When October rolls around, San Diego’s sunny reputation takes a darker turn.
Behind the palm trees and ocean views lies a haunted side—restless spirits, eerie legends, and stories passed down through generations. Some sites are historic landmarks; others survive mostly in folklore. But all share one thing in common: they’re guaranteed to send a chill down your spine.
This guide will lead you to the city’s most intriguing haunted spots—from iconic locations to off-the-beaten-path corners where history and hauntings collide.
Hotel Del Coronado (Coronado Island)
The city’s most glamorous hotel has its share of ghostly tales, none more famous than that of Kate Morgan, the “Beautiful Stranger” who checked in one November in 1892 and never left. Her story is still told today, especially around Halloween:
Kate Morgan in 1892. (Photo courtesy of the Hotel Del Coronado)“On Thanksgiving Day in 1892, a young woman checked into The Del under the name Lottie Bernard from Detroit. She kept mostly to herself, inquired daily about the arrival of her brother, Dr. M.C. Anderson, and complained of various physical ailments. Five days later, her tragic death captured national attention. Who was this ‘Beautiful Stranger’ and what drove her to take her own life that cold, dark winter morning?
“The eventual discovery of her true identity, Kate Morgan, did little to dispel the speculation. Stories of gambling, riding the rails, a neglectful husband, and even an unwanted pregnancy have long been a part of Kate’s mythos, but are unfounded. We’ll never know the cause of her despondency, only that mysterious happenings have occurred in her room ever since that fateful November night. Some believe that the barrier between the spiritual and physical worlds is penetrable at Halloween, making it a great time to learn Kate’s story, as we approach the 133rd anniversary of her visit to The Del. Strange sightings and phenomena are still being reported today,” said General Manager Gina Petrone, Heritage Manager at Hotel Del Coronado.
Kate Morgan’s gravestone. (Photo courtesy of the Hotel Del Coronado)Star of India (Maritime Museum of San Diego)
The Star of India is the world’s oldest active sailing ship and a centerpiece of the Maritime Museum fleet — but it’s also said to carry its own ghostly history. Visitors wandering its decks this October are invited to discover stories of sailors who never truly left:
The Star of India with tattered sails. (Photo courtesy of the Maritime Museum of San Diego)“The Star of India, the world’s oldest active sailing ship and a popular visitor attraction, has a fascinating history of ghosts and paranormal activity. This October, visitors looking for unusual spooky experiences are invited to wander Star’s decks and discover the haunted tales tied to her rich maritime history. It might be the fisherman crushed by an anchor chain, the 14-year-old John Campbell, or Army Captain McBarnet. Visitors wandering the decks of the Victorian-era Berkeley may also share walkways where, in 1911, an explosion took the life of a mining engineer and injured four,” said Theresa A. Smullen, director of marketing and business development at the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
Victorian-era Berkeley. (Photo courte of the Maritime Museum of San Diego)The Whaley House (Old Town)
Known as “America’s Most Haunted House,” the Whaley House was built on the site of a former gallows. Visitors report the spirits of Thomas and Anna Whaley, as well as Yankee Jim Robinson, a man hanged there before the home was built. Guests often describe sudden cold spots, the sound of footsteps, and faint laughter drifting through empty rooms. Some suggest going on the Haunted Whaley House Guided Night Tour if you’re interested in possibly experiencing paranormal activity.
“Fun and interesting. Our guide, Bullet, was very entertaining. The stories of the family kept my attention. I’ve lived in San Diego for 36 years, and this was my first time. I will definitely recommend the tour to our guests,” posted on TripAdvisor in 2024.
Thomas Whaley, right, with wife Anna and two of their six children. (Photo courtesy of SOHO San Diego)El Campo Santo Cemetery (Old Town)
Just steps from the Whaley House lies this 19th-century cemetery, El Campo Santo Cemetery, where city streets were paved over graves. Cars parked here are rumored to mysteriously stall, and some say the displaced spirits linger.
According to one visitor on Tripadvisor: Humbling and a great hidden treasure: “We stumbled upon this place today and what an amazing experience. It is a very old cemetery that holds the remains of people born in the 1700s and who died in the 1800s. I think it is amazing to read little snippets about people’s lives that are placed on their graves. This is the place if you agree. There are native Indian’s buried there with their life stories. There are two people (men) buried there that were hung for modest crimes by today’s standards.”
Cosmopolitan Hotel (Old Town State Historic Park)
This restored 19th-century adobe-turned-hotel is said to be haunted, with phantom footsteps, flickering lights, and ghostly figures at the foot of beds. Many believe former owner Juan Bandini and his family never truly left. Guests and staff have long shared stories of strange encounters, particularly in rooms four, five, and eleven, where his daughter Isidora is said to wander. Lights flicker, doors creak open on their own, and objects shift when no one is around—signs, many believe, that Isidora hasn’t quite left the building.
Juan Bandini (1800-1859) was an early settler of San Diego and the recipient of the Rancho Jurupa land grant. (Photo courtesy of Wikipedia/public domain)Davis-Horton House (Gaslamp Quarter)
The Gaslamp’s oldest standing structure served as a hospital and boarding house. Today, guests on ghost tours report whispers, footsteps, and the feeling of being watched in its narrow rooms.
“The Gaslamp Museum at Davis-Horton House invites families to explore San Diego’s spookiest stories — from haunted self-guided tours to candle-lit movie nights and even a visit from the Gaslamp Ghost Lady herself. It’s history, mystery, and fun all rolled into one unforgettable Kids Free San Diego adventure,” said Bob Lehman, executive director, San Diego Museum Council.
The Davis-Horton House. (Photo courtesy of the San Diego Museum Council)Old Point Loma Lighthouse (Cabrillo National Monument)
Decommissioned in 1891, this lighthouse has long been associated with eerie phenomena. Visitors claim to hear the sound of boots on the spiral staircase and see glowing figures still keeping watch.
Some say the ghost at the old lighthouse is Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, the explorer who first charted the California coast. Others believe it’s the spirit of Robert Decatur Israel, the last keeper who tended the light for years. No one really knows for sure—but whoever it is, something still lingers there, and it hasn’t found peace yet.
The Old Point Loma Lighthouse. (File photo courtesy of nps.gov/)Off the Beaten Path: Lesser-Known Haunts
Villa Montezuma (Sherman Heights)
Built in 1887 for a spiritualist musician, this Victorian mansion is rumored to echo with ghostly piano music. Paranormal groups consider it a hidden gem.
Designed by Comstock & Trotsche, it was the home of Jesse Francis Shepard, an internationally renowned pianist, author, and mystic. Owned by the City of San Diego, the Villa is now open to the public regularly with tours provided by its newest operators, the Friends of Villa Montezuma. It was saved in the 1960s from imminent demolition by Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO) with members from the San Diego Historical Society.
There’s always something going on at the villa, from spiritual readings to tours, even if you can’t make it there to hunt for ghosts.
Villa Montezuma, 1925 K Street, San Diego, North elevation (K Street). Also known as the Jesse Shepard House. Building/structure dates: 1887, initial construction. Historic American Buildings Survey—HABS image. (Photo courtesy of Wikipedia/public domain)Horton Grand Hotel (Gaslamp Quarter)
Room 309 at the Horton Grand Hotel is said to be haunted by Roger Whitaker, a gambler who met a violent end. Guests have reported tugged sheets, flickering lights, and ghostly laughter echoing through the halls.
Legend has it that Whitaker was known for hard drinking and shady card games—and eventually, his luck ran out. While staying at the Horton, he found himself dodging furious creditors who’d had enough of his unpaid debts. One night, after a violent encounter that left him wounded, he stumbled back to his room—No. 309—and hid inside the armoire. But his pursuers weren’t far behind. They found him and ended his life right there in that wooden cabinet.
To this day, visitors say the room still holds his restless spirit—old Roger, it seems, never quite checked out.
Proctor Valley Road (East Chula Vista/Jamul)
This rural stretch of road is steeped in ghost stories: a phantom woman in white, vanishing headlights, and even strange beasts lurking in the shadows. Locals, folklore or not, tend to avoid it after dark.
According to a 2024 post on the city of Chula Vista’s website, the Proctor Valley Monster—a Bigfoot-type creature—is said to roam the area between Eastlake and Jamul. It’s just one of many spooky legends tied to Proctor Valley Road, which has also inspired stories of vanishing hitchhikers, ghostly apparitions, mysterious nighttime lights, UFOs, and even a so-called “ghost car.” These tales, the city notes, are featured in local storytelling performances, keeping the eerie history of the road alive.
Pioneer Park (Mission Hills)
Once a Catholic cemetery, most headstones were removed in the 1960s to create a park. The bodies were never relocated, and visitors claim the spirits of the forgotten remain active. Some may have heard it referred to as Calvary Cemetery from the 1860s to 1968.
One visitor in January 2022 on TripAdvisor said: 22 Guy’s Visit a San Diego Park, which is an old Cemetery: “San Diego Mission Hills park is also Pioneer Park and old Calvary Cemetery. The Cemetery had all headstones and more removed and some reinsalled at a corner of the park. The people are still in the ground, where you can now play on the grass.It was estimated that 5000 people were buried here. Some markers show deaths into the 1930s. Sad that this change was made, wonder why. Creepy to think about.”
Scary Day Ahead
San Diego may bask in sunshine by day, but after dark, its haunted history comes alive. Some tales are backed by old records, others whispered through generations—but together they cast a lingering shadow over the city’s past. Wander Old Town after dusk, stroll the Gaslamp’s narrow streets, or drift down forgotten backroads, and you just might feel a chill that has nothing to do with the ocean breeze.
There are plenty more haunted places scattered across the region, but these are a few of our favorites. So if you’re feeling brave this October, step into the shadows. The spirits of San Diego are waiting.
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