Haunted Places in Ventura, California

Ventura, California is a culturally rich, and diverse community, located on the California coast, below gentle foothills, between two rivers that once ran freely to the Pacific Ocean, and about 60 miles north of Los Angeles. It's founding, as a city, was basically based around the old, down-town mission, San Buenaventura, in 1782. The mission still stands, and is open to the public. (http://www.sanbuenaventuramission.org ) I think it's almost to be expected, that a site as old as the mission, and the middle of the town's life at one time, would be one of Ventura's haunting places. It is said that an apparition of monk can be seen wandering the mission grounds.
http://media.www.venturacollegepress.com/media/storage/paper416/news/2002/10/28/Focus/Venturas.Haunted.Spots-308081.shtml

My first personal experience with ghost hunting was when I heard the story of Char-Man. There are many versions of the story, but the most common is that Char-Man died in a fire set by teens, in the 1950s. If you drive to a certain haunted place, just north east of the city of Ventura, to a place also known as a lover's lane spot, you will see Char-Man if you call out his name. He will come, but hopefully, he won't catch you! He is accused frightening and attacking teenagers, and hating rock and roll music, or music from the 1950s. We were youngsters then, and it was a way more innocent time. Our group all dared each other to get out of the car, run circles around the car, and yell "Char-Man!, Char-Man!," We scared our selves silly. And it was worse when we got into the car, to get the heck out of there before he came, and the car wouldn't start! All of us girls started screaming! Our friend Bob, loved this thrill so much, that he had installed a toggle switch under his dashboard which rendered the ignition inoperable. After making us beg and almost pass out, he flipped the switch back on, turned the key and we tore out of there.

Not all ghost huntings are such a hoax, and in fact, you can sign up for ghost hunting tours to some of our oldest, and most haunted places in Ventura, by contacting City Hall: "Paid in advance tickets are required, as many events sell out. Reserve tickets through the Community Service office at City Hall, 501 Poli St. (room 226), or by phone at 805-658-.4726." By the way, it is said that City Hall, it's self is a haunted place, and has a lady in a red dress, and a phantom judge, haunting the old courtrooms in the building, built in 1912.
http://www.cityofventura.net/newsmanager/templates/?a=450&z=10

When I hear the words "ghost" and "Ventura," in the same sentence, I think of Richard Senate, Former coordinator for historical programming for the City of Ventura. He is now retired, but still considered our top local authority by many. He is quoted as saying he "thinks Ventura, is one of the most haunted places in America." As a highly productive, historical writer, Senate is credited with over 800 sightings or paranormal experiences, and several published works on the subject. He has produced a huge legacy of history, folklore and information for us to pass on to future generations. One of his books, "Haunted Ventura," 1986, Published by Charon Press, is dedicated solely to haunted places in Ventura.
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/ventura.html

The now peaceful, and historic Olivas Adobe, is located walking distance from the beach Beaches, and remains in the fertile farming area of Ventura County. It is an original, two-story, Mexican home, still standing and open to the public. Once owned by the Olivas family, one of the wealthiest ranching families in Southern California, it is considered to be highly haunted. Some say a woman dressed in a black, 1800s-style dress has been spotted occasionally looking out of a second-story window. The entire history of the home, and it's owners, is as interesting as the hauntings alone. The home was featured on the "Sightings" TV show, and deemed haunted. They narrated stories about a ghostly lady, (Rebecca Olivas?), a little girl in white, many orbs, and a Indian servant.

Unknown, even by many locals, downtown Ventura is the birth place of the works of Erle Stanley Gardner, on which all the famous Perry Mason books and shows were based. There is an old law office on third floor of a building, on the corner of California and Main Streets, one block from City Hall and the original court in town. Visitors report seeing ghosts there, hearing unexplained sounds of an old fashioned typewriter and of 1930s-era big band music. And many of Gardner's stories had to do with hauntings and cases from Ventura.
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/mason.html
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http://www.ventura-usa.com/press/index.cfm?action=attractions

Cemetery Park, formerly named Memorial Park, was Ventura's cemetery from 1869 to 1941. Sightings there are said to include a white-gowned lady, a headless runner and a boy who hanged himself in a tree there. Many of the old tombstones and remains have been removed, but it is said not all, so careful where you step...

On Santa Clara Street, there are several nicely restored old original houses and historical landmarks. On one of those old houses is a restaurant named "The Landmark 78." They serve meals, drinks and provide entertainment in this charming old Victorian style home. It is said to be haunted by the ghost of a young Italian-American woman named Rosa who killed herself after a love affair gone wrong that left her "with child." It's a pleasant spot to for a meal, or a drink, and linger to wait and see if you can catch a glimpse of "lady of the house."

Down the block, and around the corner, and on the same street as the old offices of Erle Stanley Gardner, is the Bella Maggiore Inn, circa 1940's. Now it houses a bed & breakfast inn. It's home to a ghost named, "Sylvia," a prostitute who was found hung in a closet. Originally classified as a suicide, it is now said she was killed by a sailor, for whom she waits to return. It is said she climbs right into bed with guests of the Inn, and you know she has been there, because of the lingering order of rose-water perfume in the air.

One of the simplest hauntings in Ventura seems to be at the original Bard Hospital, a building which is now converted into office spaces. Some say that things will move around by themselves. Some say lights will turn off, by them selves. And if you want the lights to go back on, you simply say, "I'm not finished yet!," then the lights will go back on.

Why so haunted places in Ventura? "Many believe areas having had lots of different cultures interacting, might be the very reason there is so much energy, and attraction to the paranormal experience. Ventura certainly has had it's share of cultural diversity - originally home to Chumash Indians, having had it's own China Town and Chinese population in downtown, Mexicans from the south, Spaniards who brought the missions and their lifestyle, and the Europeans looking for the riches of the west. And all of those influences can be seen throughout the original section of Ventura, known as Old Towne Ventura. Is is so hard to believe that there are many of the same influences that not all of us can see?
http://www.vcreporter.com/cms/story/detail/?IssueNum=95&id=3940

http://www.ov-voice.net/ojai/col/senate/ghost-hunting-students-find-ghosts-and-other-stran.shtml