People often associate San Diego with beautiful beaches and vibrant cultural and artistic attractions, yet its dark side remains hidden within haunted houses, creepy lighthouses and reported cases of paranormal encounters.
These bone-chilling locations include the Whaley House, known as America’s most haunted house. Other terrifying destinations like McKamey Manor offer more extreme experiences; guests are bound, gagged and covered in blood while attending.
The Haunted Hotel
San Diego may be best known for sunshine, sand and delicious fish tacos; however, the city also boasts some truly terrifying sites for Halloween visitors to experience. Hotel del Coronado in particular has become famously haunted with ghost stories including Kate Morgan who checked into the hotel back in 1892 but never left!
Guest have reported seeing a woman dressed in a white, lacy dress. Additionally, guests have reported hearing noises and movements; staff have experienced unusual occurrences, such as lightbulbs becoming unscrewed or safety locks being forced open by unseen forces.
San Diego boasts many haunted houses to visit, with options suitable for the whole family and more age-restricted experiences. If you want something a bit different, check out SeaWorld’s Howl-O-Scream for something truly unforgettable – with its haunted photo ops, scares and live horror-themed performances – you won’t soon forget this experience!
The Whaley House
The Whaley House, one of San Diego and California’s most haunted houses, has become legendary. Even celebrity visitors like Regis Philbin have reported becoming so distressed during visits that they left early! The home has been featured on multiple television programs as well as offering public tours, evening ghost hunts and paranormal investigations.
Whaley House was widely considered one of the finest homes in Southern California during its heyday during the 1800s. Furnished with mahogany and rosewood furniture, Brussels carpets, and beautiful damask draperies – it served not only as a family residence but also served as San Diego’s first commercial theater and county courthouse.
Tragedies experienced by the Whaley family likely contributed to its reputation as a haunted house, as many residents are thought to still reside within it – including Thomas Junior (an infant who died before being delivered) and Violet Whaley who committed suicide when her marriage fell apart.
Savage House Haunted Attraction
If you’re in search of something different this Halloween season, try visiting a haunted house. These fear attractions use animatronics, awesome props, Hollywood sets and actors that are beyond terrifying to bring an authentic scare factor – perfect for both dates, friends or the whole family! They guarantee it!
The Savage House in La Mesa offers an interactive haunted house experience like no other in San Diego, drawing you into its narrative world that would make for the perfect horror film plotline. A truly terrifying experience that will have you shouting for more.
The Haunted Trail at Balboa Park is another top haunted attraction in San Diego. Boasting a mile-long maze filled with zombie rodeo clowns and other horror creatures to keep visitors guessing, this haunted attraction has also been featured on Travel Channel and should not be missed by horror enthusiasts. Their Museum even features guest appearances by Kane Hodder (Jason Voorhees) and George Wilbur (Michael Myers). New this year is their Zombie Rodeo which features up to 25 vicious zombies; additionally there will also be an additional 600 sq. foot Walking Dead Museum complete with Daryl’s crossbow, Merle’s knife arm prosthetic, and Michonne’s sword all on display for horror fans to admire.
The Haunted Trail
Even with its challenges this year, the Haunted Trail seems to be hitting its stride. Saturday night brought with it plenty of shrieks coming from Balboa Park trees as guests braved their way through this frightening attraction. Many guests were truly terrified as they made their way through.
This mile long trail winds its way past foggy ghost graveyards, zombie prisoner buses, demented doll island and Haunted Hotel rooms 666 that have become haunted – as well as chainsaw-filled Southern swamps and an eXperiment Maze!
The Whaley House in Old Town is another haunted spot worth visiting; take a guided tour and participate in paranormal investigations! Alternatively, check out Trolley of the Doomed for an excellent tour through various haunted spots across San Diego; learn all about its haunted history while hearing some famous ghost stories as part of this tour experience!
