Scarlett O’Hara’s

Posted: 04.18.2025 | Updated: 04.18.2025

Is St. Augustine, Florida, haunted? Many who’ve worked within Scarlett O’Hara’s Bar will earnestly tell you so. The ghost of the man who infamously drowned in a bathtub haunts this Gone With The Wind-themed restaurant in St. Augustine. 

His story is as mysterious as it is tragic, shadowed with an ill-fated love story. Read on to reveal the tale of this spooky haunted pub and its peculiar specter. 

Looking to encounter more shocking tales of the Nation’s Oldest City in person? Book a hair-raising haunted pub crawl with St Augustine Ghost Tours. 

Is Scarlett O’Hara Haunted? 

Many an Augustinian considers Scarlet O’Hara to be one of St. Augustine’s most haunted places. Why might that be? Well, let’s start with its laundry list of haunted happenings.

Over the years, this venue’s numerous ghostly occurrences have included:

• Glasses are moving on tabletops
• Something unseen touches unsuspecting patrons on the shoulder
• An eerie breathing down the back of your neck
• Bottles breaking without explanation
• Employees are locked in the bathroom
• …and other inexplicable activity

From Despondent Home To Bustling Bar

While Scarlett O’Hara’s has been a St. Augustine staple for over 40 years, the structure it occupies is much older. The building housing this cozy pub once existed as two private homes before being connected as a single property for commercial purposes. 

George Collee erected one of these homes in 1879 for his soon-to-be wife. But tragedy loomed on the horizon for the groom. The tale varies depending on who tells it, but one element remains the same in each story: George Colee was found dead in his bathtub. Whether by his hand or another’s is up for debate. 

This home would stand on its own until 1979, when a pair of entrepreneurs bought the Colee house and the neighboring property. One hundred years after the Colee house was built, Barry Gaines and Kevin Finch began Scarlett O’Hara’s.

Major renovations were undertaken, and the two houses were joined, transforming the property into a popular venue for food and entertainment. In its first years, it was mostly frequented by locals, but as the surrounding area grew, so did the venue’s patrons. 

A new owner would come to buy Scarlett O’Hara’s Bar and Restaurant in 1998. Eager to take on a burgeoning business, Arbizzani accepted the spirits that came with it. The restaurant enjoyed a continuous span of operation for 43 years.  

In 2022, a news article reported that Scarlett O’Hara’s permanently closed as a new lease agreement could not be reached with the owners. However, it seems they spoke too soon. As of 2025, the bar is under new ownership, operating under the same name, according to recent Yelp reviews. 

It appears this once-dead bar has returned to haunt the living with good food and spirited drinks. Oh, and also George Colee in the upstairs bathroom.

The Tale of George Colee

How exactly did George Colee end up dead in a bathtub within his own home? Unfortunately, nobody knows for sure — except George himself, perhaps. 

According to most accounts, George eagerly awaited his upcoming wedding day, having built a house to wrap himself and his new wife in marital bliss. Yet, the woman’s attention was seemingly taken by another man. Some accounts say he was a soldier stationed at the nearby fort, while others say he was a local army sergeant.

Neither his station nor status would matter to George, however, when his fiancée ended their engagement. Devastation is said to have overcome George, but eventually, he found another woman to marry.

Tragically, it seems that domestic happiness was not George’s fate. Soon after the wedding, his body was discovered in the bathtub of the home, seemingly drowned. Most believed the death to be that of suicide brought on by a broken heart. It appears his first betrothed still had quite the hold on him. 

Not all agree on this story, however. 

Murder or Suicide Scarlett O’Hara’s

What other events might explain George’s unfortunate bathtub mishap? Some believe George Colee might have been the victim of foul play, drowned by another in his own bathtub. No one knows for sure, as no assailant could be held responsible for the crime due to a lack of evidence. 

As this more sinister version is told, the fiancée left George after draining him of most of his money, leaving George heartbroken and disadvantaged. As a result, George took to the drink. Perhaps out of guilt or for reasons far darker, his former beau told her new husband to check in on George.

It is sometimes said that her husband is the one who discovered George dead in the bathtub. Some even speculate he may have given him a helping hand on his way to the grave, having found him unconscious in the bath. 

Others with even darker minds believe George’s former love explicitly told her new husband to dispatch George, jealous that he had married another woman so soon. Whatever really occurred seems to be known only by George — and possibly his murderer. 

Haunted Activity Within Scarlett O’Hara’s 

A medley of inexplicable activity has ruffled this quaint Florida pub for decades, ranging from innocuous events to more unsettling occurrences. Mr. Colee tends to stay on the second floor, in an area nicknamed “The Ghost Bar.” 

According to staff of Scarlett O’Hara’s Ghost Bar, his haunting presence sometimes triggers the restaurant’s burglar alarm, sending a flurry of officers to find nothing more than an empty building. On occasion, the officers are said to find the jukebox playing music without any living figures to account for the mischief.

In addition to music, George seems to be quite fond of candlelight. Oftentimes, staff have gone upstairs to light the candle wicks, only to discover them already aflame, casting a soft glow on the surrounding bar. He also tampers with the temperature and seems keen on moving objects across the bar top, like glasses.

Employees say the jestful phantom dislikes rude language and swearing. Additionally, the spirit has a rascally side, often hassling new staff members. One such unlucky server was locked in a bathroom by George. Perhaps he heard him cursing. 

Some have experienced more disturbing indications of George’s presence. A few late-night patrons have recounted groans emanating from the men’s restroom, accompanied by a splashing sound. Might this be evidence that George’s death wasn’t accidental? Maybe someday we’ll know for sure. 

Haunted St. Augustine

Found in the historic district, Scarlett O’Hara’s St. Augustine remains one of the city’s most eerie places to grab a bite or drink. Still, you’d best watch your mouth if you enter George’s ghost bar — he might pester you in the restroom if you offend him. 

Many consider St. Augustine to be the oldest city in the United States, having been founded in 1565. Given this, it’s understandable why it contains such an abundance of haunted places. Keep reading our blog to discover even more curious haunts within this ancient city. 

Interested in connecting with other ghastly or ghostly enthusiasts? Book a tour with Old City Ghosts to experience this city’s dark history and chilling tales in person. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok to ensure your days are as spooky as possible.

Sources:

• https://www.visitstaugustine.com/restaurant/scarlett-house
• https://www.thelocalinns.com/blog/the-most-haunted-places-in-st-augustine/
• https://www.staugustine.com/story/news/local/2022/07/07/scarlett-oharas-st-augustine-restaurant-closes-dos-gatos-bar/7818879001
• https://hauntedhouses.com/florida/the-scarlett-ohara-pub/
• https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2022/jul/06/scarlett-oharas-in-st-augustine-closes-after-losing-lease
• https://www.yelp.com/biz/scarlett-o-haras-saint-augustine
• https://www.crestonhousefl.com/blog/spooky-spectacles-haunted-locations-st-augustine-fl
• https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/scarlett-oharas-ghost-bar-florida
• https://www.citystaug.com/693/Our-History