The Creepy Small Town In Northern California With Insane Paranormal Activity

Northern California is full of places with creepy stories that seem to linger. We even compiled a road trip that leads you to the most haunted places in NorCal! However, the town featured here has a seriously spooky presence and is known to contain occasionally-nuts paranormal activity. Placerville is a quaint town with a relatively small population of 10,389 people. The town has a rich history that started with the Gold Rush, and it seems that spirits from this past still linger to this day. This haunted town in Northern California is also one of the most intriguing.

Placerville's original name, Hangtown, is a good indicator of the town's gruesome history. Located approximately two hours outside of Sacramento, this place is one of California's very first Gold Rush towns.

Placerville is a town born from the gold rush era. The town grew immensely with the discovery of gold over 150 years ago. It was a true Wild West town, in which justice for criminals was served swiftly and with force. The town was initially known as "Hangtown" for using hanging as the primary means of prosecuting outlaws. Today, Placerville is a town frozen in time. The town's main street is comprised of historic buildings that have been standing since the town's establishment. Despite the fact that many of California's mining towns became abandoned as the gold rush dwindled, Placerville remains home to many residents. In fact, many of the people who live here are descendants from the town's early days.

However, the town is also home to many lost souls from the afterlife, too. People travel from all over to get a taste of the insane paranormal activity that takes place here.

The spirit that is probably most famous among locals is the Hangman's Tree Saloon Ghost. The spirit is thought to be one of the saloon's early owners, but it might be one of the souls who perished at the hanging tree in front of the saloon. Whoever it is, the ghost is known as quite the trickster. Employees of the saloon report objects moving or missing without explanation.

The saloon isn't the only haunted place in Placerville. The Historic Cary House Hotel is also a hot spot of paranormal activity.

The hotel has been around for a long time (since 1857!) and has hosted many famous guests over the years including Mark Twain, Levi Strauss, and Buffalo Bill. The huge, four-story structure is an amazing reminder of Placerville's past.

However, the hotel also houses a number of non-living residents.

Guests have witnessed firsthand creepy occurrences including shaking doorknobs, unexplained voices and laughter, televisions turning on and off, and even full-body apparitions. The hotel has definitely experienced its fair share of scary entities.

Placerville is much more than the creepy happenings that occur here. However, if you're looking to see a ghost with your own eyes...this is going to be the place for you.

The authenticity of this Wild West town is what makes it so charming. But there's no denying that something unearthly lingers here.

Have you been to Placerville? Did you observe any paranormal activity? Don't forget to check out the 10 Most Terrifying Places in Northern California if you're up for a good scare!