NorCal Ghost Stories

I would like kick off my new group, NorCal Ghost Stories, with my reasons for starting it.  I have been toying with the idea of putting together a book on local ghost folklore and would like to start collecting tips on true ghost stories taking place in Northern California, particularly in San Jose and the San Francisco Bay Area.  The same stories are told over and over again, but I would like to collect some that are not-so-common knowledge.  If my search proves fruitful, stories that show some merit I will research further for inclusion in my book.  They can be either public or private places, as long as they take place in Northern California.

I would like to point out that I try to make the stories I post as accurate as I am aware, but sometimes the facts are hard to find and may come up later.  The best ghost stories do have historical backgrounds, but are usually considered folklore.  I'd like to clarify that history is based on facts, while folklore is based on hearsay.  Sometimes hearsay makes a good starting point in research, which eventually either confirms or disputes the stories.

To start the discussion, following are some of the places I am aware of being haunted and is by no means comprehensive.  While I would prefer as much detail as possible, I'm going for quantity with this post instead of quality.  I won't disregard short posts to this group, though.  Some of these places are accessible in some form to the public.  I have visited several and reviewed them at Epinions.com.  The ones I have written more extensively about have had their titles linked to the review.  Anyone can add details to these stories or write about any haunted sites they're aware of and I'm not.  I would greatly appreciate your input.  If you prefer to remain anonymous, feel free to privately contact me.

Bodie:

Bodie State Historic Park:  When the last resident of this deserted mining town died in the 60s, the state government took possession of what remains and now preserves it in a condition of "arrested decay."  Phenomena occurs throughout this former boomtown.  Among other things, music and party noises can be heard coming from the vacant hotel late at night.

Brookdale:

Brookdale Lodge:  Nestled in the Santa Cruz mountains, all kinds of stories abound on this vintage resort.  How many are true is another question.  For instance, it was believed to be controlled by organized crime during the late 40s/early 50s and bodies were buried under its floor.  The lodge's most remarkable feature is its full-scale restaurant, which has a live creek running through its dining room.

Brook Room: Attached to the lobby of the Brookdale Lodge, this restaurant was built over a natural creek.  A little girl died in the dining room after she fell into the creek when its current was particularly strong.  Her shade has been seen wandering around nearby ever since.

Columbia:

Columbia State Historic Park:  The state took possession of this former boomtown as well, but unlike Bodie, the buildings have been refurbished and most are still operating as businesses.  Phenomena occurs throughout the Main Street area.  At the mercantile, the ghost of a little girl has been seen and plays practical jokes.

Columbia City Hotel:  Elizabeth, a grieving mother, is said to be seen on the second story.  A chair there will rock on its own and many believe it is Elizabeth.

Fallon Hotel:  The ghost of a little boy has been seen by children who stay in room 3.

Murphys:

Murphys Historic Hotel:  The shade of Eleanor, a staffer who died there in a fire during the Gold Rush days, has been heard calling for help in the kitchen.

San Francisco:

Cliff House:  This landmark restaurant has been devastated by fire twice.  The staff claims feeling creepy and passing through cold spots on one of the stairwells.

Curran Theatre:  Although the manager, Tess Collins, says she hasn't yet seen any of the allegedly reported phenomena here, she strongly believes this theater is haunted.  When the nearby American Conservatory Theatre dealt with serious damage in the 1989 earthquake, the problems the Curran had were minimal.  She believes its ghosts protect the building.

Hotel Majestic:  In room 306, one guest witnessed the bathtub fill up, bathing sounds, then saw it drain again, without any visible human creating the activity.

Queen Anne Hotel:  This structure originally opened as a girls' boarding school and its mistress is said to still walk around its corridors, where witnesses have run across bizarre cold spots.

San Remo Hotel:  This building originally opened after the earthquake in 1906 as a boarding house for the local Italian population.  One guest took a picture of his companion in room 42 and the image of a little boy who was not there appeared in the picture.

Sir Francis Drake: Despite MSN calling this one of the top 10 haunted hotels in the country, the staff is incredibly tight-lipped about this hotel's ghostly activity.  Someone was murdered there in the 30s and the shade of a woman has been seen dancing one of the ballrooms.

Westin St. Francis Hotel:  Al Jolsen died in this hotel and a party Fatty Arbuckle held in his suite ended with him being charged for murder.  On the other hand, at least one baby was born there.  One medium has confirmed this place definitely has ghosts, but the stories haven't come out yet.

San Jose:

Alum Rock Road:  The apparition of a woman in white has been seen walking in the hilly stretch not far from the ruins of the old spa.

Chuck E. Cheese, Senter Road:  This pizzeria was supposed to have the ghost of a little girl on its third floor, but does this building still exist?  If this was the same one at Capital Expressway, I didn't see it the last time I passed by it.

Old Spaghetti Factory:  Workers have seen items move around in the kitchen.  It has been said that this building was once a slaughterhouse.

Sainte Claire Hotel:  Brides and grooms have been seen and heard in suite 215, among many other stories.

San Jose State University:  The old gym was said to be used as a holding room for citizens of Japanese heritage on their way to concentration camps.  Pedestrians passing by late at night claim to have heard voices and crying coming from the unoccupied building.

Trials Pub:  The owners claim the basement of this building was used as an annex for the city jail when it filled up.  A cold spot has frequently been felt in the corner by the dart board.

Winchester Mystery House:  This may not be the USA's most famous haunted house, but it is the most famous for being haunted.  Although it is no where near as active as some people like to think, phenomena has occurred there.  Some witnesses have claimed smelling chicken soup around the kitchen, yet nothing has been used since Sarah Winchester's death in 1922.

Wyndham Hotel San Jose (formerly the LeBaron):  The ghost of a jilted bride haunts room 538.  Faucets turn on without any human help and chambermaids have heard their names being called while cleaning the room.

Sonora:

Gunn House Hotel:  This B&B has seen all kinds of activity occur throughout the original rooms of this adobe structure.  At one time, it was used as a women's hospital.  One guest went into hysterics when she opened her closet door to find an animated face staring back at her.

Sunnyvale:

Circuit City:  Located directly across the street from the haunted Toys R Us, there has been a buzz among the staff that the place is haunted.  Among other things, TVs turn on when no one is around (without a remote).

Toys R Us:  This toy store gained notoriety during the 70s when the ABC show That's Incredible brought Sylvia Brown there for a séance.  She IDed the ghost as Johnny Johnson, who's form was not visible to the naked eye, but was seen on infra-red camera.