15 Creepy and Weird Places to Visit in CA

Sun-drenched beaches, movie stars, historic locations, amusement parks, and old ghost towns are some of the things California is known for. The state's diverse background and history also lend themselves to having a dark and mysterious side. Here's a look (in no particular order) of some of the creepiest and weirdest places you can visit if you travel to the "Golden State."

1. Whaley House

Located in San Diego, the Whaley House (pictured above) is considered by many to be one of the most haunted houses in the United States. It seemed doomed from the start to become a paranormal hotspot as the home was built upon a former gallows site where numerous people were executed.

The home was built by Thomas Whaley, and after moving in, tragedy struck the family. First, their 18-month-old son died of scarlet fever. Later, their daughter Violet committed suicide after suffering from depression due to a failed marriage. Both spirits still reside in the home, according to paranormal enthusiasts, as do Thomas, his wife Anna, and other family members. Even the family dog's ghost has been seen roaming the property.

Should you visit here and want to hear stories about the Whaleys and the house, be sure to stop in the upstairs theater, where docents will answer your questions and tell you of chilling experiences people have had in the house.

2. Old LA Zoo in Griffith Park

Opened in 1912, the old LA Zoo closed its doors in 1962. The site was originally home to 15 animals. The animals didn't always have it easy there. Some were treated quite poorly, like the monkeys who were beaten by zookeepers. Others became ill or died. During World War I, there was a shortage of beef, so horsemeat was substituted, which caused illness and, in some cases, death.

Since the closure of the zoo, several human remains and bodies have been found there. There are people who have claimed to hear phantom sounds of the animals when they have gone by the old cages. If this seems like a creepy enough location for you to visit, feel free to bring a picnic lunch, as picnic tables are located inside the abandoned cages.

3. Alcatraz

Alcatraz opened in 1934 and soon became home to such notable gangsters as George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Al "Scarface" Capone, and Robert "The Birdman of Alcatraz" Stroud. Nicknamed "The Rock," Alcatraz has a dark and violent history, which includes several murders and suicides before closing in 1963.

Today, eerie sights and sounds can be experienced all over the prison, along with numerous cold spots. It seems not everyone was ready to leave when their time was up.

Of particular creepiness is the hospital where ghostly voices are often heard and even sometimes banjo playing, which is thought to be the spirit of Al Capone. Should you really want a scare, head over to the D block. This is the most haunted area of the prison, particularly cell 14.

4. Dyer Lane

Just outside of Sacramento lies the rural community of Elverta, the location of Dyer Lane. Some believe this to be the most haunted road in California. Why?

With a sordid past including KKK activity, a witches' coven, and satanic activity, it's no wonder there's a creepy feeling when you drive down this road.

Plus, murders have taken place on this isolated road, including a police officer who was shot and a high school student who was killed by gang members.

Many people have reported paranormal experiences here, including a police car that drives down the road and then suddenly vanishes, as well as a ghostly farmer who drives his tractor in a field.

5. Integratron

Just outside of Joshua Tree, in the Mojave Desert, is the community of Landers, known for having otherworldly visitors.

Thus was the case with George Van Tassel, who claimed to have had repeated contact with aliens from Venus through meditation back in the 1950s.

Through meditation, Van Tassel was given plans by the aliens to build the Integratron, a type of sound sphere capable of anti-gravity, which enables rejuvenation and even time travel. Unfortunately, Van Tassel died before everything was completed.

However, in 2000, three sisters purchased the property and restored it, and although Van Tessel's plans were never completed, today, this is a very popular destination for sound baths and spiritual healing.

6. Old Sacramento

Old Sacramento is a historic district located inside the city of Sacramento. Originally built in 1848, the city was heavily damaged by flooding in 1850 and 1852. Much of it was destroyed. After another devastating flood that occurred in 1861, the city was elevated, leaving much of the original city underground.

It is unknown how many people died during Sacramento's floods, although it's estimated to be in the thousands. The death count becomes almost unthinkable when you consider numerous fires that ravaged the city during the late 1800s and a cholera outbreak that struck in 1850.

Some believe the victims of these tragedies still lurk in the network of tunnels that worm their way beneath Sacramento in what was once the original city of Sacramento.

7. Preston Castle

Preston Castle in Ione, California, opened its doors in 1894 as the Preston School of Industry. It served as a reform school for juvenile boys until its closure in 1960. During the time the school was open, numerous deaths occurred. Some by disease, others by murder.

The most infamous death was that of Anna Corbin, the castle's head housekeeper, who was brutally beaten to death. Her body was found in a storeroom in February of 1950, and the murder remains unsolved to this day.

Some say Anna haunts the castle along with Samuel Goins, a youth who was shot after escaping the institution. Other deaths that occurred here were due to rampant illnesses such as tuberculosis and meningitis.

As you walk through the castle, you'll see how some areas have been restored, while others are in complete disarray, missing walls and even flooring. This totally adds to the creep factor.

8. Colorado Bridge

An architectural wonder for its time, the Colorado Bridge was completed in 1913. The beautiful arch bridge was built atop the Arroyo Seco, connecting Los Angeles and Pasadena. Although officially called the Colorado Street Bridge, many know it by its foreboding nickname, the "Suicide Bridge."

Standing 150 feet high, the bridge played host to its first suicide in 1919. People continued to leap to their deaths from this historic bridge—more than 50 during the Great Depression. To date, over 100 more have flung themselves over the ledge to end their lives.

9. Mount Shasta

You can't find a weirder place in California than Mount Shasta. It seems to have every kind of strange phenomenon you can think of. Numerous UFOs have been reported, as well as apparitions, Bigfoot sightings, and multiple missing persons.

In addition, it is said that a race of beings known as the Lemurians live inside the mountain, who escaped from the continent of Lemuria when it sank and made their way to the mountain.

10. Bodie Ghost Town

A once bustling Old West town, Bodie at one time was home to 10,000 residents. What's left today are over 100 of the town's original buildings. Although you can't go inside most of them, you can look into the windows, as some of the buildings have their original furnishings.

The town is known for being the biggest and best ghost town in the state. It's also known for having a curse. It is said that if you remove anything from the town, anything at all, that bad luck will follow you until you return the object.

While some say the curse is real, others say it was made up by park rangers to keep visitors from stealing. No matter what the origin, each year, numerous letters are received at the park, along with items returned that were taken, from visitors who took items and claimed that bad luck followed them home.

11. Queen Mary

Departing from England on her maiden voyage in 1936, the RMS Queen Mary was the epitome of class and elegance. During its time at sea, the ship hosted numerous celebrities and dignitaries, including Fred Astaire, Clark Gable, Elizabeth Taylor, Winston Churchill, and even Queen Elizabeth.

During WWII, the ship was transformed into a transport ship to carry wounded soldiers. Nicknamed "The Grey Ghost," the ship transported more than 800,000 soldiers, many of whom did not survive. After the war, the ship returned to its former glory and continued to sail until docking in Long Beach in 1967, where it remains.

Death seems to surround the Queen Mary. Besides the soldiers who died aboard, there was also an incident when the ship accidentally hit a British escort ship, slicing it in half and killing all 338 crewmen. Many of the prisoners of war who were kept in the cargo hold with no food or bathroom facilities also died. Needless to say, the ship is quite haunted by several spirits.

12. Willow Creek

Located in Humboldt County, Willow Creek is known as the "Bigfoot Capital of the World." A little way out of the town is where the first modern footprints of Bigfoot were found back in 1958.

The town is very proud of its heritage, and you'll find references to Bigfoot all over the town. It was also just a ways out of town that the famous Bigfoot footage was shot by Roger Patterson and Robert Gimlin in 1967.

13. Kennedy and Argonaut Mines

The Kennedy and the Argonaut Mines, located in Jackson, both opened in the 1850s and collectively produced over $100,000,000 of gold.

Alas, these mines are no strangers to death. Over 30 lives were lost at the Kennedy Mine during its operation, and an underground fire claimed the lives of 47 miners in the Argonaut Mines in 1922, making it the worst mining disaster in the history of California.

It's been reported that voices and screams can still be heard coming from the shaft of the Argonaut Mine, allegedly from some of the miners who perished there.

At the Kennedy Mine, the Mining House is a paranormal hotspot with reports of shadowy figures, voices, and even physical attacks from the ghosts who haunt the building.

You can take a ground tour of the Kennedy Mine, but you can't go into the mine as it is deemed unsafe.

14. Winchester Mystery House

Both an architectural wonder and oddity, the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose was built by Sarah Winchester, widow of William Winchester and partial heiress of the Winchester fortune.

Legend has it that Sarah was told by a spiritualist that as long as she continuously worked on the house, she would be allowed to live. This was to make up for all of the lives lost due to the Winchester rifle. Construction and remodeling took place on the property 24/7 until she died in 1922.

While quite beautiful, there is an eeriness to the house due to its many oddities. For example, some doors open into walls, while another door opens to a 15-foot drop. There's a stairway that leads to the ceiling and, the list of weirdness goes on and on.

15. Museum of Death

Last, but certainly not least of creepy and weird places to visit in California is the Museum of Death, which is located in Hollywood. As morbid as it sounds, the museum is actually pretty fascinating.

There are lots of human skulls and even shrunken heads. You can learn about such serial killers as Charles Manson and John Wayne Gacy and even see some of the artwork Gacy has created. Check out coffins and body bags, along with quite a few graphic photos throughout the museum. It's not for the faint of heart, but if you have a curiosity about death, then you'll probably enjoy it.

As you can see, there is no shortage of weird and creepy places to visit in California. If you plan to go to any of the above places, be sure to check when the places are open to the public before going there.