Come to think of it, St. Joseph's Hill of Hope isn't the only spiritual aspect of Carbon Canyon. A little gander (OK, where does that word come from?) at a website devoted to ghost sightings, a site that proudly wears the bage of "Second Worst Site of the Year" for 2005 from something called I. I. Q. A., has some "reports" that may be of interest to some of you out there.
For example, "The ghost of a silver-miner was made out a Carbon Canyon Mineral Springs before sunrise going nuts. The ghost was swallowed by the thin air after being made out. According to what the residents declare, this ghost gets pleasure from frightening folks who dare to disturb the peace in Yorba Linda. One thing's for certain, it's a menacing ghost that you shouldn't go looking for."
OK, well, I hate to do this--kind of like sticking a needle in a kid's balloon at his birthday party--but: silver was never mined in Carbon Canyon. Also, the canyon is not exactly in Yorba Linda, is it? I'm guessing the "writer" of this information is probably from out of state (and, likely, out of his/her mind, too.) But, if there is a ghost at Carbon Canyon Mineral Springs, which according to latitude/longitude coordinates is just east of The Party House liquor store in Sleepy Hollow and on the north side of Carbon Canyon Road, couldn't he give our faster-driving visitors a little scare to slow 'em down a bit?
A third one seems to refer to the Canyon: "The phantom of a gentleman in a police outfit has been seen on a small number of occasions [one?] by Horseshoe Bend mounding rocks. People who have made out this ghost argue [on a small number of occasions?] this ghost can be the soul of a local who passed away here in Yorba Linda in the past." Yeah, I suppose it would make sense that someone died in the past. Does anyone know if there is a Horseshoe Bend in Yorba Linda or is this referring to the S-curve on the Chino Hills side of the canyon?
Here's a good one: "A sizeable creepy ghost has been said to have been observed on one or two occasions downing motor oil in Carbon Canyon Creek." By someone who's downed a little too much of something else? Also, motor oil?
There's also one about a young girl covered in blood in Angeles National Forest, which is only 25 miles from Yorba Linda, but I shouldn't let facts get in the way of a good ghost tale, especially if it's on the Internet.
Now, that's the Yorba Linda one, here are some sightings from Placentia:
"A half decayed human corpse showed up at Carbon Canyon Creek before dawn throwing boulders into the flowing water. This precise ghost has been noticed frequently in this spot. One thing's for sure, it is unquestionably a frightening spirit that is better not messed with." I'm fascinated by the fact that this ghost is evidently very accurate in his/her boulder throwing. And, this is despite the disability of being half-decayed.
"A woman with maggots crawling out of her nose has once in a while been noticed at Brea Dam at midnight staring at the water." Wow, what can you say about that one!
"The phantom of a youthful female having on a blood-covered dress can occasionally be noticed smoking a cigar down beside Carbon Canyon Mineral Springs late at night. In any case, this is an unsympathetic ghost that any wise person would not want to encounter." What would a sympathetic ghost be like and just what kind of ghost would a wise person want to encounter?
Well, here is the website that posts these true, real life, and really SCARY accounts of ghosts in our area (you can even submit your own sighting!): http://www.ghostsofamerica.com. I especially enjoyed the ads for "Tru Blood," which is described as a "synthetic blood nourishment beverage." Perfect for a little refreshment when going out looking for ghosts in Carbon Canyon--too bad The Party House doesn't carry it ( . . . or does it?)
Great post, I really enjoyed it! I'm looking at going around the IE to film a documentary of sorts on "Haunted" places. I've been told to check out Carbon Canyon, especially the Sleepy Hollow community.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if you know any additional information?
jakeismedusaman[at]gmail.com
Hello Jake,
ReplyDeleteWell, I've only been here a few years and am a bit of a skeptic when it comes to paranormal phenomena, so I haven't come across or heard anyone say anything about "haunted" places in the canyon . . . yet! Obviously, canyons have an inherent fascination for people with vivid imaginations or, perhaps, a direct connection to the netherworld. Having said that, I'll probably now be visited by some of those angry miners, women with semi-transparent bodies, half-decayed corpses and (my favorite) someone who has died in the past. Thanks for checking out the CCC and come back soon!
One time I was driving home from a friends house at about 2am on a saturday night and as I was driving (near where the hot springs used to be) I almost hit a lady walking on the side of the road. And the weird thing was is that she was wearing a white ripped up wedding dress.. I have other friends that have seen her too. Ever heard of her ?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI also encounter a lady around the same area around 2:30am on a saturday she scared the hell out of me we made eye contact i kept on driving
DeleteI used to drive threw the cayon daily at the am hrs i seen lots of things but one i won't forget around the same area passing the mobil homes on olinda side going down the hill i seen a lady on the opposite side of the road she turn to look at me i couldnt see her face my hair on my neck raise up i kept on driving i was scared didn't think to much of it until i did some research i think i did see a ghost. Anybody else
DeleteHi Cameron, I suppose that, under the right conditions, anyone driving in the Canyon at 2am on a Saturday can see just about anything. As I said on the 17 Aug 08 comment and in the post, I'm pretty much a skeptic (though open to conversion if it ever happens to me--guess I haven't been open-minded enough to date.) However, if others have seen said woman in torn bridal attire, leave a message!
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your post I was wondering if anyone knows about a woman who commited suicide VIA hanging, in the house @ 1641 Carbon Canyon Rd. She wanders around Low Lane, which parallels Carbon Canyon Rd. Both me and my husband have seen her and she even had the gall to come into our house more than once.The person that mentioned this story to us has since moved on, so i was hoping someone out there has some info on her ??
ReplyDeletei dont believe in ghosts or any of this really, although it is fun to rummage around in the canyon at night... it is kind of spooky. My dad, who has been driving through the canyon to get to work every night around midnight for the past 20 years has seen his fair share of weird stuff. Apparently he was drivign through and almost hit a man all dressed in black walking in the middle of the road...probably on drugs or something...also seen his fair share of bodies, police already on scene but still..ew
ReplyDeleteWell with the town of "Sleepy Hollow", has anyone seen a "headless horseman" in these neck of the woods?
ReplyDeleteHello JD40, if you search the blog for Sleepy Hollow and Halloween, you'll see something about a tradition carried out from the late 1960s through the late 1980s (on and off) with a headless horseman. That was a long time back and not likely to be brought back, though. Thanks for visiting.
ReplyDeleteI live in Carbon Canyon in Sleepy Hallow. The real story is cult adrian. The mob disposed of bodies for years in the early 20's and some still do but they go on the od roads that only hikers go on now. In my day I have come across many people who have died on the S curve. Driving fast in the canyon is like a must or a way of passage that you are a local. The boyd count for how many people that have died in the canyon is too many to count. If you want to see a ghost sighting and perhaps be scared, go walk past Sleepy Hallow at 3-5 in the morning asking for, "come out now adrian!" but be careful. No one in their right mind goes past sleepy hallow at that time. Are you fucking nuts? haha also sorry to say but your information is incorrect and not even close to the canyon.You are reffering to socal canyon behind the hills and the damn is over by the 91 where the canyon (also the gangs are known as) 142k. I think I should blog about our history because you don't seem like a local at all. I mean do you even know Hippie Dave or Suckem silly Sally? If not you do not know much about the canyon.
ReplyDeleteHello Meghan, I do live in Sleepy "Hollow," do know the people you mention, and have come up with a fair amount of the history (or so I'm told). But, there are certainly people who know more about the Canyon's history than I do and, if you do too, then by all means get a blog going and best of luck to you.
ReplyDeleteHi it's been years. I since moved from sleepy hollow. I remember a huge drug and ghost problem. I hope these articles become more updated.
DeleteI was with a friend driving through the canyon lastnight an we wer just talkin but it was dark and I had to use high beams..when by the liquor store we saw a girl with a tube dress and her head was tilted as is looking at the road..it freaked me out !!
ReplyDeleteI live on the brea side of the canyon and frequently visit my parents in chino. I have often seen rocks stacked in random places on the side of the road almost everytime between the brea side of the canyon and sleepy hollow. Who is stacking these rocks? Also last weekend driving to chino.through the canyon my husband and i saw the mostbizzare transient. Had a black cloak and an eye patch. Anyone seen him?
ReplyDeleteRock stacking is taught to all of us. Including the international message, I was here.
DeleteHello anonymous of 22 August 2013, I've noticed a hoodoo (actually thought of doing a post titled "Who Did the Hoodoo?" Still might.) on the Brea side near the former Manely Friends stables. Actually, it might be a homeless person who's doing this. While up near Mendocino last weekend, saw tons of hoodoos along Highway 1, so maybe it's enjoying something of a comeback. Thanks for the comment.
ReplyDeleteThank you for replying To my comment On the 22. Really enjoy your blog! My great grandparents had my grandmother in chino so my entire family was born and raised in the area since the early 1900's so i really enjoy reading the history you provide, as well as the updates and follow ups with all the comments people post. Shows you take pride in what you do, as well as building great rapport with your readers so kudos to you and thank you :) and by the way I was driving home from Chino today and once again the rocks were stacked up the weird thing is I only see them usually right after the gate at that old McKenna house at the turnout, and never past la vida hot springs. Its only between that area that I've seen them. has anyone else seen them besides me?...Jess
ReplyDeleteI seen them and yeah they do just pop up its true
DeleteIt's just all of us doing it doesn't matter who. We stack them for fun n form of territory.
DeleteHi Jess, thanks for the latest comment and the kind words for the blog. There are more hoodoos, one, for example, in Sleepy Hollow at Rosemary Lane and Carbon Canyon Road. The one near the old Manely Friends stable near La Vida has been knocked over. There are a couple more that I've seen. Sometimes things just pop up, like the pepper trees that were planted recently (and are now dead or dying) along the highway in Sleepy Hollow. Obviously, some landscaper had extra trees and thought it good to plant them there (this happened maybe eight years ago with other trees.) Anyway, thanks for the continued interest.
ReplyDeleteI was talking to my sister just last weekend about things she had seen driving through the canyon at night. She also mentioned the stacked rocks. She said for a while they had stopped but have recently become a regular thing again. She also mentioned a witch that lives in the area and witnessed a lady dressed all in black walking in the road. It was also rumored she was the one stacking the rocks.
ReplyDeleteAnyone heard of anything in Soquel Canyon?. My dad has seen a little boy at 3am while he was on his way to work .. the little boy stood on the side of the road waving a flashlight.
i work in anaheim so i drive the canyon between olinda and the end of the canyon (the west side towards brea) literally 5to 6 times a week to go to work. I moved here with my mother in law in June and only used to see them by the turnout between la vida and the gate to the mckenna house while going to chino on the weekends. Recently I seen about 3to 4 stacks from our house to the stables which are fairly new. My sister in law and her husband thought i was full of it at first until last weekend when they came over from their house in yorba linda and saw them too! I am an inquisitive person so I google and research anything and everything that intrigues me so inevitably I did some research of my own to enlighten me regarding the rocks. When "hoodoo" was mentioned in response to my post, I had to research what that was and came across what these so called man made stacked rocks are called. Hoodoos are similar except they are nature formed stacked rocks and the smaller ones stacked by a person were called "Cairins" pronounced "karens" they serve multiple purposes and/or signify multiple various reasons forthem being stacked. Google it "cairins" Im glad someone else has seen them thanks for making me feel sane haha jk :) jess
ReplyDeleteWe just stack rocks for fun. It's over territory and who can make theirs last longer.
DeleteHi Jess, thanks for the correction. Had heard the word "cairn" before--think it is Scottish. New ones have appeared lately, as well.
ReplyDeleteNo thank you if it was not for you mentioning hoodoo I would have never been enlightened :)
Deleteby the way recently my husband was driving to work early at 3 a.m. And also saw a woman walking the road all dressed in black he claimed he almost hit her as he was walking along the side of the road very closely
DeleteI dont believe in ghost I also will drive threw the cayon in the early am it was around 2 am when i was driving pass ruby st were there making the new homes when i seen a lady walking on the side of the road on opposite side we made eye contact and it raise the hair on my neck I honestly got scared i did drive threw the canyon at night for like a week and no lie during the day time i seen a girl on the creek just looking at me as she read a book and she was laughing to her self i looked at the cars behind me it seem like they didnt see her. The next day during the day i stoped at the same location the only thing that was there was the books that looked all weather damaged and a pile of rocks i never seen anything after that. I believe i seen a ghost
DeleteMy neighbor has been driving through carbon canyon for the past 15 years to go to work at around 6 or 7 am every morning and says that he always sees the same lady stacking the rocks almost every morning.. so to answer your question, yes it is a lady stacking rocks but she stacks them early in morning but iv never heard about her wearing all black??
ReplyDeleteCool thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteMy experience with Carbon canyon dates back to the 1960s when a car load of us teens would take midnight rides to see The Tree!" We would travel the dark narrow road as it wound around, up and down through the narrow canyon until it came to a white post fence. At that point we'd turn right and follow the even more narrow, even darker road that made its way into the hills and away from any house lights and soon no other lights at all, just your car's head lights.
ReplyDeleteOn approaching a clearing after a fairly sharp curve you back up against the fence at the rear of the clearing and face your vehicle toward the hill. We shut off the car, rolled down the windows and waited....
Often other cars would already be parked there on your arrival, or one or two more would arrive while we waited. Brave souls would exit their cars and lean against the fender.
Some times the wait was short, sometimes the wait was long, but eventually a glow would begin at the tip top of the tree that stood alone on top of the facing hill. The glow would appear and then retreat. This could go on for quite sometime but the glow was infrequent.
At times the glow would travel down the tree a little further but then retreat again. Waiting long enough would provide the amazing site of the glow traveling all the way down the tree, lighting up (more like a glisten) all the branches as it went, all the way to the ground.
If one waited long enough the glow would travel slowly down the entire tree and then on down the hill toward the parked cars!!!! Immediately the area would clear of all vehicles!
One Sunday night after church when I was 16 my boyfriend, his brother and my mother drove out to "the Tree!" Adrian parked his car and we all got out. As we stood next to the car the top of the tree started to glow. That was when we held hands and started walking up the hill toward the tree...singing Amazing Grace with every step! Yes...we made it all the way to the top of the hill and even touched the tree!
As we turned to view our surroundings we learned the mystery of 'the Tree!!" What an amazing find...and what an amazing way to conquer fear...all with Amazing Grace!
Yes, this is a true story! I lived it and it is one of my precious memories of growing up in southern California when it was a great place to live!!
Do you now the mystery of The Tree??
What is the mystery of the tree I live in carbon canyon and have never heard anything like this
DeleteIn regards to the comments about the tree. I too remember the tree or as we called it "the light" I visited the tree several times about 45+ years ago but never learned the mystery of the tree. One time two of my friends and I decided to hike up to the tree and see what caused the light. About three quarters of the way up, the light started down. We panicked and ran back down the hill. One of my friends tripped and fell cutting his leg on a rock. We had to take him to the emergency room for stitches in his leg. That was the last time I visited the tree. We never learned what caused the light and if someone would post an answer I would love to find out. I recently moved to olinda village in carbon canyon and would like to see the tree again but I don't remember where it is and if its still there. If anyone knows please post it
ReplyDeleteI spent a great deal of time in the Canyon in the early '70s but alas, I saw no ghosts. Since my friends and I had frequently dropped acid and smoked pot we saw lots of other strange stuff but no spectres of any kind.
ReplyDeleteBack then the ski chalet and it's bungalows were home to many hippies and there was a lot of drug dealing that happened there, mostly pot and LSD. It was said there was a ghost that haunted the bar of the main house and I met people that claimed to have seen it. Ghosts usually haunt the scene of their traumatic death and I was not aware of any such occurrence. Perhaps when it was still a ski resort?
One thing that always bothered me is the ruins of a village that was at the top of the ski hill, just west of the concrete slab and above the Hill of Hope. Now that was a spooky place. There were various tales of its fate but no one knew for sure. If you know the answer I'd still like to hear it. There was no internet back then so research would have required looking through decades worth of microfiche.
The Hill of Hope was new then but prior to its arrival the main building was said to be the haunted remains of a sanatorium of some kind. It was said to be a haunted mad house but I think a tuberculosis quarantine is a more likely explanation. Thanks for this blog. It brings back fond memories of my sordid youth in Fullerton (Troy High, class of '72) BTW, if you know Ray Howe, tell him Barney and Nigel are waiting for us.
Hello Dansenoir.com, thanks for the comment and the recollections of the Purple Haze phase of the property that was previously the Ski Villa resort, the Canyon Hills Country Club and, from 1928 to 1958, the Jewish camp, Camp Kinder Ring.
ReplyDeleteYour question about the remains of the buildings atop the hill relates to the Camp Kinder Ring years and several posts on this blog detail some of that history. Search for "Camp Kinder Ring" on the main page and you'll get to those posts. Incidentally, the remains of those structures have, in the last few months, been bulldozed as the site is prepared for tract homes.
As to the Hill of Hope, any tales of a sanitarium are just that: tales. The structures there were built by the Hill of Hope after it bought the property in the early 70s. Unless someone knows otherwise, that is. Thanks again.
I came home today up the canyon to chino & saw the stacked rocks! There were maybe 7 stacks; most of them on the southern, curvier part of the road. I've used the road on & off for about 5 years & never noticed any before so I thought they're pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteI seen the tacks if rocks to all around the cayon weird
DeleteToday, there were rocks piled up on the hillside concrete enclosure, next to 'La Vita' tank.
ReplyDeleteMegahan, up yours for talking about Sally that way. If you knew all Sally endured throughout her life, you wouldn't talk like that, you jealous mean bitch. I seriously can't stand you because I know what my friend suffered and why she has problems.
ReplyDeleteShe's the most greatest dream catcher weaver. Yes I've spent time with her. It was only a nick name told to us. I see my comment was mean then for that I appologize. She is a woman of the canyon. I say and listened to her stories many of times. I KNOW what you know. It wasn't nice. Please understand my main topic was referring to this blogger had no idea what they were taking about as far as locations and stories. Tbh the only one I can't stand is Emma. She asked me if she could suck my dick for $5 and after I explained I ddint have One, she took a huge napkinless huff of wd40. I saw Sally a while ago at the new market. She had some badass boots.
Deletei have enjoyed the comments here. I'm from England and live in Ontario. I hope to go visit some of the places in Chino Hills. Thank all you for piquing my interest. For now I'm going to spend a lot of time on Google, and learn more about the spooky spots.
ReplyDeleteDo you now the mystery of The Tree?? Elementals I believe is what you are seeing. looks like a ball of light or lighten bug. Native American believe they are protectors of the forest.
ReplyDeleteGhosts? Yeah, we had them, "living" inside our house on Hay Drive in Sleepy Hollow!
ReplyDeleteThere was a young man in a tee shirt, several others and an older guy in a hunter's plaid jacket (I believe he was possibly the bulldozer operator who was killed when an old oak tree fell on him and the bulldozer kept on going while he was clearing the lot next to us on Hay Drive. I can still see the hunter's jacket that I assumed he crumpled up on the rear deck of the 'dozer as the morning heat began to come up. It turned out it was actually his body, but I was so tired after several 24 hour ambulance shifts in a row and continued on driving home just a few doors down so I could sleep until I woke up, just to go back to work at an ambulance service in Santa Ana and do it all over again.
The worst thing about the ghosts in our house is that most of them seemed to be the spirits of the dead who met their ends on Carbon Canyon Road. My little brother David was killed on that road and I thank God that he passed on, not being the type who would be inclined to hang around this vail of tears any longer than he had to.
And there was the tale often told of a father who drove up and down Carbon Canyon road during the late '60s hoping to find his son who hadn't returned home for several days. The Sheriff's office sent deputies to search the road but found nothing. The boy's father finally found him hanging dead on the limb of a tree after he was ejected from his vehicle when it plunged into the ravine deep down the treacherous north side of the road. This sad story was related at the time in the Chino Champion newspaper.
Before his death my little brother had been involved in an accident he walked away from. He was riding the elementary school (Los Serranos) bus when it rolled over at the S-Curves. He thought it was great fun and wondered at the time why all the other kids were crying. I hated that damn road, it took too many lives.
I think the most nasty of all the ghosts was the demon who resided in our basement, just off the garage. You could feel his evil following you up the stairs when you climbed up and out of our basement bedroom. I would just bound up the stairs like hell itself was reaching out for me. My neck hairs would stand on end, and I never, ever, looked back at what was behind me.
So, yeah, I'd say the place was haunted as hell.
The cult practices illegal exorcisms. That could explain all the paranormal activity. It is said when an exorcism is preformed, portals are left open if not practiced properly. They even have a well with a plaque on it stating “Exorcism Water” I’ve noticed odd behavior in the locals over the years. Illegal exorcisms was mentioned to me by a woman when i was about 8 years old. I’m 27 now .
ReplyDeleteim sorry please elaborate on this cult. are they in the area?
ReplyDeleteReading all of this brings back so many memories as a kid. I remember going there with many of my friends, especially the abandon ski jump area. The creepiest part was the concrete building that was at the top of the hill by the ski lift myself, and three of my girlfriends went up there one day. as we walk through the rooms, there was a lot of graffiti, but on one wall was written all four of our names, correct spelling, and all. None of us have ever been there. All the names were together in a line creepiest thing I had ever seen. And I do remember the tree. And I do remember the stories. Especially the one of the lady in her wedding dress walking along side of the road.
ReplyDelete