Despite its reputation for sunshine and Hollywood glitz, California has a darker side. Its stunning scenery and vibrant cities conceal places rife with terrifying myths and mysterious phenomena.
Get ready to be frightened as we explore five horrifyingly haunted locations in California that will give you the chills.
Stevenson House – Monterey
Author Robert Louis Stevenson previously resided at the boarding home that is now known as Stevenson home Museum, which dates back to the 1800s. The establishment’s owner and operator, Manuela Giradin, is thought to be haunting it.
Both of Manuela’s grandchildren contracted typhoid fever after her husband passed away from the illness in 1879. Manuela died on December 21, 1879, from exhaustion from caring for the children, but her grandkids lived.
A nursery rocking chair rocking by itself, the phantom odor of carbolic acid (a disinfectant used in the 1800s), and the appearance of a woman wearing a black dress with a high lace collar are among the spectral occurrences that take place around this period.
Washoe House – Petaluma
During “The Battle of Washoe House,” which took place at this historic roadhouse in 1859, marching soldiers who were determined to cause chaos in neighboring towns paused for a drink at the tavern before heading back the way they had come.
What may have been a major tragedy was peacefully resolved as a result. Ulysses S. Grant is also reported to have recruited troops from the inn’s balcony during a speech.

But this house is haunted by the ghost of a guy who shot himself in a room above when it was a hotel. It is reported that the resident ghost is amiable.
RMS Queen Mary
Once used by the Cunard Line, this retired ocean liner is now a museum ship that is permanently parked.
The ship museum, a hotel, and a number of dining options are all located inside.
She set sail for the first time in 1936 and continued to do so until 1967. For Halloween, the historic site has included haunted homes, complete with actual ghosts that are rumored to haunt the ship.
Ghostly children can be heard playing in the ship’s nursery, and there are rumors that Cabin B340 is haunted by a murder victim.
Additionally, a sailor who was slain in the engine room haunts the space, and a mysterious Lady in White has reportedly been spotted there. The ship has appeared in television series such as Ghost Hunters and Unsolved Mysteries.
Leland Stanford Mansion – Sacramento
In 2005, the comprehensive restoration of the Leland Stanford Mansion, which dates back to the 1800s and spans four levels, was completed. In addition to being a state park, it serves as a location for high-level legislative events.

There are rumors that it is haunted by Leland Stanford Jr., the son of Leland Stanford, who passed away from typhoid disease when he was studying in Italy.
He was 15 years old at the time. In 1891, Stanford institution was established as a result of the apparition of the teen’s ghost to his father, who then begged him to establish an institution specifically for male students.
Weed Palace Theatre – Radio Star Studios – Weed
Originally constructed in 1933, the theater is located on the site of the former structure, which was destroyed by fire in the 1920s.
Currently, a recording studio that is owned by music producer Sylvia Massy has been the site of a number of singers and songwriters who have performed and sung there.
These individuals have reported experiencing paranormal activity.
There was a pop singer who was living in the loft of the building that was adjacent to her, and she had the sheets dragged off her bed by hands that were not visible to her.
Additionally, a man spirit was observed walking across the stage of the main theater after the venue had closed for the night.
To Conclude
Despite its reputation for sunshine and glitz, California has a darker side.
From the enigmatic events onboard the RMS Queen Mary to the tragic tragedy of Manuela Giradin, these five haunted sites provide a window into the state’s more sinister past.
These locations will chill you to the bone and add a little mystery to your tour of the Golden State, whether or not you believe in ghosts.