ORLANDO — You don’t have to be a resident of Orlando to appreciate author Joshua Ginsberg’s non-fiction book Haunted Orlando, although the City Beautiful’s reputation as one of the nation’s most beloved tourism hotspots should give this engaging work the potential for a much wider audience than, say, a book titled Haunted Spearfish, S.D.
Of course, those of us who do live in Orlando are likely to find Ginsberg’s book (part of the Haunted America series by Arcadia Publishing) to be quite captivating indeed. He not only chronicles Orlando’s legendary haunts, but documents some intriguing history about the bustling city that got its name way back in 1856. Along the way, Ginsberg chronicles tragedies, odd mysteries, plenty of family drama and the lifestyles of the rich folks who had the means to build the city’s earliest posh hotels and popular establishments — even if their deaths may not have convinced them to fade into the afterlife. As Ginsberg notes, some spirits like to stick around and keep an eye on their biggest investment.
Before proceeding, I should first make an admission: I’m a believer in the supernatural. I grew up in a historic house in Fall River, Massachusetts that had a ghost in the attic, and the house I’m now living in (located in Orlando’s Colonialtown North neighborhood) may be as well. The desk in my office faces a window looking out onto my lanai, and in the early morning darkness, I’ve often seen a shadow person walking behind me in the room, the shadowy figure clearly reflected in the window. When Ginsberg recounts the locations that end up on Orlando’s ghost tours, I need no extra convincing.
What is the book Haunted Orlando?
Joshua Ginsberg has specialized in travel and history books, including Secret Tampa Bay: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure and Secret Orlando: A Guide To The Weird, Wonderful and Obscure. As you can tell, Ginsberg loves the parts of these cities off the beaten path, less likely to be touted on the Visit Florida website. But, with an appeal to the wacky and quirky, these spots have their own indelible fan base…