Get ready for a spine-tingling adventure as we explore California’s state parks this Halloween. From ghost towns frozen in time to historic sites steeped in mystery and macabre lore, here are four parks perfect for your spooky season travels:
If you’re in search of a haunted Halloween experience steeped in California’s Gold Rush past, Shasta State Historic Park (SHP) is your answer. At the heart of this park stands the county courthouse, turned into a museum and restored to its 1861 appearance, complete with eerie gallows and four dungeon-like jail cells downstairs. It’s surrounded by old, half-ruined brick buildings, silent roads, and cemeteries that once formed the bustling town of Shasta City. Each October, the park conducts cemetery tours, some by daylight and others under the moonlight.
But Be Warned!
The atmosphere grows even creepier in the courthouse jail – it’s not for the faint of heart. Visitors often report eerie sounds and unsettling sensations, and if you dare step into a cell, you might wake the resident ghost, Marsh Market Jake, notorious for giving guests a fright. Enter at your peril!
2) Point Sur State Historic Park
Perched on a volcanic rock formation along California’s iconic Big Sur coastline, Point Sur SHP is home to the historic Point Sur Lightstation. The lighthouse has a rich history of guiding ships through the treacherous waters along California’s central coast. One of the highlights of visiting Point Sur around Halloween is its moonlit ghost tours that take place in October. Led by knowledgeable guides, these tours delve into the eerie tales of Point Sur’s past—stories of shipwrecks, lonely lighthouse keepers and unexplained happenings. If you’re drawn to isolated and windswept historic sites with a touch of the supernatural, check this park out.
But Be Warned!
Point Sur SHP is only accessible via guided tours, so you’ll need to plan ahead and book a tour to visit. The ghost tours in particular are quite popular around Halloween, so early reservations are recommended.
Experience Halloween chills in a genuine 1800s ghost town, frozen in time in the Eastern Sierra Nevada. Once a booming mining town bustling with 8,000 residents, Bodie State Historic Park now offers a soul-stirring glimpse into the past. Its historic streets are lined with weathered wooden buildings and rusting mining equipment maintained in a state of “arrested decay.” You can explore remnants of a bygone era, peer inside historic buildings and let the howling winds send a shiver down your spine. Tales of gold rush fortune and folly, lively and lawless saloons, and the rugged frontier make it a perfect destination for a hauntingly memorable Halloween.
But Be Warned!
Be prepared for colder weather at this time of year. Bodie sits at a high elevation, and temperatures can drop significantly, especially at night. Some areas might even see snow as early as October. Winter hours are now in effect at Bodie – the park is open daily 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
4) Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
Once a Native Kumeyaay village, then a Mexican pueblo, and later an American settlement, Old Town San Diego SHP showcases its layered and rich past through its historic buildings, many of which have ghost stories attached to them (you can hear some of those stories told by park staff here).
But Be Warned!
Late October-early November is one of the busiest times at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, with plenty of visitors and special events. Plan ahead and be sure to take advantage of the many forms of public transportation to the park.