San Diego offers a little bit of everything. The foodie has incredible restaurants to choose from, and the surfer has legendary waves to catch. But perhaps most exciting is for the ghost hunter who will discover a vast network of haunted sites to visit.
The William Heath Davis House is known as one of the most haunted sites in San Diego, being the oldest wooden structure that has survived to this day. It tells tales of the city’s past, the house’s many owners, and visitors who came to stay—and never left.
Originally the hope of starting a new town, the William Heath Davis House has turned into a home for all things spooky and mysterious that attracts the curious from all corners of the world.
A Chain of Changing Owners
William Heath Davis first constructed the building in 1850 to create the foundation of a new town appropriately named “New Town.” Unfortunately, not all were on board with his aspirations. His efforts met with great hostility, and eventually, he abandoned them. Later, Alonzo Horton continued this goal, bringing tons of new growth but leaving the William Heath Davis House intact.
Later, the abandoned building underwent a revival when a great need for a local hospital arose. A local woman, Anna Scheper, who worked with San Diego County, decided to turn it into a hospital. All she asked was a dollar for every patient she saw.
The building later changed owners several more times, leaving remnants of its many functions behind. Guests today can see traces from its hospital days, signs from when it was a private residence, and even when it functioned as a Civil War officers’ barracks.