The Most Haunted Places in Fresno

Fresno, California, founded in 1872, is a region filled with beauty, nature, and diverse culture. It is the most productive agricultural area in the state and has made California the raisin capital of the world. While it is an area filled with growth and prosperity, there is also a great darkness that hovers over many of the historical buildings and locations in this California town.

If you are ready to learn more about the haunted history of Fresno, schedule your next ghost tour with us at Fresno Ghosts and prepare yourself for a haunting good time!

What is the Most Haunted Place in Fresno?

Along with producing an abundance of fruits and vegetables, Fresno is also known for having an abundance of ghost stories, urban legends, and haunted locations. From the Lost Lake haunted by the spirit of a young boy to the phantom performer who lurks in the Roosevelt High School auditorium, what is the most haunted place to visit in the San Joaquin Valley?

Meux Home Museum

Nothing screams ‘haunted’ quite like a Gothic-style Victorian mansion. This enchanting 16-room mansion was built in 1888 and owned by Dr. Thomas Richard Meux. Dr. Meux moved to the Fresno area from Tennessee after serving as an Army doctor during the Civil War. 

Meux’s wife Mary suffered from consumption, now known as tuberculosis, and the doctor thought the dry climate of California would help ease her suffering. And fortunately, it did. After relocating to Fresno, the couple had three children. The youngest was their daughter Anne, who was the last of the Meux family to live in the house, living there for 81 years until she passed away in 1970.

Anne was engaged to be married when her future husband tragically died after being thrown from a horse. Before he died, Anne promised him that she would never marry another, and she kept that promise. Some believe her spirit now haunts her old family home, mourning the death of her beloved.

According to history, Victorian ladies of Anne’s age often spent most of their time in their bedrooms working on various projects and staring longingly out the window, having few domestic duties to occupy their time. Locals claim to see apparitions of a woman looking out the window at people passing by.

Visitors have mentioned a dark and unsettling feeling overcome them as they enter the home. Sounds of children laughing can be heard in the upstairs rooms. There are strange knocking noises reported by staff members working at the museum after hours. There are also claims that objects have gone missing and reappeared in different locations throughout the home.

Roosevelt High School

Roosevelt High School is a public school located in Fresno that serves students in grades 9 through 12. It was established in 1928. The school is said to be haunted in several locations, including the boy’s restroom and the auditorium.

The boy’s restroom located in the east hall is said to be haunted by a student who committed suicide there years ago. A janitor working there one night heard the sound of someone coughing after classes had ended for the day. He went to investigate, and there was no one to be found. 

The restroom was shut down and only used for storage for years, then later reopened during the 2007-08 school year. Students and staff members have reported feeling a cold chill coming from the restroom as they pass by, as well as the presence that someone is there.

While the boy’s restroom is spooky, the haunted area discussed most often at Roosevelt High is the auditorium. On October 10, 1960, during a school assembly, a student named Leslie Chambers suffered a heart attack while performing. He collapsed and died on the spot. His doctors later confirmed that Leslie had a congenital heart defect.

It has been said that Leslie’s ghost makes his presence known by causing objects to go missing and reappear in different locations. He will often play pranks on students while they are practicing for plays and musicals.

Leslie has not been forgotten by the students and staff at RHS. It has become a tradition for his name to be printed on every production leaflet in the list of cast and crew, letting his spirit know that he will always be acknowledged.

Kearney Mansion

The Kearney Mansion is a historic French-Renaissance style building that was built in 1903 by builders hired by the owner, Martin Theodore Kearney. Kearney was a substantial contributor to the agricultural department in Fresno County as well as the state of California. 

He was known as the Raisin King thanks to his wealth of knowledge in maintaining grapes and overseeing the process of turning them into raisins. The popular Sun Maid Raisin company was founded on one of the many managerial principles created by Kearney.

Kearney had hoped to create a 225-acre agricultural paradise on his property where the mansion stood, but his dreams were never completed. While he was in the process of collecting items to complete his home, he wanted to travel to Europe, but his doctor advised against it due to his failing health. 

Kearney ignored the warning and left anyway. He died at sea after suffering a heart attack. Some have claimed that they have spotted the ghost of Mr. Kearney wandering the grounds of his former home, hoping to complete his grand mission. 

But he’s not the only ghostly presence on site. There is a White Witch rumored to haunt the railroad near the house. According to legend, if you lock eyes with her, you will meet your fate. The apparition of a maid has also been seen around the home, making sure everything is still in order for her former boss.

Tyler Street House

The Tyler Street House is a modest home rumored to be a hot spot for ghostly activity since the mid-1980s. The home has gone through more than 20 owners over the years since the stories first began. 

There have been reports of seeing red eyes peering through the closets and in dark bedrooms. Objects have been known to fly off the countertops as well. 

Yet the most disturbing story to come from the house is the discovery of bludgeoned cat corpses found in the upstairs bedrooms on more than one occasion, when the current residents didn’t own any pets.

The stories have been repeated verbatim over the years but seem to be an urban legend since the home doesn’t even have a second floor. But that could just be bad retelling, especially since there hasn’t been anyone debunking the rumor of the creepy red eyes that are always watching.

Lost Lake

The Lost Lake Recreational Area in Fresno is a peaceful area with campsites, hiking trails, and picnic areas. It was once the ancestral home of the Native American tribe, the Wakichi Band of Yokuts. There have been several hauntings reported from this location, including the apparitions of restless spirits and sightings of strange creatures.

The hauntings at this location are not just based on folklore but also on real tragic events that occurred there. The swift currents from the lake have claimed many lives. There is also a large willow tree at the lake where several people have taken their own lives. Soft crying can often be heard in the vicinity of the willow tree.

Another ghostly encounter comes from a tale told by two fishermen who were fishing late at night. They noticed movement in the bushes nearby and aimed their flashlight to check for animals. They found a young boy dressed in swimming trunks standing silently by the water. 

When they looked again, the boy was gone. Some believe he was the spirit of a child who drowned due to the lake’s strong current. Many say there is an overwhelming sense of sadness in that area. Faint laughter can also be heard in the distance across the water after dark.

Sea Creature Sightings

Some visitors to the lake have claimed to see a large figure swimming toward shore. It’s not an ordinary animal, but an unknown creature that is around five feet tall. 

The creature is known to rise from the water on two legs before dropping to all fours and slithering back into the lake. Some believe it could be a dragon from Hmong folklore, which believes in the existence of ancient beings connected to water and earth.

Shadowy figures have been seen at the lake, including a tall figure in a white cloak and a man in a blue kimono who chases people away. 

People have mentioned hearing disembodied voices and seeing glowing orbs in the trees. One camper at the lake woke up to the sound of steady drumming in the distance. It is rumored the noise was echoes of Native American ceremonies held on site centuries ago.

Chandler Airport

The Chandler Airport got its start after WWI, when pilots would land in the empty field where the current airport is now. The airport itself was built in 1936, and while it isn’t as widely used today, it is now a place where spirits from long ago love to dwell. 

Given the age of the airport and the countless travelers who passed through, it is possible that some people have decided to return there after their deaths. The staff has witnessed a variety of ghostly encounters, usually after hours. 

Those who work in the restaurant inside the airport have heard disembodied voices at night while cleaning up. One night, they heard a rattling noise made by a wobbling plate on the countertop. The plate eventually fell off the edge onto the floor. No one was around to cause the plate to fall, and surprisingly, it didn’t break.

Fresno County Public Library

The Fresno County Public Library is a creepy location to visit at night. Many strange things have been reported there, especially in the children’s section located on the first floor. There is a dark presence that can be felt, and books have been known to fly off the shelves. 

Little is known about who the spirits may be or why they are there. On the second floor, people have seen the apparition of an older man believed to be the spirit of a former librarian. His presence has been felt by several staff members and visitors to the library. Some believe he has stuck around because he always enjoyed working there and doesn’t want to leave.

Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium

Located in downtown Fresno, this auditorium, built in 1936, has hosted many theatrical performances over the years. For many years, there have been rumors of haunting activity. 

Visitors have witnessed shadowy figures and heard mysterious footsteps behind them. Some believe that since the building is a memorial space for veterans, the hauntings could be from the ghosts of veterans who stop by for a visit.

Another common story from the auditorium is that of a phantom stagehand. It is said that his spirit roams the backstage area, moving objects around and causing them to reappear in different areas. 

People have heard footsteps and have seen shadowy figures out of the corner of their eye. According to the legend, the ghost is an old stagehand who died following a tragic accident at the theater.

Santa Fe Hotel

The two-story structure built in 1926 is one of the oldest and most important Basque institutions in Fresno. Historically, Basque hotels were a network of ethnic establishments where Basque immigrants could safely enter and move throughout the United States and be around their own people. This location was built near the railroad station, where it was easily accessible for immigrants arriving in the area.

While it served as a place of residence for the Basque people, it was also a hospital where people who were injured or ill could recuperate. Women would come to the Basque hotel during the later stages of pregnancy to stay until they gave birth. Basque children living on isolated ranches could stay at the hotels during the school year, and the hotels also functioned as a safe place for the elderly.

There are rumors of hauntings occurring at the Santa Fe Hotel, which are believed to be from the spirits of Basque sheepherders and other travelers who lived and died there. The spirits are rumored to linger outside the hotel, roaming around the property at night. Staff members have seen shadowy apparitions in the hallways, heard disembodied voices, and have seen objects moving all on their own.

One employee had a particularly frightful experience when the ghost of a man in a black hat stared directly at her from a closet in one of the guest rooms. He soon vanished when she took a second look.

Haunted Fresno

There are many more haunted places in Fresno and other areas in the San Joaquin Valley just waiting to be explored. Take the time to learn more about the locations mentioned here and other popular haunts in Fresno by visiting our blog. You can also schedule a ghost tour with us at Fresno Ghosts for a thrilling time in the Valley.

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Sources:

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