Miami Biltmore Hotel
PANICd#: 1968
The Miami Biltmore Hotel is a luxury hotel in Coral Gables, Florida, United States. It was designed by Schultze and Weaver and was built in 1926 by John McEntee Bowman and George Merrick as part of the Biltmore hotel chain.
1200 Anastasia Ave
Coral Gables , FL 33134
Phone: (855) 311-6903
Open to the public: Yes
Lat: 25.7409241
Lon: -80.27872330000002
Database Summary:
Demographic Rank: 6
History: 2
Stories: 1
Claims: 14
Evidence: 0
Resources: 13
Retrievals: 10025
Vistor Rating: 0.0
Votes: 0
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History
History information is some background and history about the location. This is meant to be a basic summary. Below the history records you will find sources in which you can click on to find out more information. There may be multiple history records per location.
In 1925 land developer George E. Merrick joined forces with Biltmore hotel magnate John McEntee Bowman at the height of the Florida land boom to build "a great hotel...which would not only serve as a hostelry to the crowds which were thronging to Coral Gables but also would serve as a center of sports and fashion." In January 1926, ten months and $10 million later, the hotel debuted with a magnificent inaugural that brought people down from northern cities on trains marked "Miami Biltmore Specials."
Vistors included, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Ginger Rogers, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Al Capone and assorted Roosevelts and Vanderbilts as frequent guests. Franklin D. Roosevelt had a temporary White House office set up at the Hotel for when he vacationed on his fishing trips from Miami. There were many gala balls, aquatic shows by the grand pool and weddings were de rigueur as were world class golf tournaments.
See the source link for more history about this location.
Added by: sdonley on 08/01/2019
DB#:479
Source(s):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_Biltmore_Hotel...
Added by: sdonley on 08/01/2019
DB#:480
Source(s):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx4f_H6ZWck
Stories
Stories are just that. Stories and personal accounts that have been reported about the location. This section could also contain research notes as well.
During the ten years that the building was vacant; 1973-1983, people who were standing on the golf course behind the hotel, used to be able to see windows open and close by themselves, and mysterious lights seen in the windows.They also heard the sounds of music, coming from the hotel. Because the electricity was off inside the building, many thought that the spirits that remained there had taken up residence.
The officials thought that real people must be the real culprits, and appropriate action was planned.
Thinking that transients were trespassing and squatting in the hotel, the authorities sent in dogs and police to find the culprits, but came up empty-handed. The 14 police officers and 2 detectives did see paranormal activity, as their presence did scare the entities there. They heard breaking glass, witnessed the windows on the top floor open and close by themselves, and also saw phantom apparitions fleeing down the hallways. Their dogs also sensed entities, and ran out of the hotel.
Guests have been teased by entities who open and close doors, and play with the lights.
Guests have also awakened to see male entities dressed in hospital gowns looking at them. These shy entities have also been seen wandering the hallways, and disappear as soon as the living see them.
A transparent couple has been seen dancing in one of the ballrooms. They vanished into thin air, in front of living witnesses.
The Female Entity of the mother who died is known as "The Lady in White."
This sad entity lingers in some of the tower suites, wanders the halls, and sometimes sits on guests' beds. She has also been seen rushing around the balcony where she accidentally fell to her death, while saving her son.
The Male Entity of Thomas Fatty Welch - Described as being a jovial spirit, full of fun, and having a deep appreciation for a good Cuban cigar and women.
Fatty loves to wander the 13th floor, to help out in the elevators, to go to the restaurants, on occasion, and still likes the company of the living, especially women. He was so pleased that The Biltmore was restored to its former glory, that he is content to hang out there, spending his after-life in this hotel, getting some chuckles by playfully teasing the guests and staff, and is friendly and cooperative toward paranormal investigators and psychics.
He is thought to be the one who plays with the lights and doors and takes the lamp shades for chuckles!
Guests have heard his jovial chuckle, and witnessed the word, "BOO!", being printed by an unseen finger on fogged up mirrors in the bathrooms.
During an authorized paranormal investigation in the late '70s, he made his presence known in an EVP inadvertently recorded by investigators. He followed them around, breathing very heavily, ending the recording with a huge sigh.
His apparition has been seen in bathroom mirrors.
The Elevators in the hotel go to the 2-12th floors. To visit the 13th floor, a special key is used by the bellhop, because the suite there is used for special people, like Presidents, political leaders, rock stars, etc. Fatty does make exceptions for pretty women, and takes things into his own hands!
Couples going to their rooms on the floors below the 13th, via the elevator, have been taken to the 13th floor, passing the floor that they have pushed the button for, especially if the woman is pretty. Once there, the living have heard people talking & laughing, smelled cigar smoke, and felt a strong presence standing real close to them. Sometimes the elevator door shuts before the woman's male companion can get off, leaving his female partner alone with Fatty and friends!
Waitresses who are working in the restaurants, and have their hands full of plates, etc. have experienced the door to the dining area opening up for them, courtesy of Fatty.
Friendly female entity - Experienced on the 13th Floor
One woman who was taken by Fatty to the 13th floor, via the elevator, was greeted with a cheery hello, from a "transparent" female entity, floating several feet above the floor.
Added by: sdonley on 08/01/2019 DB#: 1470
Source(s):
https://ghost.hauntedhouses.com/florida_miami_bilt...
Paranormal Claims
Here are the paranormal claims for this location. These have been found through Internet research, reports from members, or reports from personal interviews. To add a claim, please contact PANICd.com, and we will review and add your information.
Claim # | Added | Added By | Claim |
2981 | 08/01/2019 | sdonley | Windows will open and close by themselves. |
2982 | 08/01/2019 | sdonley | Lights would be seen in the windows from the golf course when the building was closed and had no electric. |
2983 | 08/01/2019 | sdonley | Music can be heard from the building when nobody was there. |
2984 | 08/01/2019 | sdonley | The sound of glass breaking can be heard. |
2985 | 08/01/2019 | sdonley | Police dogs were scared out of the building. |
2986 | 08/01/2019 | sdonley | Doors will open and close by themselves. |
2987 | 08/01/2019 | sdonley | Apparitions of men in hospital gowns have been witnessed. |
2988 | 08/01/2019 | sdonley | A transparent couple has been seen dancing in the ballroom. |
2989 | 08/01/2019 | sdonley | The apparition of a women in white has been seen roaming the halls. |
2990 | 08/01/2019 | sdonley | The phantom smell of cigars have been witnessed. |
2991 | 08/01/2019 | sdonley | The word "Boo!" has appeared in fogged up mirrors. |
2992 | 08/01/2019 | sdonley | EVPs have been recorded within the building. |
2993 | 08/01/2019 | sdonley | The apparition of Thomas "Fatty" Welch has been seen in mirrors. |
2994 | 08/01/2019 | sdonley | The elevator has been known to go to the 13th floor, although a special key is needed to go to that floor. |
Paranormal Evidence
Paranormal evidence is based on claims that have been reported for this location. There can be several types of evidence; however, we have grouped them based on media type for better organization. Here you will find evidence that are logs, audio, video, or photographic.
To add evidence for a claim, you must submit it to PANICd.com for approval to be entered into the database.
No Evidence Reported Yet!
Additional Resources
This is a collection of Internet resources for this location. This section will house links to other websites that contain information related to history, claims, investigations, or even the location's website.
Wikipedia Entry
Added: 08/04/2017 By: sdonley |
Wikipedia entry for this location. |
HauntedHouses.com
Added: 05/27/2019 By: sdonley |
HauntedHouses.com record |
A History Of The Biltmore, Miami's Best Known Creepy Hotel
Added: 08/01/2019 By: sdonley |
Information about the location, see link for details. |
Ghosts of So. Florida: Ghosts at the Biltmore Hotel
Added: 08/01/2019 By: sdonley |
Information about the location, see link for details. |
Miami's Haunted Properties | Biltmore Hotel Ghosts
Added: 08/01/2019 By: sdonley |
Take a look at The Real Deal South Florida's top pick for Miami's most haunted properties. |
The Biltmore Hotel Miami, haunted or not? | Smithsonian Photo Contest | Smithsonian
Added: 08/01/2019 By: sdonley |
The legendary Biltmore Hotel in Miami. Haunted happenings and many stories have been told. This was a very busy Saturday afternoon, yet looks strangely abandoned. |
Haunted Biltmore Hotel
Added: 08/01/2019 By: sdonley |
Information about the location, see link for details. |
Haunted Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables - Paranormal
Added: 08/01/2019 By: sdonley |
A tale of opulence, gambling, murder, and, of course, a ghost or two in the luxurious Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida. - Haunted Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables - Paranormal at BellaOnline |
Biltmore Hotel - Real Haunted Place
Added: 08/01/2019 By: sdonley |
Information about the location, see link for details. |
The Biltmore Hotel | Travel Channel
Added: 08/01/2019 By: sdonley |
Coral Gables' landmark Biltmore Hotel even has its own resident ghost. |
Top 10 Haunted Hotels in Florida
Added: 08/01/2019 By: sdonley |
Information about the location, see link for details. |
One Night In The Biltmore Hotel's Famous Al Capone Suite
Added: 08/01/2019 By: sdonley |
Information about the location, see link for details. |
Spooky Miami: Biltmore Hotel Haunted by Gangsters and WWII Soldiers (PHOTO) | Miami New Times
Added: 08/01/2019 By: sdonley |
Spooky Miami is a four-part series featuring supernatural, paranormal, and otherwise unexplained phenomena throughout Dade County.The Biltmore Hotel was the hotspot in sunny South Florida in the '20s and '30s, hosting celebrities, royalty, and U.S. President, Franklin D. Roosevelt.Despite it's rise as an... |