Ghost Hunting in Los Angeles: 3-Day Itinerary
Got the courage to go ghost hunting in Los Angeles? The City of Angels, while known for its luxury and glamor, is also known for its dark underbelly, tragic histories, haunted locations, and restless spirits.
This 3-day ghost-hunting itinerary will guide you through L.A.’s creepiest corners.
Here is your 3-day ghost hunting in Los Angeles travel itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Hollywood
Morning: Check-in at the Haunted Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel
- Location: Hollywood
- Known For: Ghosts of Marilyn Monroe and Montgomery Clift
- Activity: Haunted Hotel Grounds Tour
Kick off your ghost hunting in Los Angeles trip by checking into the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.
Built in 1927, the iconic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel is graced by the spirit of Marilyn Monroe, who lived in Room 229 for 2 years during the peak of her career and likes to check up on her old room. She was quite unhappy, so it’s no wonder guests have seen Marilyn’s reflection in the mirrors, especially near the full-length piece that once hung in her suite.
Montgomery Clift’s ghost has also been seen pacing the 9th floor, where he stayed while filming From Here to Eternity. He’s known for playing the trumpet in empty hallways (fun) and brushing up against guests.
Afternoon: Haunted Hollywood Tour
- Location: Hollywood Boulevard
- Known For: Haunted theaters, ghostly projections, and eerie histories
- Activity: Guided Walking Tour
In the afternoon, take a guided walking tour of the world-famous Hollywood Boulevard, which is perfect for anyone interested in ghost hunting in Los Angeles. Don’t forget to check out The Hollywood Walk of Fame along the way. Spanning 15 blocks, it honors over 2,600 stars from film, T.V., and music.
Stop by Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, where staff members have seen images jump across the screen when the projector is completely turned off, and figures can sometimes be seen watching from empty seats after hours.
At the El Capitan Theatre, the ghost of an old performer has been seen in one of the dressing rooms, and the iconic Hollywood Forever Cemetery is home to stars dead and undead.
Notable Hauntings & Burials at Hollywood Forever
- Cecil B. DeMille: The famed director’s spirit is believed to oversee his impressive grave.
- Clifton Webb: Actor Clifton Webb, known for his roles in Laura and The Razor’s Edge, was reportedly very vocal about his disbelief in the afterlife. Ironically, many believe his spirit still hangs out in his crypt.
- Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and Jr.: Buried together in an elaborate marble tomb, both father and son are said to appear as fleeting figures or gentle voices on quiet evenings.
- Jayne Mansfield: The ’50s bombshell actress is described as a (ghostly) vision of beauty near her monument.
- Johnny Ramone: The punk rock legend and guitarist for The Ramones is memorialized with a statue at Hollywood Forever. Visitors sometimes hear phantom guitar music playing softly in the air or see shadowy figures near his memorial late at night.
- Rudolph Valentino: One of the cemetery’s most famous haunts is the silent film star Rudolph Valentino. His spirit is seen wandering near his crypt in the Cathedral Mausoleum. Some visitors have seen his figure in the mausoleum corridors or walking silently among the graves. Known as the “Lady in Black,” a mysterious veiled woman also reportedly visits his grave, continuing a tradition of leaving roses—a practice started by an unknown mourner shortly after his death.
- Virginia Rappe: Actress Virginia Rappe, whose rape and murder is forever linked to the infamous Fatty Arbuckle scandal. She is said to haunt the cemetery’s grounds. Some have seen her spirit dressed in period clothing, sobbing softly near her grave.
Night: The Hollywood Wax Museum, Dinner at Yamashiro
- Location: Hollywood
- Activity: Ghost Hunt
- Known For: Ghosts hidden in wax figures
The Hollywood Wax Museum is creepy enough without ghosts.
Nothing tragic happened there that is known to the public. Since 1965, the wax figures, which are known to make visitors uneasy, may be conduits for paranormal activity.
Finish with dinner at Yamashiro Hollywood is known for its beautiful views, incredible Japanese food, and a few ghosts.
Built in the 1910s, the ghost of a samurai is tied to the collection of Japanese artifacts once displayed there. Legend has it that a samurai spirit was drawn to the property due to the presence of sacred relics, including samurai swords and armor.
The samurai has been seen in the gardens, and diners have reported feeling watched and catching a figure out of the corner of their eyes.
Day 2: Haunted by the Sea – Santa Monica
Morning/Afternoon: Santa Monica Pier and The Georgian Hotel
- Location: Santa Monica
- Known For: Ghosts of fishermen and lost sailors/ haunted Car
- Activity: Pier Walk/ Haunted Hotel Exploration
The Santa Monica Pier is one of L.A.’s iconic landmarks, but it’s also a ghost hunting in Los Angeles must-stop.
As the end of the historic (and haunted) Route 66, the pier is known for its happy atmosphere, with a classic amusement park, the famous Ferris wheel, an aquarium, and lively street performers and vendors.
Built in 1922 by Charles Looff, its beloved hand-carved wooden horses and has been a beloved Santa Monica icon for over a century.
The ghosts of fishermen and sailors lost to the waters wander the pier’s wooden planks. Strange, creaking footsteps are often heard near sunrise, and there are accounts of ghostly figures sitting on the historic carousel, vanishing before reaching the other side.
If you have the time, consider a Ghost Hunting Tour.
A short, lovely walk from the Santa Monica Pier leads you to the stunning Georgian Hotel. This Art Deco gem was a former speakeasy during the Prohibition era.
Guests have heard the laughter of people in the basement and the scent of cigar smoke in the hallways. A ghostly woman in a blue dress is seen passing through walls, leaving a cold draft behind her.
There isn’t a specific event tied to the Georgian’s haunting. Described as an elegant woman in a blue dress, likely a former performer, she is often seen standing near the windows or gliding through the hallways.
Night: Ghost Hunt at Will Rogers State Historic Park
- Location: Pacific Palisades
- Known For: The Rogers family
- Activity: Paranormal Investigation
Will Rogers Ranch may look lovely, but visitors have reported hearing the sound of his laughter in the halls, making it an ideal spot for ghost hunting in Los Angeles.
The ranch was the home of the famous American humorist, actor, and “Hollywood Cowboy” Will Rogers in the 1920s and 1930s.
Rogers was known for his quick wit and rope tricks, and he was a big figure in classic vaudeville and Western films.
The ghosts of Rogers and his family are said to remain on the property, especially around the former stables, where people have heard strange hoofbeats and the creepy sounds of horses neighing late at night.
Dinner: The Misfit Restaurant & Bar
- Location: Santa Monica
- Known For: Ghost of a former tenant
- Activity: Dinner at a haunted restaurant
Once a busy office building, The Misfit now serves up delicious food with a side of ghosts. Diners and staff have experienced more than just delicious dishes at The Misfit.
Reports of objects sliding across tables, chairs shifting as if moved by unseen hands, and the faint sound of whispering voices make the dimly lit rooms creepy.
The atmosphere sometimes turns icy cold without warning, as if an unseen presence has joined the gathering. Some have even claimed to see shadows flit across the corners of their vision, only to disappear when looked at directly—leaving the impression that someone, or something, is always watching.
Day 3: Dark Glamour of West Hollywood
Morning: Iconic Chateau Marmont
- Location: West Hollywood
- Known For: Celeb ghosts, including John Belushi
- Activity: Haunted Exploration
The Chateau Marmont is as famous for its ghosts as it is for its celebrity guests. This historic hotel, perched on Sunset Boulevard, was modeled after the Château d’Amboise in France. This unique castle-like appearance makes it instantly recognizable.
Yet, beneath its opulent facade, the Chateau harbors a dark history of tragedy, scandal, and untimely deaths.
One of the most well-known tragedies to occur here was the death of comedian John Belushi. In 1982, he was found dead in Bungalow 3 at the age of 33 after an overdose of a speedball (a combination of cocaine and heroin).
Leading up to that night, Belushi had been on a destructive path, struggling with substance abuse and depression. Despite attempts by friends like Robin Williams and Robert De Niro to intervene, Belushi overdosed at the Chateau Marmont.
Belushi’s spirit is said to linger around Bungalow 3. Guests have reported feeling sudden cold drafts, lights flickering unexpectedly, and hearing the sound of laughter.
Some have even claimed to see a shadowy figure that resembles Belushi sitting in the bungalow’s windows or wandering the grounds late at night.
Where You’ve Seen The Chateau
Afternoon: Greystone Mansion
- Location: Beverly Hills
- Known For: Murder-suicide in 1929
- Activity: Mansion and Grounds Exploration
The Greystone Mansion’s dark history includes the 1929 murder-suicide of its owner, Ned Doheny, and his secretary.
On the night of February 16, 1929, both Ned Doheny and Hugh Plunkett were found dead inside the Greystone Mansion. Ned had been shot in the head, and Plunkett died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
This was ruled a murder-suicide, with Plunkett killing Doheny before turning the gun on himself. The exact reasons for this murder-suicide remain a mystery. Theories include financial stress and fallout from the Teapot Dome Scandal, a bribery involving U.S. President Warren G. Harding, in which Ned Doheny’s father was involved.
Their dramatic deaths left an imprint on the Greystone Mansion. Shadowy figures and cold spots pop up throughout, murmured conversations when no one is around, and translucent figures peering out from the windows have all been reported.
Night: Ghosts in WeHo
- Location: West Hollywood
- Known For: Mob-related deaths and hauntings
- Activity: Paranormal Investigation
The Comedy Store, once a mob-owned nightclub, has a violent past that includes murder and betrayal.
Back in its early days when it was known as Ciro’s, a mob-owned nightclub, the club was crawling with organized crime, with money laundering, illegal gambling, and contract killings being hidden behind its walls.
There are stories of bodies being hidden in the basement and hitmen conducting their grim business on the premises. These days, staff have heard aggressive voices, phantom footsteps, and full-body manifestations. The basement is super active, with sightings of shadow people standing near the doorway and sudden temperature drops.
Dinner: Dan Tana’s
- Location: West Hollywood
- Known For: Ghost of a past owner
- Activity: Dinner at a haunted restaurant
Dan Tana’s has been a favorite dining spot for celebrity clientele since it opened in 1964. The restaurant has attracted a star-studded clientele, including the likes of Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, George Clooney, Al Pacino, and others.
It’s often described as a place where Hollywood’s elite would go to escape the limelight and enjoy a cozy, intimate meal. As for the haunting, it’s said to be Dan Tana himself.
He was a former professional soccer player and entrepreneur who managed the restaurant for decades. Although Dan was not the original owner, he became the name and face of the restaurant and wanted to see it do well, even in the afterlife.
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