The Haunted St. Francis Inn

Posted: 03.26.2025 | Updated: 03.26.2025

As the oldest city in the US, St. Augustine is a treasure trove for history lovers. Whether you’re traveling there to relax on a beach or explore the Castillo de San Marcos, you need a place to stay while you’re in town. And if you’re looking for a quaint bed and breakfast, you can’t beat the St. Francis Inn. 

While the inn has all the amenities you could want, it also offers a level of excitement as you walk around the property. Why? Because you might catch a glimpse of their legendary ghost: Lily.

If you want to see the most haunted sites in St. Augustine for yourself, book a ghost tour with Old City Ghosts. From a haunted fort to a spooky bar, explore the ghastly side of the city. 

Who Haunts the St. Francis Inn?

For many, many years, strange happenings have been occurring in the St. Francis Inn. These date back to the early days of the inn, when it was serving the Civil War-era patrons. 

Despite the wide variety of strange occurrences, these unexplainable phenomena are believed to be tied to a single ghostly presence: Lily. 

The History of St. Francis Inn

The building St. Francis Inn is located in was built way back in 1791 — making it 234 years old. The hotel is the oldest inn in St. Augustine and likely one of the oldest accommodations in the entire United States. Today, it’s even on the National Register of Historic Places, showing just how special of a building it is. 

When the B&B was first built, it was during the city’s Second Spanish Colonial Period. At this time, city officials weren’t concerned about tourists coming to peruse their lovely town. Instead, they were constantly on the lookout for an attack. 

Because of this defensive mindset, the construction completed at this time had one focus: to protect the residents should a battle or invasion attempt take place. In fact, the King of Spain himself even declared an order that said houses must “serve as a defense of fortress against those who might attempt to occupy the town.”

To adhere to these regulations, the builders of the St. Francis Inn built the building directly next to the street, which shields the courtyard and front entrance from direct exposure to the road. 

Who Owned the St. Francis Inn?

Over the next several decades, different military leaders owned the house, living in it as their primary residence. In 1838, Colonel Thomas Henry Dummett moved his family into the home. 

Retired from the British Royal Marines, Dummett fled to America after Great Britain outlawed the use of slave labor. We say “fled” because the story goes on to say that the British government was trying to deter Dummett from leaving the country. So, to make his escape, Dummett hid in an empty sugar barrel aboard a ship he had snuck onto. 

Dummett’s daughter, Anna Marie, was the one who turned the home into an inn in 1845. Anna Marie was a busy woman, running the lodging establishment while also looking after her 10 nieces and nephews, who had been born to her three sisters who had all died in a span of a few years. 

When the Civil War came knocking at St. Augustine’s door, Anna Marie pledged her allegiance to the Confederate cause. However, the Union forces quickly took the town, making her declaration moot. 

The inn quickly made a name for itself, being regarded as one of the “best inns in St. Augustine.” Renovations and repairs took place routinely over the following decades, including adding a third floor. 

Today, the bed and breakfast has 19 guest rooms and offers a buffet breakfast and evening social hour with complimentary drinks and desserts. 

Who Haunts the St. Francis Inn?

To understand who haunts the St. Francis Inn, we have to transport ourselves back to the mid-1800s, when the inn was owned by Major William Hardee. 

Hardee lived on-site with his family, which included his nephew, who was a young adult. At some point, the nephew met one of the servants who worked at the hotel, a young enslaved woman from Barbados whose name was Lily.

The two didn’t let their differences in social status keep them from growing close — and eventually falling in love. The couple would sneak into unoccupied hotel rooms to secretly spend time together without the staff or guests seeing them. They carried on this way for a while, until one unlucky day. 

While the two were in a room together, Major Hardee happened to walk in. Irate at seeing them together, he dismissed Lily immediately — sending her off without telling his nephew where. 

The young man was so heartbroken at the prospect of never seeing his love again that he went to the third floor and committed suicide. Some say he jumped from the third floor while others claim he hanged himself in the attic. 

While it’s unknown what happened to Lily after being sent away, it’s clear where her ghost settled after her death: at the St. Francis Inn. 

The Many Ways Lily Haunts the St. Francis Inn

Many believe that Lily returned to the inn after death to try and be reunited with her lover. However, it seems she’s now trapped there, unable to reach her happy ending. 

While she’s spotted all over the property, dressed in all white, Lily is most active in the attic area of the home, which has since been converted into guest rooms. Here, guests have described all sorts of strange things occurring. 

One guest woke up under the bed, and had to call for staff to help him get out from under it. Another guest woke up to her purse being thrown across the room in the middle of the night.

A new bride woke up after being kissed, only to find her groom fast asleep. Other guests have found their makeup bags filled with water or moved to different spots in the room, like under an open window. 

Then there are the electronic mishaps in the rooms, like a TV turning off or a coffee maker turning on. Radio stations will suddenly change as lights will turn on or off at random. People have even seen picture frames move on their own and books fly off of shelves. 

With dozens of occurrences witnessed by staff and guests alike, there isn’t a question that the St. Francis Inn is one of the most haunted hotels in all of Florida. 

Haunted St. Augustine

While the St. Francis Inn may have one of the most active ghosts in the city, it’s only one of several spooky accommodations around St. Augustine. 

Another haunted hotel is The Casablanca Inn. This hotel has a seedier backstory, as the former owner rented rooms to the illegal rum runners during the days of Prohibition, some of whom seem content to enjoy their luxurious rooms for all time. 

If you’re looking to get a break from the hot Florida sun, book a nighttime ghost tour with Old City Ghosts. Our guide will show you the top haunted spots in the city — and tell you stories you won’t learn in a history book.

If you want to learn about other haunted hotels and inns around the United States, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Curious about other haunted places near St. Augustine? Check out our blog. 

Sources:

• https://stfrancisinn.com/
• https://staugustineghosttours.com/
• https://stfrancisinn.com/inn/
• https://stfrancisinn.com/ghosts/