Drive-By
Exterior Viewing
View the 1903 Queen Anne Victorian from East Main Street. The house was moved to its current location in 1985 from North Highland Avenue and now operates as the Highland Manor wedding venue.
- Duration:
- 20 min
Photo coming soon
Haunted House / Historic Home
Highland Manor (formerly Townsend's Plantation and The Captain & The Cowboy)
1903 Queen Anne Victorian Now an Apopka Wedding Venue
604 E Main St, Apopka, FL 32703
Wheelchair Accessible
Research-Backed · 4sources
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Public access limited to events. Exterior viewing free.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Paved
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1903 · Apopka Pioneer Family Heritage · Relocated Historic Building
The Queen Anne Victorian at the corner of routes 436 and 441 in Apopka was built in 1903 by the Eldredge family. In the 1920s a physician, Dr. Thomas McBride, purchased the home and lived with his wife Helen on the second floor while seeing patients on the first floor.
In 1985, the house was moved from its original location on North Highland Avenue to spare it from demolition. The 1990s renovation adapted the structure for restaurant use, and developer Clay Townsend opened the property as Townsend's Plantation, a restaurant that hosted national outdoor music acts on the grounds. Townsend's closed in 1997.
The Captain and the Cowboy, a surf-and-turf restaurant, operated in the building from 1997 until its 2005 closure. The owners were eventually evicted by the City of Apopka for non-payment of rent. In 2008, the building reopened as the Highland Manor wedding venue and has operated as a private event facility since.
Sources
- https://theclio.com/entry/85883
- https://scottjosephorlando.com/highland-manor/
- https://scottjosephorlando.com/new-life-for-townsends-plantation/
- https://www.elegantentertainment.org/highland-manor.html
Phantom soundsTouching/pushingLights flickering
Reports at the building cluster in the restaurant era of the late 1990s and early 2000s, when Townsend's Plantation and later The Captain and the Cowboy occupied the structure. Staff accounts describe loud bangs from the attic, an area marked off-limits to employees, and the sensation of being brushed against in single-occupant rooms.
A local radio station broadcast from the building during the 2004 Halloween season as part of a haunted-house promotion at the property, and the on-air segment reported lights observed in the middle of the night, ambient sounds, and temperature changes. The promotion functioned as event programming rather than independent investigation, and the activity reported is consistent with single-witness anecdote in an old building during overnight hours.
After the building reopened as the Highland Manor wedding venue in 2008, the haunted-house programming did not return. The site remains best known to current visitors as a Queen Anne wedding venue rather than a paranormal destination.
Plan Your Visit
1 way to experienceSources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Highland Manor (formerly Townsend's Plantation and The Captain & The Cowboy) family-friendly?
An exterior visit to a wedding venue. Suitable for families; interior access is limited to event guests. Overall family fit: High.
How much does it cost to visit Highland Manor (formerly Townsend's Plantation and The Captain & The Cowboy)?
Public access limited to events. Exterior viewing free. This location is free to visit.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Highland Manor (formerly Townsend's Plantation and The Captain & The Cowboy) wheelchair accessible?
Yes, Highland Manor (formerly Townsend's Plantation and The Captain & The Cowboy) is wheelchair accessible. Terrain: Paved.