02/18/2026
My paranormal recommendation for investigators when visiting St. Augustine, FL? The Castillo de San Marcos exterior grounds are free to roam until midnight. I verified this with an official and it came with a welcoming but firm reminder. Behave yourself. No alcohol or drugs. Don't climb on the structures. Don't overstay your welcome. In other words, don't ruin it for others. You are free to explore and see what happens.
This is where life occurred. Soldiers were camped on this soil. Animals were tended, food was cooked and craftsmen toiled in the fresh sea breeze. Death occurred here as well. Evidenced by cannon strike on the exterior walls of the fort.
St. Augustine has a noise ordinance for 10pm Mon-Thurs and 11pm Fri-Sun which should help cut down on audio background contamination. They are serious about their rest in St. Augustine and I personally love the eerie silence at night.
I've added pics of our walk around the fort so you can see the areas available to you. It's a lot of ground to cover! Have fun on your next visit.