Haunted or not? The Hotel La Rose, located in Santa Rosa. (Nora Sitton / The Puma Prensa)
By Nora Sitton, Senior Staff Writer
Many of the people living in Sonoma County are aware of its general history, but what about its paranormal history and local legends? Beneath the peaceful scenery and historic buildings are tales that have haunted locals for years. It may come as a shock that Sonoma County holds some of the most haunted sites in the state of California, or even the country.
For instance, the Sebastiani Theater, located in Sonoma, is known for its vibrant performances and historic atmosphere, but also the presence of multiple spirits. One such spirit is Barbara, the first ever stage manager at the theater. She was walking the catwalk above an ongoing performance, and fell onto the stage. The impresario claimed "Barbara is fine. She’s just done. We’re taking her home out the back door and she’s going to rest.” These were the last words Barbara heard before dying, and legend says that she never discovered her own death and believes she still works as the manager to this day. Another reported spirit from the playhouse is Kelly, a 16 year old girl wearing a 1920s style yellow dress, who resides in the bathroom. She reportedly lurks over the shoulders of women fixing their appearance in the mirror to help them with hair and makeup. But, not every spirit is found to be as friendly. When it comes to the Shadow Man, an unidentified spirit, he is recounted as aggressive and malevolent, and is believed to be aligned with a demon. The Shadow Man resides in the balcony, where allegedly a murder occurred but went unreported for some time. It is told that if the Shadow Man attempts to reach out to people they will feel a deep discomfort and the sense of being stalked.
Next up is another theater, the Phoenix Theater in downtown Petaluma. The Phoenix Theater was originally opened in 1904 as the Hill Opera House before experiencing a series of fires, and is known for housing a couple entities. One reported ghost is Big Chris. He was supposedly a guest at the theater and is said to have been murdered later on. Another spirit haunts the projection room, described as a man with angular features and white hair; his presence coincides with reports of mysterious phone calls and heavy footsteps. A more frightening presence is made by the lady in the bathroom, an aggressive spirit who was previously exorcised in the 1980s by a psychic from the Berkeley Psychic Institute.
Not all of Sonoma County’s paranormal stories take place in old buildings, however, as some are said to appear along quiet winding roads such as Mays Canyon Road in Guerneville. Mays Canyon road holds the local legend of a barefoot woman wandering the lane by herself. She will often be on the side of the road and will interact with drivers traveling the canyon who dared to slow down, whilst talking about her husband. Others claim to have driven straight through her image only for her to dissolve into the mist.
Another venue booming with paranormal phenomena is Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa. This particular inn is renowned as one of the most haunted historic resorts in America. There are two entities in the building. Victoria is known to stroll the hallways, typically on quiet foggy evenings. Legend says she was an early European settler who celebrated her wedding and many following anniversaries at the hotel. Another is an unidentified elderly man who is known to be in the oldest 1920s era rooms and appears as a shadowy figure. However, the largest attraction is not a singular spirit, but a room. The round room is the original 1920s era building and a key spot for otherworldly activity. Reported phenomena consists of unexplained running water, flickering lights, slamming doors, sightings of the elderly man, and feeling another presence in the room.
Although, the location with the greatest claim to paranormal activity is the city of Sonoma and its plaza, especially when concerning Sonoma’s hotels. The Blue Wing Inn is one of the most haunted buildings in the Sonoma Plaza. Built around 1840 by General Mariano Vallejo, it served as one of the first hotels and saloons north of San Francisco. The inn hosted many historical figures and has a very rich history. The building’s history is accompanied by some very memorable apparitions like the Blue Lady, also known as the Lady With the Lamp. She has been spotted as the apparition of a female spirit wearing blue velvet and is often spotted peering off the second-story balcony or dawdling near the back staircase. Interestingly enough, other residents of the building are the apparitions of a pirate and a ghostly puppy on the second floor.
Beneath a few intriguing and mysterious legends lie a darker, more tragic side of Sonoma’s history. Within Sonoma Plaza grows the 400 year old whipping tree. The tree was the site of whippings and torture of enslaved Indigenous people by European colonizers. The actions of Father Jose Altima, a Spanish Franciscan Friar, are the most famous regarding the tree. He ordered punishments for leaving the Mission San Francisco Solano, speaking their Native languages, and being late to church. Enslaved people would be chained naked to the tree after being whipped 40 times and were not allowed food or water, causing many deaths. The owner of the paranormal tour guide business, Carla Heine, stated “there used to be a creek there and the creek used to run red.” It is said that if visitors go to the tree after midnight, they may hear the wailing of native women who sang to the tortured souls to give them strength.
In terms of slightly more local hauntings, the Hotel La Rose is located in downtown Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square and is one of the most haunted resorts in Sonoma County. The site is specifically recognized for Room 42, reported as the epicenter for paranormal events. Legend tells of a family staying in this room who were affected by a violent crime and never checked out. Present day guests report bathroom sinks turning on by themselves, phone calls without any speaking, and hearing disembodied voices. Followed by the ghostly children, employees and guests report seeing the ghost of a young child named Daniel or two children taking rides up and down the elevator, playing hide and seek, and wandering the halls. Lastly, there is the Woman in a Nightgown who is seen floating throughout the halls and passing straight through closed doors.
Other experiences to explore include Historic Haunted Petaluma Tours, Sonoma Plaza Ghost Walking Tour, and Buena Vista Winery Haunted Wine Tour and Tasting. Sonoma County’s history of hauntings is a mix of mystery, local folklore, and tragedy. Whether you believe in supernatural occurrences or simply enjoy a good thrill, each spot offers a peek into the stories that shape local legend and identity, and are definitely sites worth checking out.