It is no secret that Florida has a few interesting haunted locales scattered throughout the state. We’ve even shared some that we thought were most spine-tingling and goosebump-inducing, like this story behind a haunted Florida lighthouse. But there’s one eerie story you may not have necessarily heard before: a haunted tale involving an underwater Florida town of frightening proportions. Let’s dive in — that is, if you’re brave enough.

Lake Okeechobee is a renowned destination in Florida that most visitors fall in love with when they visit.
Daniel Piraino/Flickr
As the second-largest body of fresh-water in the entire United States, Lake Okeechobee stretches over seven hundred square miles of land in Florida. It has become a prized fishing and vacation spot for residents and visitors alike throughout the years.
But there has been a darker history to Lake Okeechobee that most are not aware of.
Floridapfe from S.Korea Kim in cherl/Moment Collection via Getty Images
Ghost sightings, reported phenomena, and unexplained mysteries occur around Lake Okeechobee every single year. Tales that have circulated involving ancient monsters under the water’s surface as well as spirits lurking in the depths of the current. It is rumored to be one of the most haunted places in Florida.
Besides the massive gravesite of the thousands of people located nearby…
Flickr Wally Gobetz
The gargantuan hurricane of 1928 claimed the lives of thousands of people when the Lake Okeechobee dam broke. All the lives taken from this monster storm were buried at one gravesite nearby, which can still be visited today.

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Yet, none of the ghostly apparitions or haunted lore can compare to the underwater ghost town below the surface.
Florida Fish and Wildlife/Katie Johnson/Flickr
Back in the early 1900s at the southernmost part of the lake, the water seemed to dry up more than usual. What the dried-up portion of the lake revealed was an underwater ghost town of graves like nothing anybody had ever seen before. Skeletons by the hundreds were lying in the lake bed, just resting in their underwater graveyard.
Nobody knows the history behind the bodies which remain at the bottom of the lake.
Mitja Juraja/Pexels
While the underwater ghost town of bodies cannot be seen from the surface today, some fishermen have still claimed to pull up skulls when they cast a line, or even find bone fragments mixed with the shells that line the shore.
Many of the local legends claim the skeletons were of the Seminole Tribes who were hit by famine, war, and disease.
Flickr Katherine Bowman
Others claim that the underwater graveyard is from ancient tribes dating back to the 1700s who resided on the land before the Seminoles existed. Regardless of who the skeletons belong to or how many bodies are buried within the area, the fact remains that hidden beneath this beloved body of water is one of the most haunting abandoned places in Florida, an underwater ghost town of spirits and souls, all with a story to tell.

What do you think? Have you heard the lore before surrounding this underwater Florida town? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section!

And if you’re looking for other creepy stories from Florida, read all about the chilling story of this possessed doll.

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More to Explore

Underwater Ghost Town In Florida

Marisa Roman | January 24, 2021

What are the most haunted places in Florida?

This tale of the underwater ghost town is one of many different creepy places in Florida worth checking out. Of course, with a state as old and historically rich as Florida, there are bound to be some worthwhile ghost stories and haunted attractions, right? If you want to take a road trip and visit all of the most haunted places in the state, then this adventure is for you. Taking you from the St. Augustine Lighthouse to Ashley’s of Rockledge and beyond, come enjoy the haunted road trip through Florida.

What is Florida known for?

While there could be a variety of responses to this question, it might be safe to say that Florida is known for having some of the worst natural disasters. There are natural disasters in Florida that occur all year long, from hurricanes to tornados, tropical storms, and more. In fact, one of the worst disasters in U.S. history happened right here in Florida, and most residents won’t soon forget. This doesn’t mean that Florida isn’t a wonderful place to live—but just be warned, natural disasters can and do happen here.

What are the best manmade attractions in Florida?

A couple of the best man-made attractions in Florida are :

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Lake Okeechobee, Florida, USA