Top 13 Haunted Places in LA
By: Camila Grases ‘21
Spooky season is officially here and whether you like it or not, it’s that time of the year where part of the fun is being scared. Worry not, whether you are looking for some relaxed fun with your friends or are genuinely looking to contact the spirits of the underworld, this list has everything for you.
As a brief disclaimer, most of these places have seen tragedy in the past which leads to their reputations today. When visiting these places, remember to always be respectful of the past.
13. The Queen Mary
This old passenger ship turned hotel has become a tourist destination in Long Beach. Following it’s permanent docking in Long Beach, claims were made that the ship was haunted by the ghosts of people who had died there. These ghosts include sailors, a captain, and even a passenger who was said to have been murdered. The most haunted room aboard the Queen Mary is Room B-340, which is only open to tourists and guests on special occasions. Because much of the ship’s claim to fame is that it is haunted, I am still skeptical as to whether it is truly haunted or it is simply the story that attracts guests. Regardless, it is a historic landmark in LA and worth checking out. For more information on the haunted ship and to visit it, you can visit this site.
12. The Beverly Hills Bermuda Triangle
This cursed intersection in one of LA’s richest suburbs has seen a surprising amount of tragedy and accidents. Multiple people have died within this triangle in everything from a hit-and-run car accident to a shootout in one of the homes. It is most famous, however, for an event that occurred in 1946 when an airplane pilot lost control of his plane and crashed it into a house on the intersection. Nobody died but the pilot was wounded in the strange and rare accident. There must be some strange energy plaguing this side of the neighborhood. You can find the triangle at the intersection of Whittier Dr. and N. Linden Dr. or by a simple Google search.
11. Griffith Park (The Old Zoo and Picnic Table 29)
Griffith Park is considered one of the most haunted places in LA. The number of people that have gone missing and have died hiking the trails adds to the suspicion that ghosts reside within the park. There are many specific locations within the park, like The Hollywood Sign, that are considered haunted but the two most important ones are The Old Zoo and Picnic Table 29. The Old LA Zoo has been abandoned for many years and you can still visit it today. Some folks have claimed that they have seen the ghosts of animals inside their old cages. Picnic Table 29 is said to be haunted by a couple who was killed on halloween by the tree that still rests on the table today. To find the trails that lead to these places, you can visit this site.
10. The Hollywood Pacific Theatre
This is one of many haunted locations in Hollywood (some of which can be found lower in this list). This particular building, unlike most of the other entries, is haunted by a single ghost: Sam Warner of Warner Brother’s Pictures. According to legend, when he discovered the theatre would not be complete in time for his film to premier in it, he cursed the theatre. Nowadays, his ghost can be seen working in the theatre, business as usual. Not a malevolent spirit in any way, simply someone who had a particular tie to the place. At this time, the theatre has been abandoned. However, you can still visit the building at this address if you are interested in seeing it from the outside.
9. Colorado Street Bridge
A beautiful and historic bridge that is haunted by its reputation as being Pasadena’s “Suicide Bridge.” The eeriness of the bridge comes from it’s unfortunate history of being the place where people have taken their lives. The bridge is said to be haunted by apparitions both on top of the bridge as well as on the river bed below. Two of the most famous ghosts include a man with wire rimmed glasses and a woman often seen standing on the fence. A sad location when considering that the spirits here are lost souls of sorts. If you would like to visit the bridge and pay your respects, you can find directions here.
8. Hollywood Roosevelt
The Hollywood Roosevelt is said to be haunted by deceased celebrities such as Montgomery Clift and more notably, Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn supposedly haunts the mirror that used to hang in her usual room. In Room 213, the most haunted room of the hotel, there is a headless apparition that sometimes appears and terrorizes the guests. For more info on how to visit or stay at the Hollywood Roosevelt, visit this website.
7. The Cobb Estate
This estate was built in 1918 by Charles Cobb in Altadena. Nowadays, it has become a popular hiking destination with trails that lead all through the haunted forest. Many stories about the Cobb Estate, and specifically it’s forest, include murders and satanic rituals that have taken place there, attracting evil spirits to inhabit the area. Like Griffith, the trails are ventured by both people who want some exercise and those who want to find evidence of the afterlife. This article provides directions on how to find the trails leading into the estate.
6. The Millennium Biltmore Hotel
This hotel may seem beautiful and posh on the outside, but it’s biggest claim to fame is, unfortunately, that it was the last known location of Elizabeth Short, aka The Black Dahlia, before her famous and highly publicized murder in 1947. She is among the ghosts that now haunt the halls of the hotel; other stories include the ghost of a murdered fiancee and a little boy with no face. Not the most pleasant array of ghosts, but if that floats your boat, you can visit their website here and book a stay, and decide for yourself whether the Black Dahlia truly still lives on.
5. The Viper Room Hollywood
The Viper Room is a night club in Hollywood that is still active today. Many strange and tragic occurrences have plagued the nightclub since its conception. Most famously, and sadly, it was the place River Pheonix, Joaquin Pheonix’s younger brother, died of an overdose. River is believed to still roam the place along with one of the owners of the Viper Room who is believed to have been buried in the basement. This is their official website where you can find directions if you feel so inclined.
4. The Comedy Store
Our final entry of Hollywood Haunts is the Comedy Store on sunset strip. On regular days, it is home to stand-up comics from all over the world. But this place has seen it’s fair share of run-of-the-mill ghosts. Everything from mysterious pianos playing by themselves to moving furniture to doors locking and unlocking by themselves have occurred in this historic building. This is the place to go when trying to find the ghost that haunts Suite 613 of the Tipton Hotel. For more information on how to visit, go to this website.
3. Hotel Cecil
Hotel Cecil is widely considered Los Angeles’ most haunted hotel. This is the location of the famous case of Elisa Lam, a young woman who was found dead in one of the water tanks. The famous video of her final appearance in the elevator of the hotels is one of the scariest unsolved mysteries to this day. There have been plenty of mysteries within the hotel and this isn’t even taking into account the sheer creepiness of the place itself. This is truly for thrill seekers and experienced ghost hunters. As of now, the hotel is closed, but you can visit it’s spooky facade at this address, only a 10 minute drive from USC.
2. The “Entity” House
On the outside it seems like a perfectly normal house. However, this was home to one of the most intense hauntings ever recorded and the inspiration for the film “The Entity.” One Doris Blither suffered terribly at the hands of ghosts in this house, gaining injuries both physical and emotional that would never heal. What makes this house the most terrifying place on this list is that the ghosts are physically violent with the people they are haunting. No lost souls or angry victims but genuinely evil spirits reside in this house. This contains a map to the location but as a house, it is most likely not open to the public.
1. Mission San Buenaventura (or any mission in CA)
We will end this list on a relatively happy note. Missions throughout California are infamous for being haunted. According to legends, most of the missions are haunted by the souls the missions wronged in some way; whether it was Native Americans whose land was taken or people who were killed for standing up to the church. HOWEVER, what makes San Buenaventura famous is that it is haunted by ghost cats. The Friar who founded the mission had four beloved cats as pets that are said to reside within the walls of the church to this day; their little feet can still be heard walking around inside the church and if you’re lucky, you might even see one. For more information on this mission, you can visit this site!
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