Ghost Hunting Gear

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Turnbull Canyon Whittier/Hacienda Heights, CA



Turnbull Canyon, another great hiking trail in Los Angeles County in between Hacienda Heights, and Whittier is a favorite to hikers, fitness gurus, and mountain bikers. On the roads, it’s a definite favorite to guys that like to race. However, there’s a more dark, and sinister side to the canyon. There’s the Mountain Lions and the rattlesnakes. There’s also the history of gruesome events of satanic rituals, ghosts, hangings, kidnappings, KKK meetings, and even a gravity hill. There’s even claims seeing UFO/Extraterrestrial  activity take place here. 

It all started with The Native American tribe, the Gabrielino Indians. They believed that the land was forbidden ground and called it “Hutukngna”, which means “The Dark Place” or even, “The Place of The Devil.” Apparently, these were battlegrounds for Native American Wars. They were forced to change into Catholicism by the Spanish. Back then, the Spanish killed anybody that didn’t convert to Catholicism. These events may have happened at Turnbull Canyon, and could be one of the many reasons for the Canyon’s hauntings. Some people have said that they have heard war drums in the Canyon. Some people believe that these spirits have returned to their sacred ground to find peace. 


In 1845, two men became historic figures in the canyon’s history. John Rowland and William Workman. They immigrated from Taos, New Mexico, where they ran a fur-trapping business. Workman had helped Governor Pio Pico, to get rid of another governor who was disliked. In return, 49,000 acres of land was given to Workman and Rowland. The Gabrielino Indians didn’t like Workman, and constantly invaded his property. This caused him to dig an underground living space for his families protection.  Later on, the Indians actually worked for him. During this time, Indians reported seeing witches and ghosts. Unfortunately, Workman was involved in a plot to illegally take over the governor’s spot. The same one who gave him his land. As a result, karma caught up to him. He lost most of his 49,000 acres, and was left with Turnbull Canyon. This all lead to a financial downfall, followed by Workman shooting himself in 1876.

During the Great Depression, the Canyon started to be used for strange satanic activity. Many families during this era had to give their children up to orphanages. There was a cult that would adopt the children from these orphanages and slaughter them in the canyon. They eventually started kidnapping children. Then, the cult mysteriously vanished. People that have been to Turnbull Canyon at night, have seen hooded figures  roaming on the trails. Some people have seen bonfires in the canyons, as well. Witnesses have reported seeing ghosts of children. These are probably the victims used in the rituals. 

In the 1930’s there use to be a mental hospital located in the canyon somewhere. It had a good run, until the 1940’s when it burned down. In 1962, a group of friends were partying in the ruins of the hospital one night. One of the boys saw one of the electroshock devices that were used when the hospital was active. He picked it up and was electrocuted. The voltage was strong enough to kill him. Apparently, the electricity had been shut off since the fires had happened 20 years earlier. 


The most notable incident that happened here, was in 2002. A girl named Gloria Gaxiola was murdered on Turnbull Canyon Road. She was shot to death, and dragged 4 miles down Turnbull Canyon Rd. Thankfully, the police found the killers and are now serving justice. Other incidents of Turnbull Canyon, are a plane crash that happened in the 1950’s, and a hanging tree. The plane crashed in the canyon. 29 victims were in the plane. What’s scary is that it's rumored that there were 21 children in this plane crash. It’s as if the spirits that were conjured up by the satanists caused this to happen. The hanging tree is given that name due to a man that was hanged at that tree. Witnesses have said that you see this man hanging from the tree, at the time of when his death happened (Uncertain of the time as of now.)  

Turnbull Canyon is quite the nature walk during the day. At night though, all the hidden secrets of the canyon come out. Apparently, the canyon is closed at night, due to what has happened there. 

91 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Technically you're not supposed to be there at night on the trails. It's not like they lock or chain it up.

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  2. Replies
    1. It's at the very top of turnbal. It has a big pot or fountain with pictures of devil's with pitch forks. This is Chris Martin class of 88 Los Altos

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  3. It is closed at night I go there all the time you can go in but beware...it's to the point where cops circle at night to tell you not to go in

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  4. i lived up there for almost 10 years. even on skyline where the supposed insane asylum is at. from what i personally seen was nothing! just spectators, curious minds, and party people. thats about it. oh that kkk dude who supposedly walked up and down the mountain late at night just some random dude.

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    1. no is a homeless guy who is coming home from a soup kitchen

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  5. Lived there my whole life its all bullshit

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    1. yes, all BS, I lived there for many years, across from the haunted house, where a family lived, duh

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    2. Its not Bull. These things really happened and are still happening today. There are still witches practicing the craft late at night up there and still satanic rituals a nd spirits of Indians and children. I've lived in the area since 1961. And I've seen and heard it all.I've also been up there and seen it myself. You have no idea. Your best bet is to just stay away from that area, period.

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    3. http://www.insidesocal.com/sgvcrime/tag/gloria-gaxiola/?doing_wp_cron=1494955088.4664549827575683593750

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    5. There are photos of Gloria Gaxiola too. She was a beautiful girl. So sad.

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    6. There are photos of Gloria Gaxiola too. She was a beautiful girl. So sad.

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    7. http://www.insidesocal.com/sgvcrime/tag/gloria-gaxiola/?doing_wp_cron=1494955088.4664549827575683593750

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  6. This is all unsubstantiated crap, but I'd love to be one of the hooded figures.

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    1. I've hiked those trails countless times day and night. It's fun. The only time I ever got really scared was when I ate a bud brownie before I did the hike at night with some friends.

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  7. Also one of my friends sons disappeared from the hills in Hacienda Heights. A year or 2 later they found just his skull! Joey Schwartz was his name. They lived right by the hills and when he went missing a whole lot of folks combed those hills for weeks. They never found his killer!

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    1. I still grieve for Joey Schwartz. What a wonderful family and what a sweet kid.

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    2. Yes I remember that story because his mother (June or Jean)? went to the my cousin to have her hair done at the time. It was so sad that they never found rhyme or reason as to what happened to him. Not sure what year that was but at least 40 or so years ago.

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  8. I will never forget the girl who was found in 2002. We drove by on our way to the OC and her body was baked covered in blood. She was may age
    Also my high school friends had rolled their car on that road... rip. .. araon and fernie

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  9. This all mostly true. The historical story is early California history. The hangman tree is true, so is the murder, and an unmentioned gruesome attempted murder. I have personally witnessed cult rituals and have partied many times up there. I am going to attempt to verify the plane crash. Regardless it all makes for fun and interesting hikes and night fright hikes. The canyon is awesome and nostalgic. I spent the better part of the late 70's and early 80's up there. Enjoy accordingly.

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    1. Where are you getting your historical facts? There was a small plane crash in Turnbull Canyon in 1952. It's documented here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWCVhJlRdpQ. It was on the the other side of the Canyon (Hacienda Hghts area) Cult rituals?? Come on, if you were partying up there you were probably wasted. And you said you witnessed cult rituals? What kind? Did you report it? Why did you hang around? Seriously?
      I've lived in Whittier all my life. I'm 63. I used to go up to the canyon on the weekends when I was a teen and in my twenties. Yes there were some crazy indigents who lived up there (none of who murdered anybody). Yes there were always a lot of young adults partying up there. But 95 percent of this is urban legend. When anybody can show me actual facts about these events happening (which I've never been able to find and I have researched) then I'll believe it. Don't tell me a friend of a friend because that's how every urban legend begins.

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  10. What about all of the Bigfoot sightings? Or the herd of wild Chupacabras that roam there, and the zombies that lurk in every nook & cranny of the canyon? And Count Dracula has been chasing the Wolfman around these hills for eons! The Frankenstein monster was created up there, and the creature from the Black Lagoon has recently relocated to the dried out water tower. Whoever wrote this post is very RETARDED! The only facts they got right are the name of the place, the Workman stuff (and even that is suspect) and the Gaxiola girl. And the "gravity hill" is located in Rose Hills miles away.

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    1. Right on. I used to go up to Turnbull and heard all of those urban legends in the 60s. Take it as it is. The only two stories here that have an iota of truth are the Gaxiola tragedy (which has nothing to do with the canyon... people get murdered in canyons. It's dark, secluded and a great place to dump a body) and some of the info on the William Workman. If you want a good read of the history of La Puente/Whittier go to this site... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workman-Temple_family

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    2. Like I said I saw these satanic rituals myself personally. I was hiding with a friend and we saw clearly their ritual. We reported it to the police but they wouldn't do anything. They didn't believe us. They said we were just kids with a crazy imagination. Fiqures right. I was 16 at the time. I am now 57.

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  11. What about He'll Gate? Is that where the hospital was at?

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    1. Fake it's the bottom property to were I lived. Where I lived is your supposedly insane asylum... Lmfao!!!

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  13. The Gabrielino/Tongva people did not have war drums. Native Californians used clapper-sticks to keep rhythm. But this was an interesting read!

    http://arroyosage.blogspot.com/2014/02/making-clapper-stick-native-california.html

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  14. All stories of satanic rituals is all urban legend.

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  15. the plane crash was in 1952, and was flight 416 West from NY to L.A.
    My grandfather died in the crash.
    There were not 21 children onboard, and the airline had a history of safety violations.
    The pilot had a medical restriction against him, and might have had a heart attack.

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  16. I have personally lived up turnbull canyon for over a decade. On skyline where the supposed insane asylum and plane crash supposedly happened. I have partied up there for 10 years prior to living up there. Seriously this is the biggest joke. I've been witness to having to deal with spectators or all ages sneak into the property that I lived in to give them a free tour lmfao to see it's as normal as any upscale mansions. People do party up there, fuck up there(a lot) cruise, and even stage spooking for others. Seriously you guys want to imagine everything you have heard its your choice but my opinion is very valid and credible. Devil gates is fake. Kkk shit is fake.... Owners should gather together and make it a charging area to bank off you guys. Live up there see for yourself.... I know I did

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  17. The girl who died up in the canyon side is the sister of a long time friend of mine. Word to the wise. Stay away from tweek and cocaine if u know what's good for you. People dying in canyons isn't anything new....

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  18. I saw dogs walk up to us in the car stare at us then Disappear then a cat stared at us and disappeared and we heard barking and chanting

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  19. Ismael can I have a tour of the house and all tht shit????

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    1. The house burned down now there's a chainlink fence around it.

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  20. What about the black gates that are fenced and wired with "cameras" ???

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  21. I don't want to speak poorly of the deceased, and I do not know if it is true, but I heard that the Schwartz kid was a heroine addict and they (the police) believe he overdosed. Again, this was the rumor. I grew up in the Heights, and we all heard the stories growing up. I personally never witnessed any of the supernatural stuff,and we were up in the canyon quite often, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen.

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    1. I don’t think that’s true... Joey was pretty young and I don’t recall him ever being in trouble. I don’t really know but I’m skeptical.

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  22. I grew up in the area and always heard lots of stories bout the canyon, never hiked it but drove it regularly never had any bad experiences or saw anything I heard bout. All hype has been for ages. I heard many a spooky tale in the 70s n 80s

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  23. I grew up in Downey Now in now in my 60s.
    Turn ball got blamed in my teen years as the location of the man with the hook coming up on parked teens in cars. The one where a boy drove off after hearing something and found a hook from a hand on his door handle..lol..good times

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  24. Turnbull I mean..darn auto correct

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  25. Turnbull I mean..darn auto correct

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  26. Found this article about the plane. Servicemen not kids. I have a young girl about 8-9 and a boy, about 12-13 walking down the winding road after midnight...that one still gives me shivers as she told me to SLOW DOWN in a calm voice but I heard it clear as day in my car before I even passed her...and so did my friends in the car with me...

    http://www3.gendisasters.com/california/5517/near-whittier-ca-airliner-crashes-hills-apr-1952

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  27. I followed an acura rsx up to turnbol cnyn. I was tailing him in the begining of the canyon. Until the next wind in the road and it disappeared. I even pulled over to hear where he went. Cause of a loud exhaust on the acura. Nothing. Wtfuh

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    1. I was just up there today delivering food. Was the car bright royal blue color?

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  28. There is a Devil's Gate dam someplace, Pasadena I believe. I know very little about Turnbull except that it's near Rose Hills, I think the largest cemetery in the country. They bury 50 people a day! That could be the source of some of the activity.

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  29. This was a funny article. Brought back some good and bad memories from the late 50's.Most in this article I never heard.

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  30. This was a funny article. Brought back some good and bad memories from the late 50's.Most in this article I never heard.

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  31. I was really hoping for an articulate, intelligent & informative article, but alas I've been painfully disapointed. The tone is more of a scary story told over smores during some Jr. High camp out vs. journalism.

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  32. the canyon has a long history of urban legends but the majority of it is not true. I grew up in the heights and drove thru that canyon many times a day and hung with friends there as well back in the 70s and 80s. Great stories but that's all they are. Nothing scary bout that canyon

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  33. Lmao i got tail gaited on my way up there...white acura 😂

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  34. what about the UFO numerous people have seen by the water tower i believe it was on the newspaper (Ezekiel 1:15-24). think you are missing out on a big story here.

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  35. 10-14-16
    Grew up there and know it like the back of my hand. Very creepy day or night, make no mistake. We are just us to it. I've had a couple experiences.

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  36. 10-14-16
    Grew up there and know it like the back of my hand. Very creepy day or night, make no mistake. We are just us to it. I've had a couple experiences.

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  37. Always used to go up there. Did acid one time near sundown and I remember as we were walking up we passed by several men in robes with the most bizarre paint on their faces, these dudes looked tribal as all hell. Anyone who has done acid knows it's not like the movies where you see things that aren't there it just warps reality a bit. Still crazy.

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  40. Here's a link to the story of the plane crash. If you go on youtube the video is entitled "The Crash of Flight 416 West-A forgotten tale of Turnbull Canyon." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWCVhJlRdpQ

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  41. I was haunted here before I even knew that it was a haunted place. My friends and I were hiking with her dog through the longer hike. Throughout the entire hike, i kept feeling as if we were being followed, but every time I looked back, I didn't see anyone. But I felt a very strong presence there by the trees every time I looked back. And it felt like it was the presence of a "mean spirited" person. I was too scared to say anything out loud so continued hiking quietly. Halfway through, my friend's dog kept whimpering and refused to move forward. We kept pulling on his leash, but he refused to move. We couldn't even drag him. Finally, my friend had to pick him up and carry him all the way back. After the hike was over and we were far away from the place, my friend told me she felt like she was being followed/watched and I exclaimed that I felt the same! Then, I decided to look up the hiking trail and that's when i read about all the ghost stories.

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    1. And it was the longer trail one that we both felt the strong presence at. At it was just 3 of us and her dogs. From what I've read and heard from people, hauntings usually happen when it's less than a handful of people around.

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  42. I have been all over Turnbull canyon at night on and off the trails lived in hacienda heights pretty much all of my life at least 40 years I have neve seen or experienced anything

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  43. I've hiked and explored here plenty of times during the day alone and have never seen anything! The craziest thing I've seen in Whittier is a giant SLAYER!!! logo and Pentagram tagged into the tunnels that can be accessed next to La Serna High School. I do feel like Uptown Whittier has a lot of punks, metalheads and Goths that are probably responsible for all this "satanic ritual" BS. That area just south of Beverly Blvd seems to have a lot of Victorian style houses as well. I've seen lots of Goths with Siouxie and the Banshees and the sisters of mercy shirts in that area.Crazy to think Disturbia and Hocus Pocus were filmed in Uptown. Coincidence that Rose Hills is on that hill thats connects with Turnbull Canyon. There's definitely something about that place that attracts those kind of people, movie settings and cemetery. I think there's a truth to everything going on there.

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  44. I was a friend of Joey Schwartz. Not real close, but close enough to have been affected. He was a great person and did not use dope. There were all kinds of crazy rumors around the time he went missing. All, apparently, ending up being false. His family was devastated. This is the first time I've seen him mentioned. It would be nice to have some answers. Regarding Turnbull, a lot of bad and tragic stuff has happened there. I would avoid it at night.

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    1. I’ve always remembered Joey and have always been so sad over the tragedy. He was a really good kid. The suggestion of frogs is so off track.

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  45. Cruised here many a nights and partied down in the eighties gang fights and all.. but never knew it was haunted. Food store reading tho

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  46. I live near the area, have drove many times at night, never seen anything strange, although i do get some chills while driving alone at night in that twisted canyon!!!!

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    1. Me too, I have never experienced anything but it is and does look very sketchy

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  47. hiked there at night and in the day. the rangers get antsy when you linger after dark and they do patrol and look for flashlights. so if you do go do it on a full moon, so you won't need a flashlight and get spotted. I hike alone. I never gotten the feeling of anything spooky except for the rattlesnakes. Trust me. I be more scared of the rattlesnakes then ghosts, witches, or cult members. I bet you the damn ghosts, witches, or cult members are SCARED of the rattlesnakes hiding in the high grass as you walk through the trails. Real life is more scary then fake stuff sometimes.

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  48. There is or was a house up there off of Turnbull it's where the satanic rituals happened. There's a long driveway to the house and a wall that has a black cauldren painted on it.

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  49. F.Y.I., a documentary film in progress:
    https://www.facebook.com/Turnbull-Canyon-A-Road-Unwound-695080694223328/?eid=ARD6N7iBmG-rBKMBr-U-q9g5YqEka6_CxupEZAlkuXc1tlCpMLxUA4SA85WnFq6VB-tz5iiLjAH7GZDd

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  51. Ha ha, ha ha.. ha ha... I went on a hike here...

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