[Image: Property24]
Nestled just beyond Kalk Bay Harbour is a mysterious building that most Capetonians drive past often with little regard to its history.
Named Spring Tide, it has been the subject of numerous legends over the years and is said to have a haunting history that includes decades of spooky tales and unexplained occurrences.
Over the years, prospective buyers have reportedly abandoned the property shortly after viewing, while tenants have moved in only to leave before nightfall. Even the local vagrants, typically unfazed by the Cape’s history of spooks, have been said to avoid seeking shelter there when it stood empty, fueling speculation about the building’s unsettling presence.
One of the most chilling stories dates back to the mid-1990s when the building briefly operated as a crèche. During nap time, a teacher was allegedly startled by a very loud scream, followed by the cries of children. One child recounted seeing a woman descend halfway down the stairs, only to stop and emit a guttural scream before vanishing. This incident led to the crèche’s closure and ignited rumours of a tragic love triangle.
Local lore suggests that a woman discovered her lover murdered by her husband after he uncovered the affair. The ensuing confrontation and the woman’s anguished scream are believed to have left an imprint on the building, manifesting as the apparition witnessed by the children.
There’s not much information about the building online, but it does appear to have been converted into a guesthouse listed via Booking.com, and looking at some of the interior renovations, it’s hard to believe that ghosts roam the building.
Indeed, it doesn’t look too menacing. Even reviews by guests who stayed there seem to imply the biggest gripe is the traffic passing by.
While the building no longer stands empty, it seems to have been auctioned at the end of April 2025, as per several property websites, but whether the new owners will stay there is another question.
For those intrigued by the supernatural, Spring Tide remains a compelling place with its dark history and creepy reputation continuing to captivate the imagination of locals and visitors alike.
[Source: Cape Town Magazine]
