Traveling helps you explore and discover new places. What’s more, you hear stories about unique sites stating aspects that make such places popular. California is no exception. Each time you think of touring the area, images of artistic attractions, fine weather, and beautiful beaches come to mind. In addition to the thrill and excitement, California has its fair share of spooky sites. The things that make these places haunted will spike your curiosity. You must explore these spots and discover their history. Here’s a list of some of the most haunted places in California, USA. Read on and learn why they are worth your visit.
1. Westin St. Francis (from USD 48.0)
Westin St. Francis Hotel is a historic place with weird and strange stories. In 1975, Sarah Jane Moore, an FBI agent, shot President Gerald Ford. In 1921, a film star raped a famous party girl leaving her bleeding to death. That is not all; in 1906, John Barrymore, a famous movie star, was entertaining his girlfriend when an earthquake struck. Rumor has it that three restless spirits haunt the hotel’s 12th floor. One of these ghosts is a peaceful woman who died during her stay at St. Francis. Virginia Rappe’s ghost is the second. She roams the place while seeking revenge for her rape. Meanwhile, guests have reported seeing Al Jolson’s spirit at a card table.
Haunted San Francisco Ghost Hunting Tour
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
2. Winchester Mystery House, San Jose
Winchester Mystery House is a 24,000 sq. ft. (2,229.7 sq. m) Victorian Mansion. It is named after Sarah Lockwood Winchester. Following her husband’s demise in 1881, she consulted a spiritualist to communicate with his spirit. The story has it that the deceased informed her of the cause of their tragedies. The Winchester family designed the Winchester rifle and made blood money from the sale of this rifle. Vengeful spirits of souls who had died because of the weapon would then seek her. She needed to build a place where these spirits would find a home. Construction work took 38 years, stopping when heart failure caused Sarah’s death in 1922. Carpenters left work abruptly and left behind half-hammered nails.
Winchester Mystery House
Address: 525 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose, CA 95128, United States
Website: Winchester Mystery House
Opening hours: Wed - Thu: 10am - 5pm; Fri - Sun: 11am - 4pm
Price: 20 USD to 39 USD
3. Battery Point Lighthouse, Crescent City
Battery Point Lighthouse, Crescent City, has been keeping ships safe since 1856. It has withstood strong winds and ocean waves for centuries. In 1964, a tsunami swept across the area, but the lighthouse stood its ground. Despite such a performance and defiance to nature’s adversities, the property has a haunted side. Its caretakers report seeing a rocking chair moving as if someone was sitting on it. Also, rumors have it that one can hear a ghost keeper walking up the stairway. Another keeper’s tale tells of their slippers having been moved while they were asleep. Visitors claim to have felt something, probably a hand touching their shoulders.
Battery Point Lighthouse and Museum/Crescent City Lighthouse
Address: 235 Lighthouse Way, Crescent City, CA 95531, United States
Website: Battery Point Lighthouse and Museum/Crescent City Lighthouse
Opening hours: 10am - 4pm (daily)
Price: 3 USD
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4. Whaley House, San Diego
Whaley House sits on the site where Yankee Jim Robbins, an infamous thief, was hanged. It features a Greek Revival architectural style. Thomas Whaley bought this land and constructed his family home. In 1857, they moved in and were ushered into a series of misfortunes. Their 18-month-old son died soon after. Several months later, a fierce fire razed the residence. In 1871, armed men raided the house and stole courthouse records. During the raid, they held Whaley’s wife, Anna, at gunpoint. Another sad occurrence was in 1885 when one of the Whaley daughters committed suicide inside the home. Visitors report seeing strange sights and hearing mysterious sounds. Eerie noises, disembodied footprints, giggles, and a crying baby are perfect examples.
Whaley House Museum
Address: 2476 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110, United States
Website: Whaley House Museum
Opening hours: 10am - 10pm (daily)
Price: Free
California Tour Guide
Stephanie Eley
I'm a graduate of ITMI, International Tour Management Institute and 17 years as a licensed Tour Director and Program Director. My expertise began in NYC and Washington, DC where I'm a licensed guide and has expanded to Europe, South America, Cuba and the Western / Southwestern National Parks of the US. I'd love to introduce you for a day or a week to Denver, Colorado and the 4 corners region of... Read more
Tours by Stephanie
5. Point Sur Lighthouse, Big Sur
Point Sur Lighthouse, Big Sur, stands on solid volcanic rock. From this point, it sends a powerful beam that warns ships of the treacherous Pacific coast. Despite its warning signal, numerous shipwrecks have occurred. Legend has it that spirits of the souls that perished in these shipwrecks come to haunt the place. Sounds of ghosts have been recorded on site. One such voice asks a child to go to bed. In the kitchen is another ghost that closes doors. Replica skeletons are used as decorations in some rooms. In another tale, a volunteer reported seeing a woman on the stairway landing.
Point Sur Lighthouse
Address: Point Sur, California, 135 miles south of San Francisco
Website: Point Sur Lighthouse
Opening hours: (Sep - Mar) Sat: 10am; Wed: 1pm / (Apr - Aug) Sat: 10am & 2am; Sun: 10am
Price: 5 USD - 20 USD
6. Alcatraz Island, San Francisco
Alcatraz Island is a historic icon and one of the most visited places in California. It hosts a maximum-security prison where some of the most dangerous criminals were held. Rebellious inmates would be made to strip naked before being sent to a cell. The holding cell was a dark steel room with no amenities like water, sink, toilet, and mattress. That way, warders would break a criminal’s spirit. Rumor has it that spirits of criminals who earned a place in the strip cell remain locked up. These are the ghosts that haunt the island. Cell 14D as well as blocks A, B, and C, are the most haunted. Visitors report hearing cries, moans, and banjo music.
Alcatraz Island
Address: San Francisco, CA 94133, United States
Website: Alcatraz Island
Opening hours: 10am - 4pm (daily)
Price: 39.90 USD - 92.30 USD
7. Bodie Ghost Town (from USD 1209.0)
Bodie Ghost Town was once a vibrant mining center. Gold prospectors descended on its hills in search of riches. Bodie was noisy and had over 60 saloons. As one would expect, gunfights and other commotions were a common sight. Eventually, miners gradually vacated the town paving the way for its declaration as a state park in 1962. One of the park rangers invented a cursed tale. The notion was that if anyone tried taking away artifacts from the park, misfortune would befall them. While this was meant to discourage visitors from taking valuables left behind, people started sending letters to the ranger’s office. Each of these had an item enclosed to be returned. Senders claimed that since they carried away such items, misfortunes befell them. Bodie curse has manifested in numerous ways: job losses, auto breakdowns, and accidents are common examples.
From San Francisco: Yosemite & Tahoe Sierras 4-Day Trip
Duration: 4.0 day
8. Old Mission Santa Barbara
Old Mission Santa Barbara is a property founded by Franciscan missionaries in 1786. Within its gardens are a graveyard and a resting place hosting over 5,000 native Americans and church pioneers. Both the local inhabitants and visitors believe that ghosts in this graveyard come out and wander around the property. Among the manifestations include the ghost of a Franciscan Friar, a woman walking through the tombstones, and other priests seen holding prayers inside the chapel. Besides, there are stories of visitors feeling a gentle touch on their hands and shoulders. Another tale abounds of a dark ghost seen in the mission’s left tower. There are also stories of two guards that help keep the property safe from ghost hunters.
Old Mission Santa Barbara
Address: 2201 Laguna St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, United States
Website: Old Mission Santa Barbara
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)
Price: 10 USD - 15 USD
9. Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Los Angeles (from USD 279)
Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel opened in 1927. Most of its clientele were Hollywood superstars. It served as an after-party venue for movie premieres. Oscar award ceremonies took place here too. Notwithstanding its star-studded history, the hotel has a spooky side. Marilyn Munroe’s ghost haunts room 1200. Guests see her image in the mirror. Room 928 has Montgomery Clift’s spirit patting guests on their shoulders. Also, Carole Lombard’s ghost floats on the hotel’s upper floors. Two ghosts, a man dressed in a tuxedo and another in a white suit, have been reported to frequent the Blossom Room.
The Hollywood Roosevelt
Address: 7000 Hollywood Boulevard
1.24 km (0.8 mi) from Hollywood Bowl
10. The Queen Mary, Long Beach (from USD 40.0)
The Queen Mary, Long Beach, is a ship, decommissioned from sailing and converted into a hotel. It has a unique history gotten from its transatlantic voyages. You should take a ghost tour, experience, and get to hear Queen Mary’s spooky stories. A British passenger staying in Stateroom B340 died of unknown circumstances. Several years later, a woman staying in the room reported seeing a man who had pulled off her bed covers. A more sinister tale was reported in the Mauritania Room. Two cleaning ladies narrated how they found a passenger seated on a chair. A third cleaner saw the passenger staring at her and did not move when asked to. Other sections of the ship have similar incidents of paranormal activity.
The Queen Mary
Duration: 4 to 6 hours
Go on a spooky tour and stir up the ghosts
Take a ghost tour in these haunted sites and feel the chills. You might end up stirring restless spirits in the process. The ghostly encounters are memorable. Use our list above to choose the perfect ghost tour in California.
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