We're in St. Augustine, Florida, at the site of the very first permanent Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum—Castle Warden. But before it became the home of Ripley’s collection, this place had a rich and mysterious history of its own.
The Warden Castle was built in 1887 by William G. Warden, a partner of oil tycoons John D. Rockefeller and Henry Flagler. Designed as a lavish winter retreat, the castle quickly became a social hub for America’s elite, who flocked to St. Augustine during the winter months.
However, by the 1930s, the castle’s story took a weird turn. While historical records suggest the Warden family still owned the property, local accounts claim the family stopped visiting after the Great Depression, leaving the castle abandoned and in disrepair. The once-grand estate became an eyesore, with the city even considering demolishing it.
The castle’s fate changed when Norton Baskin and his wife, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, purchased the property. They restored the building and transformed it into a luxurious hotel, reviving its reputation as a premier destination in St. Augustine.
Yet, despite its new life, the Wardens never returned, leaving their connection to the property a bit of a mystery. The castle’s new role as a glamorous hotel, however, would soon be overshadowed by tragedy.
On the morning of April 23, 1944, the Castle Warden Hotel experienced a tragic fire on the third and fourth floors that took the lives of two local women. While it was assumed that the fire began from a lit cigarette, no proof was ever found, and both women were discovered with wet towels around their faces and no burns.
The night before, a mystery man checked into the castle and signed in only as "Mr. X." There were reports of the mysterious man ordering extra towels and being seen carrying something that looked like a rolled-up rug just prior to the fire. No one saw him again after the blaze, and the extra towels were not found in his room. Was the fire really an accident, or a much more sinister act at the hands of Mr. X?
Since then, Castle Warden has gained notoriety not just for its architecture and historical significance but also as one of the most haunted sites in Florida.
It was this blend of mystery and history that captivated Robert Ripley.
In December 1950, just after Ripley’s passing, the museum opened, showcasing his remarkable collection of oddities. Today, the museum continues to embrace both Ripley’s love for the bizarre and the building’s own haunted legacy, making it a truly unbelievable place to visit.
Over the years, guests and staff have reported strange occurrences—from unexplained noises and cold spots to sightings of ghostly figures believed to be the spirits of Bette Richeson and Ruth Pickering. These paranormal phenomena have become a key part of Ripley's Believe It or Not! experience, drawing visitors from all over the world eager to catch a glimpse of the supernatural.
Visit Ripley's Believe It or Not! St. Augustine and see the strange for yourself!
