Haunted Long Beach

From eerie shipboard spirits to restless souls haunting historic ranchos, parks and cemeteries, Long Beach contains a spine-tingling mix of paranormal tales. Whether you’re a skeptic or believer, these haunted sites reveal a mysterious side of Long Beach that’s as captivating as it is chilling. Dare to explore?

THE QUEEN MARY

The Queen Mary (1126 Queens Hwy) is often ranked among the most haunted places in the U.S.—with good reason. Over its 90-year history, the ship has witnessed tragic accidents, and mysterious deaths. Spirits said to linger aboard include a young girl who drowned in the first-class pool and a worker crushed by an engine room door in 1966. Visitors report ghostly children giggling in the nursery, a Lady in White drifting through hallways, and chilling encounters in the infamous Cabin B340—sealed for decades, now open for overnight stays. To experience the paranormal firsthand, join one of the ship’s haunted tours, each offering a journey through the ship’s darkest corners.

CREDIT: The Queen Mary

SUNNYSIDE CEMETERY

Sunnyside Cemetery (1095 E Willow St) is one of Long Beach’s earliest cemeteries, the final resting place for many of the city’s pioneers, including its first fire chief. Established in the late 19th century, Sunnyside reflects Long Beach’s early growth and community roots. Among its notable stories is that of Bessie Baxter, a young deaf woman who died tragically in 1918 after a train trip to purchase her wedding dress. Buried in her bridal gown, Bessie’s story has endured through local lore. The Historical Society of Long Beach honors these early residents with annual guided tours in October sharing their fascinating lives and legacies.

BEMBRIDGE HOUSE

More than 115 years old and impeccably preserved, the Bembridge House (953 Park Circle Dr) is a Victorian masterpiece, but its ornate exterior and interior–still in pristine condition–hide some chilling secrets. One fateful night, guests entered—and vanished. Now, whispers linger in its shadowed halls. You can explore its perfectly preserved Victorian rooms, haunted attic, and echoing halls on a tour where a guide will lead you up the grand staircase, into the attic, and through rooms frozen in time. Will you uncover the truth … or become part of the legend that still haunts these walls?

DEFOREST PARK

DeForest Park (6255 DeForest Ave) has playgrounds, basketball courts, hiking trails, and a community center. But as dusk falls, locals report sudden freezing gusts carrying ghostly pleas for help. There have been sightings of a crab-like, ghost–zombie chasing visitors, as well as strange shadows and unexplained noises. With so many detailed accounts, the DeForest Park Neighborhood Association invited Anubis Paranormal Research Organization to investigate. They confirmed the park may harbor paranormal activity, manifesting to those “sensitive” to its strange presences.

THE PIKE

Before the Queen Mary arrived, the Pike amusement park was Long Beach’s most iconic attraction. Opened in 1902 and dismantled by 1979, it stood where The Pike Outlets (95 S Pine Ave) are today. Known for its hard scrabble reputation and rickety rides, the Pike was a popular filming location for sci-fi and horror movies. Its creepiest moment came in the 1970s, during The Six Million Dollar Man shoot, when a “mannequin” on set broke apart—revealing the mummified corpse of outlaw Elmer McCurdy, unknowingly used as a haunted house prop for decades.

RANCHO LOS CERRITOS

Rancho Los Cerritos (4600 Virginia Rd) is one of Long Beach’s most peaceful and beautiful landmarks, known for its sprawling gardens, native plants and historic adobe home. A popular spot for school field trips and weddings, it also carries an air of mystery. Visitors and staff have reported rocking chairs moving on their own, objects shifting unexpectedly and the eerie sensation of being watched. Disembodied voices are sometimes heard, including one believed to belong to former owner Don Juan Temple angrily protesting the sale of his land. Another, far more menacing presence, has been described as unmistakably and disturbingly “evil.”

RANCHO LOS ALAMITOS

Rancho Los Alamitos (6400 E Bixby Hill Rd) is a peaceful 7.5-acre site with a historic adobe home, lush gardens, and a working barnyard. But its long history has left more than just artifacts behind. In 1920, Elizabeth Bixby documented a ghost story passed down by multiple families: a Spanish woman in a shawl, seen at dusk carrying water from a creek, vanishes before reaching a hillside grave. Other eerie occurrences include rattling windows and a lone coyote’s howl that, according to Elizabeth, once made residents too afraid to step outside after dark.

Credit: Sharon Conner

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About the Author

Steve Lowery

Steve Lowery is a longtime local. Over the years he has written for the Los Angeles Times, ESPN, and others. If you're looking for the hidden gems of Long Beach, Steve is your go-to.