Vallecito Stage Station
At one time, the famous Butterfield Stage passed through this area on its way from St. Louis to San Francisco. Vallecito, with its strangely cooler temperatures than the surrounding desert, made a fine place for a stopover to catch a bite to eat and water the horses. The original 1851 station is long-gone, but in 1931, an historically accurate reconstruction was built on the site. Today, the land is a County park and host to no lack of ghost sightings. Phantom stages and apparitions of horses are said to still pass through, although the star of the ghostly show is Vallecito’s own White Lady. It’s claimed that the apparition is that of a young woman now buried on the site. Legend has it that she was traveling on the stage in the 1850’s when she took ill and died at the station. Stage employees searched her luggage and, unable to find any identification or information about her next of kin, they did find her white wedding dress, in which they promptly buried her. The park offers several camping sites and full daytime access to the rebuilt stage station and adjoining cemetery.
Julian Gold Rush Hotel
Oriflamme Mountain
This desolate area is reported to be the site of re-occuring ghost lights. The name "Oriflamme" seems provocative, translating in French to "golden fire," but probably refers to the steamship Oriflamme that brought gold prospectors to the region in the middle of the 19th century. According to witnesses, multiple bright lights appear on the mountain after dark without explanation. Classic "Mountain Lights." NOTE: Image to the left is simulated phenomenon, not actual evidence.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, CA, 760-767-5311
37349 County Road S-2, Pleasant Valley, CA, 858-694-3030
This beautifully appointed Victorian-style bed and breakfast in the heart of Julian offers many ghost stories alongside their famous homemade granola. Guests in the upstairs rooms of the main building frequently report a definite sense of being watched or the presence of something unknown. While this is understandably uncomfortable for some guests, many instead claim they find the presence warm and welcoming.
2032 Main Street, Julian, CA 92036 (760) 765-0201
A short drive east of San Diego proper reveals a surprising change in the landscape. The rolling hills become more jagged, the temperature drops in the mountains, and just over the peaks, an arid desert stretches out as far as the eye can see. These lands were the homes of Kumeyaay Indians, gold miners, cutthroats, and all the ghosts they’ve left behind.
Copyright 2008 Paul Chickowski
About the Site
After running a public group for a few years, I decided to call it quits and focus on research and writing. Supernatural San Diego is my attempt to correct some of the worst untruths about San Diego ghosts and give you guys a chance to see photos of the sites before planning an investigation.
I've deliberately gone with a brighter, daylight approach - I was getting a little bored with everyone else's black background and clip-art ghosties. Hope that's OK with you!
I've deliberately gone with a brighter, daylight approach - I was getting a little bored with everyone else's black background and clip-art ghosties. Hope that's OK with you!
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