David L. Sloan launched his literary career in 1998, founding Phantom Press the following year to give a voice to the island’s most complex and controversial histories. Over the past 25 years, he has authored dozens of definitive volumes on the Florida Keys, ranging from cult-classic travel guides and culinary histories to groundbreaking investigations into the JFK assassination and the island’s paranormal heritage.

Known for a signature blend of rigorous historical research and an irreverent island wit, David has sold more than 500,000 copies of his works worldwide.

His books, including The Florida Keys Bucket List, Quit Your Job & Move to Key West, and the definitive biography of Robert the Doll, are staple resources found in shops throughout the Keys and in the libraries of those seeking the island's true soul.

Beyond the page, David is a sought-after consultant for international travel productions and documentaries filming in the Florida Keys. His insights have been featured in National Geographic, The Key West Citizen, and The Key West Weekly.

Every book purchased through Phantom Press is a signed edition, supporting independent research and the preservation of Key West’s unique history.

David L. Sloan’s obsession with the Florida Keys' native dessert began as a baker at 16, followed by formal training in Hospitality Management at FIU and an apprenticeship under Chef Pascal Ouidin at the Colonnade Hotel.

After years as a General Manager in the cruise industry, David moved to Key West in 1996 and began a decades-long investigation into the pie’s true origins.

His research provided the world with the leading theory about the identity of the mysterious "Aunt Sally," the woman credited with creating the first Key lime pie.

David doesn't just study history; he makes it. He co-founded the Key Lime Festival in 2014 and has created world-record pies in Key West, Boston, and Tallahassee.

In 2022, he spearheaded the successful team that lobbied to make Key Lime Pie the Official Dessert of Key West and the Florida Keys.

From launching pies off the Key West Lighthouse to serving his creations to the Governor of Florida, David is the ultimate defender of the island’s sweetest tradition.

A veteran of international food media, David has appeared as the definitive Key Lime expert on Gordon Ramsay’s Uncharted, Good Morning America, CBS Sunday Morning, and The Profit. He has been featured in Southern Living, Garden & Gun, and The Telegraph. Whether judging the National Pie Championships or competing on the Food Network, David provides a blend of culinary science, island folklore, and historical accuracy.

David is the author of the Key West Key Lime Pie Cookbook and Key Lime Pie: An Intriguing History of Key West’s Native Dessert. He coined the phrase “Love & Limes” and continues to champion the integrity of the dish he loves.

David L. Sloan is a pioneer in the paranormal entertainment field, launching one of the first ghost tours in the United States in 1996.

He followed this with America’s first commercial ghost hunts and has since helped establish paranormal tours in Newport, San Juan, Fort Lauderdale, and San Antonio.

For over 25 years, David has been the primary architect of Key West’s reputation as a world-class haunted destination.

David’s archival deep-dives have led to groundbreaking discoveries regarding Robert the Doll, the macabre tale of Count von Cosel, and the enigmatic grave at Captain Tony’s Saloon.

His research is the gold standard for the island; it is utilized extensively by virtually every ghost tour operating in Key West today.

He is the author of the definitive volumes Ghosts of Key West, Haunted Key West, and the true biography of Robert the Doll.

A frequent guest and panelist on programs like Scared & Alone, David has appeared alongside William Shatner, Jack Osbourne, Aaron Sagers, and Rob Riggle.

He is the leading consultant for networks seeking the "true" haunted history of the Florida Keys and is the pioneer of the Key West UFO Tour, utilizing Gen-3 night vision technology to document night-sky anomalies.

David owns and operates Sloan’s Key West Ghost Tours and The Key West UFO Tour.

To book David for an investigation, consultation, or media appearance, utilize the floating book button.

David L. Sloan IV is a dedicated cold case researcher and investigator specializing in the clandestine history of the Florida Keys. With a background in historical investigation and three decades of archival deep-dives, David has spent his career connecting the dots between local legends and national conspiracies. His work focuses on the era when Key West served as a high-stakes nerve center for international intelligence and organized crime.

David’s most significant contribution to the historical record is his groundbreaking research into the Key West ties of the JFK Assassination. By cross-referencing declassified CIA documents with first-hand interviews, David has unearthed a startling network of anti-Castro revolutionaries, intelligence operatives, and organized crime figures who called the island home in the 1960s.

This investigation is inextricably linked to the island’s most enduring mystery: the 1975 disappearance of Fire Chief Bum Farto.

David’s research suggests that Farto’s vanishing was not merely a local scandal, but a catalyst that threatened to expose a decades-old power structure known as the “Bubba System.”

David’s upcoming work, Where is Bum Farto?, is the first definitive investigation into how a small-town fire chief’s disappearance rewrote Key West’s history.

David is the primary consultant for documentaries and true-crime productions focusing on Florida Keys cold cases.

He provides a unique perspective that blends forensic document analysis with boots-on-the-ground local knowledge.

He has been featured in National Geographic, the National Enquirer, and The Key West Weekly for his ability to translate complex archival findings into compelling narratives for the public.

David is the author of How Key West Killed JFK and the forthcoming Who is Bum Farto and Where is Bum Farto?.

David Sloan is a leading cold case researcher focusing on Key West’s deepest mysteries.

Decades of archival investigation and firsthand interviews with longtime locals have uncovered startling ties between Key West and the JFK assassination.

From the 1975 disappearance of Fire Chief Bum Farto to the island’s clandestine role in the CIA’s anti-Castro operations, David unearths the stories of the 1960s that history forgot.

Media & Research: David is available for expert commentary on cold case files, declassified documents, and historical investigative research.

As the author of the definitive biography of Robert the Doll, David doesn't just tell ghost stories; he manages a legacy.

Having played a pivotal role in the doll’s museum transition, he offers the only authenticated account of Robert’s history, German origins, and the science of the unexplained.

Media & Research: The primary source for all Robert the Doll inquiries and paranormal field research.

Key West’s sweetest tradition has a complex history. David has defended the integrity of Key Lime Pie on the Food Network, Gordon Ramsay’s Uncharted, National Geographic, and Good Morning America.

From its true origins to the science of the perfect Key lime pie, he is the final word on the Florida Keys’ official dessert.

Media & Research: Consultant and on-camera expert for culinary history, food travel, and documentary productions.

Whether tracking anomalies in the night sky or documenting Key West’s startling flying saucer history, David explores the intersection of high technology and historical ambition.

He utilized Gen-3 night-vision technology to create the island’s first UFO tour, bridging the gap between Key West’s early history and the unknown.

Media & Research: Available for insights on regional UFO phenomena and the history of the Florida Keys.