Captain Tony’s Saloon: Key West’s Most Haunted Bar and the Infamous Hanging Tree
Double the Spirits: Why Captain Tony's Saloon is a Paranormal Hotspot
A trip to Key West is incomplete without a visit to Captain Tony's Saloon. This isn't just Florida's oldest bar; it's a chilling convergence of dark history, celebrity lore, and relentless ghostly encounters, making it the undisputed king of haunted bars Key West.
From Morgue to Watering Hole: The Dark History of Old Town Key West
The building that houses Captain Tony's Saloon has a history far more macabre than its current reputation as a lively local haunt. Before the rum flowed freely, the structure served as the island's first icehouse and, more chillingly, the city's original morgue. The restless energy of the countless souls who passed through this building is said to linger, but the true source of the bar's dark reputation is rooted in the very foundation of the structure.
Growing right through the center of the bar is a massive, ancient buttonwood tree—the infamous Hanging Tree. This tree was the site of public executions in the 1800s, where pirates, murderers, and criminals met their end. It is rumored that the remains of several victims, including a young girl, were discovered buried beneath the bar's floor, adding layers of tragic energy to the location.
The Lady in Blue Ghost: Captain Tony's Most Famous Resident
The most famous spirit to call the saloon home is the Lady in Blue Ghost. Legend holds that she was a woman named Elvira, executed on the Hanging Tree in the 1800s after committing a heinous crime—the murder of her husband and two sons. She was reportedly wearing a blue dress when she was hanged, and her ghost is frequently sighted near the tree.
Patrons and staff have reported classic ghostly encounters attributed to the Lady in Blue and other unnamed spirits:
•Disembodied Voices: Whispers and giggling heard when the bar is empty.
•Cold Spots: Sudden, inexplicable drops in temperature, often near the Hanging Tree.
•Poltergeist Activity: Bottles and glasses inexplicably flying off shelves.
•Physical Sightings: A fleeting glimpse of a woman in a blue dress, often followed by a strong, chilling presence.
Tune In to the You Two Scare Me Podcast
Captain Tony's Saloon is a magnet for paranormal investigation, a place where the spirits of pirates, the victims of the morgue, and the tragic Lady in Blue all mingle with the living. As Captain Tony Tarracino himself famously said, "You don’t choose a bar. The bar chooses you." In this case, the bar has chosen to be a perpetual paranormal hotspot.
To hear a deep dive into the history of the Hanging Tree, the gruesome details of the morgue, and firsthand accounts of ghostly encounters from this iconic location, make sure to tune into the You Two Scare Me Podcast episode dedicated to this truly haunted Key West landmark.
Andi and Feliz at Captain Tony’s
