California boasts many haunted lighthouses, hotels, and even a headless friar – paranormal hotspots that will surely give visitors goosebumps! No matter their level of interest in ghost hunting or paranormal investigation – each will leave you spooked!
Dark tourism is growing increasingly popular across America. From the Winchester Mystery House to Darwin Ghost Town, learn more about California’s haunted places and plan your paranormal adventure today!
Alcatraz
Alcatraz Island Prison has long been considered to be one of America’s most haunted locations, due to its grim history as a federal penitentiary and its many ghostly sightings and legends.
Experiences at the prison often focus around areas associated with its greatest tragedies, including cellblock C where three prisoners were murdered during a riot in 1946. Clanging noises can often be heard here along with footsteps and moans from beyond the grave.
Sightings visited Alcatraz Island Prison in 1992, and interviewed park service employees who reported hearing unidentified crashing sounds, footsteps running together unpredictably, cell doors that mysteriously closed themselves without explanation, unearthly screaming voices, intense feelings of being watched – among many other strange experiences. Sightings asked psychic Peter James to walk through Alcatraz prison, picking up on vibrations related to abuse, mistreatment, fear and pain from inside its walls.
Whaley House
No matter your passion – history or the paranormal – Whaley House will surely appeal to both. Formerly used as county gallows before Thomas Whaley purchased it and witnessed many deaths and tragedies over its long history.
Electric lights turn on and off automatically, doors open and close themselves, and a mysterious little girl ghost has been known to appear in Anna Whaley’s dining room – believed to be Anna’s granddaughter Anna Whaley herself!
Many have reported smelling sweet tobacco smoke and hearing footsteps in the upstairs rooms, along with Thomas Whaley’s infant son who died of Scarlet Fever at 18 months. He is said to wander the halls at night crying in his sleep. Violet Whaley still haunts this floor due to her failed marriage that ended tragically.
Julian Cemetery
Julian Cemetery was established during the gold rush, and is home to many of the town’s founding families. Visitors have reported seeing ghostly apparitions, hearing disembodied voices, and experiencing extreme temperature drops within certain sections of the graveyard.
Nicole Strickland, Director of the San Diego Paranormal Research Society, notes that many ghost sightings occur at sites with elevated emotions. She’s conducted multiple investigations at sites like Rancho Buena Vista Adobe in Vista and Pine Hills Lodge in Julian.
Home that doubled as hospitals tend to be haunted. This one, in particular, is said to be haunted by musician Jesse Shepherd who may still be performing here. Additionally, this home served as both a private school and saw numerous deaths over its history.
Colorado Street Bridge
Built in 1913, the Colorado Street Bridge charmed early travelers crossing Arroyo Seco canyon. By 1920s however, its reputation changed dramatically: becoming known as “Suicide Bridge,” its legends soon included those who committed suicide by jumping off it.
Police records reveal that since 1919 when it opened for business, about 150 people have taken their own lives by jumping off the bridge. Though a suicide barrier was added as part of a $27 million renovation in 1993, suicide-related calls still come pouring in every year according to Pasadena police spokesperson Janet Pope Givens.
Delgado believes the most effective way to fight the bridge’s ghostly presence is educating the public on signs that someone might be contemplating suicide, such as changes in behavior or appearance as well as financial or marital difficulties. Furthermore, it’s vital that someone reach out for help when needed.
Los Coches Adobe
Monterey County is known for its creepy legends and ghostly sightings – from La Llorona outside Salinas to a murderous madam who haunts Los Coches Adobe in Soledad – but how much of them is true or just hearsay?
The Adobe was once used as a popular inn and stagecoach stop, where its owner is believed to have murdered her customers. Children have also been reported as seeing presences at this property.
Ghost Adventures investigated this location in 2015 and reported back that locals felt pressure on their chests that may be related to the brothel mistress who killed miners from her brothel. Others even claimed they woke up with perfect imprints of womanly hands left on their bodies overnight.
