Like most big cities, San Diego is no
exception when it comes to ghostly haunts. The photo above (courtesy Alik Griffin) is of the Whaley House, the most well-known of Old Town’s haunted places. Built in 1857, on the site of an earlier gallows, it’s said that the ghost of convicted criminal Yankee Jim Robinson loves hanging out here. It was in this same house that Violet Whaley killed herself when she couldn’t bear the shame of the shunning she experienced following her divorce. These days, there are reports of full-bodied apparitions, mist, and footsteps on the stairway. As you might imagine, the Whaley House is a favorite of the world’s ghosthunters.
I’ve been to the house several times with out-of-town guests and I’ve only done the tour once. These days I wait outside. It’s not that I’m afraid of a ghost, rather it’s that I’m not going to walk into the dark energy I feel there.
There are many other haunted sites here in town, including the famous Hotel Del Coronado, where guest Kate Morgan ‘checked in but never checked out’. And, don’t forget the more than 150-year-old Point Loma Lighthouse, where it’s said the ghost of the last lighthouse keeper, Captain Israel, still keeps watch over the light.
But, I didn’t start this post to just talk about
the ghosts of San Diego. Instead, I want to briefly write about a few other haunted places and ask YOU if there’s one where you live. And, to share a site where you can post your own haunted or ghostly experiences.
Lastly, I have to share this: When Stacey Williams-Ng, creator of the Southern Gothic Oracle, saw my Facebook blurb announcing this post, she laughed her *** off! When I asked if there were ghosts where she lives, she said “do you mean per room or per house?” LOL.
Onward.
United States
Starting in the U.S., I’d have to tag Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This battlefield is so haunted there are frequent sightings, ghost tours, supernatural events, many chronicled in the several books about the town’s ghosts. Over a three day period in July 1863, more than 7,000 men were killed here, along with 30,000+ wounded. In later years, Joshua Chamberlain (the ‘hero of Gettysburg’) commented on the Spirits lingering at the battlefield. My cousin, Victor, a Civil War reenactor, tells stories of his own experiences there, including sounds in the night of men tramping through the woods. I’ve never been there, but it’s on my list.
London, England
One of the most iconic historical sites in the world, the Tower of London also ranks among the most haunted. This centuries-old fortress and former royal palace has been the stage for a series of tragic events, including the beheadings of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, two of Henry VIII’s wives. It’s been reported that both visitors and guards have reported seeing headless spirits roaming the tower grounds. I’ll say that on my one trip to the Tower, I didn’t sense a haunting, but if you put me in there at night, I might have a different story!
France
This one I’d never heard of. The Château de Brissac, known as the "Giant of the Loire Valley" is apparently famous for its ghostly inhabitants. Among the most active is the ‘Green Lady’, identified as the illegitimate daughter of King Charles VII, who was murdered by her husband in the château. Her faceless apparition in a green dress is often seen in the tower room or the chapel and it’s said her moans haunt the château halls as morning breaks.
Iceland
The story goes like this: A man and his wife were married in Iceland, then stayed at a place known for its many Huldufolk (elves). Each night as they went to sleep, the man would hear soft music “like the kind you would hear at a renaissance fair”. He wrote that when he raised his head or went outside to see if someone was there, the music stopped, making him think the music only happened in the liminal space between wake and sleep. As they were leaving their rental cabin, his wife asked “Did you hear the tiny music at night while we were there in the cabin”? She had heard the same thing. Perhaps not haunted, but definitely otherworldly.
Japan
At the northwest base of Mount Fuji lies the Aokigahara Forest, a site that has earned the reputation as the ‘Suicide Forest’. For decades, it has been a place where people have taken their own lives. This has led to reports of ghostly apparitions and an overwhelming sense of sadness that permeates the silent woods. No wonder that the forest is reputed to be haunted by the presence of the dead.
Africa
Located in Cape Town, the Castle of Good Hope is the oldest existing colonial building in South Africa. Built in the 17th century by the Dutch East India Company, it's reputed to be haunted by several ghosts, including a tall gentleman seen on the battlements and a lady in grey who runs through the castle crying hysterically. Paranormal activities also include the sound of footsteps in the watchtower and voices in the dungeons.
South America
Located on the shores of Mar Chiquita in Miramar, Argentina, the Gran Hotel Viena was once a luxurious destination, rumored to have been visited by Nazi officials after World War II. Today, it is abandoned and said to be haunted by the ghosts of former guests. The ruins, and its mysterious past, make it a hotspot for ghost hunters. Today it’s called the Most Haunted Hotel in Argentina. I’ve seen a documentary about this hotel; apparently the Nazis still keep watch there. No thanks.
I could go on, but
if you’re interested in haunted locations the world is filled with them. In fact there’s a site called liminal.earth where you can post your own stories about ghostly or weird experiences. It’s fun to read other stories, like the one from Helsinki where a man saw an old school friend when he got on a bus, later learning she had died a few days before ‘their’ bus ride.
If you want to read more (who doesn’t!) a search of Amazon for ‘haunted places’ turned up 6,000 results. Maybe your town’s ghost stories are in one of them.
I’ve written here several times about the energy of place, from the creepiness of Fort Scott to the spirit/s at Kinishba. I’m still puzzled if what I’m picking up is the energy of the place itself, or the energy of the spirits, or a combination of both. I suspect the latter, but would love to know your thoughts.
Thank you for leaving a comment - and would really LOVE to hear about your own ghostly tales.
Nancy
P.S. Just a reminder: If you’re on the Curious as a Cat website or using the Substack app, you can participate in our private Chat. We’ve recently had discussions on tarot, pendulums, the supernatural, and personal journaling. Please consider joining the conversation.
P.S.S. I’m offering Voices from Beyond the Veil readings, now scheduling for late May. The available readings fill up quickly, so please read the info on my website to reserve yours.
Liminal.earth is a great name. Thank you, Nancy, for sharing and for this terrifically fun post. I love it curiosity is your drive for exploring all things otherworldly and, well, curious. ;)
Thank you, Nancy. You have given me something more to explore in the town that I live in. Saint Helens,Oregon is a place of hauntings and Halloween activities. The Halloweentown movie was filmed here. we have a Halloween town celebration for the month of October every year. The Klondike restaurant top floors are haunted by a woman who is looking for her miscarried baby. The movie theater is haunted by an old man sitting in the upper balcony rocking and watching the movies. These are just two of the many… I must explore more of the paranormal and supernatural that exist right in my town. Thank you again Nancy I have some fun exploring to do. I hope you’re having a wonderful day.