The menacing growl of a motorcycle taking off echoes past me as I leave the bar and make my way towards the cemetery gates. The roaring rumble becoming less intense as the bike speeds away. I look around and pause to wonder just who, or what could be lurking beyond the jagged headstones. The sun is beginning to set as I make my way inside. I power up my spirit box and get to work.....
Sunny Daytona Beach Florida is known for many things such as beautiful beaches you can drive on, seaside resorts, NASCAR, and most notably for enthusiasts of motorcycle culture. In this hog haven biker bars dominate the nightlife scene and quite literally the entire city during the infamous Bike Week events. Arguably one of the most famous biker bars is the haunted Boot Hill Saloon. It stands across the street from the old Pinewood Cemetery just a few blocks from the beach. Upon your arrival, you will be met with the sounds of good ole American classic rock music blaring on the juke box. The walls are peppered with photos, posters, and remnants of parties from yesteryear. The staff and patrons are friendly as everyone shares stories, laughs, and cold beers around the bar.
During my visit I chatted with one of the longtime staff members, Pokey. When I asked if the bar was haunted, he immediately confirmed that himself and many other staff members had paranormal experiences in the bar. Some employees had even passed away in recent years on the property of natural causes and were found by him. In addition to these confirmed deaths, he also shared some more insight into the history of the bar. While the Boot Hill Saloon celebrates 50 years in 2023, its origins were not always that of a bar. It apparently started out as a mortuary at some point that serviced the Pinewood Cemetery across the street. This information was more elusive to confirm online so I am taking Pokey's word for it. Regardless of it's haunted origins, it is apparent that some spirits choose to call this bar home. After this chat about paranormal experiences, I was invited by the staff to return the following evening to conduct an investigation after the bar closed for the night.
Before my nighttime investigation at The Boot Hill Saloon, I explored the Pinewood Cemetery across the street at dusk. This location has been the site of negative press throughout the years. Horrendous vandalism, secret society meetings in old mausoleums, grave robbing, and missing body parts are a few topics that have made the papers.
Broken, gnarled, and toppled headstones loom ominously in the fading sunlight. I make my way to the back of the property to the row of mausoleums. It was here in the 1990's that a group of teenage boys committed unthinkable acts. They rooted through coffins for valuables such as jewelry and even gold tooth fillings. They discarded the body of one entombed person so they could take up residence for secret meetings in a secluded mausoleum. When the police eventually broke up the gathering, they discovered the horrific situation. The body that the boys had discarded was missing it's head which was never recovered... Drunk vandals over the years also bashed and knocked headstones and stole bronze gates for scrap metal money.
All of this created a horrible climate for paranormal activity. During my investigation I conducted 3 fruitful spirit box sessions. I captured angry and distraught voices confirming the vandalism, some asking for help, and others telling me to leave. (All spirit box session reels videos on @shehaunts instagram) They simply did not trust the living.....
After this profound exploration of the cemetery, I made my way across the street. It was time to get started at The Boot Hill Saloon.
Upon entering the bar, I observed a sea of people in front of the stage. Everyone was dancing and singing along. The band was mid-song with drums blasting and guitar leads flying. The energy was intoxicating. After this electrifying set, the band winded down and the live songs gave way back to the sounds of the jukebox. Last call eventually cleared out the rest of the lingering folks who paid their tabs and headed outside.
I met some staff members in the storefront portion of the bar. Piles of t-shirts and hats lined the walls adorned with American flags, eagles, and motorcycles. It was here that we began an EVP session with my DR60 digital recorder. The most we captured was some soft whispers. We eventually moved the investigation to the kitchen. And it was here where we captured some more compelling voices which sent chills down my spine. A known deceased person's voice was confirmed on a recording.
While nothing more was captured on this night, the evidence was eye-opening and further confirmation that The Boot Hill Saloon is indeed haunted. When it comes to the topic of why the Boot Hill Saloon is haunted, I can only speculate that some of these spirits choose to stay. Maybe it is the familiar songs, possibly the regular customers sitting around the bar, maybe it is the cold drinks, or perhaps just the vibrant energy associated with the staff and the building itself that they simply cannot be without.
Comments