Former Funeral Home in Florida is Now a Unique Hotel, Complete With Its Original Casket Elevator
A funeral home in Jacksonville, Florida, has been turned into a hotel where people can spend the night… if they dare. The Raven still has its original casket elevator, and one of the guest rooms even has a kitchen island made from an old coffin.
The two-story brick building was constructed in 1916 for the Lawton L. Pratt Funeral Home. According to the hotel’s history page, the funeral business operated there until 2019.
Eric Adler bought the property in 2021 and spent several years fixing it up. He finished the renovations in November 2025, and the first hotel guests checked in on December 5.
There are now 13 apartments inside the former funeral home, each decorated differently. Adler’s mother, Jill, designed the rooms and kept quite a few things from the building’s past.
The Old Casket Elevator Is Still Inside the Hotel
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The elevator once carried caskets from a neighboring factory to the embalming area in the basement. According to Southern Living, the owners kept it, along with the original stained-glass windows, heavy fire doors and old hearse garage.
Guests won’t actually get to ride the elevator, though. The hotel’s FAQ says there isn’t an elevator available for guests, although there is an accessible room on the first floor.
One of the more unusual rooms is called Sanctuary, which used to be the funeral home’s chapel. The stained-glass windows are still there, along with an ornate fireplace and a king-sized bed.
The kitchen island is probably the strangest part. According to the hotel’s description of Sanctuary, it was made from a coffin discovered in the building, and the original handles are still attached.
The Funeral Home Has Some Interesting History
Lawton L. Pratt was Florida’s second licensed Black funeral director. His family lived upstairs while the funeral home operated on the first floor.
The building was designed by Joseph Haygood Blodgett, a Jacksonville contractor who helped rebuild the city after the Great Fire of 1901. His company had built more than 250 homes by 1919.
There’s also a connection to famous aviator Bessie Coleman, who died in a plane crash in Jacksonville in 1926. Adler told Southern Living that her body was brought to the Pratt Funeral Home, and one of the hotel’s apartments is named after her.
How to Book a Room at The Raven
The Raven has studios, one-bedroom apartments and a two-bedroom unit. Each comes with a kitchenette, washer and dryer, and guests can use the outdoor pool, which is heated from March through November.
There are a few more things planned for the property, including a restaurant called The Jenny and a basement speakeasy called The Ready Room. Neither is listed as open yet.
The hotel is located at 525 W. Beaver Street in Jacksonville’s historic LaVilla neighborhood. Guests can check room availability and make reservations through The Raven’s official website.
