Halloween is just around the corner. If you find yourself looking for a more authentic, spine-tingling experience other than the traditional costume party, grab a few of your bravest friends and explore some of San Francisco’s most haunted locations.

Stow Lake (Stow Lake Dr. between Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy drives)
Visit this tranquil lake in Golden Gate Park after dark and you may experience the ghost of a woman whose child is rumored to have drowned there in the early 1900s. Distracted by a conversation with another woman, the woman’s stroller is said to have rolled away unnoticed, falling into the lake with her baby still inside.  After a frantic search around the lake, she entered the lake and was never seen again. Read more about the Stow Lake Ghost here.

The Columbarium (1 Loraine Court)
Stroll through the Neptune Society’s Columbarium and listen carefully for the voice of a little girl.  That girl, Viola von Staden, died drinking polluted water from a well after the 1906 earthquake and her ashes are kept in a brass urn at the Columbarium.  Rumor have it that the caretaker has seen the little girl standing in front of her final resting place.

Queen Anne Hotel (1590 Sutter St.)
This Victorian B&B was originally the home to the Mary Lake School for Girls in the 1890’s. A dedicated educator, Mary Lake is said to still haunt this location, especially her old office, Room 410. Guests have reported cold spots, misty figures and an intangible, comforting female presence and more than one guest has awoken after a cold night to find extra blankets mysteriously added during their sleep.

Curran Theater (445 Geary St)
Look closely into the large lobby mirror and you just may see the ghost of an old ticket taker, who was killed during a robbery attempt in the 1930’s.

Sutro Baths (680 Point Lobos Ave)
Most stories involve a young female who is said to have drowned nearby. She is said to blow out candles or snatch them from your hand. There was also a sighting in 1961 where two policemen reported seeing a man with a flashlight, who whistled softly but then vanished.

The Presidio
With its rich, long history (it was originally founded as the Spanish Imperial Outpost in 1776), The Presidio has a host of ghost sightings in a variety of locations such as the Letterman Hospital, The Officers’ Club and the Public Health Services Hospital where those involved in the remodeling efforts are fearful to work inside the new structures.  There have also been ghostly tales of a woman in a black flowing dress walking through the ballroom of the Officers’ Club.

Alcatraz Island
Tales and legends of the haunted island have circulated for quite some time.  Native Americans have long believed that the island is inhabited with evil spirits. Rumors say that spirits continue to lurk in the shadows of the fog-enshrouded island.  Sounds of men’s voices, screams, whistles and other unexplained sounds are said to be heard within these historic walls.

Happy Hauntings.

Sincerely Yours
Jasper is a convergence. Of structure and imagination. Of the classic and the eclectic. Of art and life. This 400-foot high-rise apartment building crowns San Francisco’s fabled Rincon Hill and stands as an iconic addition to the city skyline. It is a statement about elegance in a place where elegance actually means something. Be sure to follow Jasper on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+ and Instagram as we share news and updates about our exciting new community.  #rentjasper It’s a heck of a place to call home.