Haunted Places in Old Towne Orange Circle
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Old Towne Orange, better known to locals as Orange Circle, is a charming one-square-mile historic district built around the original 1888 plaza. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this area features Orange County’s oldest operating bank and soda fountain, and is one of the largest preserved historic districts in California.
Today, Old Towne Orange thrives with antique stores, boutique shops, cute cafes, and some of the best restaurants in Orange County. (If you’re planning a visit, don’t miss my full guide to things to do in Orange Circle for family-friendly dining, shopping, and seasonal events.)
Of course, with all that history comes a few good ghost stories, and we love visiting historical haunted places with our family. So without further ado, let’s explore some of the spooky haunted places in Old Towne Orange Circle that give this charming town its extra twist of mystery.
The Two Boys
For long-time locals, this story is well-known. In the early days of Orange Circle, a tragedy happened involving two young boys. According to the story, the two boys were playing in the road and were hit by the large wheels of a horse-drawn carriage, killing them both. For years, people would continue to see the two boys playing in the street. For a period of time, the stories faded until the filming of That Thing You Do, when several members of the cast and crew saw them again.
Richland Hotel
137 E Maple Ave, Orange, CA 92866
The Richland Hotel is situated in a beautifully restored 1906 Craftsman & Victorian-style building that once belonged to the Shannon family, long associated with the Shannon Family Mortuary. It’s a boutique spot with just 12 guest rooms, charming common areas (hello cozy cocktail bar + “living room” lounge), and an event space that once served as a chapel.
Now, about the ghostly whispers… Because yes, when you convert something with deep ties to mortuary work, stories are bound to follow. Some longtime locals and paranormal tour folks around Old Towne Orange claim that certain parts of The Richland feel… different.
Basements or old service/storage areas (especially those near where mortuary business was done) make for a perfect setting for cold spots, unexplained noises, or that creepy “did someone just walk by?” feeling. (These are usually anecdotal; nothing officially confirmed yet, but enough shared tales to stir up curiosity.)
Antique Station
178 S Glassell St, Orange, CA 92866
Antique stores are always a mecca for extra energy. All the items have long individual histories and it is not surprising that they hold their own attachments. Couple that with a historic building and you got yourself a paranormal party.
At Antique Station, there is always a lot of unexplained activity happening. The last row of the shop has cold spots felt by patrons, and dogs are known to act strangely while walking down this section of the store. Employees have seen shadows and black clouds of energy manifest and then quickly disappear, as well as hear clear, disembodied voices. A record was even said to have flown down an aisle before making a sharp turn down another aisle, then falling to the floor.
Army-Navy Shop
131 S Glassell St, Orange, CA 92866
Started in 1955 by two military brothers, the Army-Navy store has an interesting history of its own. In fact, the same family still runs the original store today. It was even the filming location for That Thing You Do and Benchwarmers. The darker story of this store dates back to 1915, when a fire broke out in the basement sadly igniting a teenage boy. People still claim to see the burning boy running around Orange Circle.
Chapman University in Orange
One University Drive, Orange, CA 92866
The 100-year old Smith Hall at Chapman University is said to have a lot of paranormal activity. People have reported loud footsteps interrupting lectures in classroom 215 resulting in the basement being subject to paranormal investigations.
In the Waltmar Theatre, there have been claims of ghostly figures lurking on the catwalks and upstage. The show must go on, right?
Elliott Alumni House in Orange
204 N. Olive, Orange, California 92866
Once the Victorian Manor Tea House, this lovely home was purchased by Chapman University in 2011. The site has been the subject of many paranormal investigations and has had a ton of reported activity. Guests of the former tea house have reported seeing apparitions of a woman standing on the second floor balcony as well as footsteps and laughter of little children.
During a large-scale paranormal investigation, numerous people claimed to feel and see the presence of children's spirits, including a young girl with curly blonde hair and a little boy that likes to move around the silverware. Numerous other spirits were detected, including several women and men spirits that are strongly connected to the property.
Matoska Trading Company
123 N Glassell St, Orange, CA 92866
Formerly the Old Orange Undertaker’s Office, the Matoska Trading Company has reported lots of movement and even loud crash sounds.
Royer Mansion in Orange
307 East Chapman Ave Orange, CA 92866
Built in 1900, the home was originally owned by Dr. Daniel Franklin Royer, a prominent doctor and surgeon in Orange. He also was one of the first mayor’s of Orange. His youngest daughter, Ava Royer, sadly died in the home in her late teens. Her apparition has been reported by numerous people. Later, the Royer Mansion served as the Donegan Funeral Home. The building now houses the city’s chamber of commerce and the site of a ton of unexplained paranormal experiences. Some of the stories are crazy. I recommend checking out Haunted OC’s podcast about Royer Mansion for some juicy tales.
Rutabegorz Restaurant
264 N Glassell St, Orange, CA 92866
Built in 1915, Rutabegorz was once the home of settlers Danny and Annie Crawford. Staff have experienced disembodied voices, explained sounds, breezes and movements. Apparitions include a young boy and two adults. The young boy is probably the most interactive, as former owners even reported that spirit played with their kids and became like a member of the family.
That's A Wrap!
So who is ready for a spirit day (or night) trip to Old Towne Orange Circle? If you would like more information about the haunted places mentioned in this article, I recommend taking a ghost walk with HauntedOC.
If you love places that mix family travel with a twist, check out more of my favorite haunted places for families that balance spooky and spectacular. Planning a SoCal getaway? Don’t miss my Orange County family travel guide packed with cool eats, quirky shops, and nearby adventures. Or, if you’re feeling extra ambitious, road trip your way through the state with my California family travel page, where every stop has a story (and maybe a spirit or two).
So go ahead — book that stay, explore the Circle, and see for yourself if the spirits are just stories… or something more.
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