Old Orange County Courthouse

Orange County's first courthouse, built in 1901 in Romanesque Revival style. Restored in the 1980s and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987. It was used as a filming location for American Horror Story: Asylum.

The Old Orange County Courthouse, built in 1901 at 211 W. Santa Ana Blvd, is Orange County's oldest remaining courthouse and a designated National Historic Landmark. Its Romanesque Revival architecture has made it a beloved landmark -- but it's the building's darker reputation that draws ghost hunters and paranormal enthusiasts.

The most enduring ghost story involves a judge's spirit haunting the courtroom on the third floor. A figure wearing a black robe has been seen sitting in the judge's chair and walking around the room by numerous witnesses over the years. Night janitors once refused to clean the courtroom entirely, claiming it was haunted by "the ghost of a judge who had hanged himself there."

The truth, as it turns out, is both more mundane and darkly humorous. No judge ever died in that room. The janitors had misread a small dedication plaque under an antique clock: "Judge Morrison Clock/Hung in courtroom/1985." The clock -- not a judge -- was hung in the courtroom. Yet even after the misunderstanding was clarified, the reports continued.

Paranormal investigator Ernie Alonso, founder of Haunted Orange County, has documented numerous accounts from current courthouse employees. Staff have reported overwhelming feelings of dread, fear, and even choking sensations when entering certain rooms. The basement, where violently disturbed offenders were once held, produces the strongest reactions -- a crushing sense of fear that overcomes anyone who enters.

The courthouse grounds have witnessed genuine tragedy. Historical accounts describe a gruesome incident when an escape artist's hot air balloon act went catastrophically wrong. He plummeted to the concrete in front of a gathered crowd, adding to the building's reputation as "cursed."

The site where Santa Ana's only lynching took place is nearby, contributing to the area's heavy energy. Paranormal investigator Ramiro Ramirez has conducted investigations at the courthouse and reported collecting evidence of supernatural activity. The Old Orange County Courthouse is now a regular stop on Santa Ana ghost tours, where visitors can explore its grand halls -- and perhaps encounter the spirits that still hold court within.