Los Angeles is a place of dreams, dominated by the entertainment industry, but it also has its fair share of eerie locations with their own fascinating histories. If you are into the supernatural, you will find them intriguing, as they allow you to sense the presence of history and possibly encounter ghosts. Keep reading at i-los-angeles.
Rosenheim Mansion
The list begins with the iconic house from American Horror Story, commonly known as Murder House, which is actually the Rosenheim Mansion. The residence is located at 1120 Westchester Place, Los Angeles, CA 90019.
It is a significant historical site in the city. Designed by architect Alfred Rosenheim, it was constructed in 1908. For a decade, it served as a private residence for the architect and his family. Subsequently, the property was sold and in 1930 it was acquired by the Sisters of Social Service, a Roman Catholic religious women’s organization. The Sisters owned the house for over 50 years, during which time they transformed it into a convent and even added a chapel. In 1994, the Sisters abandoned the residence. In 1999, the mansion was recognized as a historical and cultural landmark within the city.
While looking for a spooky, castle-like location to shoot the first season of the hit FX series, the Rosenheim Mansion was ultimately selected. This iconic house served as the filming site for American Horror Story. Additionally, it has appeared in various TV shows and movies, including Spider-Man, Dexter and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Many Americans link this mansion to themes of murder, sparking curiosity among visitors who want to see if it’s truly haunted. It’s important to note that this connection is largely a product of the film industry, but that doesn’t take away from its fame.
A haunted cruise ship-hotel
It refers to the iconic ship The Queen Mary, the leading floating hotel in Los Angeles. Once a cruise ship that sailed the Atlantic, it hosted numerous celebrities.
After the outbreak of World War II, The Queen Mary was called into service to ferry troops to battlefields in Europe. Since that time, there have been numerous legends linked to deceased soldiers aimlessly roaming the halls of the luxury hotel. In one of the various interpretations, these souls are forever searching for peace.
The ship is also known as the Gray Ghost owing to the presence of numerous ghostly tales associated with it. For instance, strange motor sounds and eerie rattling can frequently be heard at night, enhancing the spooky atmosphere.
The historic ship is moored in Long Beach and is a popular tourist attraction in Los Angeles. In addition to supernatural adventures, there are other attractions on the grounds, such as educational tours, spa treatments and various exhibitions. A special highlight is the variety of dining establishments, from casual spots to high-end restaurants. With 80,000 square feet of space, the ship frequently hosts public events like weddings, conferences and social gatherings.
In addition to that, it’s important to highlight the thrilling night tours focused on supernatural events. Guests will be led through the ship’s haunted spots.
The old Griffith Park Zoo
The zoo grounds were left to decay back in 1965. Remnants are still present, along with a creepy cave-like facade. The site contains animal cages as well as abandoned and neglected buildings. Gradually, the signs of modern city dwellers began to appear – graffiti.
If legend is to be believed, the original owner’s niece put a curse on his land and his family that once housed the Griffith Park Zoo. This curse stemmed from her uncle’s betrayal regarding his will. Don Antonio Feliz was the original owner of the ranch in the past. It is said that a local politician drafted Feliz’s will before he passed away from smallpox in 1863. He cunningly tried to lure the Feliz family out of the land deal.
Since then, the owners have been haunted by serious misfortunes and untimely deaths. While a few cases could be called unfortunate coincidences, each occurrence, in this case, proved to be deadly. The last owner of the land passed away unexpectedly, therefore the city received a donation of the 3,015-acre property.
You might assume that would end the curse, but 30 civilian employees working on the Griffith Park restoration project under the New Deal lost their lives in a forest fire. It was just one of many unfortunate events. For instance, a couple strolling through the park met a tragic fate when a tree suddenly fell and crushed them.
What makes Griffith Park so intriguing is that it’s been the site of several murder investigations and reports of bodies being buried there. For instance, a zoo employee discovered a human skull on the zoo premises. Following investigations, it was established that the deceased individual was a woman in her early twenties. Yet the cause of her death and the identity of her killer remain a mystery. As a result, restless spirits wander through the park without finding peace.
Therefore, it is highly likely that the old Griffith Park Zoo is still haunted. Nevertheless, this does not decrease the number of people wanting to visit it at night in hopes of spotting some ghosts.
Cobb Estate
This location is eerie, yet one of the wealthiest areas in California. Readers will also find it intriguing that Cobb Estate was torn down and now a haunted forest stands in its place.
The history of Cobb Estate includes tales from the gold rush, the lumber baron, freemasons, nuns, the Marx Brothers and student conservationists. Over the years, many have reported unusual occurrences in the forest. Witnesses reported seeing apparitions during their nighttime visits to Cobb Estate. A few also heard high-pitched noises and shouts. Onlookers observed a small girl’s silhouette with a spectral man by her side.
There are two well-known stories associated with this place:
- One story goes that a school bus broke down and the driver got out on the road with the kids. Legend has it that a car came speeding around the corner and struck them, resulting in the kids’ immediate death.
- The second story involves a teenage girl who borrowed her parents’ car without permission to take her friends for a drive. Their car ended up breaking down on a hill and while the teens were trying to push it, another car came barreling down and killed them.
The TV ghost hunters visited the haunted forest that once was home to Cobb Estate. They brought specialized equipment to gather scientific evidence of the ghosts present on the site. One way they measured supernatural happenings was by using an electromagnetic field detector, which would switch from green to red when something unusual was detected. As a result, the hunters discovered that there was demonic activity in the area.
It’s also worth noting that several deceased bodies were discovered along the hiking paths of the Cobb Estate. Authorities suspect that the human remains located on and behind the forest trails have been present for quite some time.
Wonderland Murders House
This location can be found at 8763 Wonderland Ave., Los Angeles 90046. It’s the site of four horrific murders, yet from the outside, it appears to be just a typical house with a rather ordinary iron balcony.
On July 1, 1981, it was reported that Eddie Nash, a figure associated with organized crime and the owner of a nightclub, was the victim of a robbery. The attack targeted five individuals: Ron Launius, Billy Deverell, DeVerrel’s girlfriend Joy Audrey Gold Miller and Barbara Richardson, who was David Lind’s girlfriend. All four were killed by blunt force trauma, likely inflicted with hammers and metal pipes. The only survivor was Launius’ wife, who suffered severe brain damage and permanent amnesia from the attack. She not only lost her husband that terrible day but also part of a finger and underwent surgery to remove a portion of her brain.
Afterward, in 2003, James Cox directed the film Wonderland, which was inspired by true events. Eyewitnesses claim the place is haunted, but it is still under private ownership.
