If there’s no such thing as ghosts, then explain the supernatural incidents at San Diego’s Whaley House, a destination dubbed “America’s most haunted house.”
“I have definitely been present when people claim they hear things, smell things and, in some cases, even see apparitions,” says Victor Santana, operations manager at The Whaley House and Museum.
Widely-known for its unexplained occurrences, the historical house was built in 1856 by Thomas Whaley, a former New Yorker who came West during the Gold Rush. It's quite possible Whaley got a sweet deal on the land given it was once home to the San Diego gallows, a place where countless criminals were executed.
Though he doesn't know exactly how many people died at the site, Santana says one prisoner stands out.
“Yankee Jim Robinson was executed on site after he stole a boat,” says the Whaley House manager. “Legend says that Thomas Whaley was actually a witness to that execution.”
Whether it's true or not, Santana says that Whaley reported haunted happenings in his home in the years that followed, citing heavy footsteps going up and down the stairs while he worked in his office.
“He would also sometimes hear a man grunting, if you will, and he would attribute that to Yankee Jim Robinson,” he says.
After dying of natural causes, Whaley is said to have become a ghost himself at the house, with some visitors claiming to smell the cigars he enjoyed smoking. “Or you might even see him at the top of the staircase looking down on you,” says Santana.
Other mysterious occurrences at The Whaley House include the unexplained scent of lavender in the air, attributed to Whaley's wife's perfume, as well as possible ghosts of the Whaley family's pets.
“You might feel something brushing up against your leg, even licking your leg in some cases. And they believe that's the family dog,” says Santana.
Has Santana ever actually seen an apparition there?
"I have never seen a ghost," he confirms. However, he has had a couple of odd experiences, including seeing a doll that seemingly appeared to move on its own once and occasionally he's heard a women's voice crying late night at night.
Santana was also present during a paranormal investigation at the site in which an EVP (electronic voice recorder used by investigators), picked up something utterly spine-chilling.
“You set up a recorder and you ask questions (like), ‘Is anybody in the room with us? What is your name?’ So, one of the questions was, ‘Are you happy that we are here with you tonight?’” explains Santana.
“And when you play back the recording, you hear somebody say, ‘No.’”
The Legend of the Bell Witch Legend of Hells Funnel River Styx Bridge Franklin, Ben The Addison Haunting Westminster Abbey Haunting The Haunting at Apsley House The Haunted Grenadier Pub The London Tower Ghosts of the Stanley The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel Hauntings Ghosts of Gettysburg The Story Behind the Winchester House The Titanic Exhibit Tombstone - Arizona The Ghosts of Waverly Hills Sanatorium The Ghosts of Eastern State Penitentiary Legend of Huggin Molly Deer Island Pirate Sloss Furnace Spirits Crescent Hotel Spirits Dead Womans Crossing Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Paranormal Experience Bellamy Bridge - Newlywed John Lennon and the Dakota Moundsville Shadow Man Ghost of Chloe at the Myrtles Plantation The Surrency Family Poltergeist The Drake Hotels Lady In Red The Legend of Zombie Road The ‘grandmas’ in the cemetery The Ghost Dog The Ghost Nanny The unexpected passenger The ghosts of Willoughby Coal The ghost truck stop The ghost in the choir loft The phantom ambulance lights The ghosts of Stone’s Public House The haunted ventriloquist doll The imaginary 'friend' The kidnapping ghost The ghost of Captain Joseph White Legend of the Blue Boy
