The term “ghost town” conjures abandoned towns from the Old West where only lonely mystery remains of the once bustling past. But in the Sunshine State, many ghost towns have sandy beaches and palm trees swaying in the wind. Indeed, Florida is home to more than 250 ghost towns, many of which remain inhabited by long-dead residents, Civil War deserters, pirates and more. The murmurs of former cotton mill workers can be heard in Hague. Bone-chilling breezes blow through Lawtey on the hottest summer days. In Espanola, a basketball-sized orb floats through the trees and shadow figures dart here and there. Join author Heather Leigh on a white-knuckle journey into the haunted remnants of Florida’s ghost towns.