The Spookiest Spots in San Diego

San Diego has a rich history. The oldest city in California, officially founded in 1769 (but sighted by the Spanish in 1542), San Diego has its fair share of legends and myths. 

The haunted nature of this city is undeniable – it’s the location of what’s often referred to as America’s most haunted house, The Whaley House. If you’re down for a night of spooky fun in San Diego, make sure to visit San Diego’s most haunted spots. Read on to learn more about them!

Highway 94

Highway 94 in San Diego

Highway 94 connects Rancho San Diego, in San Diego County, with Campo, California. This short stretch of highway is the source of endless Californian legends, with the highway ranking as one of the most haunted in the country!

Numerous ghostly sightings and apparitions have been spotted by unfortunate motorists driving down this route. But why is this particular stretch of road so haunted? 

Those who have lived in San Diego long enough might know about the legend of the old Haven Bakery located off the 94 in Jamul, California, a small census-designated area of around 6,000 people smack in between Rancho San Diego and Campo. 

Nowadays, the bakery is no longer standing; you can see a video of the ruins of the bakery being explored around 15 years ago on YouTube. According to the story, the owner of the bakery went down to the basement one day only to find that his daughter had hung herself. 

Overcome with grief and agony, and not able to accept that his family will no longer be whole, he shot his wife and other daughter. He then turned the gun and shot himself, but not before killing several employees first. 

It is believed that the victims of this massacre, as well as the daughter who had committed suicide, still roam the property of the this bakery, which has since been torn down. At times, they venture out towards the highway, facing oncoming traffic to make their presence known.

The Horton Grand Hotel

Los Angeles, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons – The Horton Grand Hotel

The Horton Grand Hotel was originally constructed in 1886, built in an ornate Victorian style in the fashion of some of the finest Austrian hotels. Born out of the population boom of the Gold Rush, the hotel housed some of California’s most famous, including sheriff Wyatt Earp and President Benjamin Harrison. 

It wasn’t only distinguished gentlemen who stayed at this hotel, however. One Roger Whitaker was also a frequent visitor. Roger was a man of the cards and a man of the bottle, and he had many tricks up his sleeve to fool the other unsuspecting guests passing through the town and cheat his way to victory. 

One night, though, he met his demise after cheating the same group of gamblers twice. One pulled a gun and shot at him; Roger fled to his room, room 306, but the men came looking for him. As they were breaking into his room, Roger hid in the wardrobe, but he was easily discovered and promptly executed with a shot to his head.

The hotel has since been demolished and rebuilt, but Roger’s ghost still haunts room 306. The lights flicker, items move, and the bed violently shakes at night – and it’s not an earthquake!

Hotel Del Coronado

Hotel Del Coronado

Another spooky San Diego spot is the haunted Hotel Del Coronado. In 1892, a young woman checked into the hotel under the name Lottie A Bernard (it was later discovered that her real name was Kate Morgan), according to the hotel’s website. She told the staff that she was waiting for her lover, who was coming to visit her at the hotel. 

A day passed, and the man had still not shown up. Another day passed and yet another. After five days, a guest found the lady dead, with a gunshot wound to her head. The San Diego County coroner determined that the shot was self-inflicted and declared the death a suicide. 

At the time, the woman’s real identity was not yet known. Fliers were published in police stations and newspapers across the country, turning the mysterious lady into something of a celebrity. However, it seems like Kate never really left the hotel; years later, her former room continues to experience strange but harmless occurrences. 

From the television turning off to a strong breeze sweeping through the room even when the window is closed, Kate’s antics continue to befuddle guests who had not yet heard of her story. 

The hotel even published a book, “Beautiful Stranger: The Ghost of Kate Morgan and the Hotel del Coronado.”

The Whaley House

The Whaley House

No article on haunted San Diego would be complete without mentioning The Whaley House, a California Historical Landmark and the oldest brick house in the entire state. The house served as San Diego’s second county courthouse, and it also housed the city’s first commercial theater. 

It was owned by Thomas Whaley, who lived in the house with his family. Thomas, who had six children, had grand plans for his family when he moved to his new San Diego home. He was undeterred by the fact that on that very property, horse thief Yankee Him Robinson was hanged not long ago after stealing a boat (which he claimed to have merely borrowed). Thomas went ahead and oversaw the construction of his new home regardless. 

Alas, it seems like Thomas was unable to escape the tragic nature of those forsaken grounds. Their son Thomas Jr., who was only 18 years old, died of scarlet fever, leading the parents stricken by grief. The sadness didn’t stop there, though. 

Thomas’s daughter, Violet, shot herself with her father’s shotgun after her husband abandoned her a mere two weeks after her wedding. His wife, Anna, and his son, Francis, would both die in the family home after they moved back in many years later. 

Nowadays, the giggle of a baby can often be heard in the house. Many believe that not only Thomas Jr. haunts the house but the other Whaley family members as well – not to mention the infamous horse thief Yankee Robinson. 

If you like spooky places, make sure to check out some of America’s other most haunted cities, such as Charleston and Gettysburg!