Spooky and Haunted Places in L.A. To Visit Next

Ghost sightings, strange noises, inexplicable senses…ladies and gentlemen, the much-awaited, most-celebrated holiday of Halloween is finally drawing near. California is home to many ghostly grounds, but you won't want to miss any of the haunted places in Los Angeles that are worthy of visiting this spooky time of year.

The expansive city of Los Angeles certainly has its skeletons. (Is there anything better than unearthing L.A.'s sinister spots?) While a few places are fictional and man-made, others are very, very real. Take a spooky tour with us—if you dare—to the haunted places in Los Angeles.

P.S. Proceed with caution.

The Rosenheim Mansion

For fans of the show American Horror Story, this house is no stranger. Filmed on-site, the show's fanatics and paranormal lovers alike are bound to get into the Halloween spirit when visiting this spooky stately house. Tiffany stained glass, Italian brickwork, and exotic wood features add undeniable touches of eeriness to the mansion. The house was built in 1902, and it took architect Alfred Rosenheim five years to complete it. With six fireplaces, a gold-leaf ceiling, a solarium, a circular library, and a high-end recording studio, there's no wonder all the TV shows wanted to film in this creepy mansion.

Pico House

The old Pico House hotel opened its doors in 1870; Pío Pico was inspired to construct the most luxurious hotel in town. While the hotel is considered a California landmark, it's dark and sad history is all-consuming—a group of Chinese men were murdered on the premises in 1871. Despite its gory past, the 82-room hotel was quite popular during the 1900s. Many visitors claim to have seen Don Pío Pico himself roaming the halls of the hotel, while others spotted vengeful spirits. Book your guided tour in October through DTLA Walking Tours for the ultimate Halloween scare.

The Entity House

With a name like the Entity House, you know a spooky story awaits you. An alleged haunting occurred in 1974 to a woman named Doris Bither. The haunting was quite extraordinary—it provoked author Frank De Felitta to write a book titled The Entity. The book was later adapted into a horror movie. The house may seem ordinary on the outside, but the suburban Los Angeles estate is anything but that.

Doris claimed to be brutally attacked and raped by three invisible men inside her home. The case caught the attention of Barry Taff and Kerry Gaynor, who were both working at a parapsychology lab; Taff and Gaynor then proceeded to conduct interviews with the victim. Both investigators uncovered inexplicable incidents when interviewing Doris. Are there spirits still roaming the halls of the home? Or is there another explanation for the Entity House? Ask you questions on the L.A. Ghost Tour as you uncover one of the most interesting scary places in L.A.

The Hollywood Roosevelt

The Hollywood Roosevelt is not only considered to be one of the top-rated California hotels for the rich and famous, but also quite the spot for apparitions from the other side. According to alleged claims, the ghost of Marilyn Monroe haunts her old domain. Some have stated that she appears in pictures in the famous mirror in the lobby—making it one of the most haunted places in Los Angeles. 

Another resident of the hotel to make an unexpected surprise is one who stayed in Room 928—the magnificent Montgomery Clift. Visitors and guests of the hotel have often wondered who plays the trumpet in Room 928 during all hours of the night and, to their surprise, visitors find themselves face-to-face with this talented actor. Some have claimed to witness lights and faucets turn on and off without any physically apparent person doing so as well (dum, dum, dum).

The Comedy Store

Don’t be fooled by the name, there's nothing funny about The Comedy Store. Sunset Boulevard has a dark secret, and you can visit this outdated hole in the wall to add mystique to your life this Halloween. Before becoming a comedy club in 1972, the joint was known as Ciro’s Restaurant. The owners of the restaurant had close ties with the mob, and the restaurant had built-in peepholes so the owners could see activity on the premises. L.A.-based gangster Mickey Cohen was using the club as a base for his operations and the basement of the restaurant was used to “take care of problems." Today, employees claim to hear, voices, whispers, cries, and screams coming from the basement.

The Knickerbocker Hotel

Marylin Monroe doesn't shy away from revisiting her favorite spots in L.A. Serving as an elderly facility now, the building was known as the prominent Knickerbocker Hotel in 1925. Many visitors claim that Rudolph Valentino haunts the premises and Marilyn Monroe is said to be seen hanging out in the ladies' room. Book a haunted tour in L.A. with L.A. Insider Tours for an in-depth look at the infamous Hollywood scandals and hauntings.

Queen Mary

The beloved Queen Mary ocean liner is one of the most iconic haunted places in Los Angeles. Visitors have reportedly seen ghosts in the engine room and in the first-class swimming pool. Others have seen women in old fashioned 1930s bathing suits roaming the decks and a young girl hugging her teddy bear. The hauntings are found on every level of the ship, so be prepared to witness the ultra eerie. Interested in conducting a paranormal investigation? Join the expedition into the depths of purported active locations—including places closed off to the general public—and connect with the spirits who call the ship home.

The House That Created Ghostbusters

Creator Dan Aykord came up with the brilliant idea of Ghostbusters while living in his own house—he credits the violent haunting of the home for having a part in his work. From doors locking on their own and lights turning on and off, to the piano playing by itself, this house's spirit residents are quite vocal. No surprise, Dan was not the first occupant of the house; former “Mama” Cass Elliot and Natalie Wood once called this place their home. It's been said that these old residents haunt the house in an attempt to reclaim their property.

The Linda Vista Hospital

The hospital was first established in 1904 and was named the Linda Vista Hospital in 1937. For the first part of the 20th century, the hospital and its surroundings flourished. Nonetheless, the hospital met its demise thanks to the Great Depression and World War II, as did most of the country. To compound the issue, L.A. was slowly transforming into a land of crime and corruption, which resulted in a decrease of funds for the hospital. During the '70s and '80s, many gunshot wounded patients streamed through the ER doors as a result of the ever-growing gangs in Los Angeles. In 1991, the hospital permanently closed its doors due to a lack of funding and doctors.

Many ghost hunters and paranormal TV shows began filming in the hospital in attempts to record any signs of patient remnant existence. Rumor has it that many spirits, including both staff and patients, can still be found roaming the hospital halls.

Read on for more weird places to visit in California this spooky season. Happy Halloween to all, and to all a good fright.