California is just the best---especially when it comes to fans of spooky travel. It's no secret the Golden State is stuffed with history and some of the most incredible must-see travel spots in the world. However, there are places in California you wouldn't expect to have a few ghosts under your belt.
You'll miss fascinating stories if you don't know where to look. And I recommend starting with Coulterville, a California ghost town of 1,772 people in stunning Mariposa County, about an hour away from Modesto and Merced, where I grew up. It's a very "stop to pee on your way Yosemite or the wineries in Mariposa" kind of place, but it is charming. The Northern Mariposa County History Center is worth a visit and a little walk around town.
If you do, you might cross a sign with a briefing of Coulterville history.
In 1850, George W. Coulter decided to build a tent store in Coulterville to supply miners in wealthy areas like Black Creeks, Boneyard, and Maxwell. He was one of the first white men to come to the Chinese and Mexican settlements. Coulter also built a hotel, using two Newfoundland dogs to pump water from a well. The town is an official historic California landmark.
If you'd like to learn about a little slice of American history, I suggest stopping by. However, there's more to the story. The Hotel Jeffery is one of the most popular locations in Coulterville, and for a good reason. Its place in time is fascinating. Located at 5001 Main St in Coulterville, the Hotel Jeffery is on the way to Yosemite from Merced if you're taking one of the non-mainstream routes. You can also travel up the "49er Highway"---a winding road up the Sierra foothills through Gold Country until you hit Coulterville.
It's a scary ride, but a pretty one.
The Hotel Jeffery was established in 1851 after Coulterville was put on the map as the place to take a rest and have a drink. Those traveling by coach to Yosemite could stop at the Jeffery to continue their travels in the morning. The Jeffery was initially a store built in 1850 with a dance hall on the second floor. Throughout history, both the famous and commoners enjoyed the comforts of the Hotel Jeffery.
So much so, some might not have left.
Guests have spoken of witnessing strange things happening in their hotel rooms. Lights turn on and off, vacuums stop working, and there's even been ghost sightings---a miner from the Gold Rush boom. If you're looking to jump in your car and head to Coulterville, however, you have to wait. The Hotel Jeffery is temporarily closed. Once it opens again, who's brave enough to stay?
https://www.hauntedplaces.org/haunted-places-in-mariposa-county-california/
http://www.bargaintravelwest.com/California_Jeffery_Hotel_Coulterville.htm