The Problem with Watson Realty Group’s “Certifiably Haunted Jail” Listing

There is no such thing as a “certifiably haunted jail” —or any other certifiably haunted place for that matter— so why is a jail in Florida listed as such?

Well, likely because of the publicity it generates. Some savvy realtor or realtors know what they’re doing because let’s face it: haunted properties make news. They’re right.

Other haunted properties that have gone on sale this year have also made news, including El Paso’s Haunted De Soto Hotel and the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast Museum, which recently sold to new owners.

It’s an understandable strategy. If you’re selling something, the more exposure the better. That’s what leads to sales. People can’t buy whatever you’re selling if they don’t know it exists.

However, as a product liability lawyer at my old law firm used to tell me: there’s an irresponsible way to sell something and a responsible one.

Let’s take a look at the case of the sales listing for the Old Gilchrist County Jail, a.k.a. the “certifiably haunted jail” that’s for sale. It’s a prime example of irresponsible selling —and reporting— that hurts the paranormal, but it’s also a great lesson in critical thinking.

Haunted Jail for Sale

At the beginning of April, news broke that the haunted jail in Trenton, Florida, was for sale. Among the first sources to report about it was the Orlando Sentinel. Their tame but informative headline read: “‘Haunted’ Florida jail and tourist destination up for sale.”

Included in the article was this paragraph:

The listing from Watson Realty Group promotes the property as a “GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO OWN THE ONLY DECOMMISSIONED, CERTIFIABLY HAUNTED JAIL IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA! AS SEEN ON TV AND THROUGHOUT THE WEB The old Gilchrist county jail in Trenton is a very unique attraction.”

Just about every day since there have been more stories about the haunted Florida jail for sale. Most of the headlines that followed thereafter were very similar, such as “You Can Own an Allegedly Haunted Florida Jail for $140,000” from Mental Floss and “Haunted Florida jail known for paranormal activity on sale for $140K” from the New York Post.

Zeroing in on the “Certifiably Haunted Jail” Angle

However, today I noticed a slight, but significant, change in how this story is being sold.

The Wichita Eagle, The Charlotte Observer, and The Sacramento Bee all shared the same, presumably syndicated, article by TJ Macias with the headline: “‘Certifiably haunted’ Florida jail hits the market for $139,990. Take a look inside.”

Catchy headline for sure, but is it responsible?

Well, in Macias’s defense, she did put “certifiably haunted jail” in quotes, as she was only pulling from the jail’s for sale listing.

The Watson Realty Corp Listing for the Haunted Jail

The jail is listed on WatsonRealtyCorp.com as a single-family home located at 313 Nw 2nd Street, Trenton, FL 32693. The asking price, which we already know from some of the above headlines, is $139,990.

Thanks to the Orlando Sentinel article, we glimpsed part of the property description, but here’s the whole thing:

GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO OWN THE ONLY DECOMMISSIONED, CERTIFIABLY HAUNTED JAIL IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA! AS SEEN ON TV AND THROUGHOUT THE WEB The old Gilchrist county jail in Trenton is a very unique attraction for those thrill seekers out there whom over the years have come from all over the world to document the heavy paranormal activity that frequently occurs inside and outside of the jail. See apparitions walking around the grounds in broad day. Possibly the spirits within will voice whats on their mind when you arrive before you even make it inside. This location was used as the Gilchrist county jail actively from 1928 to 1968 with the home/living addition to the jail was actually built in 1966 just 2 years before ceasing operation. Home to years of grisly stand offs, killings and much more its no surprise this location is loaded with visible and Audible paranormal activity. Can you can believe years ago they would lock the prisoners in and there would be no one in the jail with them? As you can imagine that opened the door up for extreme nefarious activity. The Old Gilchrist county jail is still operating tours and having paranormal ghost club meetings. This is an awesome turnkey tourist related business opportunity!

Here are some of the photos of the jail that were included with the listing:

Who certified it haunted?

If you’ve ever built a home or bought or sold an existing one, you know a variety of inspections are involved, from home inspectors to mold, radon, and termites, depending on where you live.

It’s always a good idea for buyers to get at least a home inspection. However, the trouble is that states vary wildly on requirements. Some require home inspectors to be certified and licensed. Others don’t.

As is the case with most things, the more training and experience a home inspector has, the better. They’ll be better equipped to spot potential issues —or issues, period— that the average homeowner may not be aware of.

But when it comes to the paranormal, there is no certification process for paranormal investigators. There are no regulatory boards. No tests to pass. Any Joe or Jill Blow with a flashlight and video recorder can call themselves a paranormal investigator and thousands do.

Are any qualified to certify anything is haunted?

Absolutely not.

For one, “haunted” and “ghosts” are still just myths. No one has quantifiably, undeniably, or irrefutably proved either exists except for in the realm of fantasy, science fiction, and people’s imaginations.

So why is Watson Realty Group, who surely knows the importance of legit inspections, listing the Old Gilchrist Jail as “certifiably haunted”?

Critical Thinking Not Optional

It’s this kind of thing that gives the paranormal a bad rap, and shame on reporters who irresponsibly sensationalize terms like “certifiably haunted jail” without including at least a note that there is no such thing.

Unless they don’t do their due diligence, in which case with lack of fact-checking like that, it’s easier to understand why people believe in fake news.

At any rate, this has proved a great example of why you should always read everything carefully and question everything you read. Or in other words, never leave home without your critical thinking cap.

Check-In

The jail may seem like a bargain at $139,990, but how much money do you think renovations to something like that would cost? Or am I the only one who thinks it looks like it needs a TLC?