The California Association of Bed & Breakfast Inns (CABBI) recently surveyed hundreds of inns throughout the Golden State … and unearthed some spine-chilling stories.

If a hair-raising experience is on your list this Halloween, try one of the following haunts:

Albert Shafsky House B&B Inn (Placerville): Albert Shafsky built his home in 1902 – and it appears his ghost has decided he will never leave. According to the innkeepers, he sometimes locks guests out of their rooms, leaves pennies in strange places and has even been seen standing at the foot of one guest’s bed.

Bissell House (Pasadena): With a well-known reputation as being a haunted building, current and prior owners have stories to tell that will have you looking over your shoulder. The Bissell House has felt its fair share of paranormal activity through the years, including unexplained voices and footsteps on an empty third floor, lights that seemed to have a mind of their own, and a women wearing a red dress, believed to be the restless spirit of Anna Bissell McCay.

Brannan Cottage Inn (Calistoga): Built in 1860, this inn has two haunted rooms open for vacancy for the brave … or the curious. Visit this month and you’ll find the historic inn is part of a local Haunted House tour with other ghostly haunts, lit up in creepy Halloween fashion.

Gate House Inn (Jackson): According to the innkeepers of this historic Queen Anne mansion, a “Garden Ghost” appeared soon after the severe overgrowth around the mansion was cleared away to make room for gardens. An innkeeper actually felt a “tap” on his shoulder while working alone outside -- and although the house itself has not experienced any paranormal activity, the surrounding land has a ghostly presence.

The Goodman House (Chico): This colonial revival foursquare home was confirmed as having a strong spirit presence by San Francisco Bay area medium and psychic Marge Cuddeback. Before it became a B&B, the house was converted into law offices. Rumors of haunting began soon after the lawyers occupied the building – including one attorney whose desk nameplate continually was thrown on the floor.

The Groveland Hotel (Groveland, CA): “Lyle” is the resident ghost at this 1849 adobe B&B, located near Yosemite National Park. Lyle was a prospector who was found dead in his room with a box of dynamite -- a tool of his prospecting trade -- under the bed. Guests have long enjoyed his antics, including his penchant for removing women’s cosmetic items from “his” dresser in Room 15.

MacCallum House Inn (Mendocino): According to town lore, Donald MacCallum – born in 1880 as the only son of Daisy and Alexander MacCallum – has never truly left the second floor. Many guests over the years have testified to strange and unexplained happenings in one of the inn’s several rooms. It’s believed that Donald’s spirit still resides in “Room 4” – the bedroom where he slept from the time he was an infant.

National Hotel (Jamestown): Even non-believers have changed their attitude after staying in this 1859 Historic Inn. There have been so many accounts of slamming doors, clothing being dumped from suitcases and a women’s sobbing coming from the hallway that the ghost who resides here has been named “Flo”. It is believed Flo is the ghost of a woman who, in 1897, was found dead in her hotel bed with a note by her side addressed to her long-lost fiancé. Perhaps this mystery women still roams the halls in search of her lost love?

Queen Anne Hotel (San Francisco): Deemed one of America’s Most Haunted Hotels, this historic building was originally built for “Miss Mary Lake” as a finishing school for girls. An apparition believed to be Miss Mary has been seen so frequently that a popular “San Francisco Ghost Hunt” event begins nightly at the Queen Anne Hotel.

The Santa Nella House (Guerneville): This Russian River B&B is a Victorian farmhouse dating back to the 1870’s. Built by a prominent physician as his residence, the property has been an olive oil mill, a winery, a speak-easy, a stage coach stop and, since 1984, a bed and breakfast inn. With such an interesting past, it is not surprising that many have claimed it was haunted. In fact, many guests have reported strange activities – especially on the second floor.

About CABBI
Established in 1991, The California Association of Bed & Breakfast Inns (CABBI) is California’s largest association of professional innkeepers and certified bed and breakfast inns. CABBI is a marketing-driven organization designed to create awareness among consumers of individual CABBI members and the benefits of choosing a CABBI-certified inn for overnight accommodations in California. For more information, visit www.CABBI.com.
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Contacts:
Stacy Rollo
California Association of Bed & Breakfast Inns
(415) 420-8203
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