ORLANDO — When Walt Disney created it massive theme park Walt Disney World in Central Florida during the 1960s, before opening in 1971, the Disney team made certain that pirates and ghosts were prominent in the design.

There’s no question that Pirates of the Caribbean, the classic boat ride through ancient ports with swashbuckling pirates, and the Haunted Mansion, the trip through a haunted estate in Liberty Square, have been two of the most popular rides in the theme park’s history.

Heather Leigh understands that enduring appeal, while noting that both rides located in the Magic Kingdom have something else in common: they come straight out of Florida’s rich history.

Did you know that the Pirates of the Caribbean ride is home to George, a welder employed at the attraction in the early 1970s, who reportedly got crushed by a beam shortly before the ride opened to the public. To this day, Leigh notes, his ghost still haunts that ride.

“Cast members report hearing ghostly footsteps when working alone at the attraction,” Leigh notes, “and upon further inspection, they confirm no one is nearby … other paranormal incidents involving George include seeing his apparition appear throughout the ride, but he is mainly spotted hanging around the burning city area.”

Spooky, huh?

Leigh, the author of the book Ghosts And Legends Of Florida Pirates, notes that Florida’s earliest days of settlement have a rich history with Pirates — and many of them upon their death apparently decided to stick around …

For good.

What is the history of Florida’s Pirates?

Heather Leigh Carroll-Landon, author of numerous books about the paranormal (Ghosts And Legends of the Vegas Valley, Haunted Florida Lighthouses, Haunted Florida Ghost Towns, etc.), has delivered another ghostly treat in Ghosts And Legends Of Florida Pirates, but here the historic focus is equally devoted to Florida’s swashbuckling history. She had plenty of rich material to work with, since the Sunshine State was strategically located to attract pirates. A popular route for Spanish ships carrying massive wealth from the New World, Florida’s lengthy and often unmonitored coastline became a haven for pirate ships eager to find hiding spots where they could quickly raid Spanish ships.

“The history of Florida is incomplete without talking about its maritime past and the key role of pirates in it,” notes Bay Area Beard, a website devoted to Florida’s history with pirates. Those tales, the cite notes, date back to the 1500s, and as a result, ” …. it is impossible to deny that pirates had had a significant influence on this coastal area, especially during their heydays of the 17th and 18th centuries. Their influence can be seen in Florida’s festivals, museums, and other cultural elements.”

This kind of history can be pure catnip for readers, Leigh notes in her book, particularly since pirates and ghosts are a massively popular draw in movies and other forms of popular entertainment. Exploring Florida’s historic pirates and swashbuckler legends also enabled the author to focus on which pirates stuck around to actively haunt the state.

“Florida definitely holds the key to pirate life, which could explain why many of the spirits of the most famous and feared pirates are still seen today,” she writes. “Whether you are walking the streets of St. Augustine or exploring Key West, chances are you will come face-to-face with one of the pirates who still call Florida home.”

Of course, it sure doesn’t hurt that both St. Augustine and Key West are two of Florida’s most popular tourist attractions, and both communities have invested in their pirate lore. The St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum is dedicated to pirate artifacts and is notable as being a museum where visitors can “discover authentic artifacts, real booty and get in on interactive gentleman of fortune fun. Arrrr.”

The Key West Shipwreck Museum uses actors, films and artifacts to let guests discover 400 years of shipwreck salvage in the Florida Keys.

Why Do Pirate Ghosts Haunt Florida?

In addition to covering the legends of Florida’s most notorious pirates (both men and women) such as Black Caesar, Jose Gaspar, Robert Searle and others, Leigh also explores why so many of these rogues are believed to be still with us, at least in spirit form.

“The reasons why pirates haunt Florida are nearly endless,” she writes. “Likely these spirits remain behind and haunt the Sunshine State because they have unfinished business, such as looking for their lost treasure or dealing with an enemy to seek revenge for their death or other wrongdoing.”

So these ghosts often appear most prominently in Florida cities where tourist is big business; while St. Augustine and Key West are well known to tourists, there are also ghostly legends in Tampa Bay’s Ybor City, Pensacola on the Panhandle, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, and Dry Tortugas National Park. For those interested in both pirates and ghosts, Florida offers plenty to explore.

Written in a light, breezy style that’s entirely enjoyable, Leigh’s book is a virtual treasure chest of sublime pirate history and ghostly sightings, all the way up to Walt Disney World’s famous rides and their ghostly inhabitants. For the truly adventurous, Leigh even has a chapter on how to safely hunt for buried treasure on Florida’s coast, since “Florida has an extensive history associated with buried pirate treasure and treasure ships sinking off the coastline.”

Where Can I Find the book Ghosts and Legends Of Florida Pirates?

Ghosts And Legends Of Florida Pirates was first published in 2024 as part of the Haunted America series from Arcadia Publishing. The book can be purchased on the company’s website.

The book is also available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and at tourist centers and bookstores across Florida.

Michael Freeman is an Orlando journalist, playwright and author of the terrifying horror novel “Bloody Rabbit”. Contact him at Freelineorlando@gmail.com.

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