The Haunted New River Inn

Posted: 04.21.2025 | Updated: 04.21.2025

Florida is drenched in stories and tales that make one do a second take when they hear something in the night. Among these are ghost stories filled with tragedy and suffering intertwined with the state’s colorful historical tapestry. 

A former inn stands in Fort Lauderdale today as one of Broward County’s oldest historical landmarks: the New River Inn. Once a lodging for travellers across the then-newly developed railroads, it was an architectural piece of its time. It’s now known to be filled with otherworldly activity that sends visitors walking away with goosebumps. 

Looking to get a taste of Florida’s history with a spookier angle to it? Check out our website today and join Miami Haunts for a chilling ghost tour through some of Florida’s most haunted spots around. Who knows, you may find yourself in the middle of your own ghostly story to tell for years to come. Be sure to also check our blog for more bone-rattling stories surrounding America’s most frightening sites. 

Is the New River Inn Haunted?

The New River Inn is one of the oldest and most haunted spots in Fort Lauderdale. It no longer operates as a hotel, but that hasn’t stopped the several spirits from taking permanent lodgings within its walls. 

History of the New River Inn

The New River Inn’s history is intertwined with the historic Florida East Coast Railroad. Much of the state was still a subtropical jungle at the time. However, the scenery was about to change when railroad magnate Henry Flagler spearheaded the construction of the historic Florida East Coast Railway. 

The first steam engine arrived at the New River Settlement on February 22, 1896. It became the terminus for the railroad over the next two months. Travellers had one option once they arrived: stay overnight in Fort Lauderdale. From there, continue to Miami the next day, either by stagecoach or ferry. 

Construction of the bridge crossing New River was completed by April that year, connecting West Palm Beach and Miami River. A man named Philemon Bryan purchased the two-block settlement and built a large frame house on the site. 

Bryan made several renovations and name changes to the building. The most significant was in 1904. He and contractor Ed King separated it into three parts to build a more traditional hotel structure right across from the railroad station.

It was rebuilt using hollow concrete block construction, believed to have cooling effects, and was hurricane-proof. The building was also a gravity structure, held together by its own weight. Bryan renamed his hotel the New River Hotel before it was later changed to its present name, the New River Inn, in 1943. 

The New River Inn operated until 1955 when it shut its doors for good. Its story doesn’t end there, however. 

Today, it’s recognized for its historical significance in Broward County. Not just as its oldest building, but the first location to be placed on the Register of National Historic Places. It is currently owned by the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society. 

Hauntings Overview

The New River Inn is certainly not without a heavy amount of spiritual manifestation, mostly between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. Especially considering how brutally cruel nature was at the time of the nearby railway’s construction, deadly accidents were frequent in railroad work during the 1800s. Not to mention the fact that Florida was a hotbed for yellow fever epidemics at certain points. 

One of the entities seen is said to resemble either a rancher or a railroad worker dressed in a duster outfit. He paces back and forth on the first floor of the hotel, as well as the front porch. It’s as if he’s waiting for someone, or trying to figure something out in his head. 

If you happen to notice this man, he will dart back with a glance as if to say, “What are you looking at?” before he disappears. On the other hand, he is known to look angrily at anyone who walks by and disappears right after. Either way, don’t take it personal. 

Another ghost known to frequent the historic inn is the original owner himself: Philemon Bryan. People who have peeked into the front door of the inn after closing hours have seen a stern-faced gentleman with white hair looking back at them. There are other times when a disembodied hand and arm block their view. Pictures have supposedly been taken of these experiences. 

The Little Girl

Witnesses have also seen a little girl who looks five to seven years old, with blonde, curly hair, dressed in vintage clothing. She is seen playing on the second-story veranda, as well as looking out the windows. Some have heard her laughter reverberating through the halls late at night, and even felt her tug at their clothes. 

As is the case with most children, she doesn’t stay in one place for too long. She has also been seen playing with a toy at the New River nearby and is known to be quite friendly. This seemingly innocent ghost will converse with people who ask her questions; sometimes, she tells them she lives in a two-story house. That’s before she vanishes into thin air, of course. 

Haunted Miami 

There’s a much more eerie side to the Sunshine State, hidden by its mask of sunshine and attractive tourist life. But once the sun sets and the mask is lifted, something else is revealed: ghosts, creatures, and tales of legends that echo in the night. Some of them, lurking right here in Fort Lauderdale, at the New River Inn. 

Once a thriving hotel, it holds a reputation among locals and visitors: one, as a historical relic of the city’s past. The other? It’s one of Fort Lauderdale’s most haunted locations, leaving visitors with an eerie feeling that something not of the living walks among them. 

Ready to see what ghouls and ghosts lurk in Florida’s shadows? Come, check out our site today, and book a spine-tingling ghost tour with Miami Haunts through some of Florida’s spookiest locations! Don’t forget to also stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Sources:

• https://historyfortlauderdale.stqry.app/en/story/30582
• https://hauntedhouses.com/florida/new-river-inn/
• https://www.hauntscout.com/articles/fort-lauderdales-most-haunted-places-revealed/#elementor-toc__heading-anchor-2