Haunted Punta Gorda home sells for just over $1 million

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.- A beautiful Punta Gorda home along West Retta Esplanade, and rumored to be haunted, is now off the market.

For more than 100 years, residents have heard spooky tales about the ghost of a little girl living inside, but that didn’t stop Paul Chupka from purchasing the home for just over $1 million.

“I turned off all the lights when I’m walking out, and I said ‘wow, I can’t believe I turned off all the lights in a home that’s supposed to be haunted,” said Chupka.

The ghost of a little girl, nicknamed scary Mary, reportedly haunts the halls. In 1909, Mary died while ironing on the front porch, where her dress caught on fire. Since her death, the home is said to be haunted. The owner says he’s glad to have another kid in the house.

“I know the haunting is supposed to be from a young girl, and I looked at it because I have kids, and they don’t do a lot of chores, so I said maybe the ghost will do a lot of chores for me,” said Chupka.

The Victorian style home overlooks Gilchrist Park and the Charlotte Harbor. It was on the market for almost a year before the right buyers came along.

“The house has so much history behind it when you look at the overall structure of the house, it’s just a beautiful house,” said Chupka.