Seminole woman believed her lover died and drowned herself, leaving the soldier to find her body and end his own life so they would be together. Now, people have reported seeing two figures walking around the water, orbs and hearing phantom gun shots and whispers of disembodied voices. Locals have also reported a sense of unease and strange feelings attributed to the hauntings.
2. Ma Barker House
Ma Barker House has a long history as what started as a regular lake house turned into a gang hideout, which eventually led to the longest FBI shootout in history. This house was the final resting place of the Barker-Karpis Gang matriarch, Ma Barker and her son, Fred Barker after the violent shootout.
Now, it stands as a museum at the Carney Island Recreation and Conservation Area with rumors of ghostly encounters from the infamous gang members. Paranormal investigator, Kristy Sumner visited the house in 2019 as a part of the Soul Sisters Paranormal investigative team. Although she claims she can’t classify the house as haunted, she insists that Ma and Fred Barker’s “energy” still resides in the house.
3. Kerr City
Kerr City in the Ocala National Forest is one of eight registered historic ghost towns in the state of Florida. The city, founded in 1884 by George Smiley, was a large hub for Florida’s citrus industry and was widely considered to be the first developed town in the Marion County area. Though not open to the public without permission, the city still stands as a hub for paranormal sightings…