Rumors of a 1700s ghost ship washing ashore in St. Augustine, Florida, have recently gone viral, captivating many social media users. The buzz began after Hurricane Milton made landfall on October 9, 2024. However, the claims about the ghost ship have been thoroughly debunked by experts and fact-checkers.On October 16, 2024, a Facebook post from a page called Casper Planet sparked the rumor. The post featured an image of an old wooden ship, claiming it was a fully intact ghost ship that had emerged from the ocean after the hurricane. This post quickly gained traction, receiving over 21,000 shares and thousands of comments expressing disbelief and excitement about the supposed discovery.
The Origin of the Rumor
The image at the center of this viral story was later identified as a prop from Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean, specifically the Flying Dutchman. This ship was used in promotional materials for the film and is not a real historical vessel. Despite this revelation, many users continued to share and discuss the post, reflecting a common tendency to believe sensational stories without verifying their authenticity.
Experts pointed out several inconsistencies in the claims surrounding the ghost ship. Firstly, Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida’s central west coast, far from St. Augustine, which is located on the eastern side of the state. Additionally, Milton was classified as a Category 3 hurricane at its peak and had weakened significantly by the time it crossed Florida.
Expert Insights
Chuck Meide, director of the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum, provided critical insights into why such a ghost ship could not exist in Florida waters. He explained that most shipwrecks in warm waters are typically not preserved intact due to marine organisms that consume wood over time. In fact, when ships do wash ashore after hurricanes, they are usually just remnants or parts of vessels rather than fully intact ships.
Meide noted that if a ship were to emerge completely intact from the ocean depths, it would likely be found in colder waters where preservation conditions are favorable, such as in the Baltic Sea or Great Lakes, rather than in Florida’s warm coastal waters.
The Role of Social Media
The rapid spread of this ghost ship rumor highlights how social media can amplify misinformation. The original post by Casper Planet was intended as satire; however, many users failed to recognize its humorous intent. A follow-up post from Casper Planet further poked fun at how tourists were outraged upon discovering that the ghost ship was not real. This incident serves as a reminder of how easily misinformation can circulate online, especially when it plays into popular themes like Halloween and ghost stories.
No, the viral post about a 1700s ghost ship washing ashore along the Florida coast after Hurricane Milton isn’t true. https://t.co/KNT7XVqggy
— WFAA (@wfaa) October 20, 2024
Casper Planet
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1700s Ghost Ship Washes Ashore in Florida After Hurricane Milton
In an eerie aftermath of Hurricane Milton, a fully intact 1700s-era ghost ship washed ashore near St. Augustine, Florida, on Wednesday, baffling both locals and experts. The mysterious vessel, which…— clarice feldman (@claricefeldman7) October 17, 2024
Conclusion
In summary, while tales of ghost ships can be fascinating and entertaining, this particular story about a 1700s ghost ship washed ashore in St. Augustine is entirely unfounded. It originated from a satirical post and was fueled by social media excitement without factual basis. Experts have confirmed that no such vessel exists and have clarified how typical shipwrecks behave in Florida waters.
