I
n the city of Miami, where progress and development reign supreme, it's easy to overlook its rich history. But on Halloween, we can uncover some of the spooky secrets behind its most iconic homes and hotels. Let's take a look at some of South Florida's most haunted real estate statistics.

    16 is the age Agnes Skuvst was when she backed out of her wedding to Edward Leedskalnin, who went on to build Coral Castle as a tribute to her. The castle remains shrouded in mystery, with unanswered questions about how Leedskalnin built it without outside help and rumors that he cured his tuberculosis using magnets.

    60 "ghost voices" were recorded by the League of Paranormal Investigators at the Deering Estate at Cutler, a historic estate in Palmetto Bay. The estate features six historic houses, three archaeological sites, and 450 acres of protected natural areas.

    At the Miami River Inn, visitors have reported strange occurrences between 11 p.m., including doors opening and closing loudly and sounds of footsteps running towards doors.

    99 is the age of the Curtiss Mansion in Miami Springs, former home to aviation mogul Glenn Curtiss. The mansion has been reopened after decades of disrepair and is rumored to be haunted by ghostly activity.

    13 is the floor of the Biltmore Hotel where a casino and speakeasy operated during Prohibition, and gangster Thomas "Fatty" Walsh was murdered. According to legend, Walsh's ghost still haunts the hotel, and its elevators often stop on this floor for no reason.

    1925 is the year Villa Paula, a neo-classical mansion in Little Haiti, was built for the Cuban consulate general. The home is said to be haunted by the ghost of Paula, who died after complications from a leg amputation. Neighbors and former owners have reported an unusual number of cats being killed by the home's swinging front gate.

    This column is produced by the Master Brokers Forum, a network of South Florida's elite real estate professionals.