VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation
Tour operator · Key West ·

VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation

Tour operator · Key West ·

Interactive paranormal investigation with Robert the Doll

VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by null
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by Susan Smith on Flickr (Creative Commons)
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by Collector of Experiences (Atlas Obscura User)
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by Susan Smith on Flickr (Creative Commons)
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by Susan Smith on Flickr (Creative Commons)
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by Collector of Experiences (Atlas Obscura User)
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by Collector of Experiences (Atlas Obscura User)
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by Collector of Experiences (Atlas Obscura User)
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by Susan Smith on Flickr (Creative Commons)
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by Susan Smith on Flickr (Creative Commons)
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by Susan Smith on Flickr (Creative Commons)
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by Collector of Experiences (Atlas Obscura User)
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by Susan Smith on Flickr (Creative Commons)
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by Collector of Experiences (Atlas Obscura User)
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by Collector of Experiences (Atlas Obscura User)
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by calvinsehrt (Atlas Obscura User)
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by Susan Smith on Flickr (Creative Commons)
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by Collector of Experiences (Atlas Obscura User)
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by Susan Smith on Flickr (Creative Commons)
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by calvinsehrt (Atlas Obscura User)
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by calvinsehrt (Atlas Obscura User)
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by Collector of Experiences (Atlas Obscura User)
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by null
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by null
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by null
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by null
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by null
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by null
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by null
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by null
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by null
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by null
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by null
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by null
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by null
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by null
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by null
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by null
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by null
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by null
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by null
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by null
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by null
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by null
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by null
VIP Robert the Doll Experience & Paranormal Investigation by null

Information

3501 S Roosevelt Blvd, Key West, FL 33040 Get directions

Information

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3501 S Roosevelt Blvd, Key West, FL 33040 Get directions

+1 305 395 1435
ghostkeywest.com
@ghostkeywest
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@theghostfort

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Last updated

Dec 11, 2025

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@atlasobscura
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19 Places to Find the World's Creepiest Toys

"Robert Eugene Otto—or Gene, as his family called him—was just a young boy in the early 1900s when his family’s maid gave him a strange, straw-filled doll to play with. Gene loved his life-sized doll and brought it along everywhere, even naming it “Robert” after himself. It wasn’t long, however, before people began noticing signs of Robert the Doll’s evil and mischievous nature. As rumor has it, the Ottos and their servants would often hear Gene in his bedroom, having conversations with himself in two entirely different voices. Furthermore, the Ottos would wake up in the middle of the night to Gene’s screaming, only to find the frightened boy in bed, surrounded by overturned furniture. Gene would blame Robert the Doll for messing up the bedroom, while Robert would glare at Gene from the foot of the bed. Soon after, mutilated toys and mysterious happenings would appear in the home, only to have Gene proclaim each time: “Robert did it!”. Though the Ottos didn’t quite believe Gene, it was reported that they could hear the eerie sound of Robert giggling around the house, and passersby even claimed to see a small doll moving from window to window. Robert was eventually moved to the attic, where he remained for a number of years. Gene inherited his family’s Key West mansion after his parents passed, at which time Robert the Doll returned to his old bedroom, Gene’s turret room on the second floor. By then, Gene had been working as an artist, and local folklore insists that Gene would spend his days alone in his mansion, painting with his old friend Robert. Gene eventually married and many tales of his wife’s disdain for Robert arose. Conflicting rumors surfaced, some alleging that Gene’s wife died from “insanity” after locking Robert in the attic, while others report that Gene died with Robert by his side. Today, Gene’s residence operates as a bed and breakfast called the Artist House, and visitors can even stay in the old turret bedroom. Robert the Doll now lives at the Fort East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida, where some believe his hair color and his soul are both slowly fading. Visitor beware, though, as Robert’s current favorite mischievous act involves casting curses on those who take his photo without first asking permission. To date, the walls near his glass case are covered in numerous letters from previous visitors and naysayers, begging for Robert’s forgiveness and asking him to remove any hex he has cast." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/20-places-to-find-the-worlds-creepiest-toys
Susan Smith on Flickr (Creative Commons)
Ghost Key West / Robert the Doll Experience
@atlasobscura
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The Best of Weird Florida

"Robert Eugene Otto—or Gene, as his family called him—was just a young boy in the early 1900s when his family’s maid gave him a strange, straw-filled doll to play with. Gene loved his life-sized doll and brought it along everywhere, even naming it “Robert” after himself. It wasn’t long, however, before people began noticing signs of Robert the Doll’s evil and mischievous nature. As rumor has it, the Ottos and their servants would often hear Gene in his bedroom, having conversations with himself in two entirely different voices. Furthermore, the Ottos would wake up in the middle of the night to Gene’s screaming, only to find the frightened boy in bed, surrounded by overturned furniture. Gene would blame Robert the Doll for messing up the bedroom, while Robert would glare at Gene from the foot of the bed. Soon after, mutilated toys and mysterious happenings would appear in the home, only to have Gene proclaim each time: “Robert did it!”. Though the Ottos didn’t quite believe Gene, it was reported that they could hear the eerie sound of Robert giggling around the house, and passersby even claimed to see a small doll moving from window to window. Robert was eventually moved to the attic, where he remained for a number of years. Gene inherited his family’s Key West mansion after his parents passed, at which time Robert the Doll returned to his old bedroom, Gene’s turret room on the second floor. By then, Gene had been working as an artist, and local folklore insists that Gene would spend his days alone in his mansion, painting with his old friend Robert. Gene eventually married and many tales of his wife’s disdain for Robert arose. Conflicting rumors surfaced, some alleging that Gene’s wife died from “insanity” after locking Robert in the attic, while others report that Gene died with Robert by his side. Today, Gene’s residence operates as a bed and breakfast called the Artist House, and visitors can even stay in the old turret bedroom. Robert the Doll now lives at the Fort East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida, where some believe his hair color and his soul are both slowly fading. Visitor beware, though, as Robert’s current favorite mischievous act involves casting curses on those who take his photo without first asking permission. To date, the walls near his glass case are covered in numerous letters from previous visitors and naysayers, begging for Robert’s forgiveness and asking him to remove any hex he has cast." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/the-best-of-weird-florida
Susan Smith on Flickr (Creative Commons)
Ghost Key West / Robert the Doll Experience
@atlasobscura
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Visiting 10 of Our Favorite Spooky Local Legends

"Robert Eugene Otto—or Gene, as his family called him—was just a young boy in the early 1900s when his family’s maid gave him a strange, straw-filled doll to play with. Gene loved his life-sized doll and brought it along everywhere, even naming it “Robert” after himself. It wasn’t long, however, before people began noticing signs of Robert the Doll’s evil and mischievous nature. As rumor has it, the Ottos and their servants would often hear Gene in his bedroom, having conversations with himself in two entirely different voices. Furthermore, the Ottos would wake up in the middle of the night to Gene’s screaming, only to find the frightened boy in bed, surrounded by overturned furniture. Gene would blame Robert the Doll for messing up the bedroom, while Robert would glare at Gene from the foot of the bed. Soon after, mutilated toys and mysterious happenings would appear in the home, only to have Gene proclaim each time: “Robert did it!”. Though the Ottos didn’t quite believe Gene, it was reported that they could hear the eerie sound of Robert giggling around the house, and passersby even claimed to see a small doll moving from window to window. Robert was eventually moved to the attic, where he remained for a number of years. Gene inherited his family’s Key West mansion after his parents passed, at which time Robert the Doll returned to his old bedroom, Gene’s turret room on the second floor. By then, Gene had been working as an artist, and local folklore insists that Gene would spend his days alone in his mansion, painting with his old friend Robert. Gene eventually married and many tales of his wife’s disdain for Robert arose. Conflicting rumors surfaced, some alleging that Gene’s wife died from “insanity” after locking Robert in the attic, while others report that Gene died with Robert by his side. Today, Gene’s residence operates as a bed and breakfast called the Artist House, and visitors can even stay in the old turret bedroom. Robert the Doll now lives at the Fort East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida, where some believe his hair color and his soul are both slowly fading. Visitor beware, though, as Robert’s current favorite mischievous act involves casting curses on those who take his photo without first asking permission. To date, the walls near his glass case are covered in numerous letters from previous visitors and naysayers, begging for Robert’s forgiveness and asking him to remove any hex he has cast." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/favorite-spooky-local-legends
Susan Smith on Flickr (Creative Commons)
Ghost Key West / Robert the Doll Experience

Ashley M.

Google
My husband and booked the 8pm vip tour and were SO glad we did. Our tour guide was awesome 👏 Very informative and friendly. Totally someone we could see just hanging out with. We ended up hearing some strange dripping sounds that we couldn’t figure out where they came from. We took a few photos. One of which looks like a body on a gurney, but you be the judge yourself of course. We also very much appreciated the knowledge of entities and how to help from having them follow you. The closing out ritual was very helpful, especially because there was movement recorded right as we were about to leave.

Misty D.

Google
We had an outstanding experience at the Haunted Fort, and it exceeded our expectations in every way. Our guide, Matt, was truly exceptional—warm, engaging, and incredibly knowledgeable. His deep understanding of the fort’s history added so much depth and credibility to the experience and really elevated the entire tour. Rather than relying solely on spooky storytelling, Matt expertly wove historical context into the paranormal elements, which made the experience feel both immersive and authentic. It was clear that this tour is rooted in genuine respect for the fort’s preservation and history, and knowing that our participation directly supported the Key West Art & Historical Society made it even more meaningful. This was a perfectly balanced blend of history, mystery, and atmosphere, and we would absolutely recommend it to anyone visiting the Keys who wants a memorable and thoughtfully curated experience. Happy hauntings indeed!

Dr. Paige V.

Google
My husband and I love finding haunted tours to go on whenever we're in a new place. I was surprised to see the great reviews for this tour, given that others can often be "cheesy" or feel really scripted, so we felt willing to spend the money. The tour was super small (6 participants plus the tour guide) and this made the experience so much better. The tour guide was super cool, and showed us videos of his own experiences on the tour before being inspired enough to become a guide himself. We loved having an extended amount of time to roam through the area on our own, being able to borrow from a number of cool tools, and felt like we got a much broader experience than just one focused on the doll itself. Definitely recommend for a spooky activity!

Sonya J.

Google
Dan was an awesome guide! Thank you Dan!! Appreciated being able to use all of the ghost hunting equipment. VIP tour definitely a must! The haunted firehouse tour also a must!! Got great experiences there & the tour of the stories themselves set you off to a haunting experience!! All tours are a must do for your haunted Key West experience!!

Gadget G.

Google
We drove over to East Fort Martello Museum after our bike rides and swim in Key West our first night of our vacation for our Robert The Doll Tour/Experience and Charlie got his book 📕 he picked out signed by the original author David L. Sloan and the keeper/dolltender of Robert the doll in these photos. He chose Robert The Doll autobiography basically, telling about his beginnings and his family history and how he made it to the museum and letters that were sent to him by people who had visited him. I have a picture of him with him signing his book. We stayed for the VIP experience and We got to play with the spirit box, ( when i was talking to it.. it said elliott and it said bobbys name 🤯) it said numerous things, there was dousing rods, motion sensors, infra-red flashlights, digital thermometers, and box challenges in which I chose #3 and got tarot card challenge for Robert and talk to ghost as well as the EMF reader that went berserk on me again and some for the guys and we went to the roof of the fort. There was many other items as well like a ouija board and pendelums and other boxes full of different challenges. There’s all kinds of pictures and videos here that was actually caught and we definitely asked permission. 😌 I also read Robert his cards. (tarot) 🥹😌✨ 🃏 it was so cool, he drew mostly major Arcana and the number three… 3 wands, 3 cups and 3 swords along with 10 swords and all the rest were major arcana!!! Was a totally totally awesome experience. There has hardly ever been a time where I’ve read somebody’s cards and they’ve had mostly all major arcana cards!!!!! He had the emperor, the heirophant, the star, the lovers, the hermit and the fool and justice. 🤩👻 which if you think about it and you know anything about tarot that’s pretty crazy spread. 🤯💯 And in the box, it also said that after we had his cards placed before his case to ask him questions but I actually pulled his reading and laid his spread out before his case and then with the other deck, he would answer them and that’s exactly what he did 🤭 Bobby didn’t take any footage of this and I had my hands my hands full with reading his cards and asking questions so it wasn’t actually documented (sad panda) I think Bobby was a little nervous too bc his question after the spread was out was “Is Robert in any pain at all?” in which the reply card said “Don’t bet on it!!” 🥹 then Charlie got a question next but his was a funny answer because he got four and they all basically said the same thing, but the first one was funny. We were just joking with him, about the Youtubers that he knows that went and seen him that disrespected him and bad things happen to them when they left 😳 but Charlie asked “Are you mad at me?!” In which Robert responded “I bet you are having a laugh now?!” (Right after we had finished laughing with our playful joking stuffs personally) 🤯 then the second one said “Negative” and there was a solid “No” and then there was a “Not at all” so it’s safe to say he’s not mad at him and he was laughing with us 🥹🤭🥲 I asked Robert “If he liked me reading his cards” and his response was “Absolutely” which is crazy for me because I say that all the time 🥲🥹😍 so it was a very awesome experience. We could of went longer and asked more stuffs I’m sure but there was still more stuffs to do and go explore and it was already getting late so we had to get through the rest of the museum that was closed off to the regular tour, and explore the rooftop etc. It was a truly Magical Experience and we will forever remember it and definitely will come see Robert and the Guys at the Museum again!! 💯 If you are sitting here and reading this review, don’t hesitate any longer… just book it! 💯👻 Especially if you love the paranormal 🫶🏼✨

Alora B.

Google
I am a total believer AND ROBERT .or a different spirit gave me and my bf quite the scare…from the moment they gave me the emf reader it was going off for me, I used dowsing rods and I could literally feel them rolling in my hand… then when the guided tour was over and we got to run around the fort and do ur own paranormal investigation, my bf and I got done with it so we decided to see Robert one last and we thanked him for the visit and said goodbye …. My bf mentions oh look October 25th was Robert’s birthday , and it wasn’t I believe Otto Eugene ‘s bday was the 25th and we heard the biggest and loudest boom in the hallway we both as as fast as we could and started freaking out it literally sounded like a shot gun or a cannon .. we found the staff , he said he has no idea but that he did hear the bang from the gift shop which is the front entrance all 3 of us then go and investigate and the staff said absolutly nothing out of place and I could visibly see nothing was knocked over …… you can be a believer or non believer and I promise Robert with scare the pants off of you

Lexi R.

Google
We did the VIP ghost tour with Dan and he was amazing! Very thorough and personable. We were lucky to be the only ones on the tour and got to do an extensive investigation. The fort is very clean and fully of history. Steve was also very knowledgeable and kind!! Thank you Robert and all the other spirits there for allowing us to learn more about the history of the building and themselves.

Kathy Hyatt, PA R.

Google
If you're into creepy history, haunted vibes, or just something totally different to do in Key West — the VIP Robert the Doll Experience is a must. This isn’t your typical ghost tour; it’s way more immersive, personal, and yes... kind of freaky (in the best way). First off, the location itself — Fort East Martello — already has that eerie, old-time energy. When you walk in, you're greeted with the story of Robert the Doll, and wow, it’s wild. The staff (and your guide) really bring the history to life with stories, old photos, and even actual audio evidence from past paranormal investigations. You get real ghost-hunting equipment, and they walk you through how to use it. Whether you're a believer or just curious, it's a fun way to explore the fort and see if anything unusual happens. All in all, it’s weird, creepy, historical, and totally unique. If you’re into that kind of thing, do it.
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Joe S.

Yelp
During the Sloan's Key West Ghost Hunt in the city, we learned about Robert the Doll who was brought to the island as a gift to some kid and that kid basically was mesmerized by said doll. Who knew dolls could be so big? Anywho, it was interesting enough for us to visit said doll and sign up for the 2nd tour bearing the Sloan name. This one was conducted at East Martello Museum, an old Civil War fort which surprisingly dates back to the 1860's. Our tour was conducted by local author David Sloan. He literally wrote the book on Robert the Doll, which you can buy on this tour and around the city. He also wrote other Key West ghostly tales like Haunted Key West, Ghosts of Key West and The Key West Key Lime Pie Cookbook ("limes have to die for this delicious pie" may or may not be words used in that book). David is a masterfully engaging storyteller who explains the history of Robert as well as the ol' Civil War Fort known now as the East Martello Museum, which sits at the entrance to the Key West Airport. Equipped with one Dowsing Rod and an EMF Reader that lights up when spirit energy is nearby, we wandered around the fort, into dark hallways, trying to bring out some spirits. People occasionally got hits (red and orange) but mine stayed green so spirits must be avoiding me like the gals did in high-school. The tour ends with everyone sitting around a glass case containing Robert the Doll. He's the main attraction. Great storytelling by David as some sounds are heard on the thingy that plays sounds (I forget the name). There were tales of people taking pictures of the doll or disrespecting the doll having horrible things happen to them. It was believable enough for us NOT to take pictures or whip it out and taunt the doll. I did take a picture of the poster of Robert the Doll though. The only thing bad that happened was my Windows PC rebooted on me without asking! Ugh! There's an extra add-on to stay afterwards to explore the fort on your own. We did not participate, but a few on our tour did. I haven't heard from them since! Should you go? Yes! It was interesting and informative and captivating. You can tell David has a passion for telling this tale and the stories of the fort and all things spooky. He's as Key West as a chicken crossing the road.
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Candice W.

Yelp
The guy that did our tour was amazing! So much fun, looking forward to going back again! Enjoyed hearing all about Robert the Doll and seeing him!
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Cathy S.

Yelp
This is so much more than a ghost tour or ghost-hunting adventure; Sloan offers history few people will ever learn about Key West otherwise. I brought a group of eight people down to Key West and every one of them loved Sloan's enthusiasm and knowledge - and all of us appreciated getting the historical information about the fort and those who may have become the ghosts. Robert the Doll, obviously, brings in a lot of people (and he has a fascinating history), but what I especially appreciated was how the tour destroyed so many of the myths. This is perhaps one of the best ghost tours I've ever taken, and one of my top two history tours. Go!
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Lara W.

Yelp
Pretty awesome Robert the Doll Ghost Tour. We loved it. Highly recommend you check out this tour! David is an amazing tour guide. He will not disappoint.

Cherie W.

Yelp
We went on the VIP Ghost Hunt and Robert the Doll experience here. If you're debating on going I would not recommend this tour unless you purchase the VIP experience (additional $40) which includes the 1 hour tour on your own after the guided part. I don't think the guided tour would be worth the money on its own.
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Lindsay G.

Yelp
We did the BIP experience and it was so worth it! Hosts were very knowledgeable and made it a great time for all. Would definitely recommend for anyone looking for a spooky experience! Just being in the museum at night time was scary in itself!
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Heather H.

Yelp
This was the BEST experience we have had when it comes to ghost tours, haunted museums and history all combined into one. The hands on experience you get is one of a kind, no other ghost adventure tour comes close to this one. Our tour guide was the owner. Ryan was so knowledgeable and fun. I can't wait to go back with the kids and friends! DONT make the mistake of passing this adventure up! It's one you will talk about for a long time. We also got to meet Robert the Doll and learn the true and real history of him. A++!