Monday, June 10, 2019

Haunted Santa Monica Pier


Santa Monica Pier

This iconic LA pier has attracted visitors from around the world, for over a century.

Its' cool Pacific Ocean breezes provide the local's relief from the California heat and its' shops, restaurants and amusement park offer a variety of entertainment for visitors.

But some visitors and residents have experienced more than they bargained for . . .

In 2016 the Hippodromes' 100th
birthday was celebrated.
For years, the pier has had a reputation for being haunted. Most of this paranormal activity is centered on the Looff Hippodrome-- the two-story building that houses the carousel.

This carousel was constructed in 1916, it was the last great work of its' master builder—Charles I.D. Looff.

A dark, shadowy entity is seen wandering through the Hippodrome.

A pier supervisor reported hearing someone, "walking down the hallways" in this building on several occasions. When he would check—he never found a logical explanation for these footsteps.

Initially, the buildings' 2nd floor was used as offices, but by the 1960s they had been converted to apartments.

Its' residents were an eclectic group, which included, writers, musicians, beachcombers, and hippies.


The Looff Carousel at the pier.
By the 60s, this same supervisor and residents also heard the calliope playing when it was turned off—late at night. They would run downstairs to investigate only to find no one there. This happened countless times over the years.

Current reports include witnesses stating they saw ghosts walking on the roof of the Hippodrome and that a dark entity is seen riding various horses on the carousel during the day and at night.

The Hippodrome today.
A fire in 1975 destroyed the apartments. The building was repaired, and now the 2nd floor is used once more as office space.

Santa Monica Pier
Since the witness reports have slowed down—one reason being the activity observed was mostly in the middle of the night, and these days no one is in the building this late.

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