Big Yellow House

A Victorian building in Summerland — a town founded in 1885 specifically for spiritualists. The building later became a restaurant where seances were common. Author Rod Lathim documented his experiences with the resident ghosts in "The Spirit of the Big Yellow House."

The Big Yellow House in Summerland, built in 1884 by town founder Henry Lafayette Williams, holds a unique place in California's paranormal history. Williams had originally purchased the land to raise pigs, but when the Southern Pacific Railroad announced it would cross his property, he pivoted to a more unusual venture: creating a town specifically for spiritualists.

Williams was himself a spiritualist, and Summerland became a haven for those seeking to communicate with the dead. Seances were regularly held within the Big Yellow House, and many believe these early spiritual gatherings opened doorways that have never fully closed.

The house later became a popular restaurant owned by John and June Young in the early 1970s, eventually spawning a chain of 26 Big Yellow House restaurants. But staff working late nights discovered the building had other occupants. After setting up tables for the next day, employees would leave the room only to hear noises and return to find their careful arrangements completely disturbed. No one wanted to be left alone when it was time to lock up.

The most well-known spirit is "Hector the Ghost," who lurks near the old wooden staircase leading upstairs -- a staircase that has since been sealed off. Hector also frequents the basement, which served as a wine cellar and gift shop. Rod Lathim documented his encounters with Hector in a book titled "The Spirit of the Big Yellow House."

Visitors have reported seeing a large, dark-skinned man surrounded by several other spirits moving through the property. One childhood visitor recalls seeing "a lady in a long white gown carrying several candles resembling a candelabra" during family dinners at the restaurant. Objects have been observed moving on their own, and strange occurrences became so common that the Big Yellow House earned a reputation as one of the most haunted houses in California.

The building operated as both a restaurant and hotel before permanently closing. Some skeptics have suggested the house was rigged with tricks -- including a balanced wood beam that could create faint footstep sounds -- but those who experienced the hauntings firsthand remain convinced that Summerland's spiritualist legacy lives on.