Abandoned Florida

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Abandoned Florida

Instagram: Abandoned Florida started out as a database for abandoned and forgotten places throughout the state of Florida.

Since then, it has grown to feature photographers and artists throughout the state as well helping to bring exposure to buildings that are in need of preservation. Pick up my book 'Lost Miami' here: http://amzn.to/1jWPRCM

Prints are available at the following locations:
Dysfunctional Grace Co.: https://www.facebook.com/DysfunctionalGrace/

Novel Tea: https://www.facebook.com/Novelteafl/

Crossroads Corner Consignment: https://www.facebook.com/Crossroadscornerconsignment/

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11/02/2026

Charles Dummett, the son of plantation owner Douglas Dummett and Leandra “Anna” Fernandez, died at just 15 years old. The exact circumstances of his death are unclear, though most accounts point to a tragic hunting accident.

Heartbroken, Douglas Dummett reportedly chose to bury his son at the very spot where the accident occurred, and the grave has remained there ever since. When developers arrived in the 1950s, they opted to construct the new road around the memorial rather than undertake the lengthy legal process required to relocate it. This would have been a very different story if construction had occurred in current times.

The ruins of his father's plantation can be found in Ormond Beach along Old Dixie Highway, although inaccessible to the public as they're surrounded by fencing, and can only be viewed from afar.

10/31/2026

Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery in Miami serves as the final resting place for numerous Black pioneers who profoundly shaped the city's history. Among those interred are prominent figures such as Dana Dorsey, Miami's first Black millionaire; H.E.S. Reeves, founder of the city's first Black newspaper; and Arthur and Polly Mays, dedicated activists who fought for the education of Black children in Goulds. The grounds also hold Dr. William Chapman, one of Miami's earliest physicians known for educating the community on infectious diseases; Gwen Cherry, the first Black woman elected to the Florida state legislature; and Kelsey Pharr, the city's first Black mortician and former owner of the cemetery itself. Beyond these notable historical figures, the site honors the thousands of everyday individuals whose labor, resilience, and dedication helped build Miami into the city it is today.

https://abandonedfl.com/lincoln-memorial-park-cemetery

10/30/2026

ack in 2022, archeologists discovered what remains of a submerged 19th-century quarantine hospital and cemetery near Garden Key in Dry Tortugas National Park. According to the National Park Service, this site, once located on dry land, now lies underwater due to severe erosion and rising sea levels.

While historical records indicate that dozens of people were likely buried at the Fort Jefferson Post Cemetery, researchers have specifically identified the grave of John Greer, a civilian laborer who died in 1861. His grave is notable for its headstone, which was crafted from the same greywacke sandstone used in the construction of the nearby fort.

Due to a surge in population of enslaved people, engineers, prisoners, soldiers, and laborers during the 1860s and 1870s, the risk of communicable diseases such as smallpox and yellow fever drastically increased. The sick were moved to small structures on neighboring islands, isolating them from the congested Fort Jefferson, potentially saving hundreds of lives.

10/30/2026

The House of Masks 🎭 Years ago, if you had been cruising down North Scenic Highway in Lake Wales, Florida, your eyes might have drifted past a quaint 1950s cottage overlooking the water. Save for a pet cemetery tucked beneath the palm trees, it appeared to be nothing more than a peaceful, ordinary lakeside home. Though no signs beckoned travelers, the long, sweeping driveway acted as a natural invitation for the curious. This was the home of Erik Erickson, a private sanctuary that doubled as a living, breathing roadside funhouse. From its vintage carnival-themed entryway and retro-inspired diner to a bathroom transformed into a 69-room cavern, the "House of Masks" was a singular masterpiece of personal art and imagination.

While decorating his home theater, Erik Erickson began collecting "life masks." To his disappointment, many were actually death masks; stark, frozen molds taken in the finality of passing. Rather than leaving them as grim relics, Erickson set out to restore them. He didn’t just repair the chips and cracks of time; he recast them to look truly alive, bridging the gap between historical artifact and living presence.

The practice of creating life masks dates back to 14th-century Europe, serving as the only way to "freeze" a face before the camera existed. Erickson believed these sculptures surpassed photography, noting that they offer a "direct connection with the life and flesh of the famous." For him, it was a way to study every pore and scar of history's icons in three dimensions. Though his life's work was lost to a fire in September 2022, these photos by Abigail Hopkins preserve the haunting beauty of the home and the creations Erickson left behind, before it was eventually demolished. Erickson passed away in 2024.

Photos by Abigail Hopkins

10/29/2026

This cemetery in the Withlacoochee Forest is all that remains of the town of Mannfield, named after pioneer Austin Mann who attempted to develop the area but didn't get far with his plans. A booming town whose population of 250 rivaled that of Miami, it is largely remembered for the election that led to the "stealing" of the county courthouse.

Mannfield was acting as the temporary county seat of the newly formed Citrus County, and multiple elections were held to determine where the permanent county seat would be located. Mannfield was in contention with Inverness as rumors of ballot stuffing spread and fist fights broke out in the streets. Even as Inverness was declared the winner, Mannfield residents refused to concede the loss, so they dispatched an attorney, on a mule, seeking an injunction from the only available judge forty miles away.

While he was away, Inverness supporters decided to take matters into their own hands. Under the cover of night, court records, furniture, and even the circuit court clerk, still seated in his chair as he refused to budge, were loaded onto wagons and moved to the new courthouse in Inverness. By the time the attorney got back, the Mannfield courthouse was completely abandoned, and he instead met with a group of crackers who were relishing in his misfortune.

When a railroad line was built through Citrus County in 1893, Mannfield was bypassed entirely in favor of Inverness. Without a central role in county government or access to the railroad, and with its remote location, Mannfield steadily declined. Back-to-back freezes in '84 and '85, which destroyed the area's citrus fields, solidified Mannfield's end. By the 1930s, nothing remained of the town.

It's a beautiful hike if you're looking for something to do. Fifteen minutes south is Vandal and Peace caves, another worthwhile hike that can be done within the same day.

10/29/2026

For years, the abandoned old Melbourne High School was used as a haunted house during this time of year. Originally starting as a single-room schoolhouse in 1894, the institution expanded over the decades, culminating in a new $200,000 building erected in 1926 to accommodate a booming population. Over the years, the campus served various community needs, saw notable figures like Zora Neale Hurston teach there, and was eventually renamed the Ruth Henegar Elementary School before officially closing its doors in 1975 due to dwindling enrollment.

Although preservationists and a local non-profit, the Brevard Regional Arts Group (BRAG), secured the property and raised funds for restoration, costly requirements for asbestos abatement and ADA compliance continuously stalled redevelopment. In March 2015, the Brevard School Board approved dissolving a reverter clause to clear the path for the site's sale and redevelopment. Despite protests from concerned residents and alumni who fought to save the historic landmark, demolition of the structure ultimately commenced on October 16, 2015, making way for a new apartment complex.

https://abandonedfl.com/old-melbourne-high-school/

10/28/2026

Norwood Elementary School, located in Jacksonville, Florida, was established in the 1920s and served its community for over 80 years before closing in 2008. Designed by architect Jefferson Davis Powell in the Colonial Revival style, the school opened for the 1926–27 school year and was named after Dr. John Kirk Norwood, whose family was the neighborhood's namesake. Over the decades, the campus underwent several expansions, including classrooms, a cafeteria, and an auditorium featuring a prominent WPA-commissioned mural depicting Jean Ribault’s 1562 landing.

The history of the area is also deeply tied to Jacksonville's medical past, notably as the site of the historic Sand Hills Hospital, a quarantine "pest house" established during the 1888 yellow fever epidemic. After Norwood Elementary closed due to declining enrollment and urban shifts in the Norwood neighborhood, the property was purchased in 2008 for a redevelopment project that ultimately stalled. Following subsequent foreclosures and ownership changes, the vacant historic building is currently listed for sale.

https://abandonedfl.com/norwood-elementary-school/

10/27/2026

Located in Brooksville, the unfinished brontosaurus sculpture was created by August Herwede, who lived in the house just behind it. Born on September 21, 1886, August worked as a painter and interior decorator. After the death of his wife in 1964, he turned his attention to building concrete animals around his home. Within just two years, he had completed more than 30 sculptures, including a woolly mammoth, a pair of lions, and several dinosaurs. When asked by his daughter-in-law why he hadn’t started earlier, August famously replied in an interview with The St. Petersburg Times, “I wanted to build an elephant, but Mama wouldn’t let me.”

His inspiration came from the 1964 World’s Fair in New York, which featured an exhibit called “Dinoland.” Sponsored by Sinclair Oil, the attraction showcased nine full-sized dinosaur models, including the company’s signature brontosaurus. That same year, Sinclair also constructed a brontosaurus-shaped service station along US 19 in Spring Hill, further fueling August’s imagination.

That service station is located at 5299 Commercial Way in Spring Hill and is a national historic site. It's also a functioning mechanic shop.

Sadly, August’s own brontosaurus would never be finished. While working on scaffolding high atop the sculpture, he fell and broke both legs. He passed away a few months later in 1967 at the age of 80, never able to complete his creation. After his death, his collection of animals was gradually sold off one by one, leaving only the unfinished brontosaurus, which still stands on the property to this day.

https://abandonedfl.com/brooksville-headless-brontosaurus/

10/26/2026

This was the home of Dr. James Hartley Beal, a pioneering pharmacist, educator, and scientist who played a key role in shaping the early history of Fort Walton Beach. Today, it's now a pile of debris having been demolished. Thank you to Dionna Chenault for sharing this photo.

Some history about this once historic house...

After relocating to Florida in 1928, Dr. Beal housed one of the world’s largest shell collections, comprising nearly two million specimens, at his home on Miracle Strip Parkway. Beyond his malacological pursuits, he was instrumental in regional development, co-founding the iconic Tower Beach resort on Okaloosa Island and successfully lobbying to rename the community from Camp Walton to Fort Walton. While his world-renowned collection eventually found a permanent home at the Florida Museum of Natural History, his historic 1928 residence sat abandoned in Wynnehaven Beach, having been relocated from its original location. Plans were originally in place to turn the house into a restaurant, but unfortunately, those didn't pan out.

https://abandonedfl.com/dr-beals-shell-museum/

10/26/2026

Long before modern funeral homes existed in Jacksonville, the story began in 1851 with a man named Calvin Oak. Diagnosed with tuberculosis and given just six months to live, Oak moved his family from Vermont to Florida, hoping the sunny climate would heal him. Not only did he survive another 30 years, but he became one of the city’s most prominent figures, building Jacksonville’s first gun factory, opening a jewelry shop on Bay Street, and establishing the city's first mortuary business in 1856 alongside his son, Byron.

Local legend has it that Calvin used to stand at the docks when steamboats arrived from Charleston. Holding a tall rod, he would gauge the height of incoming passengers from afar to estimate coffin sizes for anyone he suspected wouldn’t make it through the winter, having their caskets constructed ahead of their death.

His business laid the foundation for what eventually became the Moulton & Kyle Funeral Home. Unfortunately, after years of abandonment, Moulton & Kyle burned down in 2021.

https://abandonedfl.com/moulton-kyle-funeral-home/

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