Haunted Tourism: 101

GHOSTLY GETAWAYS: FROM LANDMARK INNS TO TOP-SHELF RESTAURANTS,

MONTEREY COUNTY, CALIF. -- From the sacred grounds of Big Sur to the swashbuckling seaport of Monterey Bay, this county's havens harbor a litany of irresistible ghost stories. Early on, this region hosted a rugged mix of Indians, seafaring Portuguese, Chinese fishermen, Russian otter hunters, Old World Italians, Wild West outlaws, Mexican armies and Spanish vaqueros. The capital of Alta California boasted gems of land and sea, a bounty for the brave who endured a long and tumultuous history rife with shoot outs, shipwrecks and sword-wielding Spaniards. Today, visitors can tap into a variety of haunted sites filled with an abundance of lore and lure - a paranormal playground of sorts. 

RESTAURANT 1833 (STOKES ADOBE)/MONTEREY 

LORE - This classic tile-roofed adobe in Old Monterey is flush with paranormal activity. Built in 1833, the meandering two-story building was purchased in 1834 by English sailor James Stokes, who jumped ship in Monterey with a stolen medical case and summarily opened up a medical practice. It is said he went on to kill a significant percentage of the population, including then Governor Jose Figueroa, whom he snagged a commission as personal physician. 

Legend claims Stokes was caught violating his daughter, poisoned himself on site and is said to return at night to rattle the restaurant. A happy ghost named Hattie Gragg lived in the adobe as well, making it the town's social spot. She is regularly reported as an elderly woman in an ankle-length skirt causing flashing lights, mysteriously salting wineglasses and slamming doors in the upstairs bedroom where she died in 1948. During the renovation of the new restaurant (2010), workers adopted a strict buddy system at night.

 

LURE - Summer/2010 Restaurant 1833 debuts under new ownership with a chic redux. The 164-seat restaurant takes a twist on its past with rare antique lighting fixtures, period floor lamps, lounge-friendly furniture and seven dining rooms including Hattie's Room - complete with glowing salt crystals in a boudoir typesetting - to the Library, a colonial masterpiece sporting dark wood accents. Mixology is king here, with a sexy entrance bar/lounge taking on an apothecary backdrop of antique lab bottles, white-jacketed mixologists and custom botanicals. The menu reflects chef Tim Mosblech's hyper-local focus, including his hand-harvested salts from the Big Sur coast.www.restaurant1833.com. 

MONTEREY HOTEL 

LORE - Paranormal seems to be normal at this vintage 1904 building where the ghost of Fred and other sprits romp regularly. The turn-of-the-century hotel's sculpted façade with ornate moldings, bay windows and amazing architectural features is home to an image of a man dressed in Edwardian clothing with a high hat, known to be spotted in the mirror facing the front desk. Most amazing is his presence in room 217, where guests and ghost hunters have heard a male voice talking about 75 stairs. Televisions and radios pop, the digits 7 and 5 appear randomly and apparitions are commonplace. Also on site is a ghost image of a girl about 13 years old sitting on the hotel staircase. 

LURE - Today, the 40-room Monterey Hotel is an ideal locale smack on the Path of History Walking Tour in Old Monterey. Renovations in 1982 and 1996 delivered hand-carved stair railings, redwood ceilings, and a meticulous restoration recreating the property's original European style. The ornate original elevator cage with gilt edging and beveled glass is still in place but not operational. Across the street, the Golden State Theatre (1926) delivers a cross mix of nostalgia backed with a year-round roster of film festivals and concerts. The mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ also makes a debut now and then. www.montereyhotel.com; www.goldenstatetheatre.com. 

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON HOUSE/MONTEREY 

LORE - Built in the 1830s and operated as a boarding house and the French Hotel, the Stevenson House has been known to host "The Lady in Black" and other ancillary ghosts for more than 80 years. Named for the famous 19th century author who lived here for only one year, this two-story adobe is rife with paranormal activity, including the sounds of a trunk being dragged across the upstairs floor, books pulled from shelves and open to well-worn pages, and bizarre experiences reflecting life in the late 1800s. Many believe Manuela Girardin, owner of the property in 1879, walks the hallways and nursery in a long black Spanish gown, as well as other ghosts who roam the garden on a regular basis. 

LURE - Part of the Monterey State Historic Park system, the Stevenson House has been beautifully restored as a period home with several rooms devoted to "Stevensonia" and is a top stop for scouting the Scottish novelist, poet and travel writer's works. It is said that the Monterey Peninsula had a significant influence on his setting for Treasure Island. (Saturdays 1-4 p.m., free).http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=963. 

MISSION SAN ANTIOIO DE PADUA/FT. HUNTER LIGGETT 

LORE - Two apparitions have been documented in and around this National Register of Historic Places, including a candle-carrying padre who walks the mission grounds and Cleora, the ghost of the Headless Horsewoman. Soldiers stationed at Ft. Hunter Liggett have reported the vision of a headless woman on horseback riding the crest of the hills near the mission. Local Indians claim her husband caught her with another man who was prospecting the area and, in a rage, killed her. To ensure her misery and shame, he buried her body and head separately and her spirit rides the countryside in search of her remains. The best time to spot Cleora is in front of the mission church at sunrise and sunset. 

LURE - Established in 1771, Mission San Antonio de Padua is the most remote of the 21 Spanish missions and well worth the 25-mile drive southwest of King City. It was the most successful mission in educating and converting Indians to Christianity as well as the most prosperous of all the missions. Today, the missions and grounds have been lovingly restored by private funding, including the Hearst Foundation and local soldiers working off -duty. Nearby, seeking a little refuge for his cigar-toting equestrian friends, Hearst commissioned Julia Morgan to design a small hacienda in the late 1920s named Milpitas Hacienda. Fresh off a soft-goods renovation, the 12-roomHacienda Lodge sports Morgan's signature California Mission style with a mix of clean and airy rooms starting at $50.00/dbl. Nearby, Nacimiento- Fergusson Road connects visitors to Big Sur in 24 miles - a gorgeous drive with sweeping views of the coast. [Back to Press Releases Main]