Ghostly Happenings at the Biltmore Hotel

The Biltmore Hotel, located in Coral Gables, Florida, is a luxury golf and spa resort built in 1925, showcasing a blend of Victorian and European architectural styles. Renowned for its opulent design, the hotel has historically attracted high society and celebrities such as Ginger Rogers, Judy Garland, and Bing Crosby. Despite its grand past, the Biltmore experienced periods of varied use, serving as a military hospital during World War II, a veterans' hospital, and a medical school for the University of Miami before undergoing two major restorations in 1981 and 1992. The hotel's impressive facade features a red tile roof, reminiscent of a European palace, with an archway leading to the main entrance. A prominent 300-foot copper-clad central tower, inspired by the Giralda Tower in Seville, Spain, houses numerous suites and rooms. Inside, the lobby boasts tall ceilings adorned with frescoes and paintings, columns, and imported Italian travertine marble floors. The Biltmore offers 275 rooms, suites, and lower suites, three ballrooms, 24 conference rooms, and the largest swimming pool in the U.S., making it a five-star resort. The first-floor patios are enhanced with a fountain, lush plants, and trees. During the Great Depression, the hotel creatively used its massive pool for water-based entertainment, including synchronized swimming and alligator wrestling, drawing thousands of spectators weekly. A significant historical event at the hotel involved its private 13th-floor suite, which operated as a speakeasy and gambling establishment during Prohibition. Managed by local mobster Edward Wilson and New York gangsters, this illicit operation led to a fatal altercation where Thomas “Fatty” Walsh was shot and killed. Following this incident, all evidence was quickly removed, and personnel involved were dispersed before the police arrived, who only found the bodies of Fatty and his injured associate. The Biltmore Hotel is also widely known for its paranormal activity. During periods of vacancy, police investigating reports of transients found no one but witnessed unexplained phenomena such as breaking glass, self-opening and closing windows, and phantom apparitions that even K-9 units reacted to. Guests have reported doors opening and closing, lights turning on and off, and waking up to see male ghosts in hospital gowns. A transparent couple has been observed dancing in one of the ballrooms before vanishing, and a female entity, known as “The Lady in White,” is said to be the spirit of someone who fell to her death from one of the towers. The most prominent spirit is Thomas “Fatty” Walsh, described as a jovial entity who enjoys wandering the 13th floor, assisting in elevators, visiting restaurants, and interacting with guests, particularly women. He is believed to be responsible for playful light and door manipulations and has been cooperative with paranormal investigators. The 13th floor, accessible only by a special key for VIPs, is a hotspot for Fatty's activity, where guests have reported hearing laughter, smelling cigar smoke, and feeling a presence. Waitresses have experienced Fatty opening dining area doors, and some guests have been taken to the 13th floor by the elevator, encountering a wispy female entity. Fatty has become a beloved figure among guests, staff, and paranormal enthusiasts, making the Biltmore a destination for those seeking ghostly encounters. #HauntedHotel #BiltmoreHotel #CoralGables #FloridaHistory #ParanormalActivity #LuxuryResort #ProhibitionEra #GhostStories #ArchitecturalHeritage #HauntedHotel #BiltmoreHotel #CoralGables #FloridaHistory #ParanormalActivity #LuxuryResort #ProhibitionEra #GhostStories #ArchitecturalHeritage