Campus Hauntings

In the early 1900s the Tampa Bay Hotel was a popular destination. Now Plant Hall, guests’ spirits are said to haunt the building. Although there are no official records of ghost sightings, students and faculty have claimed to witness apparitions and strange disturbances. Historical figures lodged at the old hotel where two suicides were committed. Theodore Roosevelt was a guest and his presence is allegedly felt in the current science wing.
The next time you’re bored in class, take a look around the room. Notice any sinister decorations? According to local mystics, the chill you may feel is not necessarily coming from the window.
Supernatural figures are rumored to walk the halls. A man dressed in a brown three-piece suit once walked toward a student with glowing red eyes as she ascended to the second floor. A second student saw this “brown man” on the staircase drinking from a cup. Both students described the gentleman as older and out of place. Of course, the students’ eyesight and sanity should not be ignored.
A dark skinned man with boots and a straw hat apparently still resides in the science wing. Once a hotel caretaker, several students reported seeing his apparition. The creaky wheels of the servants’ carts have also been heard in the science wing.
Security guards who roam the building at night have had their share of strange occurrences. One guard felt a force on the doorknob he was trying to secure and moments later a flashlight was knocked from his hand. Knocked by a transparent figure or his clumsy coworker?
Falk Theater across the street was built in 1928 and is home to the infamous Bessie Snavely’s ghost. The visiting actress discovered her husband was cheating on her with another member of the troupe. In despair, she hung herself on a stairwell behind the stage. Rumor has it her spirit is angered by the color red. Red costumes were mysteriously ruined and one actress could not physically wear a red skirt on stage. The Speech, Theater and Dance department at UT considers Bessie a friendly presence. Despite occasional door slams, footsteps and singing she is quiet. Some believe she saved a stagehand from falling to his death off a scaffold.
On-campus presences are generally forgotten until an apparition is reportedly seen. Paranormal individuals like Bessie are welcome; any theater student could use a friend on set.
Admittedly, the aging buildings are eerie at night and it is easy to believe the mystifying minarets could be haunted. With Tampa Bay Hotel guests ranging from the Prince of Wales to Babe Ruth, a ghost encounter would be welcome.