St. Augustine, Florida

The Mysterious Castle Warden

Nestled in the historic city of St. Augustine, Florida, the Castle Warden stands as a striking testament to both architectural grandeur and a dark, enigmatic past. Originally constructed in 1887 as a winter retreat for William Gray Warden and his family, this Moorish-style castle has worn many hats over the decades—from a lavish private residence to a hotel, and now, since 1950, as Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium. Yet, beneath its curious exhibits and oddities lies a chilling story of fire, tragedy, and unexplained events that continue to captivate visitors and paranormal enthusiasts alike.

After serving as a winter retreat for William Gray Warden and his family for 35 years, it was left abandoned in the 1920s when Warden had a new residence built further south in Palm Beach. During this period of vacancy, the castle became an informal refuge for the homeless. As the Great Depression deepened across the United States, more and more sought shelter within the castle’s walls. Some of these individuals reportedly died due to illness, misfortune, or even interpersonal violence, but records from the time are murky at best. Local law enforcement occasionally responded to calls from what had become known as the “Doom Castle,” though many of these incidents went uninvestigated or undocumented.

The castle’s journey took a significant turn in 1941 when Norton Baskin, husband of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, purchased the property for $18,000. Baskin, who had experience managing a hotel in Ocala, envisioned transforming the aging structure—abandoned for 18 years prior to the purchase—into a luxurious retreat. With the help of Leonard Fiddia, a self-taught builder from Cross Creek, he invested $65,000 in renovations, breathing new life into the castle. The Castle Warden Hotel opened its doors in October 1941, shortly after Baskin’s marriage to Rawlings. For a brief period, it served as a haven for guests—until tragedy struck.

The Fire of April 23, 1944

On a fateful night during World War II, a fire broke out on the third floor of the Castle Warden Hotel. Initially blamed on a carelessly dropped cigarette, the blaze was eventually contained—but not before claiming the lives of two women: Betty Norvelle Richeson and Ruth Hopkins Pickering. Both were found in bathtubs, wrapped in towels, with no visible signs of burns. While initial reports suggested smoke inhalation as the likely cause of death, the unusual circumstances sparked speculation and led to an investigation.

Betty Richeson, a dressmaker from a well-known Jacksonville family, was discovered in Room 17. A witness claimed to have seen her body being carried into that room from another location within the hotel, raising questions about whether she had died before the fire began. Ruth Pickering, a close friend of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and a long-term resident of the fourth-floor penthouse, was found in her own tub. Despite having access to a fire escape and balcony, she made no effort to flee, a fact that continues to puzzle researchers and adds to the mystery.

Some accounts point to a mysterious guest—known only as “Mr. X”—who was allegedly seen carrying a large bundle through the hotel before the fire. This has led to theories that the fire was set intentionally to conceal violent acts. However, no charges were ever filed, no definitive suspect was named, and the deaths were never officially ruled as homicides. The possibility of a tragic accident—compounded by confusion during the fire—remains just as plausible as the more sinister theories.

After the tragedy, Norton Baskin sold the hotel in 1946. By 1950, the property had taken on a new life under Daniel Crawford Jr., who transformed it into Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium—a fitting home for Robert Ripley’s collection of eccentricities. Ripley himself had once stayed at the hotel and expressed a desire to own it—a wish fulfilled posthumously. Today, the museum welcomes thousands of curious visitors each year, but many leave with stories that go far beyond the exhibits.

Hauntings at Castle Warden

The Castle Warden’s shadowy history has fostered a reputation as one of St. Augustine’s most haunted places. Paranormal investigators, including The Atlantic Paranormal Society (T.A.P.S.), claim to have identified at least “18 confirmed entities” within the building. Visitors and staff have long reported strange occurrences and eerie encounters.

In the Circus Room, a spirit known as “Lenny,” who appears as a young boy but speaks with the voice of an adult male, often interacts with guests—sometimes accompanied by other figures referred to as “Sam” or “Michael.” One entity, believed to be the aforementioned “witness” to the events of 1944, seems tied to sudden EMF spikes and anxious energy. Spirit boxes have repeatedly picked up the name “Bob,” which may or may not be connected to one of the room’s exhibits.

The Jungle Room—reportedly near the quarters once occupied by the elusive Mr. X—has a heavy, oppressive presence. Some visitors claim to feel a small cat brush past their legs or even capture the image of a one-eared feline in photographs, possibly linked to the room’s famous “mummy cat.” A tall, pale man in dark clothing has also been photographed here, giving weight to the theory that Betty Richeson may have died in this room before being moved.

The atrium has its own spectral resident: an elegant woman in a beige dress who glides through the space. She is believed by some to be Ruth Pickering. Her former penthouse, now used as attic storage, reportedly carries her quiet, lingering presence—although both she and Betty’s spirits are said to vanish entirely whenever the fire is mentioned.

Other supernatural inhabitants include a ghost named “Steve,” who endlessly repeats his name, and a gruff, growling “curmudgeon” in the barn room who whispers urgent warnings like “run” or “get out.” Shadow figures, the silhouette of a man in a top hat, and a little girl in old-fashioned clothes round out the ghostly cast. Visitors frequently report footsteps and untraceable sounds near the gift shop area.

A Legacy of Mystery

The Castle Warden, now a celebrated museum of oddities, remains a place where history, tragedy, and the unexplained coexist. The deaths of Betty Richeson and Ruth Pickering remain clouded in uncertainty—whether the result of foul play or a tragic accident, no one can say for sure. But the lore of “Mr. X,” the fire, and the spirits left behind continue to fuel curiosity and speculation.

Whether visitors come for Ripley’s wonders or the whispered legends of the past, they leave having experienced a piece of living mystery—one that endures more than eighty years after that fateful night in 1944.