Ghosts of Estero Island: A Halloween Journey into the Island’s Haunted Past

Every island has its stories. Some are recorded in history books. Others are whispered from one generation to the next. On Halloween, the Estero Island Historic Society invites residents and visitors to discover both during Ghosts of Estero Island, a special presentation exploring the island’s mysterious past.

Two free presentations will be offered on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM, at 161 Bay Road, Fort Myers Beach.

The program takes audiences on a journey through some of Estero Island’s most intriguing historic locations, where documented events have inspired decades of ghost stories and local legends.

Guests will revisit the Holmes House, once one of the island’s best-known restaurants, where employees reportedly heard unexplained footsteps and encountered mysterious presences.

The presentation also explores the Pelican Hotel, scene of a tragic Christmas gathering in 1966, and the Mermaid Club, where the memory of beloved owners Jim and Mary Galloway has lingered since their murders in 1953.

The journey continues to the historic Mound House, with its tales of mysterious figures in the windows and unexplained disturbances, before crossing the waters of Estero Bay to Mound Key, the ancient Calusa center surrounded by centuries of history and folklore.

Through historic photographs, illustrations, and storytelling, the program distinguishes documented history from the legends and imaginative tales that have become part of island tradition.

“Some stories are history. Some are legend. And some refuse to disappear.”

The Estero Island Historic Society invites the community to enjoy this unusual Halloween journey into the stories, tragedies, mysteries, and memories that make Fort Myers Beach unique.

Event Information

• What: Ghosts of Estero Island
• When: Saturday, October 31, 2026
• Times: 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM
• Where: 161 Bay Road, Fort Myers Beach, FL
• Admission: Free
• Presented by: Estero Island Historic Society

Reservations open to the public on October 15.  

Visit Esteroislandhistoricsociety.org to make reservations.