Category Archives: Haunted Places

Whaley House

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The Whaley House

The Whaley house is regarded by some as the most haunted house in San Diego, and is certainly the most famous. It was built on the site of San Diego’s first public gallows. The house was constructed by Thomas Whaley between 1856 and 1857. Whaley was a prominent businessman. He added the one story addition to the house that became the County Courthouse, but by 1870 most of the activity and development had moved to New Town (Now downtown San Diego). Tensions grew as Whaley refused to allow the government to break the lease with him and move the court documents to the new courthouse in New Town. He installed barricades and a small cannon in front of the house to prevent the document’s removal, but while on a business trip in 1871 a group of armed men entered the house and removed the materials.

Ghost Stories

There is a rocking chair on the second floor that is said to move by itself, as well as reports of crystals on lampshades swaying with no reasonable explanation and recentlly fluffed pillows bearing the imprint of a human head. Cold spots bedeck the house from the second floor to the area of the first floor where the gallows are said to have once stood.

One spirit that inhabits the spot is said to be that of “Yankee” Jim Robinson, who was supposedly hanged on the gallows that once occupied the spot. That tree is supposedly near the archway on the first floor. Yankee Jim is said to cause the sound of footsteps on the second floor. By some accounts, even Thomas Whaley himself experienced this phenomenon. According to folklore, Yankee Jim stole San Diego’s pilot boat and resisted arrest. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. His hanging did not goal well and it took 15 minutes for the man to die. Although there most sources seem to think this story is more fantasy than fact. According to the official Whaley House webpage, Yankee Jim was convicted of Grand Larceny.

Thomas Whaley himself is said to still roam the halls of his former home. He has been seen by various employees of the house, and even been contacted through seances.

Anna, Thomas Whaley’s wife, is also said to be seen sometimes, but infrequently. She is sometimes seen in a white dress, or said to be the reason the her rocking chair on the second floor moves by itself. She is also occasionally seen through the windows on the second floor.

A little girl is said to have died in the Whaley’s kitchen after having accidentally run into a clothesline hanging in the Whaley’s yard. The clothesline ruptured her trachea. She was carried inside where she died. Her name is given as either Annabelle or Carrie Washburn. The ghost of a blonde girl running through the yard and the kitchen is said to be Carrie (The Kitchen, which was not part of the house itself, has been torn down.).

Other ghosts spotted in or on the premises are a workman, an Indian servant, and the Whaley’s dog, Dolly.

Our Review

We did not see anything unusual in our night time free roam of the house; although, another member of our group did photograph Kryis with an odd spectral face while they were on the second floor. Sadly, we do not have a copy of that image. We both had moments where we felt a little odd, but nothing serious. It is an interesting house, with fascinating stories, and plenty of photographs that seem to show spectral phenomenon. (A lot of these photographs are on display in the courthouse room).

Old Adobe Chapel

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The Old Adobe Chapel

The structure that stands now is a reconstruction of the original after it was razed in the 1930’s. The original structure was built in the 1850’s. It is said to be the setting of fictional wedding of Romona in the novel of the same name by Helen Hunt Jackson.

Ghost Stories

We explored here as part of the 2005 www.Ghost-Trackers.org ghost hunter conference and can not find any references anywhere other than the conference that proclaim it to be haunted.

Our Review

Quaint small old church. It seems to be a part of Old Town San Diego history that is almost forgotten. It is stuck on a side street away from most of the other historic sites and is very unassuming from the street. It would be very easy to pass it and not even know that you had.

El Fandango Restaurant

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About El Fandango Restaurant

Although the building that houses the El Fandango Restaurant was only recently constructed, the land on which it sits has a rich history. Part of Old Town, it is the oldest settled area in San Diego. The restaurant was built on the sight the Machado family mansion which burned to the ground in 1858. The extensive story of the Machado family can be found on the San Diego Historical Society website. Other various buildings and establishments occupied the sight in the years between the mansion’s collapse and restaurant’s establishment.

Ghost Stories

The ghost of El Fandango is said to manifest as a woman dressed in white Victorian era clothing.

The haunting has been documented in a local newspaper article that is displayed in the restaurant. According the article, Marcos Mouet arrived around 4 in the morning to prepare for the restaurant’s opening a few hours later. He saw a woman dressed in white sitting at a table in the dining room. She appeared to be hazy and cloud-like. A photo of the article displayed in the restaurant is available on our photographs page.

Our Review

We have been the this restaurant a two times on our frequent trips to San Diego, and while we have never seen a ghost, we have had a pleasant dining experience. It is good Mexican food at a reasonable price. We have never sat in the dining room, both times we have eaten at El Fandango we were sat on the patio.

William Heath Davis House

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William Heath Davis House

The William Heath Davis House is the oldest surviving structure in Downtown San Diego (New Town). He never actually lived in the house that now bears his name, but it is the same age and style of his house that was located at State and F streets. The current structure was moved to it current location at 410 Island Avenue from State and Market streets. Both homes were prefabricated on the east coast, shipped around Cape Horn and assembled in San Diego. This style of home dubbed “saltbox” was common in New Town. Alonzo Horton (the father of modern San Diego) and his wife, Sarah, lived in this home for a brief time while their own home was being constructed. More information on William Heath Davis can be found on the San Diego Historical Society website. The house is located near the Horton Grand Hotel and the Gaslamp district.

Ghost Stories

Employees of the William Heath Davis House reported the following odd occurrences. A lady has been seen on the second floor landing of the home. the gold ropes used to keep visitors out of certain rooms have become unlatched with no one around. They have a picture that shows some odd mist in the background that was not present when the picture was taken. The old style gas lamps in the building would turn on.

Our Review

The William Heath Davis House is a typical small historical house. The rooms are well decorated, and the self guided tour is interesting. The employees made the visit for us with their willingness to talk with us about the history of the house and the history of San Diego.

Georgian Hotel

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Originally named the Lady Windemere, the hotel that would become the Georgian Hotel was built in 1933. The hotel catered to the rich, famous, and infamous of the area as a way to escape the Los Angeles and Hollywood. At the time it was surrounded by forests and not much else in the sleepy community of Santa Monica. Celebrities such as Clark Gable and Bugsy Siegel visited the hotel and its speakeasy during the prohibition era. Now, of course, it is surrounded by other hotels, shops, and tourist attractions in the city of Santa Monica, and the speakeasy is now the hotels restaurant.

Ghost Stories

The ghosts of this hotel are supposed to inhabit the Speakeasy restaurant where Bugsy Siegel visited. The ghosts here manifest as odd noises, barely audible speaking, and sighing.

The only odd voices I head on our stay was through the hotels old heating system in the bathroom. It sounded like the people staying in the room next to ours.

Our Review

This hotel was great. We did not spend as much time here as we would have liked. Our room (612) was a little on the small side compared to most modern luxury hotels, but it was still very nice. The hotel also provides free wireless internet access. Room service was extremely reasonable for breakfast–which was excellent by the way. I definitely hope to stay at this hotel again.

Disneyland

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There cannot be many of you out there that do not know at least a little about Disneyland. Opened in 1955, Disneyland is the dream come true of Mr. Walt Disney the father of Mickey Mouse and the entire Disney empire. Disney is the theme park of theme parks with eight themed areas: Main Street U.S.A, Adventureland, New Orleans Square, Critter Country, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Mickey’s Toon Town, and Tomorrowland. Disneyland is known as the “Happiest Place on Earth.” Children of all ages have a experienced the magic of the “Magic Kingdom.” Dismeyland has evolved and changed greatly over the years, as some attractions have been retired, replaced, or re-imagineered.

Ghost Stories

Disneyland has enchanted many people through the years, some people seemed to have liked it so much, they have decided to stay post mortem.

There is a rumor that Walt Disney himself haunts many location in Disneyland, most notably his old apartment over the Fire Station on Main Street. An employee was in the old apartment to dust. As she left, she turned off the lights. When she noticed the lights were still on she returned to the second floor and turned them off again, assuming she had forgotten to turn them off the first time. Again, when she reached the first floor, she noticed the lights were on again. She went back upstairs to see what was going on, when she got up there, a voice told her “Don’t forget, I am still here.” They leave the light on for Walt now as a tribute to him. (Or if you prefer, he just won’t let them turn it off).

There is a storeroom somewhere behind where the magic shop is on main street that is said to have one been an office that Walt Disney used. There have been reports of cold spots and eerie feelings in that room.

The stockroom above the emporium is said to be haunted, especially near the “hanger wall.” Employee was in there, someone jumped up as if to scare her, when she turned, there was no one there. Also, an employee was putting a PVC figures on shelves and one shelf fell over (can someone say gravity?)

The Disney Gallery (Above Pirates of the Caribbean), as well as the stockrooms above the New Orleans Square shops, are said to be haunted by Walt, his wife, and a woman named Mary.

Both Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion have the same legend associated with them, which if either is true is unclear. A young boy who loved the ride died young. His mother wanted to scatter his ashes at the ride site, but Disneyland refused. She decided to sneak in and scatter the ashes on the ride despite their refusal. Ever since then, the ride is said to be haunted by that little boy. Which ride? I have no idea. However, he is said to sit at the exit of Haunted Mansion and cry.

We heard this story from a ride operator on Pirates of the Caribbean. A coworker of his is said to have gone on the pre-opening ride to check to make sure that everything was working. As he was going through the ride he swears there was a little boy or a little girl in the boat with him.

The darkest area of the ride, known as “Transition Tunnel” is said to produce odd noises and even giggling when the ride is turned off and there is no soundtrack running.

Club 33 (the exclusive club that is in New Orleans Square near POTC and the Blue Bayou) is also said to be haunted.

A boy is said to be seen on the ride cameras of POTC, but he cannot be seen with the naked eye.

Tom Sawyers Island is said to be haunted by the ghost (or ghosts) of a graduating high school senior(s) that drowned while trying to swim to the island across the Rivers of America at a Grad Nite celebration at the park. Additionally there are said to be children that haunt the island itself. Cast members have seen children running around after the island is to be closed. The employees glimpse the children running, but when they look for them, they are never found.

The Matterhorn side B (The side on the right as you are looking at it from loading station) is said to be haunted by the ghost of “Dolly.” Dolly was a mother who went on the ride with her children. She was worried about them so she undid her seat belt and turned to look at them. The train went into a sharp decline (now known as Dolly’s Dip) and was thrown from the train and run over by the next bobsled.

It’s a Small World is said to be haunted by either employees or guests that loved the ride so much they decided to come back. Manifestations include the figures moving on there own after they have been shut down. There is a story about a mechanic after having been fired by Disneyland, snuck back into the ride and was living there for a few days before he was discovered.

A figure is seen standing near Sleeping Beauty’s Castle long after the park has closed.

The Peoplemover (now removed from Tomorrowland) was said to be haunted by the ghost of a teenage boy that tried to jump from the car as it was moving along the tracks. He was dragged under the car to his death. As he was being dragged he reached up to his girlfriends blonde hair. He is said to manifest himself usually to girls with long blonde hair who feel him tugging on their hair.

We have a few more accounts from employees we interviewed on our last visit.

Our Review

Disneyland may very well be the Happiest Place on Earth. There are so many rides that I can go on again and again and still enjoy. While I think the parking situation is a convoluted (and some of the signs directing you there from the highway are slightly convoluted) but it is a great place to visit every year or so for young and old. We did not get to go to Tom Sawyer’s Island the last time we were there because it was closed. We enjoyed the Haunted Mansion Holiday, but prefer the original. We wish they would not have added some of the changes they made to Pirates of the Caribbean by adding Jack Sparrow and company to the ride. Sometimes people should just leave things the way they were. Maybe someday we will get a chance to ask the ghosts what they think of the changes that have been made to the park over the years.

Pacheco Pass Highway 152

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About Pacheco Pass (Highway 152)

Pacheco Pass is located in northern California near Gilroy. The area was named after Don Francisco Perez Pacheco who received a large land grant from Mexico that covered a large area that now includes the pass for which he is named. Originally inhabited by the Ausaymus Indians, the pass is lush and fertile. It has been used as a way through the mountains since the earliest days of the California gold rush. Highway 152, which uses the pass to connect Highway 101 to Interstate 5. It is a road with a bloody history of accidents plagued the road for years as sleepy drivers returning home late at night would cross over into oncoming traffic. The road has been improved many times, but still has more than its fair share of accidents. The drive can be quite beautiful, and there are a lot of places of interest to visit just off the freeway in the pass such as San Luis Reservoir and Casa de Fruta.

Ghost Stories

There are a great many ghost stories connected to the Pacheco Pass, and most surprisingly are not based on the areas history of tragic accidents. The pass and highway have been featured on television shows, including SciFi Channel’s “Sightings,” and the Travel Channel’s “Haunted Travels.”

There are reports of a “Time Warp” are common. People claim that they have lost time somewhere on their trip through the pass.

There are reports of strange lights that appear in the sky above the pass at night, and always seem to appear in the same place.

Some people claim to see phantom stage coaches and men in western wear wandering around the pass.

People are said to become overwhelmed by a feeling or sadness, apprehension, or dread as they drive through the pass.

A glowing light is supposed to emit from under the water of the San Luis Reservoir.

I have personally driven through the pass many times and never experienced any of the above phenomena.

Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

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About Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel is a luxurious landmark of the golden age of tinsel town. Opened in 1927 by Hollywood elite, it catered to east coast celebrities that were working on movies on the left coast. Such notable celebrities as Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, Shirley Temple, Clark Gable and many others have some connection to the hotel. The Hotel’s Blossom Room was the site of the first Academy Awards. It began a steady decline (with most of the surrounding area of Hollywood) starting the in the 1950s. It even came close to being demolished. Its renovation sparked a revival on the Hollywood strip and it still stands proudly near Mann’s Chinese Theater.

Ghost Stories

Two celebrity ghosts are said to inhabit the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

Montgomery Clift is said to haunt room 928 where he stayed while filming From Here to Eternity. Guest have heard someone moving around.

Marylin Monroe is said to haunt the full length mirror that was once in here suite. The mirror has been moved several times, and is now located near the gift shop. She can sometimes be seen in the reflection of the mirror (There is a relief sculpture of her on the wall, but that doesn’t count). I have heard that the mirror once hung in her poolside suite, and suite 1200 (since suite 1200 is on the 12th floor, I don’t think that that can be quite “poolside”)

There is also supposed to be a cold spot in the “Blossom Room.” I tried to find it, but I could not. The room was being set up for a new years celebration at the time, so I did not have as much access as I would have liked.

My wife insists we had two ghostly encounters ourselves. As we were checking out the twelfth floor we passed by a linen closet that was open. The light apparently turned on by itself as we passed. I say faulty wiring, she says it could be a spectral presence. We had brought some Minute Maid lemonade in cans up from our car one night. In the morning both were open. She did not remember opening any, and I remember only opening one. She says the ghosts were thirsty, I say we just have bad memories.

Our Review

Very nice hotel. We were upgraded to a suite, which was nice. We really liked our room. Room service prices were as usual pretty high, but not completely astronomical. We received a copy of the newspaper on the door every morning, and the valet service was quick and efficient. We did not have a lot of time to use the pool and other facilities, but what we saw we liked. The area around the pool does look a little more like a motel than a nice hotel, but the rest of the ground floor had a good classic-golden-age-of-Hollywood feel. It is very close to prominent Hollywood attractions such as Mann’s Chinese Theater and the walk of fame.

Columbo’s Restaurant

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An Italian/American restaurant located in the Eagle Rock section of Los Angeles. Frequently has live jazz playing in the evening.

Ghost Stories

Someone we knew worked here and had felt people touching her in the walk in refrigerator and other places in the building. There is a mirror near the bathrooms that a ghost has sometimes appeared in. The oddest thing is the apparent image of Jesus that appeared in the light up menu behind the bar. It is fairly difficult to see in the photographs, but very obvious in person.

Hollywood High School

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Construction for the school at the current site began in 1904 and finished in 1905. The school has had a connection with the Hollywood Bowl since its construction.

Ghost Stories

The Theater at Hollywood High School is said to be haunted by at least three people.

A student who shot himself, a woman who hung herself, and a teacher wearing grey.

The young man who shot himself is according to one source named “Toby.”

There are also reports of a former janitor that haunts the campus.

Manifestations of these spirits are said to be doors opening by themselves and strange sounds.