Ghost Girls Tales:

Haunted Hwy 49, a Driving Tour

By Shannon McCabe, Ghost Girls TV

Let's take a journey into the past and visit some of Northern California's famous and not so famous ghostly haunts. We'll take you on a drive though some beautiful country on the Gold Rush Highway, highway 49. Put on your seatbelt... let's go! Our first stop is Mokelumne Hill or as the locals call it “Moke Hill”. Just south of Hwy 88 lies the home of an amazing hotel:

1.The Hotel Leger: Pronounced “Lu Zhay” , The Hotel Leger is a charming Victorian style hotel with old world charm. There are no televisions or telephones at the hotel, it's up to you to make your own entertainment. There are a myriad of permanent guests at the Leger, and you can almost always pick up an EVP or get an abnormal picture here. Reported Phenomenon: Banquet rooms cleaned and doors all locked, only to arrive in the AM and have the room completely unlocked and in total disarray! One of the employees, Shana Molotch, was downstairs in the basement talking to a worker and was pushed so hard she flew forward and had sore, red arms for two days! Wear your padded clothing when going to the Hotel Leger, you never know who you'll run into!
Book your Room at The Hotel Leger Today!

Let's cruise up north on Hwy 49 about 7.5 miles to the quaint town of Jackson, CA where we find another very interesting hotel/ bar.

1. The National Hotel: HPI was lucky enough to investigate the National Hotel on an overnight excursion. We had our share of scares, one of our mediums Anne, was walking down the hall on the second floor of the hotel she felt a presence and told our investigators to try getting some EVP's. She was hot on the trail of a spirit and when we played back the recorder we got a distinct “Chill, Chill” or maybe it was “Jill, Jill”? Either way, it was something! One of our other investigators, Carol Gillis was trying to sleep in the most haunted room, room 74, when she had cold chills up and down her spine 3 times! Mind you, it was quite warm that night! The owner of the hotel has had his share of scares also. He was sitting in his office late one night and something outside made a huge crash, broken wood, and glass crashing down. He thought his hotel had been hit by a truck! After exploring the hotel inside and out of every room.. They found nothing! Was this a residual crash, only the ghosts know....

2. Main Street - The street running directly through the town of Jackson has its own specter. He looks like a semi-transparent miner who walks up and down Main st. and eventually disappears into walls and doors. Wouldn't it be fun to run into him?

Ok, onward and upward about 4.5 miles on Hwy 49 N. to the cutest little town ever, Sutter Creek. There seems to be a trend with the haunted hotels, so let's not leave Sutter Creek out!

1. The Sutter Creek Inn - Located just past Hwy 104 in the heart of the Gold Country, this bed and breakfast is considered by many to be the "Jewel of California's Mother Lode." The inn is thought to be haunted by a former California senator and his wife. He is often heard pacing upstairs in the main house and his wife is sometimes seen in the hallway. The hotel is so haunted that the TV show, “America's Most Haunted” featured it! Sutter Creek Inn, 75 Main Street, Sutter Creek, 95685, 209 267-5606 Book your Room at Sutter Creek Inn Today!

All righty I know you haven't seen enough haunted bed & breakfasts so I am going to take you to another! This one happens to be in Amador City about 2.5 Miles North of Sutter Creek.

1. The Mine House Bed & Breakfast: Whether you want a bed or a breakfast you can get it at the Mine House. This charming Victorian hotel has some spooks that will curdle your milk for sure! The current owners have experienced unexplainable footsteps, bed covers being strewn across the rooms when no one has been in the room, a young female apparition has been seen waving to folks from the second floor balcony who could she be waving to? Maybe you.

Back in the car, for a quick trip up 49 to Drytown. Don't let the name fool you! This town may be dry but the cemetery is alive!

1. Drytown Cemetery or Dry Diggin's Cemetery- Yikes, the pictures show you how spooky this place is. I've heard that you can always pick up an EVP or two here! The cemetery is not on any maps that I can find but with a town population of 47, it shouldn't be hard to find. It might be harder to find a person in this town! It is said that William Randolph Hearst’s father, George Hearst resided in this town during the gold rush.

Okidokie, it's time to dust off your cowboy boots and jump back in your Mustang we have a 20 minute ride north to our next destination- El Dorado, CA. Crank up your tunes and put the pedal to the metal! Yeee haw!

1. Poor Red's- We're not sure if Poor Red's is haunted but we thought you might like to have some Ribs and a Gold Cadillac. On Friday or Saturday nights customers may have to wait an hour or two to get seated. Most don’t mind, because the bar specializes in Gold Cadillac’s, a blended drink made with Galliano Liqueur, Creme de Cocoa and cream from the outside cow, just kidding. From the outside Poor Reds looks like a barn. The decor inside isn’t much more impressive, but nobody cares because it’s the food and drinks that count. Another tidbit about Poor Red's is that they sell the most Galliano Liqueur of anywhere in the United States! If you are not a fan of Anise flavor, try the Brown Cow, a personal Shannon favorite! Feeling Refreshed? Ok let's cruise back up Pleasant Valley Rd East and head to Diamond Springs. Still hungry? This next place has out of this world fried chicken and a portal?!

1. The Diamond Springs Hotel- Or as the locals call it “The Hotel” This place is pretty crazy! I have been here for dinner many times. The owner Amy, is always willing to talk about her ghosts. They've scared the you-know-what out of her! Things are always being misplaced, a waitress once told me that she was putting all the ketchup bottles out on the tables and she turned around and most of the bottles ended up back in the original spot! Huh? Personally, I was there one evening, having dinner with my folks and telling them about the ghosts and the portal, when I said let's go take some pictures of it. The portal is located above the men's & women's bathroom near the dividing wall. If you stand in that spot and close your eyes you get a sense of spinning. It's pretty trippy. Anyway, I said “Mom, I am going to take a picture with my cell phone and we'll see if we get anything.” So I glanced down and checked the battery, all full, then snapped my shot. The phone immediately turned off and NEVER turned back on. Dang it!

Nancy Bradley & I also filmed an episode of Ghost Girls there recently. There was SO much activity! I don’t want to give it away… The DVD comes out in November 2008! www.GhostGirls.net for more info! Back to Hwy 49 Now it's on to my very favorite town in the Mother Lode, Placerville. Placerville is home to MANY haunts and is reputed to be the second most haunted city in the world only to be shown up by the Civil War Battlefields! Nancy Bradley and I actually give historical/ psychic/ ghost tours of Placerville and if you are ever in Northern CA give us a ring and we’ll show you around Ghost Girls Style!

1. Hangman's Tree Bar: The ghosts of claim jumpers and outlaws reside here in the Hangman's Tree Bar. Many were sentenced to hang from an old oak tree located in the basement of the building. The tree was cut down to make room for the building, but the tree trunk still resides in the basement. If you walk inside you will see a replica tree where the actual hangings took place. Bartenders here have experienced apparitions, things flying off the shelves and lots of cold spots. Patrons have told us that the specters even harass the them and the employees of this establishment. Many times the employees have come in to open the bar only to find the water in the women's bathroom is running and the bathroom is flooded! Several drivers have reported seeing the apparitions while passing by in their automobiles. We filmed a mini investigation at the bar for Ghost Girls and it should be on our next DVD out November 2008.

Unfortunately the Hangman’s Tree was closed down on Sunday September 20th, 2008. And the building is said to be demolished… I can only imagine what is going to arise when the demolition begins! 305 Main Street, Placerville

1. The Cary House Hotel: Many folks have come in contact with everyone's favorite Main Street specter, Stan. Stan was the former Cary house desk clerk and a pesky little guy! He actually hangs out at 3 places that we know of on Main street and he loves to flirt. He flirts not only with women, but with men! He enjoys pinching their butts! You can almost always get a lovely orb picture on the grand staircase in the lobby.. This is where it's reported that Stan died. 300 Main Street, Placerville

2. Pearson's Soda Works or The Cozmic Cafe: Simply one of the coolest buildings in Placerville, literally. The Soda Works building is a very unique building with actual mine tunnels that you can walk through, delicious healthy foods, a bar upstairs, and a nice ballroom that you can explore all day! This place is a ghost hunters dream! The staff is incredibly nice and they love to talk about their ghost stories. On one of our Haunted Placerville walking tours, one of our guests was standing near dumbwaiter and felt a tugging on her backpack. She turned around and no one was there! She asked the counter clerk if anything weird has happened there and he told her that a young child died by being caught in that very dumbwaiter! Another strange incident happened to the current owner. She had closed up one night and went home. She got a strange call from work and saw the number on her caller ID. She was extremely puzzled when she answered the phone and there was silence. She went back to work and everything was just as she left it- dead quiet!

3. Sequoia House Restaurant- This is one of my favorite places to hang out. Not only is the bar beautiful and rich with gorgeous wood, but the martinis are something to write home about. Upstairs are many parlors that you can go and have some dessert in and feel like you are sitting inside someone’s mansion. The décor is all from the 1800’s and it just has a magnificent feel there. HPI recently did an investigation at the Sequoia House where we picked up an EVP of a small boy. We believe the boy to be the son, Marcus Bennet who died at age four. He is buried across the street at the Union Cemetery.

And if you are looking for something to do in the Gold Country this Halloween, stop by the Ghost Girls Halloween Ball at the Haunted Sequoia Mansion! It is not to be missed! www.GhostGirls.net for more info!

5. Union Cemetery- In fact all of the Bennett family is buried here, along with Fredrick Sieg, the first Druid to bring Druidism to CA. There are a few other eclectic names here, Harry Ball and Mr. Harry Sax. He he he…

Now there are a TON more buildings in Placerville that are haunted, but you'll have to take our walking tour to find out! Ok, let's get back on Hwy 49 for about 8 miles and head to one of the most haunted and scary places in all of the Mother Lode

1. The Vineyard House: A mischievous spirit inhabits this hotel which was established in 1850. The owner once said her employees named the ghost Christopher, and blame him for moving pots and pans, hiding knives and forks, and turning off the teakettles and other harmless pranks. A malevolent spirit named Mark haunted room 4 according to a gal I interviewed. He shot his girlfriend in that room. The building is now deserted so please be careful when exploring you don't want to get in trouble for trespassing! Left on Cold Springs Rd. to the top of the hill.

2. The Pioneer Cemetery- This cemetery is across from the Vineyard House and incredibly haunted. Apparitions have been seen flagging cars down from the road. One apparition in particular is said to be the ghost of May Schiffer, 27. She has been seen standing near the road with her long flowing burgundy dress waiting for a visitor. Sad.

3. Wah Hop & Man Lee Chinese Stores- Mysterious voices and footsteps can be heard at these two stores. The stores were built here when the Chinese moved into town for gold. They actually called this area, Chinatown. Try to get some EVPs, they just might be in Chinese!

Ok prepare yourself for a windy 12 mile road. Hwy 49 can get you stomach sick! We have plastic bags if you need one! Let's hit the road for Georgetown.

1, The Georgetown Hotel: This hotel is really great, it is a Victorian style hotel in the middle of, and you guessed it, Main Street! The hotel has since been turned into a bar and restaurant. It really is the only place to go in Georgetown so you are sure to run into some locals with their own ghost stories. I was there one Friday night for Karaoke, the crowd was going nuts so I had to get away for a minute. I walked up the stair case with my EMF meter and to my surprise I had some serious spikes and cold spots. The bartender's can tell you lots of fun ghostly stories. A highly recommended stop on your Hwy 49 tour!

Well that was fun, Georgetown is small isn’t it? Ok, back on Hwy 49 to Auburn

Latitudes Restaurant also known as “The White House” -This Victorian house was first built around 1880 by Mr. And Mrs. White its across from the Historic Placer County Courthouse. Mr. White was a blacksmith and Mrs. White was, well, a wife. In 1980 the house was added onto and designed for a restaurant on the middle floor, a bar on the basement floor and with offices on the top floor. There are stories of ghost sightings in the small meeting room in the historic dining room area and downstairs in the bar. Lots footsteps and whispering can be heard here; people say it’s Mrs. White whispering to her husband. Oh, and excellent food here… but I am sure you are full by now!

Moving back on Hwy 49 North to the quaint little town of Grass Valley. It actually is more like Silicon Valley now with lots of computer chip companies including Grass Valley Group… But computer chips are boring, so on with the ghosts!

The Holbrooke Hotel – Established in 1851 to cater to the needs of the Gold Rush pioneers, this historic hotel has hosted such dignitaries as Presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Benjamin Harrison, James A. Garfield and Grover Cleveland, as well as other famous guests, including Mark Twain and infamous outlaw Black Bart. Today the historic hotel is said to remain home to a number of former guests. In the reception hall, they supposedly have been known to drag chairs across the floor, turn lights on and off. Guests and staff have often heard voices in the hall when no one is there.

Ghost Girls filmed our pilot at the Holbrooke.. And let me tell you, this place has activity up the wazoo! Nancy Bradley got a psychic feeling and asked me to check the basement for EVP’s. I was down there with our cameraman, Bryan Coleman and asking “Charlie, if he was with me?” “Yesss” he replied.. AHHHH! Allrighty then, shall we get back in the hot rod and jam up to Nevada City…

This is our last stop on the Haunted Hwy 49… Buckle up, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride…

Stonehouse Brewery- built in 1882 the restaurant has great food but sometimes you get a funky odor, a pungent smell similar to rotten garbage. This has nothing to do with the food at the Stonehouse, it’s their smelly ghost! He (cause we know us women don’t ever stink) is never seen, but you can always smell him when he is near! A second ghost spotted by patrons was a man who looked like a miner, described as a scruffy looking guy who wore work pants and a work shirt. He was seen one day sitting at the bar. They knew he was a ghost because he didn't have any legs on him! The third ghost is a Chinese man thought to be one of the miners who died in a nearby collapsed cave. Pull up a stool, have a brew, you never know who will sit down next to you!

The Firehouse Museum- Built in 1861, the ground floor of the museum is an altar from one of the area's joss houses. A joss house was a place of worship for the Chinese immigrants. Remember, the Chinese from Coloma… well they ended up in Nevada City too. People who have stopped to admire the craftsmanship of the Chinese altar occasionally encounter an ancient Chinese man weeping nearby. When asked what the problem is the man dissolves into thin air. Also on the ground floor are a few relics from the ill fated Donner party. Some people have heard the sounds of children playing or a baby crying around this display case. Whether or not they were members of the Donner party is anybody's guess. And upstairs you’ll find a beautiful antique piano that is occasionally is played by a redheaded woman of ill repute.. Talk to her and she disappears! Give her some cash and you just never know… he he he…

The Red Castle Inn- Is a Gothic Revival building in Nevada City originally owned by the Williams family. Laura Jean or the “Lady in Gray” seems to think the Inns guests who sleep in the beds at the Red Castle are the Williams children. She feels responsible for them, so she tucks them in, smoothes their foreheads and sits on the edge of their beds. Laura Jean used to be the governess of this beautiful building. She can be seen walking through walls and doors and she also loves to slam doors when you talk about her. “Did you hear what Laura Jean did yesterday…?” SLAM! Uh, nevermind… Book your Room at The Red Castle Inn Today!

The National Hotel – In 1856, when the hotel catered to miners, it was also used as a stagecoach stop and telegraph, mail, and express center. Looking much as it did back then, a number of other era ghosts are said to continue hang out. Staff and visitors alike tell stories of lights flickering, strange cold spots in otherwise warm rooms, and experiencing eerie feelings. You can most always get a ghostly picture or EVP at the National.

Ok, were done! You did great, you didn’t barf on Hwy 49, so it was a success! I want to thank you for taking my historic and haunted tour of the CA foothills! I really hope you enjoyed yourself and if you did, stop by our website www.GhostGirls.net and let us know! Thank you,Shannon McCabeGhost Girls TVwww.GhostGirls.net H.P.I. InternationalPresident(Haunted and Paranormal Investigations)1-888-709-4HPI
www.ShannonMcCabe.com www.NancyBradley.org

Hotel Leger- Mokelumne Hill- 8304 Main Street, Mokelumne Hill Main Street-Jackson Main/ Water Streets, Jackson The National Hotel- 2 Water Street, JacksonSutter Creek Inn- 75 Main Street, Sutter CreekMinehouse Bed & Breakfast- 14125 Highway 49, Amador City Drytown or Dry Diggin’s Cemetery- DrytownPoor Red’s – 6221 Pleasant Valley Rd, El Dorado Diamond Springs Hotel- 545 Pleasant Valley Rd, Diamond SpringsHangman’s Tree Bar- 305 Main Street, Placerville Cary House Hotel- 300 Main Street, PlacervillePearson’s Soda Works- 594 Main Street PlacervilleSequoia House Restaurant- 643 Bee Street, Placerville Union Cemetery 644 Bee Street, Placerville The Vineyard House – 530 Cold Springs Road, ColomaPioneer Cemetery- 531 Cold Springs Road,Coloma Wah Hop & Man Lee Chinese Stores- Hwy 49 ColomaGeorgetown Hotel- 6260 Main Street, GeorgetownLatitudes Restaurant- 130 Maple Street, AuburnHolbrooke Hotel – 212 W. Main Street Grass ValleyStonehouse Brewery- 107 Sacramento Street, Nevada CityFirehouse Museum- 214 Main Street, Nevada CityRed Castle Inn- 109 Prospect Street, Nevada CityThe National Hotel – 211 Broad Street, Nevada City

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