ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — One of St. Augustine’s biggest tourist attractions takes guests inside a jail where executions were common outside.

The Old Jail, built in 1891 and served the city until 1953, housed some of the most violent criminals of its time.

What You Need To Know

  • The Old Jail in St. Augustine is one of the oldest jails in Florida, open from 1891 to 1953

  • The jail was closed due to deplorable conditions and cruelty to inmates with eight documented hangings

  • The guided Old Jail Tour takes guests on both floors of the facility where visitors can walk into the cells

  • The Old Jail After Dark Tour is at midnight and allows guests to listen and look for paranormal activity (inside the jail) with a paranormal expert  

The jail closed in 1953 due to deplorable conditions and cruelty to its residents, with eight documented hangings carried out on the site.

Guide and entertainment director Heather Quinn says life was not comfortable at the jail.

“No air conditioning and five women to one cell. This is something called an open aired jail. That means there is no glass on the windows, only bars,” said Quinn, pointing to a window with metal bars.

And it could be packed with inmates — 72 men and women could be held at the jail when at full capacity.  

Prisoners were put in jail for petty and serious crimes. 

You’ll learn about the jails notorious sheriff and see the start of crime solving tools.

“Inside the former sheriff’s office here in the jail is one of the first finger printing kits and it was given to Sheriff Perry,” Quinn said.

The guided Old Jail Tour is $16.99 for adults and $8.99 for children. It takes guests on the two floors of the facility.

Patrons will learn about the prisoners held at the jail and get the chance to walk into various cells and holding areas.

(Spectrum News/Randy Rauch)

Another experience guests can sign up for is The Old Jail After Dark Tour, which is held after midnight inside the jail.

Paranormal investigator Fran Rafferty has been exploring the paranormal since the 1980s and believes wholeheartedly that the old jail in full of spirits from inmates once housed there.

“I honestly do believe in these spirts because we hear them talking to us all the time,” said Rafferty.

Rafferty uses several paranormal tools to track the spirts and ghosts that haunt the St. Augustine jail, like a thermal camera, EMF meter, dead bell, paranormal music box, and a REM pod.

Rafferty and workers at the jail have captured photos of aberrations of people they believe once lived or worked at the jail.

The Old Jail After Dark Tour is $99 per person.

Guests can make reservations online or over the phone.

For more information, visit the St. Augustine Old Jail.