Some places we pass by on a daily basis and not give much thought to, unconcerned with their pasts. But some places you really should pay attention to, for they carry with them dark, dark histories. We've identified some spots in Oregon that have such haunting pasts.
12) Oregon State Hospital
Built in the 1800s, this place became overwrought with the insane and mentally incapacitated, who were treated under practices that would never fly these days. The underground tunnels that connected the buildings of this complex were rumored to be where hideous experiments were conducted on patients. To this day, people claim that they are being watched, even when no one is around.
11) Kuhn Cinema, Lebanon
Built in 1932, this theater is reportedly haunted by the ghost of a young girl in a white dress who fell from theater's balcony to her death. Visitors and staff of this still-open venue claim to see doors open and close by themselves. The child's laughter can also be heard, according to witness accounts.
10) Lafayette Cemetery
The town of Lafayette is said to have had a curse over it since the 1800s, when a woman accused of witchcraft was hanged for her supposed crimes. Before her death, she placed the curse and since then the town has burned to the ground three times. Her ghost can be seen to this day in the cemetery.
9) Pittock Mansion, Portland
Not typically thought of as haunted, this stately mansion in Forest Park in Portland was built for the publisher of The Oregonian in the 1910s. Today, it stands as a museum but there have been reports of oddities occuring within the property, including ghost sightings, objects moving by themselves and windows opening and closing by themselves.
8) Shanghai Tunnels, Portland
In Portland's early, more sinister days, a system of underground tunnels were used to connect ot the Willamette River. Poor victims were lured out of nearby bars, drugged in the tunnels and taken to the river, where they were sold as slaves. Needless to say, there are countless reports of people encountering the presence of ghostly activity, most notably in the basement of the Lotus Cafe and Cardroom.
7) McMenamins, Grand Lodge, Forest Grove
Guests have reported witnessing the ghost of an old woman throughout the property, who disturbs the occupants of rooms. In fact, a photo of this woman is prominently displayed in the hotel lobby.
6) Multnomah County Poor Farm, now McMenamins, Edgefield
Another McMenamins property, this property used to house the poor and folks who were otherwise down on their luck. Inadequate medical care and treatment for those suffering from mental illness led to countless, unexplained deaths on the property. Since the hotel's development, the tortured souls of the property's former life have been known to haunt guests.
5) The Crystal Ballroom, Portland
After the building has closed for the night, there have been reports that people can be heard talking loudly, even though the place is empty.
4) Hot Lake Hotel and Hot Springs, La Grande
This land has a troubled past. Formally a healing place for Native Americans, it was converted into a hotel, and later an asylum, whose tortured patients remained long after their deaths.
3) Original Oregon Institute of Technology
The former site of the OIT fell into disrepair years ago, but is said to be used in part for Satanic rituals. Visitors can find strange formations with animal bones on them, resembling sacrificial areas. Others have reported seeing ghosts throughout the campus, as well as loud, disturbing noises.
2) O'Kane Building, Bend
On the top floor of this building there have been witness accounts of strange lights from outside of the building, as well as voices and smoke when clearly no one is around. Inside the restaurant, there is a reported ghost waitress, who can be heard shouting.
1) Highway 101, near Cannon Beach
Report of paranormal activity along this stretch of highway date back to the 1960s, with people claming to have seen a man, with his face covered in bandages on the side of the road, behind motorists' cars or even in the backseat of of their vehicles. These sightings, naturally, only are reported to have happened at night.
On the surface, many of these places seem harmless, but now you know they're anything but. Tell us, where are some spooky places in Oregon that give you nightmares?
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!