This may come as a surprise to some, but Turlock’s downtown district is rich with haunted buildings, ghost sightings and other inexplicable phenomena.
On Oct. 30, the night before Halloween, the Turlock Historical Museum hosted its first annual Ghost Walk of the surrounding downtown district. Attendants of all ages came to not only learn about historical significance behind many restaurants and businesses around town, but also to hear first-hand accounts of business owners’ and workers’ run-ins with the supernatural.
Patrons were split into groups and led around town by Turlock Historical Society president Rob Geiger and assisted by Calaveras Paranormal Researchers founder Rich Panzarino. Panzarino and his group investigate paranormal activity around the Calaveras area using a collection of technological devices. These devices are able to pick up the faintest sounds, energy levels and light not detectable by the human eye.
During the walking tour, several buildings were visited, among which were Memo’s Cocina & Tequila Bar, Main Street Antiques and the 10 East Kitchen & Taphouse to name a few. At every location, the establishment’s history was revealed to the group before stories of ghost sightings were brought up. Often told by the owners or workers of the businesses themselves, stories would range from odd smells and strange sounds to objects flying from shelves and sightings of people who would simply vanish into thin air.
The Turlock Historical Society hopes to have many more years of spooky ghost walks in the future. If you’re interested in attending next October, call 209-668-7386 or visit their museum at 108 S. Center St.