story 11:Winchester Mystery House

Of all the reportedly haunted buildings in San Jose, the most famous one is probably the notorious Winchester Mystery House! The house was something of a pet project for Sarah Winchester, the somewhat eccentric air to the Winchester Rifle fortune. Sarah has somehow become certain that the spirit of every single person who had ever been killed using a Winchester firearm had come to haunt her. In order to make things more difficult for what she believed to be vengeful spirits, she continuously remodeled the house in an attempt to confuse the ghosts. This has resulted in a strange, and often maze-like home where there are twists, turns, dead ends and of course staircases that lead to nowhere. The renovations were a constant pet project for Sarah and they continued until she died. These days the property is said to be very haunted. Could it be that Sarah was right about the building work keeping the spirits at bay and now that Sarah is gone and tools have been set down, they are beginning to claim the building as their own?  There are even reports from some visitors that some of the workmen are still there toiling away perhaps unaware that the job is over, or perhaps taking on the responsibility of driving the other spirits out!

Before it found itself crammed between some movie theaters and a major freeway, the Winchester House was the residence and pet project of noted local eccentric Sarah Winchester, heir to the Winchester Rifle fortune. Convinced the spirits of those killed by Winchester firearms were out to get her, she built the house full of twists, turns and dead-ends to throw them off course—a never-ending project that was in progress until the day she died. The Winchester House, though today a tourist attraction, still houses the happy haunts that kept Sarah company for 38 years.

story 10:Great America

The ghost of a boy who died on a ride near the games section of the park is said to bring the games to life after closing. Workers cutting through the midway on their way to the employee exit swear they have seen lights flicker, sounds blare and machines switch on and off long after the electricity has been shut off for the day. Maybe that’s why its annual month-long Halloween Haunt is one of the best holiday events in town.

Is there anything eerier than a little boy ghost bringing retro carnival games to life at a historic amusement park? Doubtful. The specter that spooks thrill-seekers at Great America amusement park in Santa Clara could be a young boy who was reportedly killed on a ride at the park in the ’80s. Workers claim they’ve seen game lights flicker and machines turn on and off on the midway after hours, and the little boy ghost (possibly named Doug) might be to blame.

story 9:Agnew's Insane Asylum

Agnews Insane Asylum as it stands now was built in 1918 to replace the previous structure which was destroyed in 1912. There are several ghosts in residence, both from the original building and the ones that replaced it. Some of the activity that is frequently reported includes doors opening on their own, lights going on and off, a foul smell that comes and goes, and rooms filling up with smoke for no apparent reason! Many people have also seen a lady in yellow who begs for help finding her children, but then vanishes abruptly if you do attempt to help! There have also been reports of other apparitions, things being thrown by unseen forces and disembodied screams and laughter!

story 8:Del Mar High School

One of the most haunted spots in San Jose is said to be the athletic field at Del Mar High School. The haunting here dates back to before the school was even built. Allegedly, a boy was murdered by his best friend back in 1942 on the spot where the athletic field now is. This explains why students and staff alike have reported seeing a boy running up and down the bleachers at the side of the field. There have also been a number of reports of disembodied screaming heard at 3.15am every night – the time that the murder apparently took place.

Before the school opened, a boy was reportedly murdered by his best friend on the grounds where the athletics field stands today. Legend has it that every night at 3:15am, screams can be heard coming from the field and sometimes a figure can be seen running up and down the bleachers.

story 7:Quimby Road

One of the most popular ghost stories coming out of the San Jose area is probably the Quimby Road jogger. A number of very credible witnesses have reported seeing a ghostly figure jogging along Quimby Road at night. Some say that he appears at midnight while others say that he appears as soon as it starts getting dark! One thing that most witnesses agree on is that if the jogger spots them he will stop and stare at them for a short while before resuming his nightly jog. Nobody is quite sure who he is or why he is still jogging even after death!

story 6:Marsh Road

It certainly seems like San Jose has more than its fair share of haunted highways and creepy side roads! One such road is Marsh Road which has become something of a rite of passage for local high school students. The area is said to be haunted by Marcy Conrad who was killed by her boyfriend. The story has all of the usual hallmarks of an Urban Legend, but with one big difference – this murder really did take place and there are documented records to prove it! Marcy’s ghost is said to roam the section of Marsh Road where she was killed and her apparition has been spotted on a number of occasions by teens who go in search of a scare. Law enforcement have long since closed this section of road so if you do decide to go looking for Marcy you are going to have to do it on foot!

It’s become almost a rite of passage for Milpitas high school kids to seek out the ghost of murder victim Marcy Conrad, who was killed by her boyfriend on Marsh Road. Unlike the back stories of most urban legends, this murder was real and well-documented. The area of Marsh Road where the ghost is said to roam has long been closed off by law enforcement, so leave the Mystery Machine at home.

story 5:Dottie's Pond, Santa Teresa County Park

If you visit Santa Teresa County Park, keep your eyes peeled for a small pond known locally as ‘Dottie’s Pond’. The area is said to be haunted by the spirit of a young woman known as Dottie who drowned in the pond. The exact circumstances surrounding Dottie’s death vary depending on who is telling the story and some versions even suggest that she drowned herself after hanging her parents in a nearby barn while others say that she was pulled under the water by some strange being. However Dottie met her untimely end, what everyone can agree on is that Dottie appears by the side of the pond on occasion, usually scaring the living daylights out of the visitors who see her!

There are several versions of the campfire story that involves the small pond in Santa Teresa Springs, but they all end the same way—a girl named Dottie is pulled under the water by a giant hand. Sometimes there is a sub-plot involving Dottie being angry at her parents and somehow mustering up the physical strength to hang them from the rafters in the nearby barn.