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Paranormal Ghost filled tales of voodoo - hoodoo and zombies, Bigfoot, El chupacabra, Banshee's, witches, ghost hunting Cemeteries, the undead, the dead, Cryptids, Vampires, ghouls , Monsters, Ufo's, Haunted Locations, Haunted Buildings, People and objects, Paranormal Phenomena and strange Urban Legends perpetrate a type of folklore or "Fakelore," endlessly circulated by word of mouth through generations, repeated in television news stories, Documentaries, Radio Talk shows, Newspapers, Blogs, magazine articles and distributed by e-mail.
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Taken from first-person accounts and historical documents, this book chronicles more than 300 examples of alien encounters, conspiracy theories, and the influence of extraterrestrials on human events throughout history. Investigating claims of visits from otherworldly creatures, aliens living among us, abductions of humans to alien spacecraft, and accounts of interstellar cooperation since the UFO crash in Roswell, this discussion of the theories and mysteries surrounding aliens is packed with thought-provoking stories and shocking revelations of alien involvement in the lives of Earthling
REAL HAUNTED HOT SPOTS FOR PARANORMAL ACTIVITY AND INVESTIGATIONS IN CALIFORNIA
Tommy Netzband's
Top Ten Most Haunted List San Francisco
Tommy Netzband is the founder of the San Francisco Ghost Society and has a deep passion for the paranormal. He has appeared on paranormal radio shows and is the owner and creator of the Haunted Haight Walking Tour, winner of the San Francisco Bay Guardian's coveted "Best of the Bay" award. He is often called a "ghost historian" because of his research on hauntings. He is currently co-hosting a podcast called Supernatural San Francisco and is writing a book based on his award winning tour. He has presented several lectures for the SFGS events.
"Tommy Netzband The Most Haunted Man in California"
Come explore with Haunted Haight Walking Tours the many ghosts Stories , urban legends and macabre history that San Francisco's most famous most haunted district has to offer.
This island has many layers of history and once was a fort, a military prison, a federal penitentiary and then seized and occupied by Native Americans who retook the island in 1969. The layers of history and intense emotion make this place the #1 most haunted spot in San Francisco. People hear voices, walking, cells slamming and there is a supposed evil presence in Block D of the main prison house. Many cold spots can be felt in the mess hall. See our short documentary "Secrets of Alcatraz" at www.sfghostsociety.org/html/cases.
Escape From Alcatraz
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Birdman of Alcatraz
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The Japanese tea garden at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California, an immensely popular feature, was originally built as part of a sprawling World's Fair, the California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894. This is a section of Golden Gate Park. For more than 20 years San Francisco Parks Trusts' Park Guides have given free tours providing context and history for this historic japanese-style garden.
In the center of the city of San Francisco is a large park known all over the globe, called Golden Gate Park. It is the largest manmade park in the world! The park is larger than Central Park in New York City by a couple hundred acres! The park was commissioned in the 1870’s and has become one of the most beloved gems of the city by the bay. People from all over the world visit San Francisco to see the many attractions that Golden Gate Park has to offer. The De Young museum, Japanese Tea Garden and Flower Conservatory are only a few of the many reasons people are drawn to this park.
3. Haskell House (Fort Mason)
The Haskell Residence, built in 1851, the home was built for Leonides Haskell, a fur trader and it was his private residence. US Senator David C. Broderick died here after losing a gun duel to former Judge David Terry. Broderick died 16 September 1859, four days after David S. Terry shot him. It is said Senator Broderick paced back and forth all night before the duel that took his life and it may have created a residual haunting. People claim to hear his footsteps and even tapping on the windows!
4. Columbarium
Built in 1898, this beautiful building use to part of a removed secret society cemetery called "The Odd Fellows." The building is reportedly haunted according to the caretaker, Emmit Watson and he speaks of a ghostly little girl who haunts the building near the "niche" (or what Emmit calls "condo or apartments") where this little girl's ashes are sealed in a urn behind glass.
The Columbarium of San Francisco is a mausoleum for human ashes built in 1898 by architect Bernard J.S. Cahill. A beautiful example of Victorian architecture, the copper-domed Columbarium holds the remains of some of San Francisco's most prominent founding families, and such notable individuals as Harvey Milk. It is the only burial place remaining available in the City. In disrepair for much of the 20th century, it has been largely restored by caretaker Emmitt Watson and the Neptune Society.
The Columbarium is at 1 Loraine Court, near the intersection of Stanyan and Anza Streets, just north of Golden Gate Park. It is open to the public.
The Columbarium is a combination of Greek and Roman design. Cahill was probably inspired by the Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago. The diameter, from the entrance to the stained glass window opposite, is 64 feet. The width of the rotunda within the Inner circle is 29 feet and the rotunda reaches a height of about 45 feet.
Each of the rooms on the ground floor bears the mythological name of a wind. The first floor rooms are named after constellations. The second and third floors are simpler in design.
The ground floor contains approximately 2,400 niches, the first floor 2,500, and the second and third floors approximately 1,800 each.
There are seven windows on the ground floor, of which six are stained glass, with biblical themes. The seventh window, of two torches, was stolen in 1980. On the left as you enter the building is a window depicting three angels in flight, which is thought to be designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany or by John LaFarge. The Notus room has a stained glass window of Christ with his arms extended.
5. Presidio Officers' Club
People claim to have seen men in old war uniforms and sounds of loud knockings coming from deserted rooms at this former Army post that is now run by the National Park Service as a visitor center for the San Francisco's Presidio.
6. Cameron House
Named after philanthropist Donaldina Cameron. She was best known for hiding and protecting young Chinese immigrant women who were often sold into prostitutio,
by hiding them in this home. Police raids were frequent, so she hid immigrants in the basement and sealed the doors so police could not enter. It is said, there were secret underground tunnels so people could come in and out. Over the years people have heard voices and seen moving lights. It was said that some of the immigrants died in the great fire and earthquake of 1906 and are still bound to this place. The original building was destroyed in the great fire og 1906 , but soon after she had it rebuilt.
Cameron House is a Chinatown-based multi-service agency serving Asian communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. Motivated by our Christian commitment to promote healthy communities, we have served individuals, immigrant families and youth since 1874.
7. San Francisco Art Institute
800 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA Founded in 1871, The ground underneath this heralded school was a graveyard until it was moved; rumor has it some spirits stuck around. It is said to have been built over an old graveyard and there are many people who claim the tower of the building is very haunted and screams and noises are heard there all the time.
The San Francisco Art Association (SFAA) was founded in 1871 and it opened the San Francisco School of Design in February 1874 under the direction of landscape painter Virgil Macey Williams. In 1893 the name was changed to California School of Design and the association affiliated with the University of California and inherited the mansion of Mark Hopkins on Nob Hill. Its museum functions continued under the title of the Mark Hopkins Institute of Art.
The fire following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake destroyed both the mansion and the school. A year later, the school was rebuilt on the site of the old mansion and renamed the San Francisco Institute of Art. In 1916 the SFAA merged with the San Francisco Society of Artists and assumed directorship of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, then located in the Palace of Fine Arts, a relic of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. The school was also renamed the California School of Fine Arts (CSFA). In 1926 the school was moved to its present location at 800 Chestnut Street in San Francisco. In 1961 the school was finally renamed to its modern name, the San Francisco Art Institute.
In 1969, a new addition to the building by Paffard Keatinge Clay added 22,500 sq. feet of studio space, a large theater/lecture hall, outdoor amphitheater, galleries, and cafe.
8.Queen Anne Hotel
The Mary Lake Suite is reportedly haunted by Miss Mary Lake the head mistress of the girls school that once occupied the building in the early 1900's. Reports are that she tucks you in tightly at night if you spend the night in her suite. She is also known to roam the hotel and appear in the mirrors in the halls and lobby.
Built in 1890 by Comstock silver king Senator James G. Fair, this landmark building started out as Miss Mary Lake’s School for girls, and narrowly escaped destruction by the famous 1906 quake. Thankfully it survived as one of San Francisco’s best examples of Victorian splendor, and became an award-winning B&B hotel. Teacher Mary Lake is said to permanently haunt room 410 at this former school for girls.
Many of the Queen Anne’s notable architectural features have endured, and except for contemporary elements like telephones, high-speed internet, elevators and luxurious bathrooms, not much has changed over the last hundred years. In 1980 the structure was carefully restored, retaining as much of the original as possible: marble sinks, crown moldings, leaded-glass windows, inlaid parquet floors and wood-burning fireplaces.
9. Angel Island
Often referred to as the "Ellis Island" of the West, many Chinese immigrants were processed here. There are many stories in the old buildings about footsteps, cries and apparitions of Chinese men and women.
Angel Island is an island in San Francisco Bay that offers spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline, the Marin County Headlands and Mount Tamalpais. It is a California state park, Angel Island State Park. The highest point on the island, almost exactly at its center, is Mount Livermore at 788 ft. (240 m).
Until about ten thousand years ago, Angel Island was connected to the mainland; it was cut off by the rise in sea levels due to the end of the ice age. From about two thousand years ago the island was a fishing and hunting site for Coast Miwok Native Americans. In 1775 the Spanish naval vessel San Carlos made the first European entry to the San Francisco Bay under the command of Juan de Ayala. Ayala anchored off Angel Island, and gave it its modern name (Isla de los Angeles); the bay where he anchored is now known as Ayala Cove.
Like much of the California coast, Angel Island was subsequently used for cattle ranching; this destroyed most of the native oak woodland and brush cover. In 1863, during the American Civil War, the U.S. Army established a camp on the island (now known as Camp Reynolds or the West Garrison), and it subsequently became an infantry garrison during the US campaigns against Native American peoples in the West. In the later nineteenth century, the army designated the entire island as "Fort McDowell" and developed further facilities there, including what is now called the East Garrison or Camp McDowell. During the Spanish-American War the island served as a discharge depot for returning troops. It continued to serve as a transit station throughout the first half of the twentieth century, with troops engaged in the First and Second World Wars embarking and returning there. During World War II, Japanese, and German POWs were also held on the island. The army abandoned the island in 1946, but returned in the 1950s when a Nike missile base was constructed; this was decommissioned as obsolete in 1962.
10. Curran Theater
A tragedy took place in the 1920's as a ticket booth worker was murdered in a robbery attempt. Many people over the years claim to have seen him in the theatre as an apparition in the mirror that hangs in the lobby.
The historic Curran Theatre opened in 1922 and has been one of California’s most successful Broadway theaters ever since. Its roots go back to New York City and the famous Shubert brothers, who were looking to expand their holdings across the country and break the monopoly of the Theatrical Syndicate, which at the time controlled most of the bookings and theatrical productions. So the Shuberts teamed with Homer Curran and helped raise nearly $1 million to build a Broadway-quality theater in San Francisco. The result was smashing success and the theater has hosted top shows and actors like Katharine Hepburn, Vincent Price and Carol Channing. Get your Curran Theatre tickets from Gotickets.
The Curran Theatre underwent a massive restoration project in 1993 in preparation for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera, which played at the theater for five years.
Top 10 Most Haunted Places in California
By Shannon McCabe, President of H.P.I. (Haunted and Paranormal Investigations)
10. Golden Gate Park, Stowe Lake. San Francisco, CA
– The Lady of Stowe Lake.... She glides along the pathways near the lake. She can manifest into an orange light or into a Palm tree like shape. A good friend of mine actually picked her up on camera... Amazing!
• Location: Stow Lake Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94118
• Neighborhood: Richmond/Golden Gate Park/Presidio Hts
• Phone: 415.752.0347
• Hours: 10am-4pm
• Ages: 5 and up
• Cost: $13/hour row boats; $17/hour paddle boats (Cash only)
Best Antidote to Hippie Nostalgia "If there’s one neighborhood of San Francisco that everyone thinks they know all about, it’s the Haight- Ashbury. We’ve all heard ad infinitum about the tie dye, the drugs, the whole Summer-of-freakin’- Love trip. Fortunately, licensed tour guide Tommy Netzband has found a fresh spin on the old hood for his Haunted Haight Walking Tour."
San Francisco Bay Guardian
Read about Tommy Netzband is the founder of the San Francisco Ghost Society and has been studying the paranormal for over 12 years. He is the owner and creator of the Haunted Haight Walking Tour, winner of the San Francisco Bay Guardian's coveted "Best of the Bay" award in 2005. Often called a "ghost historian", Tommy's encyclopedic knowledge has brought him into the spotlight in many articles, most recently in "Ghost Magazine", and at the World Horror Convention's 2006 "Ghost Discussion Panel" where he met his long time mentor, parapsychologist Lloyd Auerbach. < More Here >
Tommy Netzband
Founder, San Francisco Ghost Society, Haight-Ashbury resident and licensed tour guide Tommy Netzband is the creator of the Haunted Haight Walking Tour.
9. Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA
The ship is an amazing piece of work. As you drive up the 405 freeway you can see it looming in the Long Beach Harbor. Many specters have been seen in the first class swimming pool area and roaming the promenade deck.
People have reported hearing doors slam shut, cold spots, wet footprints. The Queen Mary has capitalized on these hauntings and now has a daily tour geared toward the paranormal enthusiast.
RMS QUEEN MARY
built by John Brown Clydebank,
Yard No 534
Engines by John Brown & Co Clydebank
Last Name: QUEEN MARY
Port of Registry: Liverpool
Propulsion: Steam turbine x 16 | 160,000hp | Cruising speed 28.5 knots (55.17 km/hr) | Boilers x 27 | Fuel consumption 13ft/gal (1m/l)
Launched: Wednesday, 26 September 1934
Built: 1936
Ship Type: Passenger Vessel
Ship's Role: Commercial Enterprise
Tonnage: 81237grt | 33073nrt | 15901dwt
Length: 1019.5ft (310.74m)
Breadth: 118ft (35.97m)
Draught: 39ft 4~9/16in (12.00m)
Owner History:
Cunard Steamship Co., Liverpool
Status: Static Role - 09/12/1967 www.queenmary.com
The Blue Riband was awarded to the ship that made the fastest transatlantic crossing. Queen Mary was awarded the Blue Riband in 1936 and from 1938 until 1952. The Queen Mary now has a static role at Long Beach, California.
8. Placerville, CA-
Placerville is located in the foothills of Sacramento, CA. It is an old gold mining town with tons of incredible history. There are so many haunted locations on Main street that you can practically walk into any store or bar and get a ghost story.
Some of the places include The Cary House Hotel at 300 Main street, Hangman's Tree Bar at 305 Main Street, Hidden Passages Bookstore at 352 Main Street, Pearson's Soda Works or the Cozmic Cafe at 594 Main Street., and many many more! Off the beaten path about a mile away is the beautiful Sequoia House Restaurant at 643 Bee Street. Certainly worth the trip to this quaint little town!
Placerville is the county seat of El Dorado County, California. Prior to the discovery of gold in nearby Coloma, California by James W. Marshall in 1848 sparking the California Gold Rush, the small town now known as Placerville was known as Dry Diggins after the manner in which the miners moved cartloads of dry soil to running water to separate the gold from the soil. Later in 1849, the town earned its most common historical name, Hangtown, due to the numerous hangings that had taken place there. By 1850, the temperance league and a few local churches had begun to request that a more friendly name be bestowed upon the town. The name was not changed until 1854 when the City of Placerville was incorporated. At its incorporation Placerville was the third largest town in California. In 1857 the county seat was then moved from Coloma to Placerville, where it remains today.
Placerville was a central hub for the Mother Lode region's mining operations[4]. The town had many services, including transportation (of people and goods), lodging, banking, and had a market and general store. The history of hard-rock mining is evidenced by an open and accessible Gold Bug Park & Mine, now a museum with tours and books.
The Southern Pacific Railroad once had a branch line that extended from Sacramento to Placerville. The track was abandoned in the 1980s. The Camino, Placerville and Lake Tahoe Railroad (now abandoned) also operated an 8-mile shortline that operated between Camino, California and Placerville until June 17, 1986. As of March 29, 2007, 52 miles of the right-of-way have been purchased by the city of Folsom, and eighteen miles of track have been restored. Plans are under consideration for a tourist excursion train along the route.
Placerville is nicknamed "Old Hangtown" (due to the fact that many people were hanged in the late 1800s).
7. Disneyland, Anaheim,Ca
One of my favorite places on earth just so happens to be haunted! Space Mountain the ride, and the women's employee locker rooms are haunted by the ghost of "Mr. One-Way", a guest who died on the Space Mountain ride back in the 1970's.
It is also said that the Christmas Shop on Main street holds a specter or two. Also, Tom Sawyer's Island, The old People Mover Ride and in Tomorrow Land there have been reported apparitions after the park is closed. I cannot wait to get down there with H.P.I. And do an investigation!
6. Georgetown Hotel, Georgetown,CA
The Georgetown Hotel is a quaint little 1800's saloon style hotel. It's located in the middle of Highway 49 between Auburn, CA and Placerville, CA. I just happened to be in the area at a friends home one night and thought, “that looks like a happening little joint, let's check it out”.
Courtesy of The Bancroft Library. University of California, Berkeley.
The place was really fun with Karaoke in the evening and ghosts all around. I never got any EVP's but the bartender told me they've had plenty of experiences there! Some of the employees saw a female apparition in the upstairs rooms and walking down the hallway. They have also reported cold spots and footsteps. I think it would be great to stay there and hang out with the looming lady all night long....
The very haunted Georgetown Hotel is located at 6260 Main Street Georgetown, CA 95634
5. Queen Anne Hotel, San Francisco, CA
Located on the corner of Sutter and Octavia Streets. It is a beautiful Victorian Hotel that dates back to the 1890's. Miss Mary Lake's Room, room 410, is reported to be the most haunted in the hotel. She has been seen walking about the hotel and has even scared a few H.P.I.'ers over the years.
One of our investigators, stayed in room 410 last summer (2006) and reported that he could not open the door to room 410 for some time. He unlocked it, shook the handle but could not enter. Then the door just easily gave way and he could enter. Was it Miss Mary Lakes that didn't want him in her room? Maybe you should stay there and find out for yourself!
4. Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, CA
One of our investigators, Mike Henderson, was lucky enough to go and stay on this island alone one night! I don't know about you, but I am not sure I could do it! He did not experience anything on this night, luckily, but there have been plenty of other people that have.
Reports of cold spots, sounds of chains clanking, footsteps, screaming you name it!
The history of the island includes military use as a fort, an army prison camp, a Native American peace community, and the location of America's most dangerous criminals. The prison held Al Scarface Capone and Robert "The Birdman" Stroud. The island was featured in movies including Escape from Alcatraz with Clint Eastwood and The Rock with Sean Connery. For prisoners, the worst torture was how close, but unattainable, was life in San Francisco. At night, prisoners could even hear parties and laughter across the bay.
The island is also a wildlife sanctuary with birds, and tide pools filled with crabs and sea-stars. Western gull and black-crowned heron colonies are prevalent. Roses still grow by the old Warden's house.
3. The National Hotel, Jackson, CA
The National hotel is an amazing piece of architecture. Even if I didn't find any ghosts I would have been happy just to hang out there. Lucky for me, I did find several ghosts! H.P.I. Was able to pick up an EVP, with the help of a psychic, that said “Chill, Chill”.. Speaking of Chills... One of my investigators, Carol was alone up in room 74 when she repeatedly had cold chills up her back. It was a warm night.. Room 74 is reported to be the most haunted room in the hotel.
We also got a lot of great pictures with orbs and even some on video. The place is creepy and wonderful at the same time. I highly recommend staying in the “Bordello Room” if you are ever in Jackson, CA
NATIONAL HOTEL Jackson, California Built in 1862, this 33 room hotel is the longest continuously operating hotel in California. Located in the heart of the Gold Country near Highways 49 and 88
2.Private Residence, in West Sacramento
The owners of this home want to remain anonymous but their spirits do not.. The homeowners have come to grips with the fact that they have some permanent ”house guests.” This makes for a great H.P.I. investigation!
H.P.I GhostWriter and Paranormal investigator Paul Dale Roberts with ghostly faces and orb
I have been to the home numerous times and have seen a white light fly by me in the hallway, I've heard some pretty unbelievable EVP's, and have seen some amazing video footage taken. (while I was there). What is so great about this home is that we've come to learn that each entity has a personality, one EVP even shows they have a sense of humor!
The entity says “Wanna hear a fart?” and then you hear a child laughing.. it is truly amazing! You can be just sitting around having coffee, turn on your voice recorder and almost always get an EVP! All the EVP's and videos can be seen or heard at www.HPIparanormal.net
1. Brookdale Lodge, Brookdale, CA
My number one favorite haunted location! The Brookdale is also home of the H.P.I. Northern CA Paranormal Conference, (May 2008). We have so much ghostly evidence from the Brookdale, that one of the workers, Roger, is making a book out of it! The lodge is truly amazing with a babbling brook running right through the center of the “Brook Room”, it is the only building of it's kind.
Ripley's Believe it or Not even did a show there. We captured some great EVP's on the bridge over the indoor brook, saw some glorious orb pictures with movement, and even had one conference guest, Maria, write about her crazy night at the séance with Nancy Bradley. The story is called “A Long Day At the Brookdale Lodge”.
There are secret passageways and hidden rooms, it is so much fun to explore this lodge. There is even a room called the “Mermaid Room” where you can look into the bottom of the swimming pool through a glass window! It is said that the mobsters that resided here long ago, used to have “Mermaid” prostitutes. They would swim near the glass window for the mobsters to select them as dates for the evening. I love this place so much it is just an incredible get-away and I cannot wait to get back for the next conference!
REPORTED AS REAL HAUNTED PLACES PARANORMAL EVENTS PHENOMENA GHOST RELAED SIGHTINGS, ENCOUTERS AND SUPOSED WITNESED EVENTS IN HAUNTED SAN FRANCISCO
Abandoned Army Hospital ~ Many soldiers as the story goes were said to have died here, and their many horid crying and moaning ghosts or thought to still openly haunt this hospital in Park Presidio. Many are said to have encountered the ghosts covered in blood that cries for help. and that of the soldier looking for his lost arm.
Alcatraz ~ Is the most haunted piece of relestate in the area. Haunt by the claims of many and certainly the hotest haunted hotspot in town.
Bay Bridge ~ Many have witnessed erie fogs and often see strange shadow fingers darting in front of them day and night.
Cameron House ~ Located on Sacramento St. in Chinatown, San Francisco. Once owned by Lady Cameron, the basement of the house was a refuge for Chinese immigrant from lives of prostitution and slavery, among the obvious discrimination and hell that was once Chinatown. She sealed the doors in the basement to protect the immigrants from inspections by the police. If she can't open the doors, they can't inspect and then arrest and possibly kill the rooms of people. However, the people were able to come in and out through a secret passageway. Apparently, rumors spread about her philanthropy and some people came and burned down the house. Everyone in the rooms died. Now, the restored Cameron House (turned church) sends chills up spines. The basement doors are still sealed, but every door contains a red charm and a gold charm to seal in the spirits, as well. Furthermore, the pipes that run along the ceiling run to the end of the hall forming an "X" over a door with the script: "do not enter." Photographs taken in the house have shown white figures in the background. Supposedly, these photos are nonchalantly mingled in with normal ones and kept in photo albums at the site. This possibly happened around the 1930's or so. It might be the late 1800's or the early 1900s. Most likely early 1900's.
Sutro Baths
Point Lobos Ave and the Great Highway,
San Francisco, CA
The baths are purported to be frequented
by ghosts who throw lit candles into
the rocky waters below.
San Remo Hotel ~ 2237 Mason St, San Francisco, CA Legend has it that this historic,
elegant hotel was once a brothel,
and the Madame still holds court in
Room 33.
Safeway Park ~ 2300 16th St, San Francisco, CA The apparitions of baseball players
wander the aisles of this supermarket,
located on the site of the old Seals
Stadium.
Hotel Union Square ~ 114 Powell St, San Francisco, CA Famed playwright Lillian Hellman is
allegedly the mischievous ghost who
haunts room 207.
Empire Plush Room Cabaret ~
940 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA
Piano player Lester tickled the ivories
during the Roaring '20s; since then,
staff has reported hearing piano tunes
in the empty lounge.
Moss Beach Distillery Restaurant ~
140 Beach Way, Moss Beach, CA
This restaurant and former speakeasy
may play up its haunted reputation,
but the bloody lady in blue is supposedly
genuine.
Golden Gate Park ~ The Most Haunted Park in the state. Ghosts vampires and many strange time portal happenings and strange paranormal forces thrive here.
Haskell House ~ ghost of Senator Broderick has been seen. And the ghost of a black woman with a kife inher hand is often the topic in hushed tones..
Neptune Society Columbarium ~ Located at One Loraine Court, San Francisco. Originally part of the Odd Fellows Cemetery, the Columbarium still stands over Geary Boulevard near Stanyan Street. This repository of the dead is not only wonderful eye candy, but has been a place of ghostly sightings as well. One encounter included a visitor having felt a hand on her back. When the woman turned around, no one was there. But a eerie white handprint remained on her blouse. Now a registered city landmark, the Columbarium is open to the public. Donations are encouraged. Also haunted by the ghost of Lorraine. If you call her name she will cuss you out on an EVP.
Ocean Beach Sutro Bath - The sutro baths have quite a history behind them, as well as the tunnel that lies directly to the right of the old sunken building. It has been said that many people have been sacrificed at the end of this tunnel, and if you go at night fall and light a candle at the end of the tunnel someone will come and pick it up and throw it into the water that rushes up just beyond the rocks.
Orchard Supply Hardware ~ There is a story of girl being murdered and raped in the warehouse area of the store 1 yr before it became Orchard. Employees have seen a figure walking and she is heard footsteps that seem to be the sound of high heels (No one wears high heels), screaming and laughing, as well as boxes moving. She likes to blow in men's ears and girls with long hair often feel a slight tug. One report of a worker that had just shrunk wrapped a pallet. The power went out and there is a 5 sec delay for the generator to kick on in that 5 sec something completely unwrapped the pallet.
Queen Anne Hotel ~ Located at the corner of Sutter And Octavia, the Queen Anne Hotel is an elegant Victorian style hotel, which dates back to the 1890's. Room 410 top floor is where you can find it's ghost day and night.
San Francisco Arts Institute ~ Many tales tell of it being built on a cemetery in the early 1900 after an earthquake.
Strawberry Hill ~ Stowe Lake Golden Gate Park - It has been said that in the 1920's or 30's a woman became pregnant & hide the pregnancy from her family. She disposed of the child and killed her self in the reservoir. At night if you're at Stowe Lake you may see her walking around Strawberry Hill looking for her baby.
The Mansions Hotel ~ Haunted by no less then 20 ghosts! Be ware of the ghost names Reynalds. Many say he will slap you hard against the face.
San Francisco
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Ghost
tours are popular in San Francisco
and the Bay Area and, like everything
in the States, there are many to choose
from. These include the Alcatraz Ghost
Tour, the Chinatown Ghost Tour, the
Vampire Tour of San Francisco and
the Napa Ghost Winery Tour. However,
The San Francisco Ghost Hunt is the
only tour to guarantee a ghost sighting!
(http://www.sfghosthunt.com/homepage.html)
Our host, Jim Fassbinder, has been
conducting this tour since 1998, promising
his attendees will have an encounter
with a San Franciscan ghost. As we
assembled at the meeting place, the
sumptuously tacky lobby of the otherwise
grand Queen Anne Hotel, I wondered
if Jim would arrange a clichéd
trick. Would an assistant, in period
costume, leap out at an appropriate
time? Would a plant utter a disembodied,
bloodcurdling scream?
Then came the disclaimer, only ten
minutes into the evening. "I
can't really guarantee a ghost but
many people have seen strange things
on this tour and I hope that you too
will meet a real ghost in a safe,
supportive way".
Clearly, a ghost sighting is all in
the broad definition. Jim told us
to "open" our senses to
the possibility of "ghosts in
all their forms. A ghost is an extreme
emotion stuck in time". We could
witness an apparition or poltergeist
activity. Perhaps our photographs
would reveal orbs, "balls of
energy". We might experience
a mystical fragrance, such as the
overwhelming aroma of flowers, yet
not see any source. A ghost may visit
us in the form of an emotion, "ghosts
are formed from emotional events"
and can generate strong feelings.
We should be sensitive to "cold
spots" in the hotel and on the
tour. Then I smelled a 'hot reading'
as he told us to listen carefully,
"because if you heard people
discussing you from a room that turned
out to be empty, you'd want to investigate
it, wouldn't you?"
If the Ghost Hunt couldn't guarantee
a ghost, it guaranteed three hours
of history, story weaving and sightseeing.
We would hear tales of the Voodoo
Queen of San Francisco, a bordello
turned church, a feminist romance
writer, a wayward bride, a wealthy
pig-farming family of feuding sisters
whose story ends in murder, of earthquakes,
fires, friendly ghosts and violent
poltergeists. All in the exclusive
Pacific Heights district of San Francisco,
famous for its magnificent views and
the 'Painted Ladies' Victorian houses
of Postcard Row.
Before we could start the proceedings,
Jim explained that he needed to perform
a test to determine if the spirits
were "willing to reveal themselves"
that evening. Jim performed a card
trick but all the while vowed it was
a "paranormal" exercise.
Upon receiving a "positive response
that the ghosts would be out tonight",
we moved into the hotel dining room
where Jim dimmed the lights and shared
a few stories about the century old
Queen Anne Hotel.
The building started its life in 1890
as boarding school, known as the Miss
Mary Lake's School for Girls. Over
the next few decades it transformed
into the Cosmos Gentleman's Club before
becoming the Episcopal Dioceses' Girls
Friendly Society Lodge. The building
would spend a period of 50 years of
disuse, until 1980 when it was carefully
renovated
and finally reopened in 1995 as a
48-room hotel. Throughout the changing
faces of the building, one resident
has always remained. School mistress
Miss Mary Lake reputedly wanders the
stairs and halls of the hotel, occasionally
playing the piano in the
parlour or grooming herself before
one of the hallway mirrors. The most
curious phenomena takes place in her
former bedroom, room 410, The Mary
Lake Suite. Anecdotally, Mary Lake
tightly 'tucks' her guests into their
beds, every night! According to Jim,
many guests report a "comforting
presence" in the room. Other
guests claim that they awoke to find
her sitting on the bed, gazing at
them. With the room booked out for
months ahead and at US $350 a night,
this one will have to remain a mystery!
We were then granted ten minutes to
explore the premises. Jim had told
us about an unspecified chair that
Mary Lake also haunts, her "spirit"
caressing the arm of anyone who sits
in the chair. A few of us deduced
which chair Jim was referring to but
after a sit, experienced nothing but
a rather comfy cushion. I took a photograph
of the ornate chair that captured
a tiny dust 'orb', utterly convincing
a few passers-by that I had "caught
the ghost".
We then commenced our trek around
the neighborhood, up and down the
famously steep streets of San Francisco.
Jim had changed into a Dickensian-style
cloak and hat and was carrying a kerosene
lamp. We came upon a row of manicured
Victorian houses where Jim uttered
a truism, "people tell me the
scariest part of the tour is finding
out that these houses go for over
$2 million dollars each!"
As we crossed California Street,
Jim told us to be on the lookout for
Flora. Every ghost in the Bay Area
has an epithet and Flora is San Francisco's
most reported ghost. A young girl
from a wealthy family, Flora was betrothed
to an older man. Knowing she could
never go through with this arranged
marriage, she fled the city, taking
nothing with her but the bridal gown
she wore. She was never seen alive
again. Jim claims that many people
have seen Flora's ghost, aimlessly
wandering the street. No one on our
tour saw a thing.
As we turned into Sacramento Street,
an imposing mansion loomed ahead of
us. Richard Craig Chambers, owner
of several silver mines in Utah, built
the palatial residence in 1887. He
died in 1901, bequeathing his property
to his two feuding nieces, who detested
each other. Unable to live together,
one sister moved into a house she
had built beside the mansion. Claudia
Chambers, a pig fancier, remained
in the mansion. Claudia died a gruesome
death. Her body was almost sawed in
half in what her family reported as
"a farm implementation accident".
Jim has a different theory. Jim claims
that the Chambers mansion housed an
"insane male member of the family"
who was confined to the attic. One
day, he escaped from his confinement
and attacked Claudia with a knife,
chasing her throughout the house and
brutally stabbing her to death. What
proof does Jim have to support this
theory? Apparently, numerous séances
have been held in the house and he
has "pieced together the truth
from psychic's reports". Furthermore,
in the days where the tour included
a walk through the mansion itself,
one attendee, an "honest cop
with the LAPD homicide unit",
began "speaking in tongues".
Although xenoglossia is usually meaningless
gibberish, Jim claims that the cop
"revealed the truth of Claudia's
death". This was murder, not
an "accident". Would this
"proof" hold up in court?
Jim claims that the mansion is now
haunted by violent poltergeist activity.
There is "lots of angry energy"
with objects being hurled about, household
items broken and people attacked!
Jim's web site promises that the
attendee will have the opportunity
to "touch eerie haunted artifacts
that sometimes behave strangely".
At this point, Jim produced an old
key that he claimed was a "relic"
from the Chambers house, and possibly
the key to the room where Claudia
was "murdered". He then
performed a trick whereby the key
appeared to move of its own accord.
Later he also demonstrated 'automatic
writing'. Obviously compelled to provide
his guests with ghosts, Jim vehemently
insisted that these were displays
of the paranormal, not of magic.
As the cold San Franciscan wind set
in, we arrived at Atherton Mansion,
California's answer to the Amityville
Horror. This is the former home of
the beautiful and flirtatious "feminist
romance writer" Gertrude Atherton.
Gertrude lived with her husband George
and mother-in-law. The two women were
well known for berating George for
being "ineffectual". In
an effort to assert himself, George
accepted an offer to journey to Chile
with a group of sailors. A mere three
days into the voyage, George died
of kidney failure. The ship's captain
preserved George's body in a barrel
of rum and his remains were shipped
back to his widow. His 'arrival' coincided
with the start of some curious phenomena.
The Atherton house was besieged by
poltergeist activity, forcing the
women to flee the home. The phenomena
reputedly continues to this day and
Gertrude is now also one of the resident
ghosts. Jim described Gertrude as
"a ghost seen as a glowing ball
and likes to play pranks on men".
Sylvia Browne once conducted a séance
at the Atherton mansion, claiming
she could sense the presence of "women
who don't like men" and "a
frail man". I guess she'd heard
this story too.
Our final stop was at a magnificent
mansion on the corner of Bush and
Octavia Streets and bordered by a
grove of eucalyptus trees (which are
to be found everywhere in the SF Bay!).
This was the home of Mary Ellen Pleasant,
better known as the Voodoo Queen of
San Francisco. Mary was born into
slavery in Georgia in 1814. Her early
years are undocumented but it is known
that she was emancipated, received
some schooling and eventually lived
in New Orleans where she assisted
in the dangerous work of freeing
slaves. Here she met the infamous
Marie Laveau, the original Voodoo
Queen. Mary learned Marie's craft
of acquiring 'sensitive' information
and cleverly using this to blackmail
the elite, to gain wealth and influence.
In the mid 19th century, Mary made
a final move, to San Francisco, where
she continued her mission of liberating
the enslaved and is known today by
yet another epithet, "The Mother
of Civil Rights in California".
Mary also employed her cunning to
exploit the SF wealthy and amassed
an incredible fortune of 30 million
dollars! Later in life she was discredited
after a disastrous lawsuit and lost
her social influence. She died penniless
and was buried in Napa. It is believed
that Mary haunts the mansion and premises,
and can be seen at night, amongst
the eucalypt trees that she had actually
planted herself. Others claim she
is a mischievous ghost, who pelts
disbelievers with gumnuts! The corner
has become a spot where people visit
to 'make a wish'. In keeping with
this tale, Jim produced a small 'good
luck voodoo doll' and allowed the
tour members to make a wish. The bitter
cold had set in and I simply wished
the tour would end. In an event that
I could only attribute to Mary, the
tour was over.
1661 Octavia Street
plaque honoring African-American Mary
Ellen Pleasant.
Jim's website states that he shares
"real ghost stories based on
serious documented research"
although this clearly involved a lot
of anecdotal 'evidence', bias and
dramatic embellishment. Did any of
the (mostly believing) tour members
witness the guaranteed ghost? No.
But many interpreted Jim's magic tricks
as displays of the paranormal, based
on his misleading claims. This was
a theatrical tour, presented with
great flair but no skepticism. Why,
that would spoil the atmosphere!
Overall, the tour was extremely entertaining
and although the background research
for the 'paranormal phenomena' consisted
mostly of anecdotal evidence and whimsical
newspaper articles, these stories
are 'ripping yarns' and are historically
significant from a folkloric perspective.
And if there are ghosts in this city,
who can blame them for hanging around?
As Rudyard Kipling once said, "There's
only one drawback of San Francisco.
It's hard to leave".
Karen Stollznow is Associate Editor
of The Skeptic magazine and is a
Committee Member of the Australian
Skeptics Inc. Karen has been an
investigative researcher of the
paranormal and pseudoscientific
for the past ten years. Karen has
a prolific publishing record that
includes a decade of contributions
to The Skeptic, a column in Australasian
Science, articles in The Skeptical
Inquirer, and a chapter in Michael
Shermer's book on alternative medicine,
Heilungsversprechen.
Karen has
a website,
www.bad-language.com,
a site for busting myths about language,
and a resource for skepticism and
critical thinking. Bad Language
tackles language legends and myths
(about swearing, insults, pronunciation,
writing, alien languages, speaking
in tongues, weird theories and inventions,
etc.), provides general info about
skepticism and contains a large collection
of Karen's articles.
Reservations are recommended. Bring
a camera, you never know what you
will get on film. Wear comfortable
walking shoes and dress for the weather.
In case of rain, please call the office
to check tour schedule.
So please read these
very haunted ghost stories and watch
a real ghost video or two. And be
sure to visit our Haunted
America Tours Home
Page to
find more then your heart should
take. This web site is not for the
squeamish. These Very real Haunted
places are sid to be the best places
to capture a real ghost on film,
video, or digital voice recorder
or have a real paranormal encounter.
HAUNTED AMERICA TOURS
Official Web Site is a ghost tour
information site; our information
is only as reliable as readers'
contributed ghost and haunted reports.
We assume no credit for your adventures,
and accept no liability for your
misadventures. Use common sense.
Read our ghost hunting recommendations.
Before visiting any "haunted"
site, verify the location, accessibility,
safety, and other important information.
Never trespass on private and/or
posted property without permission
from the proper authorities.
The Real Haunted
Hotels In America
Hotels, like airlines, overbook
reservations because they know that
not everyone is going to show up.
But some of their inventory goes
to third-party travel sites like
TravelNola.com,
which contract with hotels ahead
of time to sell a preset block of
rooms.
Book your haunted
Hotel here!
Alabama
Montgomery - Tutwiler Hotel
Alaska
Skagway - Golden North Hotel
Arkansas
Eureka Springs - Crescent Hotel
Arizona
Flagstaff - Monte Vista Hotel
Douglas - Gadsden Hotel
Phoenix - Hotel San Carlos
Prescott - Hotel Vendome; Hassayampa
Inn
Scottsdale - The Hermosa Inn
California
Carmel-by-the-Sea - La Playa Hotel
and Cottages
Coloma - Sierra Nevada House
Coronado - Hotel del Coronado
Grass Valley - Holbrooke Hotel
Groveland - Groveland Hotel
Healdsburg - Madrona Manor
Hollywood - Hollywood Roosevelt
Hotel
La Jolla - Grande Colonial Hotel
Long Beach - Queen Mary Hotel
Mendocino - Mendocino Hotel and
Garden Suite
Napa - Napa River Inn
San Jose - Hyatt Hotel St. Claire
Mendocino's Sea Rock Inn
San Luis Obispo - Paso Robles Inn
Santa Monica - Georgian Hotel
Ventura - Pierpont Inn
Colorado
Denver - Brown Palace Hotel
Estes Park - Stanley Hotel
Connecticut
Griswald - Homespun Farm
New London - Lighthouse Inn
Florida
St. Augustine - Casa de la Paz
Tampa/St. Petersburg - Don Cesar
Beach Resort and Spa
Georgia
Augusta - The Partridge Inn
Jekyll Island - Jekyll Island Club
Hotel
Illinois
St. Charles - Hotel Baker
Iowa
Bentonsport - Mason House Inn
Louisiana
New Orleans - 1891 Castle Inn; Hotel
Maison de Ville; Le Pavilion; Delta
Queen Steamboat
St. Francisville - Myrtles Plantation
Massachusetts
Boston - The Omni Parker House
Salem - The Hawthorne Hotel
Michigan
Marquette - The Landmark Inn
Mississippi
Natchez - Monmouth Plantation
New York
Bolton Landing - The Sagamore
Grand Island - Holiday Inn
North Carolina
Asheville - Grove Park Inn Resort
and Spa
Chapel Hill - Carolina Inn
Ohio
Cincinnati - Hilton Cincinnati Netherland
Plaza
Oregon
Portland - The Heathman Hotel
Pennsylvania
Bethlehem - Hotel Bethlehem
Gettysburg - Farnsworth House Inn
Texas
San Antonio - Menger Hotel
Galvez Hotel - Galveston
Vermont
Manchester Village - The Equinox
Washington
San Juan Islands - Rosario Resort
Washington, DC
Omni Shoreham Hotel; Hay-Adams Hotel;
Renaissance Mayflower Hotel
Wisconsin
Fond du Lac - Ramada Plaza Hotel
Milwaukee - Pfister Hotel
Wyoming
Casper - Ivy House Inn
Cheyenne - The Plains Hotel
Jackon Hole - The Wort Hotel
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