Saint Augustine Florida
The Scarlett O’Hara Pub
The male victim of a spiteful murder enjoys watching people have fun.
He shares his unhappy story while playfully getting his own chuckles.
Another spirit loved this place while alive.
DESCRIPTION
Scarlett O’Hara’s Bar and Restaurant is made up of two 1879 homes put together to create one eating and drinking establishment that also offers live music. The building is a quaint, two story, brown wood structure, with a wide porch on the first floor where customers can enjoy a meal and a drink.
They have three bars and a restaurant, though food can be ordered in the bar areas. The Main Bar and the Oyster Bar are on the first floor. The martini bar, known as the Ghost Bar, and the official restaurant as well are located on the second floor. The inside walls are decorated with Gone With the Wind memorabilia, as well as a picture of Mr. Colee, the man who was the creator of one of the original homes.
Scarlett O’Hara’s Bar and Restaurant offer great drinks and a variety of food, ranging from traditional bar food, to full course dinners. This establishment is a very popular place of fun for twenty-somethings and older, offering a lively nightlife, with great entertainment, presenting not only live bands, but chances to sing Karaoke!
HISTORY
These two houses were built 18 years after the Civil War in 1879. One house was lovingly created by a Mr. Colee for his fickle, not so nice fiancee, and the other house was built by a retired lighthouse keeper. Though Mr. Colee died soon after marrying his real true love, his family lived in the two story house until 1955. It was boarded up for almost 20 years.
In 1979, entrepreneur Kevin Finch bought Colee’s house and the one next to it. He connected the homes, did some major renovations, turning what was then two fixer-upper opportunities into a popular place for food, drink and entertainment, in an ideal location, being very close to Flagler College.
In 1998, John Arbizzani bought Scarlett O’Hara’s Bar and Restaurant, inheriting a thriving business, and its resident ghosts as well! He has learned to live with them and tolerates their attempts to get some chuckles, or enjoy their memories. Mr. Colee is accepted as a resident that belongs there and is even given a Christmas stocking!
HISTORY OF MANIFESTATIONS
The spirits of people who were murdered, but never got justice, are often restless.
Wabasha Street Caves, MN (The spirits of three gangsters who were executed here, never got justice, but their spirits stay to enjoy events in the venue).
Ashley’s of Rockledge, FL (The spirit of Ethel Allen, who was murdered by a violent killer, never got justice, still enjoys being here).
Lumber Baron and Gardens B and B, CO (The spirits of two murdered girls still reside in the room where the evil deed was done. They want their killer to be caught).
Scarlett O’Hara’s Bar and Restaurant, FL (In 1879, Mr. Colee built one of the houses as a wedding present for the woman who he thought was the love of his life. Imagine his disappointment when this woman dumped him for another man, a soldier who was stationed at Fort Marion).
(Fortunately Mr. Colee found another woman to love and marry and they moved into the home he built for his first unwise choice for a wife. Not long after his marriage, he was found dead in the bathtub, drowned).
(At first it was thought he killed himself. But after looking at the evidence, wiser minds later came to the conclusion that Mr. Colee’s drowning wasn’t an accident or a suicide; he was murdered. It was theorized that Mr. Colee’s marriage had ticked off his first spiteful fiancee, who probably asked her new husband to kill Mr. Colee in the bathtub. There were no CSI experts at this time, so it is very probable that Mr. Colee’s murderer was never brought to justice in his lifetime).
Victims of untimely death at the hands of another, often stick around in spirit form to continue what they wanted to do in life. Sometimes, they still have time to get some chuckles at the expense of the living.
When people die, their spirits sometimes visit their favorite places.
Brother Sebastian’s Restaurant and Winery, NE (A spectral patron isn’t letting the fact that he is a spirit stop him from enjoying himself).
General Wayne Inn, PA (The spirits of Hessian soldiers who were killed in battle during The Revolutionary War liked to stay at their old tavern where they had a lot of fun while alive, and continued to do so until the pub became part of a Jewish center).
Hotel Congress, AZ (A long-time bar patron, a WW 2 veteran, loved to visit the bar every day. He would share his war stories with other customers, bartenders, etc, while enjoying a beer or two. His spirit still visits).
Scarlett O’Hara’s Bar and Restaurant, FL (The spirit of a past patron still visits the bar area).
Victims of untimely death at the hands of another, often stick around in spirit form to continue what they wanted to do in life. Sometimes, they still have time to get some chuckles at the expense of the living.
Kahler Grand, MN (The spirit of a woman who was brutally killed by underworld thugs, visits/stays here for peace, choosing to spend her afterlife in a place she loved. She gets her chuckles by appearing in the elevator in front of the living, and then disappearing).
Glensheen Mansion and the Congdon Estate, MN (The spirits of Matriarch Elizabeth Congdon and her nurse who were murdered by the husband of her conniving adopted daughter, stay in the family home. They dwell on their wonderful memories, and focus on something positive to find peace, by spending their afterlives, enjoying the people and activities of the house museum and grounds).
National Aviary, PA (The spirits of past Confederate POWs or inmates who were incarcerated and died at Western State Penitentiary that once stood where the National Aviary was built, now have moved inside, and find peace and enjoyment in this marvelous place).
Scarlett O’Hara’s Bar and Restaurant, FL ( The spirit of Mr. Colee is happy that his house was combined with the house next door to become a fun pub, a place where he finds peace and entertainment, a happy place to forget how he died. He plays jokes on the living for personal chuckles).
MANIFESTATIONS
The Spirit of Mr. Colee
Seems to enjoy the fun that people have in this bar and restaurant.
Mischievous and friendly, this entity likes to play jokes and show off for chuckles up on the second floor Martini Bar, also called The Ghost Bar!!
He seems to be very pleased indeed that someone rescued his house from the wrecking ball, making a place for people to meet and have fun!
The Fun-loving Spirit of Mr. Colee
Burglar Fun starts with triggering the burglar alarm.
When the policemen rush into the building, looking for the culprit, he taps them on the shoulders and breathes down their collars, loving their reactions.
He Shows Off
He loves to get a reaction by twirling the chairs in front of people.
He plays with the air conditioner, the heater and loves to surf on the TV.
He loves the candles that are lit for the atmosphere upstairs. Sometimes when the bartender goes up to light the candles for the evening, the candles have already been lit.
The Jokes played in Men’s Bathroom
He likes to touch men on the shoulder while they visit the men’s bathroom, and breathe hot air down their shirts, laughing. quietly as these men leave in a hurry, wide-eyed.
He Shares How He Died
Late at night, guests and staff who are up in the “Ghost Bar” upstairs, have heard the sounds of splashing water and the low moans of Mr. Colee, coming from the men’s rest room there.
The Spirit of a Past Patron
He is seen on the first Floor.
He enjoys the bar area, and has been seen pulling out a bar stool and sitting down before vanishing.
This spirit also has been seen by the closing-time staff, walking around the first floor.
PARANORMAL FINDINGS
Many patrons and staff have had personal experiences with the Spirit of Colee.
Many staff members have also seen the personal appearances of the spirit of a past patron.
STILL HAUNTED?
While no hard evidence has been made public by paranormal investigators, the volume of reports from patrons and staff about what they have witnessed and experienced the antics of Mr. Colee, as well as the second spirit who visits his favorite watering hole.
LOCATION
70 Hypolita Street
Saint Augustine, Florida 32084
(904) 824-6535
Scarlett O’Hara’s Bar and Restaurant can be found on the corner of Cordova and Hypolita, a block north of Flagler College Campus and near shopping areas.
SOURCES INCLUDE
- Ancient City Hauntings: More Ghosts of St. Augustine
By Dan Lapham, Pineapple Press, Inc. 2004.
http://www.scarlettoharas.net/ - HAUNTED PLACES: The National Directory
By Dennis William Hauck
Penguin Books – 2002
Our Haunted Paranormal Stories are Written by Julie Carr
Our Photos are copyrighted by Tom Carr
