Haunted History of Plant Hall

Posted: 07.31.2024 | Updated: 11.22.2024

Tampa, Florida, offers a blend of excitement and relaxation, from the pristine white sand beaches of the Gulf Coast to the adrenaline-pumping rides at Busch Gardens. With so much to do, it’s a wonder how students at the University of Tampa find time to study.

Nestled in the heart of downtown, the University of Tampa spans 110 acres and 60 buildings, seamlessly blending into the urban landscape. Its iconic minaret towers have become a signature feature of Tampa’s skyline. However, when students manage to break away from the city’s attractions, another, more eerie distraction awaits within the university’s historic Plant Hall.

Who haunts Plant Hall?

Plant Hall has a haunted legacy that some say includes the ghost of Henry Plant himself, known ominously as the “Brown Man.” Read on to uncover the eerie happenings of Plant Hall, and to see some of Tampa’s most haunted locations in person, book a ghost tour with Tampa Terrors!

History of Plant Hall

Plant Hall is a stunning example of Moorish Revival architecture, distinguished by its Victorian gingerbread trim, red brick exterior, and distinctive silver domes and minarets. Today, it houses classrooms, faculty departments, and administrative offices, but it originally opened as the Tampa Bay Hotel, a grand resort built by railroad magnate Henry Plant.

Completed in 1891 after three years of construction, the hotel was a marvel of its time, costing Plant around $3 million. Plant was inspired by European architecture and sought to create a luxurious retreat for well-traveled Victorian guests. The Tampa Bay Hotel was the crown jewel among the eight luxury resorts Plant established along his railway line, known as the Plant System. It quickly became a magnet for high society, drawing tens of thousands of visitors to Florida’s Gulf Coast annually.

The hotel was renowned for its innovative features, including Florida’s first-ever elevator, which still operates today. The 511 suites were the first in the state to have telephones and electric lights. The sprawling complex also boasted a bowling alley, golf course, racetrack, casino, and an indoor pool. This opulence came at a cost, with room rates as high as $15 a night—a steep price compared to the average $1.25 to $2.00 charged by other Tampa hotels.

The Tampa Bay Hotel was a hotspot for celebrities and dignitaries during its prime. U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt, the Prince of Wales, U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and baseball legend Babe Ruth were among its esteemed guests. However, the Great Depression led to a decline in tourism, and the hotel closed its doors in 1930.

In 1933, the former hotel became the site of the newly established University of Tampa, providing space for the Tampa Bay Junior College to expand. The city also created the Tampa Municipal Museum to preserve the hotel’s historical significance, which later became the Henry B. Plant Museum.

This museum now showcases a treasure trove of artifacts from Plant’s European acquisitions, including rococo-style bronze statues, antique clocks, paintings, tapestries, and a vase gifted by the Emperor of Japan. The hotel, now Plant Hall, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and remains one of Tampa’s most unique and iconic landmarks—and, some say, its most haunted.

Hauntings at Plant Hall

Ask any student at the University of Tampa about Plant Hall, and you’re likely to hear a chilling warning—enter if you dare. The historic hall is rumored to be home to several spirits from its days as a luxury resort, most notably the ghost of Henry Plant. Described as a tall, shadowy figure with long white hair, a white mustache, and glowing red eyes, Plant’s ghost is often spotted in a brown suit, earning him the nickname “the Brown Man.”

One student recounted a harrowing encounter with the Brown Man. Rushing to an early morning class, she turned a corner in a deserted hallway and saw a tall man in an old-fashioned brown suit standing at the end. His wide-brimmed hat obscured most of his face, but she could see strands of white hair floating around him as if he were underwater. As she stared, she realized the man was hovering inches above the ground.

When she tried to speak, he lifted his hat, revealing glowing red eyes, before vanishing into thin air. Shaken, she recounted the experience to her professor, who calmly asked if that was the reason for her tardiness, suggesting that the Brown Man is a well-known campus ghost—and, apparently, an acceptable excuse for being late.

Another student described a similarly eerie encounter while studying alone in a classroom. He heard the door creak open and footsteps enter the room. The sound stopped behind him, but when he turned around, no one was there. Perhaps Henry Plant was seeking some study notes of his own.

There are tales of Henry Plant’s ghost rushing at anyone who acknowledges his presence, only to disappear just before making contact. Long-term faculty and staff advise newcomers to avoid eye contact—leave him alone, and he’ll do the same.

Some paranormal experts believe Plant’s spirit is tied to the hall because of his deep attachment to the vast collection of antiques that once filled the hotel. Since many of these artifacts were sold, it’s thought that his ghost remains to protect what’s left. Others think Plant lingers to instill fear in the hearts of students or to deter trespassers from his beloved property. Whatever the reason, Plant Hall remains one of Tampa’s most haunted destinations, making it a place not just of learning, but of lingering spirits.

Haunted Tampa

There’s no shortage of creepy and cursed locations in Florida. Discover some of Tampa’s most terrifying locations on a ghost tour with Tampa Terrors!

Sources: