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Bigfoot Sightings in Yosemite National Park

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The mystery of the elusive Bigfoot is talked about all the way from south to the north in the USA. This is a couple of stories about Bigfoot’s history and potential sightings inside of Yosemite National Park in California. 

Under the towering pines and granite peaks of Yosemite National Park lies a realm of mystery and intrigue—a wilderness that has not only captivated nature enthusiasts but also ignited the fervent imaginations of those who seek the legendary creature known as Bigfoot. 

Although a legend for most, it is an actual thing for many, and it is said that about 1 in 10 American adults believe Bigfoot to be real as well as alive and well roaming the wilderness. In Washington there are even laws that can punish people that harm or kill Bigfoot. 

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Except for Washington, California is the place with more Bigfoot reports in the U.S, especially in Northern California and where you will find Yosemite National Park. Among the majestic landscapes and secluded meadows, tales of encounters with this elusive cryptid have woven themselves into the tapestry of Yosemite’s folklore. Here are some of the more talked about sightings of Bigfoot inside of the park. 

What is Bigfoot?

Bigfoot, also known as Sasquatch, is a legendary creature often described as a large, hairy, ape-like being that inhabits forests, particularly in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Reports of Bigfoot sightings have been circulating for centuries, with indigenous cultures having their own folklore about similar creatures.

Although no conclusive scientific evidence has been found to prove the existence of Bigfoot, numerous sightings, footprints, and anecdotal accounts have fueled belief in the creature’s existence. 

Ever since the late 1800s and early 1900s, the settlers have reported strange sightings, finding mysterious footprints and eventually, grainy pictures that kept the mystery alive. Could this hazy figure be the creature? Or perhaps just an elaborate hoax?

Bigfoot is often depicted as a shy and elusive creature, rarely seen by humans and leaving behind only ambiguous evidence of its presence, such as large footprints or strange sounds in the wilderness.

Interest in Bigfoot has led to the formation of dedicated research groups, the exploration of purported Bigfoot habitats, and the production of documentaries and television shows seeking to uncover evidence of the creature’s existence. Despite the lack of definitive proof, the mystery of Bigfoot continues to captivate the imagination of people around the world, sparking debates about the existence of unknown creatures and the boundaries of scientific inquiry.

Patterson-Gimlin film: The most well-known video of an alleged Bigfoot, was recorded on October 20, 1967, by Roger Patterson and Robert “Bob” Gimlin in an area called Bluff Creek in Northern California. It become an iconic piece of Bigfoot lore, and continues to be a highly scrutinized, analyzed, and debated subject. Academic experts from related fields have typically judged the film as providing no supportive data of any scientific value, with perhaps the most common proposed explanation being that it was a hoax.

Bigfoot in Yosemite National Park

Today you can find many traces of the legend of Bigfoot around Yosemite National Park. People tell stories about it around campfires as well as selling merchandise with the design from the Patterson and Gimlin film from 1967. 

The Bigfoot is deeply ingrained into the Yosemite legends now, and some even claim that this is the very first home of Bigfoot. There are also those claiming to have seen and even interacted with the big yet elusive creature, and many dark things have been done by a true believer. 

A Serial Killer’s Obsession with Bigfoot

One of those claiming to have encountered Bigfoot and had a bit of an obsession over the mystery of the supposed monster, was Cary Stayner, a serial killer and keen hiker inside of Yosemite. 

Stayner gained notoriety as an American serial killer who committed a series of murders in California’s Yosemite National Park in the late 1990s. Born on August 13, 1961, Stayner’s troubled upbringing included the traumatic experience of witnessing his brother’s abduction at the hands of a serial predator from the park. 

He spent a lot of time hiking and camping in Yosemite from early childhood, and it was also where his brother was held and captured by a former employee at Yosemite Lodge. 

In Stayner’s early twenties he started going on about claiming to have encountered Bigfoot and talked about it all the time to his friends and family. This claim perhaps started small, but it soon grew into an obsession for him. According to his family, it was difficult to say if he feared the creature he believed existed, or if he identified too much with it. 

In February 1999, Stayner brutally murdered four women—Carole Sund, her teenage daughter Juli, their friend Silvina Pelosso, and Yosemite naturalist Joie Armstrong—while they were visiting the park. To many of his victims and witnesses, he asked them all if they believed in Bigfoot before doing his crimes. Stayner’s crimes shocked the nation and sparked a massive manhunt before he was apprehended and later convicted. His case shed light on the complexities of mental illness and the devastating impact of childhood trauma on individuals’ lives.

The Screaming Bigfoot

One particularly compelling account hails from the Tuolumne Meadows from 2004. A California Conservation Corps worker, spending a quiet night in the wilderness, became an inadvertent participant in the enduring legend of Bigfoot. One of the workers was camping close to the lake in Tuolumne Meadows. He was startled by the unmistakable cadence of heavy footsteps approaching his tent—a rhythmic march echoing the lore of the elusive creature.

Driven by curiosity and perhaps a touch of trepidation, the worker emerged from his shelter to confront the unknown. In the pale moonlight, he found himself face to face with a creature whose existence had long been relegated to the realms of myth and legend. Standing at an imposing 600 pounds, covered in thick black fur, and balancing on two legs, the figure before him aligned with the iconic image of Bigfoot that has fueled countless speculations.

Tuolumne Meadows: Sunset over Tuolumne Meadows in the area where one of the alleged sightings of the Bigfoot happened. // Steve Dunleavy/Wikimedia

The encounter took an unexpected turn as the worker, confronted with the reality of a creature that defied scientific explanation, let out an instinctual scream. Much to his surprise and dread, the creatures screamed back—a resonant, otherworldly scream that reverberated through the night. 

In a bizarre exchange between man and legend, the creature retreated into the shadows, leaving the worker both awe-stricken and bewildered by the surreal nature of the encounter.

After he told about it to old timers at the closest camp, none of them were surprised, as most of them had had similar weird experiences, although perhaps not so close and loud ones. 

Does Bigfoot Live in Yosemite?

These accounts add a tangible layer to the speculative narratives that have shrouded Bigfoot in mystery. There seems to be a common story for people from every walks of life, from the dark and twisted mind of a serial killer, to a more down to earth park employee. And these two stories are certainly not the only ones that claim that something else is wandering in the wilderness.

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References:

The Most Well-Known Northern California Spots For Bigfoot Sightings 

Urban Legends, Myths and Scary Stories from Yosemite & Bass Lake – The Pines Resort Blog 

Watts Valley Wolf Ape – Sasquatch Chronicles 

Cary Stayner – Wikipedia 

https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/yosemite-horror

Tuolumne County, CA 2004 

Watch: ‘Bigfoot’ Spotted in Yellowstone National Park? 

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The Curse of Tenaya Canyon in Yosemite

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One of the more dangerous places to travel in Yosemite National Park is the Tenaya Canyon where many people have gotten hurt or even died. Many believe that the canyon is cursed after Chief Tenaya and his people got removed from Yosemite and their ancestral land.  

Amidst the towering sequoias and breathtaking landscapes of Yosemite National Park and its surroundings, a realm of shadows and whispered stories unfolds. As the sun sets behind the colossal sequoias, legends from modern day and ancient tales creep out from the well walked trails in the darkness of Yosemite’s haunted landscape.

Yosemite National Park covers 759,620 acres and stretches into four counties in California. It has been a World Heritage Site since 1984 and is filled with granite cliffs, giant sequoia groves, crystal clear lakes and streams and storming waterfalls from the mountains. 

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Although the European settlers’ story in Yosemite is from 1851 when it was “found” by James D. Savage, the Native Americans story in the valley stretches back to nearly 4000 years. As for human presence, perhaps as far as 10 000 years. And by the look of it, it also seems to be one of the more haunted National Parks in the USA as well. 

Tenaya Canyon: View of Half Dome through Tenaya Canyon were the curse of Chief Tenaya is said to linger after his son was murdered by settlers: Akos Kokai/Wikimedia

The Danger of Tenaya Canyon

In Yosemite National Park lies a place of beauty and dread – Tenaya Canyon. Carved over millennia by the mighty forces of nature, this rugged gorge boasts towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and untamed wilderness. 

The Tenaya Canyon has a reputation for being a dangerous and tricky place to navigate without proper equipment, even for seasoned hikers and climbers. Some say because of the polished and slippery rocks, frequent rock slides and a steep ascent, some say it is also because of something more sinister than a tough terrain. 

Because beneath Tenaya Canyon’s scenic facade lurks a darker tale, one of tragedy, curses, and inexplicable occurrences that have earned it the ominous moniker: the Bermuda Triangle of Yosemite.

The Removal of the Ahwahnechee Tribe

The Mariposa War: The war erupted due to tensions arising from the influx of settlers into Native territories, encroachments on indigenous lands, and disputes over resources such as gold. The conflict resulted in the suppression of Native American resistance and the forced relocation of many indigenous peoples onto reservations.Protecting The Settlers” Illustration by JR Browne for his work “The Indians Of California” 1864. Portraying a massacre by militia men of an Indian camp.

Tenaya Canyon is named after Chief Tenaya, leader of the Ahwahnechee people who once called the Yosemite Valley their home. The Ahwahnechee people were said to have become a distinct tribe from the other local tribes and Chief Tenaya, a proud and resilient leader, fought fiercely to protect his people and their ancestral lands from encroaching settlers. 

In 1850 to 1851, the Mariposa War took place in Yosemite National Park and Sierra Nevada between the English settlers and the native tribes in the area. A bloody conflict together with sickness brought from Europe that would take their numbers in the valley down from around 7000 to only 200 or thereabout in a decade. 

It was in the middle of the California Gold Rush and the settlers wanted to send the native tribes to the Fresno Reservation. Chief Tenaya together with the local tribes fought back. However, personal tragedy struck in the 1850s when Chief Tenaya’s own son fell victim to a battalion seeking to forcibly remove the Ahwahnechee from Yosemite Valley. 

In the beginning many of the tribe decided to go to the reservation, but many fled back to the valley. One of the ones that did so was the youngest and favorite son of Chief Tenaya. His son was held captive by the European settlers and when he tried to flee, he was shot dead.

In his grief and rage, Chief Tenaya reportedly invoked a curse upon the canyon, vowing that those who trespassed upon its sacred grounds would meet misfortune and doom.

The Curse of Chief Tenaya

There are a couple of different accounts about what exactly he did say. One account of this curse can be found in Hutchings’ California Magazine from 1859 by Lafayette Bunnell:

“Kill me if you like; but if you do, my voice shall be heard at night, calling upon my people to revenge me, in louder tones than you have ever made it ring.”
Source

It is worth noting though, this is a retelling by one that was involved in removing the native tribes from Yosemite. Another account from Lafayette Bunnell goes into more details about what happened, and released in 1892 where he cursed them like this: 

 “You may kill me, sir, Captain, but you shall not live in peace. I will follow in your foot-steps, I will not leave my home, but be with the spirits among the rocks, the water-falls, in the rivers and in the winds; wheresoever you go I will be with you. You will not see me, but you will fear the spirit of the old chief, and grow cold. The great spirits have spoken! I am done.”
Source

Although the history of it all is true, its details must be taken with a grain of salt according to the historians, as the only retelling of what happened, when and what was said, only comes from the side that won the battle, and was alive to tell the tale. 

But what do Tenayas descendants and the natives have to say about this story? A spokesperson from the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation claims that the curse is common knowledge among them as well. Every time someone dies or has a terrible accident, or the very nature itself is moved by rock slides for example, they say a prayer and bless to keep the curse of Tenaya away and Yosemite safe. 

But beware, it is said for those not respecting the rocks, the plants or the waters in the park, bad things will happen. 

The Dangerous Curse of Tenaya Canyon in Yosemite

Over the years, the curse of Tenaya Canyon has become the stuff of legend, whispered among park rangers and visitors alike. It is said that the Tuolumne Meadows is the place from where the curse itself comes from and is filled with the spirit of those that died in battle there. 

Tales abound of accidents, mysterious deaths, and inexplicable disappearances that have befallen those who dared to venture into its depths. It is worth noting though that for a big part of the canyon, signs telling people “Warning. This is not a trail. Travel beyond this point is dangerous without climbing equipment. Return to Tioga road.” 

Source

Mostly, hikers and climbers in the canyon mostly talk about the sense that something is there. Like the way the climber, Rom Kauk talked about in an interview. He has felt that it is something with him in the canyon, something pulling his sleeping bag. 

But there are some that think that the curse is more dangerous than just an ominous presence and some pranks around the tents. Some believe that the curse is at fault for many of the accidents, disappearances and even deaths that have happened in the canyon. Something that has made people call the canyon the Bermuda Triangle of Yosemite. 

Many have tried hiking the 10 mile long traverse of the canyon, or the route from Tenaya Lake to Yosemite Valley.

Even the Yosemite legend, Jon Muir fell and was unconscious while he explored this part of Yosemite National Park:

I suddenly fell — for the first time since I touched foot to Sierra rocks. After several somersaults, I became insensible from the shock, and when consciousness returned I found myself wedged among short, stiff bushes, trembling as if cold, not injured in the slightest.
– Steep Trails by Jon Muir

Hiking the Cursed Canyon

Park rangers, well-versed in the park’s history and its secrets, have come to regard Tenaya Canyon with a mixture of reverence and fear. Some speak of strange occurrences and unsettling vibes that permeate the air, hinting at unseen forces at work. The remaining native tribes also take the curse at face value and urge hikers to treat the canyon with the respect it demands.

Despite its breathtaking beauty, Tenaya Canyon remains a place of caution and respect, its cursed reputation serving as a grim reminder of the enduring power of the past and the spirits that still roam the land. So the next time you find yourself drawn to the allure of Yosemite’s wilds, tread carefully and heed the warnings whispered by the wind – for Tenaya Canyon may hold secrets best left undisturbed.

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References:

So many accidents occur here, it’s called the ‘Bermuda Triangle’ of Yosemite

Tenaya Canyon – Wikipedia  

https://media.library.caltech.edu/CaltechBOOK:2007.004/mstory/tenaya.htm

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The Haunted History of Sierra Sky Ranch in Yosemite

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The old Sierra Sky Ranch in the Sierra Nevada Mountains has had many people coming and going. From the tragic death of a farm hand to the victims of terminally ill tuberculosis patients, this historical hotel has some guests that never checked out. 

The Sierra Sky Ranch has stood witness to the ebb and flow of time ten miles from the south entrance to Yosemite National Park since its inception in 1875 and the original ranch house from 1900.

What began as a humble cattle ranch in the Sierra Nevada Mountains ended up as the area’s largest one before metamorphosed into a sanatorium for those afflicted by the scourge of tuberculosis in the 1930s until the 1940s. 

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The corridors of Sierra Sky Ranch echoed with the footsteps of children, innocent souls grappling with a relentless disease. From its time as a sanatorium it housed terminally ill patients until after the second world war when it was a halfway house for survivors.

Sierra Sky Ranch: The old ranch house has gone through many stages and today it operates as a hotel. According to sone, it is also a haunted hotel. //Source

Transitioning through the years, the ranch extended its healing touch to World War II veterans before evolving into the 29-room hotel it is today—a hotel that not only provides shelter to the living but also harbors the lingering spirits of the past.

Mostly the guests notice that a ghost could be haunting the room because of the smell of a perfume without anyone there, a piano that starts playing by itself and mysterious cloud-like things entering the room. There are also strange silhouettes that make guests and staff believe that the hotel is at least haunted by five different ghosts. 

The Ghost of the Farm Hand Elmer

The first and most likely the oldest ghost haunting the Sierra Sky Ranch hotel is thought to be Elmer, who was the original ranch hand when the ranch first opened. 

It is said old Elmer spent so much time in solitude and he started to drink and ended his life by hanging himself in a back tree at the property. Why he did as he did, no one knows, some claim that his home was sold off and he had no place to go. 

Another version of this story is that his ax slipped when chopping wood and he severed the main artery in his legs. He called for help but no one heard him and he bled to death. 

Many claim they can still hear his boots walking in the halls as well feeling a certain presence when they drink at the bar at Sierra Sky Ranch. 

The Haunted Bar: By the old bar at Sierra Sky Ranch it is believed that the old Elmer is haunting and has been seen wandering by the guests and staff. Source

The Ghost of the Nurse Sarah

Another ghost said to haunt the ranch is from the time when Sierra Sky Ranch was used as a sanatorium. Sarah was supposedly a nurse tending to the terminal patients and said to have a kind and calm presence, even in the way she is haunting the place. 

It is this ghost people write mostly about in the red guest book they use to collect all the strange and ghostly encounters guests have at Sierra Sky Ranch.  

The Ghosts of the Sickly Children

Sierra Sky Ranch is no stranger to the whispers of the supernatural, with reports of spectral activity painting an eerie portrait of its haunted legacy. At the heart of these ethereal tales are the “phantom children,” spirits of a bygone era who continue to frolic and play within the confines of the hotel. Guests and staff alike recount the unmistakable sounds of giggles and whispers reverberating through the halls.

A pair of ghosts are said to have been siblings in life, and are haunting together in their afterlife. They are said to be mischievous children that are playing and moving objects as the sound of them laughing and running is heard. 

Guests complain about the sound of children when there is no one there, or wake up and find two ghostly small silhouettes by the end of their beds. Staff finds doors they closed opened and objects around the hotel misplaced. 

A Night at the Haunted Sierra Sky Ranch

In the quiet corners and dimly lit corridors of Sierra Sky Ranch, the past asserts its presence as more and more ghosts are talked about. A World War II soldier in the library, ghosts from its Hollywood heydays as a luxury resort in the honeymoon suits. 

Read More: Check out all Haunted Hotels from around the world

As guests traverse the realms of the living and the spectral, the haunted history of this Yosemite haven continues to unfold—a testament to the enduring legacy of those who once sought refuge within its walls.

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References:

Weird Fresno: The ghosts and legends of Sierra Sky Ranch 

A Halloween Tale From Sierra Sky Ranch 

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The Haunted Morgan-Monroe State Forest and Stepp Cemetery

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There is not only one ghost story from Morgan-Monroe State forest and the Stepp Cemetery in the middle of it, there are many. Legends about creatures and ghosts keep the silent forest and burial ground alive. 

Morgan-Monroe State Forest stands as a silent witness to a myriad of chilling tales that have woven an enigmatic tapestry of supernatural lore. The forest in south-central Indiana is more than 25 000 acres and has steep ridges and deep valleys. 

Morgan-Monroe State Forest: Source: TrailSeeds/wikimedia

From inexplicable deaths to whispered rumors of satanic rituals and elusive encounters with mythical creatures like Yeti and Bigfoot, the Morgan-Monroe State Forest has earned its reputation as one of the most infamous haunted woodlands in the United States. It is in this forest most reported sightings of the Sasquatch in the state and there is a large and active group investigating these claims. 

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There are also said to be UFO sightings as well as more classical tales of something mysterious and ghostly lingering in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest. 

The Draper Cabin in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest

In the midst of the Morgan-Monroe State Forest itself, there is a cabin where hikers can spend their night. Draper Cabin offers a night of spine-tingling encounters for those daring enough to spend it within its timeworn walls – all for the modest price of $25, throughout the year. 

It is said that many hikers have to give up on staying in Draper Cabin through the night though, as they hear loud footsteps and weird noises outside, coming closer and closer to the cabin. 

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What the source of these hauntings varies. One version includes a murder that occurred there quite a long time ago. Another story states that from the time of the cabin’s existence over 130 years ago, a murderer still stalks their premises and waits for the next guests to arrive and rent out the cabin.

Draper Cabin: This cabin deep inside of the Morgan-Monroe State Forest is thought to be haunted. // Source

However, the true heart of the forest’s haunting reputation lies in the ethereal realm of Stepp Cemetery where legends and urban legends of ghosts and mysterious religious sects never let the buried rest. 

Stepp Cemetery

In the middle of the Morgan-Monroe State Forest you will find Stepp Cemetery, the source of many of the haunted legends of the forest. The cemetery in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest dates back to the early 1800s and is found just north of Bloomington.

There are not many graves in the cemetery, perhaps only around 30, (other sources say 114) or so, but they surely have some stories connected to them.  

Stepp Cemetery: In the forest you will find a small cemetery with big legends. It is said to be haunted by more than one type of ghosts. //Source: Shelly/Flickr

The Crabbites and their Snake and Sex Rituals

According to historians, Stepp Cemetery might have been used by a religious sect to perform rituals that came in the early 20th century. The group’s leader, William Crab, had strange practices like getting people to be bitten by a snake. A snake handler himself, he held more circus-like sermons and claimed that a true believer would not be bitten or die from the venom. 

The sect known as Crabbites had strange beliefs, like that the earth was squared because of a part in revelations in the bible. They also had to be chased away from the cemetery because of performing a ”ritualized sexual license.” They were apparently participating in these orgies while handling the snakes as well as giving animal sacrifices. 

It is also said they believed in resurrection and that the reverend could wake people from the dead. Once they were even arrested after trying to stop a burial of a woman who was once one of them. 

It is worth noting though that the sect went largely undocumented and it is difficult to say today what was true and what was hearsay. But they said that there were roughly 600 of them in Brown and Morgan counties in 1912. 

The Crabbites didn’t stay in the area of Morgan-Monroe State Forest and Stepp Cemetery for long as they are said to have moved over to Brown county, but they undeniably left an enduring mark on the cemetery’s reputation. Some even say that their mocking of the cemetery and strange rituals evoked some spirits to come back and haunt the place as they left the cemetery with a dark energy. 

Teenage Parties on Stepp Cemetery and the Birth for Local Legends

Most of the stories from Stepp Cemetery are said to have been developed or happened from the 1950s to 1970s. Then the cemetery had become so remote and forgotten and was more as a gathering place for youth than for mourners. More people had access to cars in the following decades and used the place to party. 

Many stories that were told were about the ghost of someone that had died in a car crash in the surrounding area, but also the cemetery itself became a part of the stories. 

During the Great Depression the cemetery fell into the hands of the Civilian Conservation Corps and they carved a tree stump in the cemetery into a chair. This tree stump is today called the Warlock’s Chair, although it is gone now that it was burned down in 1974. 

In many stories the chair was cursed and whoever sat on it would be so as well. It also became a part of the haunted legends as well, even after it was gone. 

Some of the ghosts

It is also said that an old woman is haunting the Stepp Cemetery within the Morgan-Monroe State Forest after some fraternity boys hanged her beloved German Shepard from a tree. What they didn’t know though was that she apparently was a witch and cursed them as well as the cemetery. 

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One of the other legends speaks of a young girl who was murdered in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest close to Stepp Cemetery and that her body wanders through the trees in search of justice and her way home because her killer was never found. 

The Woman in Black

By far the most told story is about people seeing the ghost of The Woman in Black. The air thickens with an eerie stillness as the ghostly apparition of a grief-stricken mother dressed all in black is said to materialize on the haunted Stepp Cemetery at night, sitting on a hauntingly familiar tree stump crying over her dead child. 

There are many stories about what happened, and this is also a tale we can trace back to the 1950s. Some say she was a woman named Anne, and that her man died in a dynamite explosion in the quarry and her daughter died in a car crash. The mother is said to have rarely left the grave of her child, who was the only thing she had left in her life. After she died, she is still coming to the grave to grieve. 

There are also people saying that the child was a newborn and that she never recovered from the loss. The variations and details surrounding the legends are endless. Even in 1972, there were around 30 different versions of them.

There are some details that keep popping up though, like the tree stump. Sometimes the woman in black is only sitting on it, weeping close to her child’s grave. Sometimes she was a witch and murdered her husband after he murdered their child. Sometimes she has two white wolves by her feet mourning her child’s death after she was hanged for taking revenge.

The most horrendous tale though are the stories where people claim that she is sometimes trying to exhume her dead child from the grave to hold his bones, before burying him again and leaving.

The Story of Baby Lester

But what grave and who is she grieving? Sadly, there are plenty of graves belonging to children in Stepp Cemetery and the Morgan-Monroe State Forest. For some reason, the grave most associated with the legend of the Woman in Black at Stepp Cemetery is the grave of Baby Lester. His grave is in the back in a corner and has been there for many decades now. The faded letters on the grave say 1937. He was the child of O’Leatha Pryor Lester and Harley Lester for only a few hours before he passed. They named him Paul.  

Still to this day, some people place little toys on the grave. In respect perhaps, but the urban legend of Baby Lester really hurt the family of the stillborn child.  On several occasions the grave has been vandalized, broken or the headstone removed so they had to cement it down. On July 24 in 2021, the toys were set on fire by some vandals, or by accident after a candle set fire to them on accident.

Baby Lester’s Grave: This is how the grave looked after it caught fire as the negative consequences of being the source of a ghost story. Source: Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian

The mother was only 16 when she gave birth and went on to live a long life with more children after. When she heard about how her child’s grave was the center of this urban legend, she was distraught, horrified and disgusted. Although the family tried to shield her from the legend of Baby Lester and the Woman in Black, it had come in many forms until she died in 2007.

The Dangers of Ghost Stories

As night descends upon Morgan-Monroe State Forest, the line between the living and the otherworldly blurs, leaving those who dare to explore its depths to grapple with the unsettling mysteries that lurk in the shadows and the whispers that echo through the ancient trees.

Is it Bigfoot, the Woman in Black? Perhaps a remnant of the strange cult that used the cemetery all those years back. Perhaps there are just a couple of teenagers that can’t comprehend how stories about the dead can still hurt the living. 

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References:

Stepp: A Small Rural Cemetery That Looms Large In Hoosier Lore | news-2018 – Indiana Public Media 

Gallery: Baby Lester grave at allegedly haunted Stepp Cemetery set on fire – The Bloomingtonian 

Paul “Baby” Lester (1937-1937) – Find a Grave Memorial 

Stepp Cemetery 

Stepp Cemetery — Astonishing Legends 

Paul “Baby” Lester (1937-1937) – Find a Grave Memorial 

Let Baby Lester Rest in Peace | OrangeBean Indiana 

Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology Site of the Month | WBIW

A Requiem For Baby Lester — The Hauntings of Stepp Cemetery – PARAHOLICS®  

https://www.bloomingpedia.org/wiki/Draper_Cabin

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The Haunted Colors of the Hippie Tree Outside the Asylum

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Outside the old Traverse City State Hospital in Michigan, there is an old willow called The Hippie Tree. It is said to be haunted by the former patients from the asylum and possibly a gateway to hell. 

In the secluded woods outside an abandoned state-run asylum called Old State Hospital Grounds near Traverse City, Michigan, stands The Hippie Tree, a silent witness to the spectral tales that have enshrouded it in an air of mysterious allure. Little is known about the creation of the tree, but it is said that it fell over and died when it was struck by lightning. 

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The rotted and broken willow trees are painted with colorful neon paintings over the generations where one painting covers the faded one underneath. Its moniker derives not only from its location but from the unsettling local legend that has swirled around it for decades of it being haunted.

The Hippie Tree: In Traverse City you will find the Hippie Tree along the Hippie Tree Trail thought to be haunted or at least possess some spiritual powers from the former patients at the Traverse City Hospital.//Photo: Jeremy Thompson/Flickr

Traverse City State Hospital

But what patients are said to be haunting this particular tree? Traverse City State Hospital around there was opened in 1881, and was also once called Northern Michigan Asylum. It is the last Kirkbride Building standing in Michigan, a specific style of architecture for asylums. 

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There are many stories about how people treated mental illnesses, and before the drug therapy in the 1950s, the Traverse City State Hospital used a “beauty is therapy” philosophy. This meant to meet patients with kindness, comfort and pleasure where straitjackets for instances were forbidden. 

The idea was also to let the patients be surrounded by beautiful things like flowers, and perhaps the idea of painting the tree comes from this philosophy as well? 

Traverse City State Hospital closed its doors in 1989. It reopened again in 2002, but as The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, a place for shops, restaurants and offices, but there is still said to be ghostly remains of its time as a hospital. 

Traverse City State Hospital: Northern Michigan Asylum with its striking Kirkbride architecture is next to the Hippie Tree and housed the patients thought to possess and haunt the tree. The former hospital itself is also believed to be haunted.// Source

Haunted Legends about the Hospital

Traverse City State Hospital itself is lush with ghost stories as well. People claim they hear voices and footsteps when no one is there, as well as flickering light or an unnatural cold presence. 

This was especially talked about when they reopened the Traverse City State Hospital from the construction workers where some saw something that scared them so they refused to work on the building.

There is also a dark story about a doctor working at the hospital who killed patients as well as nurses, or about the hospital chaplain that went mad and hanged himself in the chapel they had. 

But although there are plenty of ghost stories inside the old asylum, the most well known story about this place is from the dead willow tree outside on the woodland trail. 

The Ghost of the Insane Asylum Patients

According to the lore, The Hippie Tree serves as a spectral meeting ground for the tormented souls of asylum patients coming from Traverse City State Hospital, their restless spirits lingering beneath its branches. 

The madness that once consumed them is said to echo through the rustling leaves, where they sometimes are mad, sometimes just sad.

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Haunted Forests from around the world

Another ghost haunting the tree apart from the patients is a boy that allegedly was murdered around these parts, although not much information is found on this branch of the legend. 

The Hippie Tree is said to be haunted by many spirits and in the most extreme versions of the legends, it is even a portal to hell that opens up by the roots if you walk around the tree in a specific way. No one has been able to come back and tell me the right way to do it yet. 

The Hippe Rituals by the Hippie Tree

Jeremy Thompson/Flickr

Visionaries, mystics, and spiritual seekers, often dubbed “hippies” by the locals, would gather beneath the gnarled branches of The Hippie Tree, seeking solace and enlightenment in the heart of the haunted woods. Thereby the name The Hippie Tree stuck around.

A peculiar tradition emerged as these seekers meditated beneath the spectral canopy. It is said that the ghosts and the trees give out a particular energy that the hippies explore sitting on The Hippie Tree. 

In a ritualistic expression of their transcendental experiences, they would paint the revelations of their heightened consciousness onto the tree’s branches, creating a kaleidoscope of psychedelic visions amid the eerie silence of the asylum grounds.

How many people have painted on The Hippie Tree is unclear, at least thousand they say, creating another psychedelic picture on top of the other. 

Serving Colors and Ghosts

As night descends upon The Hippie Tree, the shadows cast by its haunted branches come alive, inviting those brave enough to delve into the mysteries that lurk within the heart of Traverse City’s most bewitched woodland sanctuary.

In daylight it serves as a colorful and fun thing to brighten up passersby and visitors alike in perhaps the most brightly looking haunted spot. 

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References:

Northern Michigan’s Hippie Tree | Kyle Schepperley | NewsBreak Original 

Traverse City State Hospital – Wikipedia

The Hippie Tree/Traverse City State Hospital  

Traverse City State Hospital & the Hippie Tree – Journey With Murphy 

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The Haunted Aldridge Sawmill Ghost Town in Angelina National Forest

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The now deserted ghost town deep inside of the Angelina National Forest in Texas was once a prosperous lumber town. Today the only residents of the Aldridge Sawmill ghost town said to remain are the ghosts of those that ended their life in one of the many freak accidents.

The Angelina National Forest in Texas harbors more than the tranquil beauty of nature of pine and loblolly trees. In the midst of the forest, it houses a haunting history that whispers through the rustling leaves and echoes within the remnants of a once-thriving sawmill town that reminds of Texas’ once thriving timber industry. 

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from USA

Now you can find the graffiti covered ghost town of it deep in the Angelina National Forest in Jasper country, not too far from the Neches River. According to local legends, it said that some of the people living there never really left. 

A Sawmill Town’s Demise of Aldridge Sawmill

In the early 1900s, Angelina National Forest thrived as a sawmill town, bustling with over 1,000 residents around Aldridge Sawmill. At the height it had its own post office, shop, hotel, school, saloons as well as its own train station. 

However, this prosperity was marred by calamities and according to history, the community was often an unhappy one. In 1911 the original mill was destroyed by fire, most likely arson by unhappy workers as it was a dangerous job, often with little pay. It was rebuilt but the mill was once again destroyed in a fire in 1914 and 15. The mill shut down in the early 1920s and people started to leave this once prosperous town.

Left in the aftermath was a silent and eerie ghost town, as residents fled the specter of disaster, abandoning homes and dreams in the process. The last one of the townspeople left in the mid 1920s and only some of the structures of the town can be seen today. Even the rail tracks were torn apart, and today, the only way to the ghost town is by hiking through the forest. 

Echoes of a Tragic Past in Angelina National Forest

Even though no one lives there anymore, hikers and campers claim to have seen and heard something move around the old mill community and local legends and ghost stories have emerged in the century after the town was abandoned to be consumed by the Angelina National Forest

Read More: Check of all stories from Haunted Forests

Hikers threading the forest paths claim to hear the disembodied dying screams of a young woman—a former resident who met an untimely end in a freak accident while visiting her boyfriend at the ill-fated sawmill. 

The story of the woman’s tragic demise at the dilapidated mill has been a source of chilling fascination for those familiar with the local lore. According to the haunting tale, the woman met her untimely end after getting too close to the saw and becoming entangled in its merciless blades, resulting in a painfully grotesque fate. It is said that her spectral presence now wanders the crumbling confines of the old mill, serving as a haunting reminder of the calamity that befell the once-thriving community. The harrowing legend of her demise has woven itself into the fabric of local folklore, perpetuating the eerie mystique of the abandoned mill and captivating the imagination of those drawn to tales of the supernatural.

Ghosts Among the Trees

The abandoned ghost town around Aldridge Sawmill stands desolate in the Angelina National Forest, the century old structure covered by graffiti and trashed by hikers. It’s not supposed to be anyone there, but if you by chance hear someone scream in the night, it is someone that is not supposed to be there at all. As the moon rises in the darkened sky, casting an eerie glow over the dilapidated buildings, the echoes of the past seem to linger in the air.

The whispers of the trees and the creaking of the old wooden beams create an atmosphere of mystery and intrigue, as if the spirits of the ghost town were still lingering among the ruins. Visitors recount tales of strange sightings and unexplained phenomena, adding to the mystique and allure of this forgotten place. The history of Aldridge Sawmill and the surrounding ghost town is shrouded in enigma, drawing in those who seek to uncover its secrets, and perhaps catch a glimpse of the otherworldly presence said to inhabit the desolate remains.

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References:

A Sawmill Ghost Town Aldridge, Texas 

East Texas Throwback: Ruins of Aldridge sawmill town hidden away in Angelina National Forest

SOUTHEAST TEXAS TALES: Crumbling walls all that’s left of Jasper County sawmill  

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The Haunting Tale of the Crashed Pilot by Wawona Hotel

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It is said that a plane crashed in Yosemite and the pilot was rushed to Wawona Hotel in the park. Although he was quickly found, he died while waiting for a doctor and now it is said that he is haunting the same place he died. 

Amidst the meadows of Yosemite National Park, the historic Wawona Hotel stands as a beacon of hospitality for weary hikers. The Hotel itself opened in 1876 and is just four miles from the Yosemite National Park’s south entry.

Known as Pallachun by the Nootchu native tribe, meaning “a good place to stop,” by the indigenous inhabitants, the site eventually became the setting for a chilling tale that continues to haunt both staff and guests to this day.

The Plane Crash in Yosemite

In the shadow of the Wawona Hotel lies a story shrouded in tragedy—a tale of a pilot whose fate became forever entwined with the rugged landscape of Yosemite in the 1920s. South of the hotel, where the whispering pines cast their long shadows, the pilot’s plane met its untimely end, crashing amidst the towering trees of the national park.

Searching for the Plane: Plane crash in Wawona in 1926 where it said it was 1 killed and 1 injured. Could this be the plane from the legend?

The injured pilot was taken to Moore Cottage, alive but very injured. Moore Cottage is a modest abode nestled on a gentle slope behind the hotel’s main building. With the echoes of his harrowing ordeal reverberating through the air, the injured pilot awaited the arrival of a doctor to tend to his wounds. Yet, fate had other plans, and before medical aid could reach him, the pilot died.

The Haunting of Moore Cottage and Wawona Hotel

However, it seems that the pilot’s spirit never truly checked out of Moore Cottage, lingering in the ethereal realm that veils the boundary between the living and the departed. Over the years, reports have surfaced of ghostly apparitions haunting the hallowed halls of Wawona Hotel, with staff and guests alike bearing witness to the spectral figure of the crashed pilot around the place where he died.

Read More: Check out all Haunted Hotels from around the world

Clad in his weathered leather jacket, his cap pulled low over his brow, and his goggles adorned with a white silk scarf fluttering in the wind, the pilot’s ghost is said to roam the grounds of Moore Cottage. He is especially reported about coming down the stairs of the cottage. 

Moore Cottage: The cottage of the hotel is where most guests have spotted the ghost of the pilot from the plane crash. //Source

Who was the Pilot Haunting the Hotel?

There are a couple of questions as to who and when this happened and the true name behind the accident. Did it even happen as most accounts of this story is described as a legend. 

Could it be the 1926 plane crash of LeRoy Jeffers form New York who was said to have been instantly killed? Could it be a plane crash that fits the description we haven’t been able to find yet?

Because, although remote, Wawona had a landing strip for planes. In 1927, an airline company began carrying passengers, mail, newspapers and light freight on 50-minute flights from Merced to Wawona. The airstrip remained operational until 1941, when the government ruled the meadow unsuitable for air traffic.

Despite the passage of time, the echoes of flight still reverberate through the halls of Wawona Hotel, a haunting reminder of the pilot’s tragic demise and the spectral legacy he left behind. As night descends upon the meadows of Yosemite, the ethereal presence of the crashed pilot lingers.

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References:

https://npgallery.nps.gov/YOSE/AssetDetail/7b817503a46542c5bc6c0fbdbc4d96c3?

LeRoy Jeffers, Explorer and Writer, Killed, Comrade Hurt, in Plane Crash in California – The New York Times 

BAHA :: Yosemite’s Wawona Hotel: “A Good Place to Stop” 

Weird Fresno: Is Yosemite’s Wawona Hotel haunted?

Wawona Hotel ‘a good place to stop’ at Yosemite National Park – East Bay Times 

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The Yosemite Ghost in Grouse Lake

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By the crystal clear waters of Grouse Lake, there is allegedly a ghost of a Native American boy who drowned many, many years ago. Now he calls out for help, but don’t be fooled as he supposedly drags those approaching down to the bottom.

Yosemite National Park covers 759,620 acres and stretches into four counties in California. It has been a World Heritage Site since 1984 and is filled with granite cliffs, giant sequoia groves, crystal clear lakes and streams and storming waterfalls from the mountains. 

Although the European settlers’ story in Yosemite is from 1851 when it was “found” by James D. Savage, the Native Americans story in the valley stretches back to nearly 4000 years. As for human presence, perhaps as far as 10 000 years. And by the look of it, it also seems to be one of the more haunted National Parks in the USA as well. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA

Grouse Lake, a serene place by the mountains southwest within Yosemite National Park, harbors a ghostly secret dating back to September, 1857 when it was first written down. Galen Clark, Yosemite’s first park ranger.

Galen Clark had traveled to Yosemite and explored the area. He is the first white man to supposedly have seen the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. He was also one of the lobbyists to make Yosemite a park and helped President Abraham Lincoln write the legislation to establish it as such. He was then named the park’s guardian and stayed that way for 24 years. 

The Scary Hike of Chilnualna Falls Trail

Grouse Lake is one of the destinations if you follow the steep and long Chilnualna Falls Trail in the southwest corner of Yosemite National Park, which was dubbed as the scariest hiking trail in the U.S by Travel Channel. 

According to Clark’s entry in his diary he reported an otherworldly wail by the lake, believed to be a dog when he was hunting deer, but that turned out to be something much darker.

Grouse Lake: Grouse Lake is a picturesque alpine lake located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California, specifically within the Stanislaus National Forest. Grouse Lake is nestled amidst stunning granite peaks, lush forests, and scenic meadows, making it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, hikers, and backpackers. //Source

On this trail you can also hike up to The Bridal Veil Waterfall which is also thought to be haunted by an ominous spirit known as Po-ho-no that pushes people off the cliff to their death. 

The Wailing Ghost by Grouse Lake

A big part of Clark’s life was exploring the area that would become Yosemite National Park and he spent a lot of time trailing through the wilderness.

One of the days he was on a deer hunt he stopped by a small lake he had named Grouse Lake because of the grouse he saw there once. A large group of local natives stopped on the opposite side of the lake to get water, also on a deer hunt. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Haunted Lakes

This is when Clark heard the cry of what he thought sounded like a sulking puppy and went over to the natives and asked if some of them were missing a puppy. He stayed with them that night and was told that it was something completely else. 

The sound of the cries of a dog was actually the dying screams of a native american boy who drowned in the lake many years ago and you shouldn’t go near it because of the danger it posed for those the ghost managed to lure down to the water. 

The spirit of the boy was always crying after them after help, but no one dared to. According to the legend, the spirit of the wailing boy would grab the legs of those trying to help and drag them under the water to drown. 

Haunting and Hiking the Grouse Lake Trail

By day the area is filled with green trees, blue sky and fresh air. By night, the popular hiking spot is lit up by bonfires around the lake for other travelers. But be aware, perhaps don’t follow the sound of something that could sound like the crying of a long drowned boy from the water. 

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References:

Day Hiking Trails: Backpack to lake haunted by drowned boy in Yosemite National Park  

The Ghost of Grouse Lake – HITRECORD Document 

Nation’s First Park Ranger Hears Crying Ghost 

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Yosemite View Lodge’s Shadow People

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In the motel styled lodgings by the Merced River, you are as close to the Yosemite Valley as you can get. And according to the people that have stayed at the Yosemite View Lodge, many tell tales about shadow silhouettes by their beds and strange interactions with the paranormal.

Yosemite National Park covers 759,620 acres and stretches into four counties in California. It has been a World Heritage Site since 1984 and is filled with granite cliffs, giant sequoia groves, crystal clear lakes and streams and storming waterfalls from the mountains. 

Although the European settlers’ story in Yosemite is from 1851 when it was “found” by James D. Savage, the Native Americans story in the valley stretches back to nearly 4000 years. As for human presence, perhaps as far as 10 000 years. And by the look of it, it also seems to be one of the more haunted National Parks in the USA as well. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA

On the banks of the Merced River in El Portal, California, the Yosemite View Lodge is the last stop before the wilderness of the Yosemite National Park. 

Merced River: It flows through the Sierra Nevada mountain range and the central part of the state. It originates in the Sierra Nevada and runs for approximately 145 miles (233 kilometers) before joining the San Joaquin River. It’s known for its scenic beauty passing through Yosemite National Park, where it forms iconic features such as Yosemite Valley and Yosemite Falls. Could it also be the source of some of the ghost stories told from the National Park?

On the surface, Yosemite View Lodge exudes rustic tranquility. Yet, beneath the veneer of peaceful surroundings lies a tapestry of ghostly tales, unsettling apparitions, and mysterious occurrences that makes guests leave reviews online that it is beautiful, nice, but haunted.

Midnight Shadow People

Many of the reports about the haunted rumors of Yosemite View Lodge are about apparitions that can be described as some type of Shadow people. These specters, elusive and enigmatic, make frequent appearances in the lodge’s guest rooms, catching unaware guests. 

These apparitions often dissolve when the guests seem to examine the thing further. One chilling account tells of three friends who, oblivious to the hotel’s haunted reputation, were visited by a shadowy figure near the fireplace. Other people tell about what they believe is their family, but noticing that there is an additional figure in the room. Some are even said to have packed up their stuff and left because of these experiences. 

Read More: Check out all Haunted Hotels

What could this be? Could it be the old lodgings and strangeness of being in a hotel that plays a trick on people? Could it have something to do with weary travelers experiencing things like night terrors in their dreams? Or could this phenomena actually be attributed to ghosts?

The River People’s Presence

One guest, accompanied by a friend, bore witness to an otherworldly encounter during their second night staying at Yosemite View Lodge. Startled awake, they beheld the shadowy silhouette of a figure, devoid of features, standing near their bed—a specter approximately five feet tall. 

Shadow People: What is this type of haunting going on at the Yosemite View Lodge? Several of the guests have told stories about seeing figures and shadows in their rooms.

Terrified, the guest summoned her fellow traveler, coining the term “river people” in an attempt to fathom the origin of this apparition, wondering if it harbored a connection to the ancient spirits of the nearby Merced River. Because even though the hotel doesn’t really have much ghostly history attached to it, the surrounding area certainly has. 

A self proclaimed psychic herself, the guest delved into the phenomenon and discovered that others had encountered similar river-dwelling spirits.

The Masked Child

Another strange story coming from the motel is about the strange child that suddenly appeared. A writer checked into the hotel to get her writing done when she saw a child in the reception wearing a strange mask. The little girl was standing together with her family as they were checking in as well with her animal mask. Although she thought the child looked creepy, she didn’t think much about it. 

Then she saw the child again sitting at the table with its parents when the writer came down for breakfast. The little girl turned to her as if the child knew that she would enter the dining room. 

When the writer saw the little girl again, it was when she woke up after writing on her book and saw the child standing in her room, watching her. She was sure that she had locked the door, but  asked if the child had lost her way and needed help to find the room, the child only shook its head slowly and walked away. 

The last time the writer encountered the child was after a shower and the child was standing in the bathroom. This made the writer storm down to the reception and demanded that the parents would control their kid. The reception called the room up, and horror and confusion followed. They didn’t have a child. 

The Haunted Yosemite View Lodge

As the Merced River flows silently by, Yosemite View Lodge remains a silent testament to the ethereal mysteries that dance on the edges of perception. What could these supposed shadow people and guests’ strange interactions be? 

Within its walls, the whispers of the River People and the elusive shadows of the night converge, weaving a haunting tale that lingers long after the echoes of the Merced fade into the Yosemite twilight.

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References:

Yosemite View Lodge – FrightFind 

excellent, but haunted! – Review of Cedar Lodge, El Portal, CA – Tripadvisor 

Yosemite View Lodge ~ El Portal (just before the entrance to Yosemite) 

Supernatural Child Checks into the Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal 

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The Haunted Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park

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A Luxury hotel in the wilderness of Yosemite National Park, the Ahwahnee Hotel has housed many famous guests, and some of the guests have, according to rumors, never really checked out and lingers in the hotel as ghosts.

Yosemite National Park covers 759,620 acres and stretches into four counties in California. It has been a World Heritage Site since 1984 and is filled with granite cliffs, giant sequoia groves, crystal clear lakes and streams and storming waterfalls from the mountains. 

Although the European settlers’ story in Yosemite is from 1851 when it was “found” by James D. Savage, the Native Americans story in the valley stretches back to nearly 4000 years. As for human presence, perhaps as far as 10 000 years. And by the look of it, it also seems to be one of the more haunted National Parks in the USA as well. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA

Many people come to seek a simple life, tenting under the stars. Still, there are also many lodges and hotels in the park for those that would like to watch the splendid nature through the windows. Many of these hotels have haunted rumors around them, but none more so than the Ahwahnee Hotel.

Ahwahnee Hotel: The alleged haunted Ahwahnee Hotel is situated amidst the dramatic landscape of the Yosemite National Park. It is said that it is haunted by the founders of the hotel as well as a US president who visited the hotel not long before he was killed.

The Historic Ahwahnee Hotel

Source

In the heart of the Yosemite Valley right by the famous Half Dome you will find the legendary and historic Ahwahnee Hotel that was built in 1927 as a luxury hotel for the park’s visitors built by the Yosemite Park and Curry Company. 

The y-shaped building has 97 hotel rooms, but including the cottages as well, there are 121, all inspired by Native American designs. It is situated below a meadow area that was once Miwok village.

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Haunted Hotels

The Ahwahnee Hotel’s interior design is said to have inspired the fictional horror hotel Overlook Hotel in Kubrick’s version of The Shining. Because although the hotel in the book was inspired after Stephen King’s stay at the Stanley Hotel in Colorado, the hotel lobby as well as the red elevator with blood gushing out from it look eerily similar to the one found at The Ahwahnee Hotel.

The Founding Ghosts Haunting the Hotel

The Ahwahnee Hotel is said to be haunted by the ghosts of Donald Tresidder and Mary Curry Tresidde who took the place from being a tent camp to a luxury hotel. Donald met Mary at a visit at the park where Mary was the daughter of Camp Curry and together they spent their life dedicated to the Ahwahnee Hotel and the Yosemite Valley. 

In their later years of their life they lived in a private living quarters on the sixth floor of the hotel. The first to go was Donald while away in New York in 1948. Mary died in the Ahwahnee Hotel in 1970 but both are said to have stayed on in their afterlife. 

Historic Haunted Hotel: On July 14, 1927, the Ahwahnee Hotel was formally opened to the public and managed by the Yosemite Hotel and Curry Company. During the second world war it was also used as a hospital. The “U.S. Naval Convalescent Hospital Yosemite National Park, California” was commissioned on June 25, 1943.

According to the legends coming from the guests and staff working at the Ahwahnee Hotel, they are still both haunting the hotel they put their heart and soul into developing. Mary is said to be especially active and it is said she wakes people up to get them dancing in the wonderful common rooms of the building. 

The ghost of Mary is also said to be haunting her former home on the 6th floor where even some guests claim they have felt as if a ghost have tucked them into bed as well as folding their clothing. So all in all, a pretty popular and most helpful ghost overall. 

She is not alone however, according to some claiming to have seen her husband, Donald, also wandering the halls of the Ahwahnee Hotel. The ghost of Donald is mostly seen walking down the stairs of the hotel to get a glass of milk. 

A Presidential Haunting at the Ahwahnee Hotel

In addition to celebrities and famed socialites, many presidents have stayed in the Ahwahnee Hotel, like Reagan, Eisenhower and Obama, but only one of them is rumored to be haunting the hotel. 

John F. Kennedy came and stayed at the Ahwahnee Hotel in 1962 on the 3rd floor, and many claim that they have experienced strange things on that floor that they claim has to be tied to the former president.

People working in the Ahwahnee Hotel have reported seeing him rocking in the rocking chair he requested while he stayed at the hotel when he was alive in the early 1960s because of his bad back. 

The chair in question is also said to be moving around on its own when no one is there. Today, there are no rocking chairs in the hotel, and if you see one, it is not supposed to be there. 

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References:

‘Her face turned white’: Stories of Yosemite’s ghosts and hidden graves 

Ahwahnee Hotel – FrightFind 

Ahwahnee Hotel – Wikipedia