Ghosts and the paranormal have always been a “hot topic” not only in this country, but all over the world. Do they exist? Do they not? No one really knows the answer to such questions. There have been instances in which people have been in a place and have felt the presence of someone who is not human, let alone alive. Such instances have even happened in our very own beautiful state of California. Yes, ghosts and spirits have revealed themselves many times, in the land of milk and honey. In California, the list of ghostly encounters goes on forever. There are a few places, however, that need their story told.
One of the haunted places in California is the infamous Queen Mary, which is docked in Long Beach. The Queen Mary started out as a passenger ocean liner for the Cunard Line. It was built in the 30’sduring the Great Depression. During WWII, however, the days of the Queen Mary being a passenger ship was over. She was retrofitted to become a troop ship and was renamed the “Grey Ghost.” She could haul up to 15,000 men while guiding the allied forces. She returned to her former glory until the late 50’s early 60’s, when traveling by ship became a thing of the past. She was later retired to her present home in Long Beach and has been there ever since. Her ghost story, however, began after she retired. Knocks and bright lights can be seen and heard, usually around engine room 13, as well as so much heat emanating from the door that it is hot to the touch. Down by the empty swimming pool, a little girl hovers around scaring passengers and tourists away from the pool. The little girl met her death when she slid down the banister and broke her neck. Two other women are also seen and heard on the pool deck, swimming, and diving into the empty pool. During the ships glory days, The Queen Mary zigzagged her way into her companion splitting the other ship in half. Three-hundred survivors from the ship were left in the water to die. Periodically, banging on the side of the ship can be heard from the dying passengers.
Two houses that have a big amount of ghostly activity are the Winchester House and the Whaley House. The creator of Winchester rifle owned the Winchester House, Ghosts are always in and out of the Winchester House. Every person killed by the rifle took a liking to the Winchester Mansion. The wife, after the husband died, had to keep building and adding to her mansion because the ghosts would not leave her alone. It is four stories high, and there are rooms that lead to brick walls, a stairway that stops. There are about one-hundred and sixty rooms, including fourty bedrooms, two ballrooms, as well as fourty seven fireplaces, over 10,000 panes of glass, two basements, and three elevators. The size of the estate is now 4.5 acres. The Whaley house, which is located in Old Town San Diego, was built by Mr. Whaley built upon old Gallows, which was the place where criminals were hung. He lived with his wife, newborn son, his son Francis, and his daughter Ana. The family had moved to San Francisco, but after the massive earthquake moved back to their old house. They had 5 kids at that time: Violet, Corinne, George, Ana, and Francis. The members of the family haunt the house. Their son, Thomas died at only 18 months. Their daughter Violet, after being divorced and humiliated, committed suicide by shooting herself in the chest; the gunshot can still be heard. . Thomas Whaley’s wife, Anna, can still be seen from time to time in the upstairs part of the house. Jim Robinson, a criminal hung tin the dismissed Gallows, can still be seen pacing the courtroom on the lower level of the house.
Other places in California that have ghostly inhabitants include Alcatraz (haunted by the ghost of the inmates), Paramount (On the Top Gun ride, two young people died, a boy who jumped the fence to get his hat, then his head was taken off the girl who sat in the front of the ride. She died upon impact of the boy.), Universal studios (Haunted by Lon Chaney Sr. who played the Phantom in “The Phantom of the Opera”. He is seen running on the catwalk above sound stage 28.), and Disneyland (The Haunted Mansion is haunted by a little girl who tried to get her ball; Space Mountain, haunted by a red haired large man who will ride the ride with lone riders; Matterhorn Mountain, haunted by Dolly, who was crushed by a sled behind her when she fell from hers).
Next time you travel around the state, keep an eye out for those who are still wandering the earth.
One of the haunted places in California is the infamous Queen Mary, which is docked in Long Beach. The Queen Mary started out as a passenger ocean liner for the Cunard Line. It was built in the 30’sduring the Great Depression. During WWII, however, the days of the Queen Mary being a passenger ship was over. She was retrofitted to become a troop ship and was renamed the “Grey Ghost.” She could haul up to 15,000 men while guiding the allied forces. She returned to her former glory until the late 50’s early 60’s, when traveling by ship became a thing of the past. She was later retired to her present home in Long Beach and has been there ever since. Her ghost story, however, began after she retired. Knocks and bright lights can be seen and heard, usually around engine room 13, as well as so much heat emanating from the door that it is hot to the touch. Down by the empty swimming pool, a little girl hovers around scaring passengers and tourists away from the pool. The little girl met her death when she slid down the banister and broke her neck. Two other women are also seen and heard on the pool deck, swimming, and diving into the empty pool. During the ships glory days, The Queen Mary zigzagged her way into her companion splitting the other ship in half. Three-hundred survivors from the ship were left in the water to die. Periodically, banging on the side of the ship can be heard from the dying passengers.
Two houses that have a big amount of ghostly activity are the Winchester House and the Whaley House. The creator of Winchester rifle owned the Winchester House, Ghosts are always in and out of the Winchester House. Every person killed by the rifle took a liking to the Winchester Mansion. The wife, after the husband died, had to keep building and adding to her mansion because the ghosts would not leave her alone. It is four stories high, and there are rooms that lead to brick walls, a stairway that stops. There are about one-hundred and sixty rooms, including fourty bedrooms, two ballrooms, as well as fourty seven fireplaces, over 10,000 panes of glass, two basements, and three elevators. The size of the estate is now 4.5 acres. The Whaley house, which is located in Old Town San Diego, was built by Mr. Whaley built upon old Gallows, which was the place where criminals were hung. He lived with his wife, newborn son, his son Francis, and his daughter Ana. The family had moved to San Francisco, but after the massive earthquake moved back to their old house. They had 5 kids at that time: Violet, Corinne, George, Ana, and Francis. The members of the family haunt the house. Their son, Thomas died at only 18 months. Their daughter Violet, after being divorced and humiliated, committed suicide by shooting herself in the chest; the gunshot can still be heard. . Thomas Whaley’s wife, Anna, can still be seen from time to time in the upstairs part of the house. Jim Robinson, a criminal hung tin the dismissed Gallows, can still be seen pacing the courtroom on the lower level of the house.
Other places in California that have ghostly inhabitants include Alcatraz (haunted by the ghost of the inmates), Paramount (On the Top Gun ride, two young people died, a boy who jumped the fence to get his hat, then his head was taken off the girl who sat in the front of the ride. She died upon impact of the boy.), Universal studios (Haunted by Lon Chaney Sr. who played the Phantom in “The Phantom of the Opera”. He is seen running on the catwalk above sound stage 28.), and Disneyland (The Haunted Mansion is haunted by a little girl who tried to get her ball; Space Mountain, haunted by a red haired large man who will ride the ride with lone riders; Matterhorn Mountain, haunted by Dolly, who was crushed by a sled behind her when she fell from hers).
Next time you travel around the state, keep an eye out for those who are still wandering the earth.