13 Haunted Places In San Diego

With Halloween decorations on display already, let’s look into the haunted places in San Diego – my home area. Some evidence (and maybe some folklore) supports the haunting of these 13+ places, some of which are popular tourist attractions.

Several people have experienced paranormal incidents in these places over the years. Halloween time may be the most popular time to visit these for a creepy tour but they’re open throughout the year for anyone to experience them. Some of these places actually gave me the chills while researching them.

1. Hotel del Coronado

This National Historic Landmark is one of America’s largest wooden buildings and is located on Coronado Island across the bay from San Diego. The beautiful 19th-century Victorian hotel also has reported hauntings.

While there have been many reports of unexplained events, movements, flickering lights, voices and footsteps throughout the years around the hotel, Rooms 3502 and 3312 remain the most haunted.

These were the rooms of two young pregnant women who supposedly committed suicide over a century ago. Kate Morgan is the hotel’s resident ghost and was one of those women. There have been many reported sightings of Kate in hallways and by the windows.

We love going to Coronado Island and always make a stop at the Hotel del Coronado. It’s right by one of the best beaches in San Diego.

We’ve never stayed and I’m a little freaked out about spending the night here. But, I may need to conquer my fears one of these days to spend the night at one of the country’s most historic hotels and a San Diego icon.

Address: 1500 Orange Ave, Coronado

2. The Whaley House Museum

Some sources consider and label this unassuming house in San Diego’s Old Town area as “America’s Most Haunted House”. This California State Historic Landmark has played many roles from the Whaley family home to a courthouse, commercial theater, general store and school.

Over the years, the property has been plagued by death. It started with hangings on the property before the house was built, to the suicide of Violet Whaley in 1885. She is one of the few ghosts believed to inhabit the house, along with her parents and Yankee Jim Robinson, who was hanged on the site.

Many television programs and publications have documented paranormal happenings over the years inside the house. Reports of apparitions, walking noises, mysterious sounds, and an eerie presence have all emerged here. I’ve passed by this museum many times and still can’t bring myself to go in and do a tour.

Address: 2476 San Diego Ave, San Diego

3.  Star of India

Built in 1863 as a cargo ship, it made many voyages across oceans. Now docked in San Diego Harbor, it was restored in 1976 and became part of the Maritime Museum. It holds the distinction of being the “world’s oldest active iron-hull sailing ship.”

It’s a popular field trip location for kids to learn what life was like for the sailors. My daughter even spent the night here as a fourth grader. Of course, she didn’t know then it has many stories of ghosts and unexplained occurrences.

Its many voyages through the years saw some disasters and many deaths aboard the ship. One of the resident ghosts passengers and crew have reported was from a young stowaway who fell. There have been reports of cold spots, sounds of the boy’s giggling and even phantom touches.

The ghost of a captain who died there occupies the First Mate’s Cabin and is considered haunted. There is also a ghost of a Chinese crew member who makes himself known along the anchors chain locker where he died.

The ship’s lower deck and crew’s quarters are also an area with many apparitions since many crew-members died here. There’s an eerie feeling below deck. Ghost hunters consider the Star of India an “active” area with quite a few ghosts on board who make their presence known especially at night.

4. Old Point Loma Lighthouse

This over 200-year-old lighthouse inside Cabrillo National Monument is one of the highlights here. Visitors can still go inside and see how the light keepers lived and operated it for 36 years.

My kids particularly enjoy climbing the small spiral staircase almost to the top. There is an almost haunting feel to the place as it sits isolated on top of the peninsula.

People have reported incidents of heavy footsteps and breathing, cold spots in some areas, and eerie feelings of being watched or someone standing behind you. Some believe Spanish explorer Juan Cabrillo’s spirit (whom this park was named after) and Captain Robert Israel (the last lighthouse keeper) watch over this historic lighthouse.

Address: Cabrillo National Monument 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr, San Diego

5. Horton Grand Hotel

Another haunted historic hotel is the downtown Horton Grand Hotel. This hotel was actually reconstructed from two different hotels that were demolished in the 1970s.

They reopened this specific hotel in 1986, integrating some original features from the other hotels. The National Register of Historic Places added it to their list in the 80s and retained much of its old-world charm.

People say that Roger Whittaker resides in Room #309. He was a cheating gambler who died in this room. There have been reports of flickering lights, shaking beds, strange sounds and footsteps in the room.

Ida Bailey, the former owner of the brothel that once stood on this property, is also reportedly another ghost. The hotel even has a restaurant named for her.

Address: 311 Island Avenue (corner of 4th St.) San Diego

6. Pioneer Park

This urban park in the Mission Hills neighborhood once served as the site of Calvary Cemetery. There are about 4,000 people buried over nearly a century here. When a newer cemetery was established in the early 1900s, the original cemetery was neglected, fell into disrepair. The land was given to the city in 1968.

Families moved some of the graves to other locations. Unfortunately, most of the graves remained underneath as the city built this community park over them and even an elementary school next door. They placed some of the tombstones in one of the park’s corners.

It’s no surprise that this park is highly haunted and a favorite area for ghost hunters, given the number of bodies buried here. Can you imagine the restless spirits of all those destroyed graves? Many reports have surfaced of ghost lights and apparitions, including one of a lady seen rising from a grave.

7. Rancho Buena Vista Adobe

This dwelling is located in a northern San Diego suburb of Vista. This 163-year-old house is open for tours. The adobe had several owners and saw many improvements throughout the years. Its rich history also lends itself to some spirits said to inhabit this place.

There have been several reports of seeing a “lady in white”, believed to be one of the owner’s wife, roaming the grounds. They found the bones of an unknown male in the walls during a restoration in the 1970s, and they left them there. People also reported Incidents like unexplained fog and noises here.

The San Diego Paranormal Research Society conducts two-hour guided tours and paranormal investigations from October to December and March to August.

Address: 640 Alta Vista Drive, Vista

8. Del Mar Racetrack

This famous venue for the American Thoroughbred horse racing track has been around since 1937 and has played hosts to many celebrities.

It also has a history of unexplained occurrences. Employees throughout the years have reported incidents like unexplained doors opening and closing, mirror shadows, strange noises, furniture moving, temperature changes and even unexplained hoofbeats on the track.

Unfortunately, fans and jockeys have died here throughout the years. Paranormal investigators have captured unexplained noises and shadowy figures during their visits here.

Address: 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar

9. USS Midway Museum

Once a US Navy aircraft carrier, it served for 47 years. This large ship was decommissioned in 1992. Now docked in the downtown area, it’s a popular museum with a vast collection of aircraft.

We love visiting the USS Midway Museum and touring this once giant floating city. However, we didn’t realize that some paranormal groups consider it haunted.

I guess there is enough history inside this ship to warrant some spirits. There are no specific stories other than a few sources recording 30 ghosts or spirits onboard the ship over the last five years.

The 2012 Maritime Ghost Conference also listed The USS Midway as a haunted ship. Who knew there was such a conference?

Address: 910 N Harbor Dr, San Diego

10. Presidio Park

This urban and historic park overlooks Old Town San Diego. The Junipero Serra Museum is a popular museum located here. This was the site of California’s first mission and fort. Conflicts also happened and both Spaniards and Native Americans have died here.

Several sightings have occurred of a ghostly deer here. Apparently, the deer frequently visited and eventually died here. There have been reports of shadows and sightings of a hooded figure at the witches tower which is a storage shed as well as at the museum’s exterior area.

Address: 2727 Presidio Drive, San Diego

11. William Heath Davis House (Davis-Horton House)

This historic home, built in 1850, is considered the oldest structure in downtown San Diego. Davis was one of the founders of what later became the downtown area. Mr. Davis never lived in this house he built.

It is the home of the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation and renamed to the Gaslamp Museum and open for tours. Employees have reported strange incidents like apparitions of a Victorian woman at the stair landing, old-style gas lamps suddenly lighting up, and unexplained lighting issues.

Address: 410 Island Avenue, San Diego

12. Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery

Rows and rows of headstones dot this hillside area with some of the best views of the city and the bay, known as Point Loma National Cemetery.

The cemetery houses thousands of soldiers from several wars. There are about 91,000 burials along 77 acres. People have reported seeing hazy figures seen after dark here as well as hearing strange voices and sounds.

Address: 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr, San Diego

13. Carlsbad Lagoon

The Carlsbad Lagoon, along the Interstate 5, usually teems with locals and visitors enjoying various water sports. Many residents around the lagoon have reported several cases of paranormal and ghostly activities.

The land across the lagoon used to be the Buena Vista Cemetery that dated back to the first burials in the 1880s. Authorities stoppped burials here in 1906, and moved tombs to other cemeteries. Eventually, developers purchased the land. But, it remains uncertain how many other bodies are still underneath.This may explain the restless spirits sightings.

Here are some companies offering tours of these haunted sites:

• Haunted San Diego Ghost Tours 
• Ghosts & Gravestones (San Diego Frightseeing Tour) 

*Check out these other San Diego tours!

---

Pin it for later!

*There are affiliate links in this post to help support this website.