Haunted Legends of Captain Tony’s Saloon
Captain Tony’s Saloon in Key West is more than just a bar — it’s a legendary stop on haunted tours, where the Lady in Blue is said to linger.
Looking for unique things to do in Key West? Put Captain Tony’s Saloon on your list. It’s a classic island bar with a darker reputation—one that blends history with the kind of stories you only hear in the Conch Republic.
A quick note on lore: Much of what people “know” about this building’s past comes from the colorful Captain Tony himself—a smuggler, fisherman, and unforgettable storyteller. He was known to tell a tale or two, and while not every detail can be proven, we can’t resist a good legend from a legend.
A Saloon Steeped in Story
The structure dates to the mid-1800s. Around town you’ll hear that it’s the oldest bar in Florida, and that it once doubled as an icehouse and city morgue. Those details are part of the bar’s long-told narrative and help explain why Captain Tony’s is regularly named among the most haunted places in Key West.
Step through the doors and you’ll see the famous tree growing inside the bar. According to Key West lore that Tony loved to share, before gallows were built this very tree served as the last stop for pirates and murderers. Whether every hanging happened here or not, the story sets the stage for Captain Tony’s most famous ghost.
The Lady in Blue
The tale goes like this: a woman in a blue nightgown murdered her husband and children. A horrified mob dragged her to the tree and hanged her at dawn. Her neck didn’t snap; she slowly strangled, her face turning the same blue as her gown.
Years later, Captain Tony said he heard his courtyard gate creak open night after night. Determined to catch the intruder, he hid behind the tree—only to see a transparent blue figure glide toward him and vanish into the trunk. Guests still report cold spots and fleeting blue shapes near the tree, and many swear the Lady in Blue is the bar’s most active spirit.
Doors that Lock Themselves & Other Odd Happenings
Regulars talk about strange things in the ladies’ room—lights flicking on, doors refusing to open, then a sudden blast of icy air as if someone slipped out unseen. One after-hours story ends with every door in the bar slamming shut at once, only to be found already locked.
In the poolroom, the floor displays the tombstone of Elvira. When construction exposed old remains in the ground, a low wall was built and bottles of holy water were set into it—a folk guard against restless spirits. Whether you believe or not, it’s easy to feel watched while you line up a shot; more than one visitor has blamed a bad break on a ghost’s nudge.
Fact vs. Folklore (and Why It’s Still Worth the Visit)
Many details of the bar’s past are traditional stories repeated by Captain Tony and locals over decades.
The hanging tree, morgue tales, and the Lady in Blue are part of that living folklore.
What’s certain is the atmosphere: old wood, island history, and a crowd that loves a good ghost story.
And that’s exactly why Captain Tony’s remains a must-see stop on Key West ghost tours—it’s where the island’s personality and paranormal reputation meet.
Plan Your Stop on Your Key West Ghost Adventure
Whether you’re chasing spirits or just soaking up local color, Captain Tony’s Saloon belongs on any list of unique things to do in Key West. Grab a seat beneath the tree, raise a glass, and listen. In this bar, legends breathe, stories grow, and sometimes—just sometimes—the Lady in Blue brushes by on her midnight rounds.
More Key West Ghost Stories
For more great ghost stories, pick up a copy of David Sloan’s Haunted Key West or Ghosts of Key West in local stores or on Amazon.
