Sleeping With Ghosts in California

California, a land of sun-kissed beaches, towering redwoods, and vibrant cities, boasts a history as diverse and captivating as its landscapes. From the ancient settlements of Native American tribes to the arrival of Spanish explorers, the frenzy of the California Gold Rush, and the dazzling allure of Hollywood, the Golden State is steeped in stories. With such a rich and layered past, it’s no surprise that California is also home to a plethora of haunted locations, offering the adventurous traveler a chance to sleep with ghosts in California.

Numerous hotels, inns, bed and breakfasts, and even campgrounds across the state claim to be visited by spectral residents. Whether you seek a glimpse into California’s Gold Rush era, a brush with a celebrity apparition, or simply a spine-tingling encounter, California offers a variety of opportunities to sleep with ghosts in California. Prepare to embark on a journey through some of California’s most haunted accommodations, each with its own unique story to tell.

For those seeking to experience the spirit of California’s Gold Rush days, a visit to the Fallon House Hotel in Columbia is a must. Alternatively, if you’re hoping to encounter a celebrity ghost, consider spending a night at the Chateau Marmont or the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. And for those who are more interested in sheer numbers, the Queen Mary in Long Beach is said to be one of the most haunted hotels in the nation. The Golden State has many places to sleep with ghosts in California.

Let’s delve into the details of some of these haunted destinations, exploring their histories and the ghostly tales that surround them:

Benicia

• Union Hotel: Nestled in the heart of historic Benicia, the Union Hotel stands as a testament to California’s colorful past. Built in 1882, this gracious hotel exudes an old-world charm. Legend has it that a young woman tragically took her own life in one of the hotel rooms during the late 1800s. Today, her spirit is said to linger, with some reporting sightings of her figure in a window facing the street, while others claim to hear her whispers, cries, or conversations.

Beverly Hills

• Beverly Hills Hotel: This is one of the most luxurious hotels in the world. Presiding majestically above Sunset Boulevard, the Beverly Hills Hotel has welcomed royalty, world leaders, and Hollywood legends since 1912. Its luxurious bungalows are said to be haunted by several ghosts, including the famous composer Rachmaninoff and the comedic genius Harpo Marx.

Big Sur

• Fernwood Campground: The land now occupied by Fernwood Campground was once considered sacred by the Esalen Indians. Today, it is a commercial campground with a spooky history. According to employees and guests, the ghost of an Indian wearing a corn mask has been seen between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m. near the cabins.

Brookdale

• Brookdale Lodge: Nestled beneath the majestic redwood trees of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the Brookdale Lodge has been welcoming guests since 1890. The lodge gained world fame in the 1920s with the construction of a dining room featuring a natural brook flowing through it, a unique feature recognized by Ripley’s Believe It or Not. In the 1940s, the lodge became a haven for gangsters and other shady characters, leading to the installation of secret passageways and hidden rooms. Rumors of buried bodies and a tragic drowning of a six-year-old girl in the dining room creek further fueled the lodge’s haunted reputation. Today, the Brookdale Lodge is said to be haunted by numerous specters, including the little girl who is seen running through the lobby, ethereal voices and music heard throughout the lodge, the sounds of ghostly diners in an otherwise empty dining room, and a ghostly woman seen walking over the brook as if supported by a bridge that was removed long ago.

Carmel

• La Playa Hotel: Often referred to as the "Grande Dame of Carmel," La Playa Hotel began as a home for Christopher Jorgensen and his bride, Angela Ghirardelli, heiress to the San Francisco chocolate fortune. After the couple moved away, the building was converted into a hotel, and a second building was added in the 1920s. Today, a female spirit is said to haunt the hotel, believed to be either Angela Ghirardelli herself or her cousin, who tragically drowned in Carmel Bay.

Catalina Island

• Banning House Lodge: Perched atop a hilltop on the isthmus of Catalina Island at Two Harbors, Banning House Lodge offers panoramic views of both Isthmus Cove and Catalina Harbor. Built in 1910 as the summer home for the Banning Brothers, the lodge has been renovated into a charming 11-room inn. A ghostly figure known as the "White Lady" has been frequently spotted here, while others have reported the distinct smells of tobacco and fish, believed to emanate from the spirit of an old fisherman. Nearby is the location where actress Natalie Wood tragically drowned, and some claim to have seen her spirit in the vicinity.

Columbia

• Fallon House Hotel and Theater: This hotel has history dating back to the California Gold Rush. Built by an Irish stone cutter in 1859, the Fallon Hotel was expanded in 1863 by its original owner, Owen Fallon, who purchased an adjoining building and the Gunn Saloon. These three buildings were then combined to form Fallon’s Hotel. Today, visitors often report experiencing visions of the Gold Rush era within the historic building. Despite smoking being prohibited, guests frequently detect the distinct odors of tobacco and whiskey. A female apparition is often sighted in Room 9, while in the theater, lights seem to turn on and off independently, and shadowy figures are frequently observed.

Coronado

• Hotel Del Coronado: Rising majestically from the water’s edge on the island of Coronado, this historic hotel has long been a favorite destination for the wealthy and famous. Considered one of America’s most beautiful resorts, the Del, as it is known by locals, was built in 1888 by Elisha Babcock and H.L. Story, who envisioned a seaside resort that would be "the talk of the Western world." The 399-room grand resort cost over a million dollars to build, a staggering sum at the time. One of the Del’s most frequently sighted ghostly residents is a woman named Kate Morgan, who allegedly committed suicide on the beach in 1892. Ms. Morgan has been seen in the room she occupied – 3327 – as well as on the grounds of the resort. In another room, #3519, a maid supposedly hanged herself, and this room is also said to be haunted. Other strange occurrences include objects being tossed around guest rooms while people sleep, disembodied footsteps, and sudden temperature changes.

Death Valley

• Amargosa Opera House and Hotel: In 1923, the Pacific Coast Borax Company constructed a "company town" consisting of a U-shaped complex of Spanish Colonial-style buildings. Today, little remains of Death Valley Junction besides empty buildings and the historic Amargosa Opera House and Hotel. The hotel is said to be haunted by several spirits who once called this place home during its borax mining days. These unearthly residents include a crying child who drowned in a bathtub, an evil spirit who was hanged in one room, the presence of a ghostly cat, and other unexplained phenomena.
• Furnace Creek Inn & Ranch Resort: Sitting upon the glittering salt flats of Death Valley National Park, this oasis in the desert offers a unique escape. The mission-style inn, with its thick adobe walls, opened in 1927 and continues to retain its vintage atmosphere, including a vintage-era ghost. This friendly phantom is believed to be that of Chef James Marquez, who worked at the hotel from 1959 to 1973. Forced to retire due to illness, he passed away three years later. However, Chef Marquez enjoyed his job so much that he continues to roam "his" kitchen and dining room, mysteriously opening and closing doors, rearranging equipment and tools, and making all manner of odd noises in the middle of the night.

Dorrington

• Dorrington Hotel: Built in 1852 by John and Rebecca Gardner, this historic hotel once served as a stage stop on the Big Trees Carson Valley Road. Initially serving as a depot and summer resort for stockmen, the hotel has been fully restored today. Mrs. Gardner is said to continue to frequent the hotel, walking through the dining room and triggering the motion detector. On one occasion, she allegedly knocked down every fake Christmas tree in the hotel every night during the holiday season. On another occasion, she allegedly warned the owner of a gas leak in the kitchen. Along with Mrs. Gardner, several ghostly children are said to lurk at the historic hotel.

Downieville

• Durgan Flat Inn (formerly Downieville River Inn): Surrounded by Tahoe National Forest and nestled in Downieville’s historic gold rush town, this charming resort is also said to be home to a former boarding house resident. In Room 1, water fixtures have been known to turn on by themselves, and this ghostly spirit is even said to sometimes climb into bed with startled guests.

California is full of unique destinations where you can sleep with ghosts in California. From the Redwoods to Southern California and everything in between, the list goes on.