In
California
Last Updated: September 2003
Warning
Any places listed in the Haunted Places requires permission to visit or investigate. Many of the places are patrolled by the authorities, trespassers will be prosecuted.
| We need the help of people in the ghost community or any knowledge of Vandenberg AFB.
This is a portion of an email We received. "I am trying to research this because back in 1977 my father was the fire chief at Vandenberg and on Dec. 20 there was a bad fire and my father (and two others) lost their life. This caught my attention because the bodies were found near slick 5 where the haunting was reported. Please, if you can help me in any way or give me names of someone you think might be able to, I would greatly appreciate it." Anyone that has any information to help, please email with the subject line "Vandenberg AFB - California" to Sheri@theshadowlands.net
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Agua Dulce - Asher Ranch - In the Tudor House, across from the pond, late at night around 2AM,you can hear the pipes rattling, as if tiny rocks are flowing down them. Then an Indian woman roams the upper floor where the bedrooms are.
Alameda - Kaufman Auditorium - you can hear noises and people have sighted a female ghost walking around backstage.
Alameda - USS Hornet - Many ghosts reported being seen by those who are caretakers of the old aircraft carrier. Ghosts of sailors who perished on board are well documented.
Alameda - Washington Elementary School - Reports when people are alone in there they get cold chills, hear knocking and scratching when no one was around there is a ghosts of a young boy about 13 years old walking the halls at night.
Alhambra - Alhambra high school - a few years ago a girl hung herself on the bridge and at night people hear and see people running around the track at night even though there is nobody there
Alhambra - Phoenix Inn - Its is said that there is a woman figure ghost walks in and out of the kitchen and goes around the tables and watches what people order and sits there and admires what you eat.
Alhambra - Ramona Convent Secondary School - Students have reported seeing a "white nun" roaming the library. Many girls have claimed to have heard the piano in one of the school buildings being played while no one is in the building. After a student drowned in the school pool stories surfaced of the victim tugging at the swimmers legs.
Altadena - Angeles National Forest/The Haunted Forest (Cobb Estate) - Screams can be heard from these people, and strange lights can be seen from the flashlights they once carried.
Altadena - Zane Grey Mansion. - owners noticed that the house had very cold spots near the fireplaces, library, kitchen and pantry. The kitchen clock would cease working when certain people entered the kitchen. From time to time you can hear someone walking across the butler's pantry floor to the formal dining room.
Amboy - Amboy School - The Teacher and students, K-8 , have experienced someone coming in the front door but when looking out into the hall from the classroom, there is no one there. Also, on windless days, the swings out on the back playground would swing on their own. Down in the gym, at night, when students play basketball, items would relocate themselves; a broom, standing against the wall, would be seen standing against another wall. This of course unseen by the students until they looked to see the broom was in a new location. The teacher, working down in the school at night, on numerous occasions, experienced something watching her and one night has to abandon her lesson preparations and beeline it out of there pronto...is was said that several Indians working on the nearby railroad (1868) died and that their ghosts roam the town. The school was closed in 1999.... there is the Amboy Cemetery located down by the tracks with approximately 15 souls buried there. Amboy currently is up for sale.
Anaheim - Anaheim Fairfield Inn By Marriott - This motel is right next to a freeway and it is said to be haunted by a couple that died in a car accident that took place on the freeway.
Anaheim - Anaheim High School - There's a bomb shelter under the school from World War 2. You could here constant banging on the old locked steel door on certain nights usually after football games.
Anaheim - Anaheim High School - Theatre/Auditorium - Voices have been heard in the auditorium and deep laughter in the balcony , erratic footsteps have been heard on the roof.
Anaheim - House of Blues - The area behind the mosh pit on the first floor is where the hot spot is. People have been brushed against, touched, and pushed by something, but when they look there is no one there. It happens so casually that you don't even realize it the first time.
Anaheim - Kmart on Euclid - Employees have reported things falling off of shelves after closing. Some report seeing a girl. Her name is supposedly Isa or Isabel.
Anaheim - Performing Arts Building (Formerly a senior home)- Reports of feeling a presence, the feelings of being followed, cold spots, & hearing footsteps & whistles can be experienced on the second floor.
Anaheim - Red Cross House - It is said that it is haunted by the original caretaker. When you get to the room where the children lived you feel a strange presence. In the first room at the entrance if you look at the picture while your going up the stairs you see the eyeballs on the picture of the caretaker you see them watching you. Also when you go up to the second story people mostly females get pushed at a male if they seem to be a perfect couple.
Anaheim hills - Esperanza High School - whenever on campus, if you look, spit, stand next to a certain teachers door, you are determined to have a bad day, suicidal feelings are common. In 1978 a teacher died in that class room. Rumor is He was brutally murdered by some other teachers, including the current head football coach. Every so often you hear screams during the day, and pounding in the empty classroom.
Anderson - City Hall - The Anderson City Hall used to be a dance hall during the 1800's. An Indian woman and her child were murdered on the site. Workers have heard sounds of dance music and the cries of a child late at night.
Antioch - Black Diamond Mines - These mines are haunted by the White Witch. In life, her name was Mary. She was a nanny in the 1800's when there was still coal mining in the mines. All of the children died of illnesses and she was accused of Witchcraft, then executed. She guards the mines and when people see her, she is all white.
Antioch - Black Diamond Mines - The Rosehill Cemetery - haunted by Sarah Norton, also known as the "White Witch". She was a midwife and on her way to deliver a baby her carriage fell over and she was crushed. She is seen in the graveyard floating around the tombstones.
Antioch - Brentwood - Gravity Hill - In the 1950's a school bus was driving kids home from a field trip. It skidded into a wash and all the kids drowned. If you go there, put your car in neutral around the turn, you get pushed up the hill. It's supposedly by the kids who died in the bus crash and they want to keep you from the same fate.
Antioch - Empire Mine Road - Gates of Hell - Fair warning - no trespassing you will get fined or arrested. Possibly torn down - In the middle of Empire Mine road, there is a Stuckko wall with a bunch of spray paint on it. If you like to take hikes, this is the place to go. There is a rumor of an old Insane Asylum at the very end of this road. You will come to another gate then behind their lies this old decrepit Structure of a hospital. Many people were killed brutally in this place, and it is VERY haunted by not so nice spirits. Things have been thrown at people, they have been pushed and screams have been heard from the people being tortured by themselves or another.
Antioch - Empire Mine Road - Rail Road Mine - Fair warning - no trespassing you will get fined or arrested. Possibly torn down - At the end of Empire mine road, there is an old railroad track tunnel that is pretty spooky inside. There are bats inside it and you can hear voices at the end of the tunnel.
Antioch - Empire Mine Road - Slaughterhouse -Fair warning - no trespassing you will get fined or arrested. - An old slaughterhouse stands in the corner of the road after the first bend. It is haunted by an old man who walks the grounds and makes sure that everything is ok, and that no one gets hurt while there. Strange noises are heard inside the first building where they chopped up the meat. Clanking inside of the circle figured tubes towards the back of the property. Chains clank all around and you can hear footsteps behind you like someone is watching over you. Just remember to watch your step!
Antioch - St. James Presbyterian Church - This old church, located on Leland Avenue in San Francisco has a history of hauntings. Late at night, footsteps can be heard walking up the stairs, doors shut, etc. Also, on more than one occasion, late at night, doors that normally open easily will be impossible to open, as if a ton of bricks is on the other side of the door. Later, the doors will be found wide open.
Apple Valley - The Neurology Rehab Clinic - Used to be the old Apple Valley Inn. Reported to have 3 ghosts, The man hung himself, one woman was murdered and no one really knows what happened to the third one. She is always dressed in white and is seen only at a certain part of the old building. The man is sometimes seen walking across the parking lot, but then he disappears. None of the ghosts are harmful. The rehab center is now a private school for the mentally challenged. And there is a soil company there and an old barbershop.
Apple Valley - Jicarilla Rd. - Witnesses have seen a shape of a man run across the street super fast and it starts chasing you then it disappears at a certain point.
Arcadia - First Avenue Middle School - The school used to have a pool, but someone drowned in it and they covered it over. Teachers said they've heard footsteps at night through the halls, even after they've set the alarm, and if anyone was in the halls the alarm would go off. Loud banging on the lockers and girl's locker room doors have also been heard, and water goes on and off by itself, the toilets also flush by themselves. Lockers with locks on them are closed one minute and open the next even when there's no one else in the room. Some students have seen a figure of a little boy wondering through the halls late at night with a "green glow" to him.
Arcata - Humboldt Brewery - The original proprietor of the building (and several others nearby) is known to haunt the pub and periodically cause it to be known. Employees report moving furniture, dishes etc. during their shifts and the ghost is well known to established patrons.
Armagosa - Armagosa hotel and opera house - haunted by several ghosts who were residents during the borax mining. The hotel workers have pictures of orbs and many stories as well as some documentaries have been filmed on the hauntings.
Arroyo Garnde - Rose Victorian Inn - The Tower Room - Although it is no longer a hotel, but a wedding/special events business, the building is still the same. The tower room of this three-story pink mansion is thought to be inhabited by the ghost of a 9-year-old girl named Alice. She has been spotted on more than one occasion and guests of the inn have heard the girl laughing, according to Ghosts of the Haunted Coast, by Richard L. Senate. In his book, Senate said that a psychic was taken to the inn, not knowing of the rumored ghost, and spotted her as she walked up the staircase. She said the girl had pigtails and was wearing a long dress with a small apron. Apparently the ghost likes cats.. The owners told the psychic later that they had discovered a number of cats sleeping near the window in the tower.
Arroyo Grande - Rose Victorian Inn - The nursery - It is said that a young girl "Alice" haunts the old children's nursery in the Inn. Some say she died of pneumonia, others say that she died of allergies to bee stings, because when they tore down a wall in one of the bedrooms there was a bee hive covering the whole wall. One eyewitness and Neighbor to the Inn for the last 20 years said she saw birds vortexing into the chimney. They say Alice is friendly and loved cats, they often find cats rest in the windowsill of the Nursery.
Artesia - The Red House - a couple that where to be wed had a fight and the bride was pushed down the stairs to her death. It is said that if you walk past her grave you will se her floating around.
Azusa - Railroad Overpass Bridge - Haunted by a transient and his dog seen walking the tracks at night.
Bakersfield - Bakersfield Californian Newspaper Building - This old building is haunted by a few ghosts. A German Shepard Dog who can be seen, waiting patiently for his master to come and pick him up. An old security guard who can sometimes be seen in the lunchroom. Finally, the former editor of the Californian can be seen walking through the hallways of the building.
Bakersfield - Bakersfield High School - Reports of apparitions of a young couple, they look to be 16 to 18 years old. The girl is wearing a prom dress and the guy is wearing a football jacket with "BHS" embroidered on the back. The area has a strange chill to it, and a feeling of being watched. Where they are seen is up near the top of the bleachers.
Bakersfield - Bakersfield High School - Harvey Auditorium - Supposedly, while they were building Harvey Auditorium, a worker fell from the rafters all the way into the basement. They say that the Auditorium is haunted by his ghost, as well as some others.
Bakersfield - Bakersfield High School - the Quad - The Quad is supposed to be very haunted. There used to be a hospital on the grounds of BHS and they would bury body parts from the operations in the area of the quad.
Bakersfield - Central Park - A lady with the flowing robe seen wafting along the canal at dawn. A lifelong resident of this city was told the ghost belongs to a woman believed murdered. Her bones were found buried in the old foundry across from the park. The bones, discovered when the foundry's floor was torn up, had bullet holes in them.
Bakersfield - Club Paradise - Reports of apparitions, locked employees in the storeroom from the inside, pushed people in the bar room hallway, grabbed, groped customers, objects move.
Bakersfield - Garces Circle - People have reported that right before a major car accident at the circle (there's been quite a few) people can either see the hands of the statue moving or they hear him muttering in prayer for them.
Bakersfield - Highland High school Theater - Westley Anderson Hall - There is a spirit of an older man that likes to play tricks on people. He will turn the stage lights off when people are on the stage but never during a performance where he just sits and observes. He also likes to whispers in peoples ears and rummage through the costumes in the costume loft. Also reported the figure of a 16/17 year old girl walking around the stage dressed in a '50s style outfit.
Bakersfield - Melodrama Musical Theatre - The theatre is located at the northern most end of the city in an area called Oildale, a community grown out of the oil industry. The building was constructed in the early 1970's, originally as a toy store. The owner went bankrupt around 1975, and having lost everything he owned trying to keep his business afloat in this impoverished area, closed the doors for a final time. Haunted by Harry. He has been felt passing people in the stairwell. He has been seen breaking mirrors. His apparition seen crossing the stage during performances. Also, the women's dressing room seems to have strange occurrences: the sequin dresses on the clothes racks "rattle" on their own violation, and shadows can be seen where no one is standing.
Bakersfield - Norris School built in 1882 - now Kern County Museum - Witnesses report hearing the tapping of chalk on the chalkboard, but saw nothing.
Bakersfield - The Padre Hotel - one of the city's landmark buildings is so haunted you can feel it the moment you walk thru the foyer doors. You should contact the owner for specific details.
Bakersfield - Pioneer Village - Reportedly, someone witnessed a ghostly birthday party in the Weill house. Others have seen children in front of the 1882 Norris School Building.
Banning - Payless Shoe Source - There are reports of a little boy that appears in the break room at the back of the store. Legend says that the little boy came into the store with his mother and wanted a pair of shoes really bad. His mother didn't buy it for him and he was quite upset. Ran out the store and was hit by a car. This store has not kept employees for long because each time a new employee sees the apparition, they just quit without telling anyone. It is said that the boy appears right before the store opens and right before it closes at night.
Banta (Tracy) - The Banta Inn - Haunted by the former owner who died of a heart attack behind the bar in 1967. He likes to knock things off walls, stack the coins inside the cash register, open and close doors.
Bell Gardens - John Anson Ford Park - the small forest - Sometime between 1972 & 1973, two boys from Cudahy were killed in the park. Apparently, they had gone night fishing at the pond that was located in the park and were murdered by someone who was never caught. They were found in the morning by the pond with their throats slashed. It was told by word of mouth and in the newspapers that is was a grisly scene straight out of hell. It could be the ghosts of the two boys that haunt the park. By the way, this park is located right next to Suva Intermediate School in Bell Gardens you can hear distorted voices of people when no one is around, if you go there at night around 9 to 4 in the morning you will be followed by glowing balls of light, and fog, and they flicker different colors, and then you will be followed and hear footsteps and some people go because they do not believe in it, and they experience it for themselves that after the situation they call the local police and report being harassed by an unseen assailant, it has been reported that a little kid with spiky hair and blue eyes is always there at night, and is very friendly, but when you try to approach him he disappears.
Bell Gardens - Suva Elementary School - People have reported there names being called in one of the bathrooms, also they say you can see a little girl riding on one swing always the same one once a person got thrown off the swing and crashed in the fence behind him.
Bell Gardens - Suva Intermediate - A janitor committed suicide on the third floor of the big building he has been see roaming the school and mostly the top floor.
Bellflower - Bellflower High School - Theater - A girl killed herself because her boyfriend broke up with her and she didn't make the play she tried out for. She hung herself over the stage. A prop phone would ring when unplugged. When students are rehearsing spotlights would flicker on and off. When the radio would be unplugged it would turn on, but the station would be changed.
Bellflower - Kmart - A woman has been seen on several occasions in the stockroom areas. She always appears to be working. As of this date she has not been identified.
Bellflower - St. John Bosco High School - A boy named Tyler was a student in the 1960's, and he was kicked out of Bosco for personal reasons. He later then died of a drug overdose. It is said that he roams the campus (mainly the senior square) searching for a senior whom he can borrow a lighter from.
Belmont - Waterdog Lake - One day a little boy was walking up on Waterdog, alone, unprotected. He never returned home. People say the ghost of Waterdog killed him, others say the ghost is bogus. When they go on Waterdog to prove it...they don't return either. Now people say they here screams & gun shots, they don't return
Benicia - Benicia Old Town Theater/ Portuguese Hall - Reports of footsteps on the back stairs, a ball of fire that flies around, lights flashing, cold spots, & an apparition of an old woman.
Benicia - Captain Blythers - This is a very old home now a restaurant. The former owners have had picture jump off of the walls and alarms go off. The town's police have even experienced this happening.
Benicia - The Union Hotel - During the 1800's, a young woman hanged herself in one of the rooms of this hotel. To this day, people report seeing her apparition in the window that faces the street. Other guests claim to see lights going on and off and someone talking or crying when no one is around.
Berkeley - Faculty Club - room 219 is haunted by a ghost of an elderly man.
Beverly Hills - Barrymore Estate - ghosts of John, Lionel and Ethyl haunted the estate.
Beverly Hills - Doheny Mansion - Night-shift groundskeepers will not stay employed, due to sounds, and screams inside the house. There are some sections that are gated and padlocked that have not been kept up in the home due to this.
Beverly Hills - Pickfair Mansion - According to the previous owners, there were at least two other ghosts who haunted the place as well. In the beautiful entry way was often seen a ghost who was thought to be Douglas Fairbanks.
Bloomington - Bloomington High School - Rumors that Late at night in the Auditorium, Screams, footsteps can be heard. Also that Janitors would get pushed down stairs Unexpectedly. The story behind this is that a Drama Teacher working alone(supposedly) fell into the pit area and died(a mere 5 feet drop). Police said it was accidental. But her wrist's were broken, indicated she'd been pushed. The Auditorium is now dedicated to that Drama Teacher.
Bloomington - Green Acres Cemetery- Its been reported that on Halloween every year there is said to be blood on the table found between the three marble chairs in the southeast part of the cemetery.
Bodie - Bodie State Park - Reports of walking up and down stairs in any building there. Curse on Bodie if anyone takes anything as a souvenir.
Bodega Bay - - Reports of a Vortex here, strange unexplainable things happen to people as well as animals.
Boulder Creek - Brookdale Lodge - A girl in a formal dress runs across the lobby, then disappears into thin air. In an empty Mermaid Room, voices and music are softly heard. Hidden rooms and secret passages are mysterious vestiges of Brookdale Lodge's rich past.
Brea - Breas Best - Employees have reported that during late hours, frozen food would get launched across the kitchen. After about 15 minutes, a loud laughter would come about scaring the employees. One night, the refrigerator door flew open and someone or something threw out all the food on to the floor and also weird shadows were seen on the walls.
Brea - Brea Olinda High School - Performing Arts Center - one student had been sweeping under the seats and by the time she had finished a row the two end seats would be down, and this happened in every row. Also one student said when she had been there late one night with only 3 other students that there had been a figure of a man standing on the stage staring at them. Many strange noises come about also during the later parts of the night, especially after a rehearsal or performance.
Brea Canyon Road - Diamond Bar - Since the road is very dark at least 4 deaths are known of. You can see two crosses next to each other, if you go further there is another cross, and as you continue you see a tombstone. The 3 crosses were of people that died there from car accidents because it's so dark and the tombstone. It is said that at night you can see hikers trying to get a ride. When you look back they are gone. Another freaky thing is that there are many cars that have been on the side for who knows how long. They appeared to have been broken down there for a while. And if you stop by the crosses there is a spine tingling feeling that makes you want to scream.
Brentwood - Mount Saint Mary's - Brady Hall - there have been students "oppressed" by spirits. Doors open by themselves. With a whole English class present, the poem "the Living Hand" was being read. During the poem, the door open and then slammed. The teacher checked and no one was there. The doors are designed so that you have to turn the knob to open them and they are difficult to slam.
Brentwood - Mount Saint Mary's - Carondelet dormitory - there are nuns seen walking and doors open mysteriously.
Brookdale - Brookdale Lodge/Brook Room - There is the story of a little girl who drowned in the brook that runs through the restaurant. She comes back to the Brookedale Lodge and sits by the fireplace in the lounge and roams the grounds. A wonderful place to dine and stay, mysterious, but friendly and beautiful. (near Santa Cruz, Felton area)
Buena Park - Knott's Berry Farm - Many employees have claimed to have heard noises and cries inside the "Peanuts Playhouse" in Camp Snoopy. The employees feel chills on their arms and shoulders and upstairs they hear voices and someone following them. Also claim to have lights go on and off, even when the power is off. Also the "kingdom of the Dinosaurs " ride is claimed to be haunted by a former male maintenance employee who fell to his death in a fire many years ago and a young boy is seen in several areas of the attraction, especially the ice-age area, many employees are afraid to be in position there.
Buena Park - Knott's Berry Farm - Virginia's Gift Shop - While up on the 2nd floor (employee break Room),noises, cold air and breezes, and closet doors opening up by themselves.
Burbank - Woodbury University - This previous monastery is now a college. Mother Cabrini now haunts the campus. She was once one of the nuns that resided here. Her face is even sculpted into one of the buildings. The bell in the bell tower has been known to ring late in the night.
Burney - Black Ranch Road. - A little girl dressed in white will walk in front of a moving car if the driver has been drinking. Bartle House - roof glows green at night (check with the local fire department, they have responded to numerous calls of the house being on fire), cabinet doors open by themselves, lights and heaters turn on, figure of Mr. Bartle is seen in the hallway.
Byron - Hot Springs Hotel - This hotel is located on the right hand side of the road about a quarter of a mile back down a long drive way. There is an old orange hotel from the late 1800's that remains are still intact. Legend says that this place is haunted by many who lost their lives in there. So far all that has been seen is an old man wearing white rags, and a young boy who runs up and down the halls. dragging noises have been heard on the first floor towards the main entrance. Dark shadows were seen from a distance and then disappeared after seen. Very active spots. You could tell this wasn’t a happy house.
Calabasas - Leonis Adobe - an old house/ranch from the1800's is said to be haunted by the original owner/builder of the house.
Calavares County - Murphys - Murphys Historical Hotel - Instant feeling of something different there as soon as you walk in. It is said that a bookkeeper was shot and thrown over the balcony. the ghost is still there and roams the second floor. Feelings of being watched, and feeling a presence.
Calico ghost town - Calico mines - Behind the actual "ghost town" the pitted landscape of tunnels and pits, there is a small road that ends at an open area. On the Winter solstice (Dec 21 or 22 depending on the year} a bizarre collection of ghosts, animal and human act out what seems to be a ritual of some kind. First a slowly moving bear crosses the length of the open area, to seemingly clear the stage for the others to come.
Calexico - Calexico High School - At night there are noises heard, and things seen. People have reported to see a girl walk around at different hours of the night. A group of teachers reported to have seen her at a pep rally in the 80's at the football field. Another claim was made by construction workers who were building the new gym, they saw a girl walking to the football field early in the morning, when they called out to her it was as if she didn’t hear them. Other encounters are doors slamming, windows shutting, lights flickering and turning off. The story is of a girl who was killed in a car accident coming back from an away football game, she was a cheerleader and now apparently it is said that it is her that haunts the school.
Calexico -
