From haunted hotels to deserted caverns, California offers no shortage of creepy spots for visitors to experience paranormal activity. From ghostly sightings of Spanish missionaries slain during an invasion to decapitated monk spirits making an appearance here or there – California truly lives up to its reputation of one of America’s most haunted states!
Hotel Del Coronado
Hotel del Coronado is known for its ghost stories. One such tale involves Kate Morgan, who checked into the hotel in 1892 but never left; her ghost can supposedly still be seen roaming about, especially on its third-floor premises.
Kate was said to be waiting for her husband when he failed to appear, when he did not show. According to reports, Kate committed suicide by shooting herself in the head near a hotel near by; though at first her death was classified as suicide by authorities. Now though there have been indications that possibly wrongdoing may have played a part.
Hotel del Coronado is a National Historic Landmark that has hosted celebrities, royalty, politicians and families for more than two centuries – including Marilyn Monroe in Some Like It Hot! In October Hotel del Coronado is offering guests various haunted experiences that allow them to discover its mysterious past.
Alcatraz
Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay is one of the most haunted places in California. Once thought to be escape-proof, Alcatraz was once home to some of America’s most dangerous criminals including Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly; today however, its atmosphere remains hauntingly unsettling.
Visitors have reported unexplained crashing sounds, running footsteps, cell doors closing themselves automatically and chains clanking together as well as feeling watched by unknown forces. Psychic investigator Peter James once explored portions of the prison and heard voices belonging to tortured souls driven mad by abuse, fear and mistreatment.
Richard Senate, an esteemed ghost hunter and psychic medium, once spent the night at Alcatraz as part of a KGO radio promotion. Together they locked themselves inside Cell 14-D where an evil spirit is said to inhabit. While sitting inside, Senator felt something touch his neck before feeling his hair stand on end!
Whaley House
Whaley House Museum is widely considered to be one of America’s most haunted homes, making a San Diego landmark and featured on various paranormal TV shows. This home has an eerie past dating back well before it was ever constructed: as the site for public gallows and hangout for thieves alike; moreover, Yankee Jim Robinson died there and is said to haunt its rooms even today; people have reported hearing footsteps, screaming footsteps and door slamming shut and flying open while also hearing children crying or laughing, along with hearing footsteps or crying baby noises coming from beyond second floor; also sometimes people report hearing the sound of babies crying or laughing and seeing a woman on second floor!
This two-story Greek Revival-style home served as a theater, courthouse and general store in addition to being Thomas and Anna Whaley’s residence. Tragedies occurred after moving in; Thomas Jr. and Violet both died there before it eventually became a museum with many displays detailing these tragic episodes from its history.
