The 7 best urban legends of Florida (USA)

Urban legends are part of the collective imagination. They are fictitious stories that are dressed with claims of reality; To do this, they are reinforced through a series of elements that are intended to emphasize their veracity: places acquaintances, a certain time, protagonists close to the narrator (the famous "this happened to a friend of a friend…").

In all parts of the world there are many urban legends, but it is in Florida (United States) where many of the most horrifying are concentrated. Here is a collection of several of Florida's best-known urban legends, summarized.

7 Famous Florida Urban Legends

Ghosts that roam old mansions or dark forests, a “haunted” hill, the curse of alligators... join us on this brief journey through the most fascinating urban legends of the state of Florida.

1. "Villa Paula" and the ghosts

The truth is that few places like the state of Florida have so many urban legends about ghosts to their credit. They are so popular that there are many tours ghostly for the different scenarios in which these strange phenomena are supposed to occur.

One of these scenarios is an old mansion from the early 20th century, Villa Paula, which is located in Little Haiti, in Miami. The building was built in 1925 to be the seat of the Cuban Consulate in the city, and received the name of the wife of the then consular officer. The fact is that Paula, the wife, passed away a few years later and, since then, it seems that strange activities take place in the mansion.

The urban legend probably comes from a (supposed) seance that took place in Villa Paula in the 1970s, in which Paula apparently manifested herself along with four other ghosts.

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2. New York crocodiles... that were brought from Florida

Yes we know. New York is not Florida. But it is that this famous urban legend of the city of skyscrapers is closely related to this state in the southern United States. Now we will see why.

First, we will explain what the story is about. It turns out that, for many years, the urban legend has been running through New York that blind crocodiles live in its sewers. Blindness is given to the poor animals because, being locked underground, they have never been able to see the light of the sun. These crocodiles are terribly dangerous; they feed on food waste and garbage, but they also hunt rats and, from time to time, an unsuspecting human being.

Where does this curious rumor come from? As always, there are several versions, but the most widespread tells that there were some tourists who came from Louisiana or Florida who dumped some baby alligators that they had brought through the bathroom. According to some sources, the New York City Council still receives letters from concerned citizens about whether fearsome crocodiles really live under their feet.

3. The three girls of San Agustín

It is perhaps the most famous “ghostly” place in the state of Florida. The San Agustín lighthouse, which stands on the Atlantic coast on the so-called Anastasia Island, was built in the 19th century., and practically since its construction urban legends have spread regarding its ghosts.

The origin of the legends are the amazing number of deaths that have occurred in the lighthouse; Of all of them, the best known is that of three little girls who died during the works. Specifically, they were in a small boat when, due to some impact, it cracked and the girls fell into the sea and drowned. Other versions insist that the deceased were two children...

Be that as it may, from then on there are many people who claim to have heard laughter float by the lighthouse, and even seen a little girl's face peeking through the windows. They also attest to the presence of a ghost dressed in blue that haunts the place.

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4. Strange lights at the Casablanca Hotel

This urban legend dates back to the time of the Dry Law in the United States, which prohibited the production, sale and consumption of alcohol. It seems that the Casablanca hotel, also located in San Agustín, was run at that time by a old woman who did not hesitate to rebel against the law and help the smugglers who sailed at night through the bay.

The woman turned on a light from the roof of the building when the authorities approached and, in this way, the bandits knew when they could safely dock. Since the death of the old woman, many people who sail along the coast at certain times claim to catch a glimpse of a light coming from the roof of the hotel...

5. Spook Hill

There is a disturbing elevation in the city of Lake Wales that has the privilege of defying the laws of physics. And it is that, according to the urban legend, when they go down the hill, the cars actually “go up”. That is to say, they destroy the law of gravity and, on a slope, they roll upwards.

The anecdote is so famous that there is even a sign on the side of the road that invites the driver to put his car in neutral to observe how, suddenly, it begins to "climb" the mountain. There are several legends that try to explain the phenomenon: a native warrior who rests buried there, the spirit of a pirate who pushes cars... But what scientific explanation can have such a phenomenon? According to some experts, it is a fairly well-known optical illusion, which is called, precisely, "gravity hill", and that gives the sensation of going up when, in reality, it is going downhill.

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6. "Good luck, Mr. Gorsky"

This urban legend is related to Florida because, presumably, Neil Armstrong, its protagonist, made the pertinent statements in Tampa Bay, one of its towns, in 1995. It goes without saying that the statements did not exist, nor did Armstrong say the phrase that originated them. But let's go to this curious story.

Everyone knows the famous astronaut; he was the first human being to set foot on the moon, that distant month of July 1969. We also know the phrase he uttered: "One small step for man, one giant leap for humanity." The phrase itself has its nuances, but let's get to the real crux of the matter: it seems that, After the well-known sentence, Armstrong added: "Good luck, Mr. Gorsky" (Good luck, Mr. Gorsky).

Who was this Gorsky guy and what was Neil referring to? The legend grew, until, apparently, the astronaut clarified everything in the aforementioned interview in Florida. Mr. Gorsky was Armstrong's neighbor when he was little, and one day the boy heard that his wife told him he said he wouldn't give her fellatio until the son next door (little Neil) got to the house. moon. For this reason, when Armstrong stepped on the satellite in 1969, he wished his neighbor good luck... and that she enjoy it.

A very funny urban legend, but that does not stop being that, a legend. There is no testimony on the 1969 recording to verify that Neil said that, nor is there any evidence of the alleged statements in Florida from 1995.

7. The "Devil's Tree"

We've already discussed that Florida is incredibly rich in creepy urban legends. We couldn't end this compilation without mentioning the famous “devil's tree”, located in a forest in Port St. Lucie. Is about a thick ancient oak tree where, according to urban legend, a series of murders took place in the 1970s.

Since then, many visitors claim to have seen ghosts hanging from the branches at night and hooded beings prowling around. Urban legend insists that no one has been able to cut down the tree, and that even a priest went to perform an exorcism in 1990. It seems that there was no effect.