My first encounter with Cassadaga, Florida, occurred between hurricanes, and I experienced weather best suited for a spooky encounter, namely gray and dreary. As a fan of gothic literature, I loved it immediately. But this turned out to be only one facet of the tiny town. With its unusual background, Cassadaga offers good vibes and fun things to do.
Labeled as a place where "mediums, séances and spirits are part of everyday life," Cassadaga remains the ultimate psychic town in Florida and even received a nod in Tom Petty’s “Casa Dega” in 1979. However, beyond its supernatural façade, this community, regulated by an elected board known as the Southern Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp Meeting Association (SCSCMA), is sure to impress all ages with its warmth, cool history and touch of whimsy.
As someone more curious than convinced about the paranormal, I had visited but never participated in anything organized — an obvious oversight. It was time for a tour. Though there is an after-dark spirits tour, I took the historical tour because I wanted to know what exactly makes Cassadaga tick.
Where is Cassadaga?
Strategically located off Interstate 4, exit 114, Cassadaga sits halfway between Orlando and Daytona Beach, near Blue Spring State Park in Volusia County. Admittedly, Cassadaga is perhaps a bit more off the beaten path than most Central Florida attractions but well worth the drive. (It's on the River of Lakes Heritage Corridor if you're looking for a comprehensive road trip.) Local lore says the camp contains energy vortices, which permit the material and spiritual worlds to meet.
What Makes Cassadaga So Special? 'Mysterious Beginnings and Spirit Activity'
The historical tour began in the Andrew Jackson Davis Educational Building and Bookstore, 1112 Stevens Street, which is said to be one of the town's oldest buildings. You can shop for everything from crystals to T-shirts that read, “Where Mayberry Meets the Twilight Zone.”
A sign out front helpfully advertises the expedition, which promises insights into “Cassadaga's historic, unique and mysterious beginnings and the spirit activity that still goes on in the historical homes of present-day mediums.”
After a fun chat about our familiarity with Cassadaga, tour attendees were shown a brief slideshow on Spiritualism, a movement that gained traction after the Civil War. Simply put, it's a set of beliefs that souls survive and can communicate with the living. The slides also covered famous leaders of the movement, the town’s founding and its remaining structures. (Several original buildings burned down, which led to the rebuilding of a couple of others, including Colby Memorial Temple, where church services and “message services” still are conducted; a small outbuilding for hands-on healing remained closed for years during the early COVID-19 pandemic but has since reopened.)
But let’s circle back to its founding because it’s just as numinous as you’d expect. The story of Cassadaga begins with founder George Colby. Born in 1848, Colby had a strict religious upbringing and purportedly was able to encounter the spiritual realm after being baptized and chilled in icy water. The experience led him to run away to become a full-time medium. Among his spirit guides, common in Spiritualist circles, was a Native American named Seneca, who directed him to meet a certain man in Wisconsin. Once there, Colby met T.D. Giddings, another Spiritualist. During a séance, it was said that a "congress of spirits" had found the right place to establish a spiritual center — something prophesied years earlier.
It didn't come easily. Another group rushed to claim the isolated spot in Florida. Despite initial progress, Colby's competitors celebrated prematurely with spirits of a different sort and thus ensured Colby's victory in acquiring the promised land that met his spirit guide’s description. The Southern Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp Meeting Association was formally recognized on December 18, 1894, and is reminiscent of its northern counterpart in Lily Dale, New York.
Such Spiritualist meeting places were called “camps,” describing the often-transient nature of those early gatherings, which took place in outdoor settings during the movement's early days. Since then, the camp has served as a hub for Spiritualists and seekers to share ideas and engage in spiritualist practices like mediumship and healing. In 1992, the destination was added as a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places, marking its historical and cultural significance.
Things to Do in Cassadaga
Strolling through the streets of Cassadaga, it's easy to be drawn into its old-time charm and scenic backdrop. Home to 55 residences, Cassadaga’s late 19th- and early 20th-century structures are striking and a short distance from Lake Colby. There’s also everything many visitors would want in a picturesque, almost Victorian-era community, with historical residences like Harmony Hall, where the staff and boarders once lived, and Brigham House. The Ann Stevens House 1895 bed-and-breakfast is in nearby Lake Helen, as is Colby Alderman Park, which features an outdoor volleyball court and other recreational offerings.
If you’re aiming to visit a cemetery, the most well-known is Lake Helen–Cassadaga Cemetery in Lake Helen; it’s where Colby is buried, though Orange County Regional History Center cites rumors that Colby might not really be interred there. Cassadaga doesn’t have an official cemetery inside the community, although at least one or two mediums are buried in the Reverend Eloise Page Meditation Garden next to the bookstore and welcome center. This small spot was closed at the time my colleague and I visited but had reopened by our follow-up visit.
Other Cassadaga things to see include the aforementioned welcome center and bookstore; elegant Hotel Cassadaga, which has an on-site restaurant; a reportedly haunted museum, which exhibits everything from spooky dolls to aliens; Native American-inspired Medicine Wheel Park; Seneca Park, behind the temple, where one energy vortex is said to be; and Horseshoe Park and Fairy Trail, a park with fairy houses and offerings, a labyrinth, decorated arches and selfie-friendly fairy wings designed by local artist Erica Group. (Group is best known in the West Volusia area for the DeLand Wings and other eye-catching designs.)
There also are plenty of events in Cassadaga besides the tours, including Gala Day, an occasional celebration that features lectures, family-friendly activities and mini readings. Check the calendar for weekly classes and gatherings on topics as varied as spiritual development and Reiki. There’s even a Saturday Night Séance held each second, fourth and fifth Saturday of the month, though spaces are limited to 12 participants.
So, yes, there are psychic healers, mediums and other spiritual services around Cassadaga, although it’s stressed on the tour that only the ones within the town limits and listed by the bookstore are certified, a 4- to 6-year (or more!) process that involves coursework and presentations. Per the SCSCMA, aka the nonprofit religious organization, tools like tarot cards are not allowed, although there are tarot card readers outside the district. The most updated list of certified mediums and healers can be found on a whiteboard listing that day’s availability and a binder with bios in the bookstore and welcome center. (For more about Spiritualism, what to expect and how to prepare for a reading, visit the camp’s website.)
Cassadaga's walkability is one of its greatest assets. Once outside, the leisurely tour takes less than half an hour, depending on stops, and you can expect plenty of friendly waves from locals and sightings of the town's well-pampered cat colony. (Fundraising calendar name? Catsadega Cats, of course.)
While the supernatural elements are acknowledged here, the focus is more historical, debunking some of the more fantastical stories. One haunted Florida legend revolves around the Devil's Chair — a rumored midnight meeting spot for the devil at mightnight and/or an unearthly beer can emptier in Lake Helen–Cassadaga Cemetery, a 10-minute walk from the welcome center. Our guide brushed these claims aside, describing it as a common 19th-century mourning bench, one of two in the cemetery.
After a few more stops and stories of Cassadaga notables (like J.P. Morgan’s accountant, who was an avid Spiritualist), the last stop of the historic tour brought about even more excitement. We entered the brick Colby Memorial Temple, which has a sanctuary, piano and pews reminiscent of a church setting — except there’s also a séance room.
Two-by-two we walked behind the pulpit to see a small room filled with tables and chairs backlit by a lone red bulb. (Apparently, spirits do not care for bright lights.) It’s important to note casual visitors are not allowed to step into the room, so I followed the tour guide’s suggestion to stand on the threshold. I took several pictures. It was only later that I realized not a single one was usable for this article. The photos either didn’t turn out or were too blurry. Coincidence or user error, I can't say, especially since my colleague’s image turned out fine. (See above.) With the tour, I did gain a deeper understanding of the people and places of Cassadaga, if not definite answers. But that’s part of Cassadaga’s charm: An enigmatic and historical perspective that keeps visitors (like me) coming back.
Know Before You Go
- What: Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp was designated a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. It celebrated its 130th anniversary in 2024.
- Where: If you're coming from Orlando, it's about 5 minutes off I-4 Eastbound, Exit 114. From Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, take US Hwy. 92-International Speedway Boulevard to I-4 Westbound to Exit 114. Follow the signs to Cassadaga. The Cassadaga Camp Bookstore, which serves as the information center, is at 1112 Stevens St.
- Why: Cassadaga is the oldest continuously active religious community in the Southeast and is known as the “Psychic Capital of the World.” Psychics and mediums who operate within the town limits are regulated and must be officially certified, with the Hotel Cassadaga as a notable exception. (The hotel, which also has a gift shop and readings available, has a private owner.)
- How: Entry to Cassadaga is free. Tickets and information about tours are available at https://southern-cassadaga-spiritualist-camp.square.site/.