Past, Presence, and a Few Paranormal Pals: Ghost Tours with a Twist

If you’ve ever wanted to dip a toe into the world of ghost tours but weren’t sure if your kids—or, let’s be real, your own nerves—could handle it, Past and Presence Historic Ghost Tours has you covered. With two locations, Cocoa Village and Titusville, and both family-friendly and adults-only options, they’ve managed to strike the perfect balance between spooky fun and spine-chilling history. We recently tested out both versions, bringing along our self-proclaimed “Queen of Spooky Season,” Avery, for the all-ages Cocoa Village tour, and then sneaking away for a Titusville date night the following weekend. Turns out, ghost hunting makes for both excellent family bonding and a surprisingly romantic night out. Who knew?

PAST AND PRESENCE HISTORIC GHOST TOURS COCOA VILLAGE FAMILY TOUR

The family-friendly Cocoa Village tour starts at the Antilles Trading Company Maritime Pirate Museum and Store, which is exactly as on-theme as it sounds. Floor-to-ceiling artifacts fill every inch, from swords to sea chests, and at just $8 per person, it’s a bargain for pirate lovers so be sure to arrive early enough to explore before your tour. Avery, armed with a scavenger hunt checklist, gleefully tracked down “pirate booty” and walked away with a treasure of her own before the tour even started. Once we hit the streets, our guide Zach—a professional actor and board member of the North Brevard Historical Society—swept us into a world of pirate tales, creepy local lore, and even a bit of true crime. He has that rare talent for making history feel like a blockbuster movie, mixing spine-tingling details with perfectly timed jokes that had us laughing as much as gasping. Avery, eyes wide and determined, insists she spotted at least 26 ghosts before bedtime.

What makes these family tours special is their accessibility. The 6 p.m. start time keeps things kid-friendly, wrapping up before bedtime meltdowns, and the paved sidewalks make it stroller-friendly—no tripping over gravestones or cobblestones required. Parents can relax knowing the “too gruesome for kids” bits are left out, while still enjoying authentic, well-researched history. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill script pulled from Wikipedia. Zach and his wife Danielle, the duo behind Past and Presence, have poured countless hours into researching archives, interviewing locals, and uncovering forgotten tales—some lost even to official history books. Their passion shines through in every stop.

Antilles Trading Company Maritime Pirate Museum and Store

PAST AND PRESENCE HISTORIC GHOST TOURS TITUSVILLE ADULTS-ONLY TOUR

The following weekend, Scott and I swapped juice boxes for cocktails and joined the Titusville adults-only tour. Mother Nature clearly got the memo, because the skies opened with perfectly timed thunder, lightning, and bursts of rain, setting the kind of atmosphere you just can’t fake. Titusville’s stories stretch way back—like, 7,000–8,000 years back—to the Windover peat bog mummies discovered in the 1980s. From there, it fast-forwards through Prohibition speakeasies (hello, Al Capone and his local haunts), old homes, and a handful of historic buildings hiding some decidedly unearthly guests.

CAFÉ PARADISO BISTRO & SOCIAL CLUB

The night ended in one of the coolest ways possible: climbing the back stairs of Café Paradiso Bistro & Social Club into what can only be described as a séanceready speakeasy. The cozy upstairs room crackled with energy as Zach shared stories of paranormal activity that had occurred there, while a live band downstairs played the eeriest soundtrack to our ghostly evening. Scott swears he felt a heavy weight press down on him as soon as he stepped inside. Me? I was too busy sitting on the edge of my seat to hear the details of all that had happened there, hoping to spot an apparition or two.

WHAT MAKES PAST AND PRESENCE THE ULTIMATE GHOST TOUR EXPERIENCE

Whether you’re wrangling kids, or sneaking off for a grown-up night out, Past and Presence offers a ghost tour that feels tailor-made. You’ll walk away with more than just a few goosebumps—you’ll also leave with a deeper appreciation for the history, businesses, and communities that make Cocoa Village and Titusville unique. And if you’re anything like Avery, you’ll also leave with an official ghost count.