Casa de Aguirre is one of Old Town San Diego's most atmospheric historic buildings—a reconstructed adobe whose original was built in 1853 for the Aguirre family. Like many buildings in Old Town, it has served multiple purposes over the years, housing families, boarders, businesses, and shops.
But according to tour guides, visitors, and Old Town employees who work late, Casa de Aguirre harbors something more than history. The building is said to be haunted by multiple spirits, most notably a mysterious man in a dark cloak who appears in the bell tower late at night, staring down at those who pass below.
The identity of this cloaked figure remains unknown, but his appearance is consistent enough that he's become one of Old Town's most talked-about ghosts.
The History of Casa de Aguirre
The original Casa de Aguirre was built in 1853 as the home of Don José Antonio Aguirre and his family, constructed in the traditional adobe style common to the region. Don José later gave the building and his land to the Catholic Church, and Father Antonio Ubach used it for an industrial school for Native American students. The original structure was destroyed in 1914; the building that stands today at the entrance to Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is a reconstruction.
By some accounts, the casa also served during San Diego's early American years as both a private residence and a boarding house, welcoming travelers, merchants, and those seeking their fortune in California. The building witnessed the transformation of San Diego from a small Mexican pueblo to an American frontier town to a growing city.
According to the stories told about the casa, a bell tower stood on the building, though the historical records we have found don't describe it or its original purpose. Some believe it was used to signal residents of important events, while others suggest it may have had religious significance, as small private chapels were common in larger adobe homes.
A Building of Many Lives
Throughout its history, Casa de Aguirre has housed numerous families and businesses. Each generation left its mark on the building, both physically and—some believe—spiritually. The casa witnessed births and deaths, celebrations and tragedies, prosperity and hardship.
Over more than 170 years, first as the original adobe and later as its reconstruction, Casa de Aguirre accumulated stories, and with those stories came ghost tales passed down through generations of San Diego families.
The Spirits of Casa de Aguirre
Visitors and employees report various paranormal experiences at Casa de Aguirre, but the most famous and frequently reported is the mysterious cloaked figure in the bell tower.
The Man in the Cloak
The most famous ghost of Casa de Aguirre is the figure of a man in a dark, hooded cloak who appears in the bell tower late at night. This apparition is reported most commonly during full moons, though sightings have occurred at other times as well.
Witnesses describe seeing the figure standing motionless in the bell tower, his face completely hidden by the hood of his cloak. He appears to be watching the plaza below, his gaze following visitors as they pass. The figure never moves or makes sound—he simply watches with an intensity that witnesses find deeply unsettling.
Ghost City Tours guests have photographed the bell tower at night and captured unexplained dark shapes and shadow figures matching the description of the cloaked man. When witnesses point out the figure to others, it typically vanishes within moments, leaving only an empty bell tower.
The identity of this spirit remains a mystery. Some speculate he may be a former resident who died tragically, perhaps keeping watch over the building he once called home. Others wonder if he might be connected to the building's use as a boarding house—perhaps a traveler who met a violent end in Old Town. Without historical records to clarify his identity, the cloaked figure remains one of San Diego's most enigmatic spirits.
Voices and Footsteps
Beyond the bell tower specter, employees and visitors report hearing phantom footsteps throughout Casa de Aguirre, particularly in the upper floors and stairways. The footsteps are described as heavy and purposeful, as if someone is walking with determination through the building.
Voices have also been reported—sometimes in Spanish, sometimes in English—coming from empty rooms. The conversations sound natural and animated, as if residual energy from the building's past continues to replay moments from its long history.
The Watchful Presence
Many visitors to Casa de Aguirre report feeling watched, particularly when alone in certain rooms or walking past the building late at night. This sensation of being observed is so common that employees have come to accept it as a normal part of working in the historic structure.
Some believe this watchful presence is the cloaked figure from the bell tower, keeping an eternal vigil over Casa de Aguirre and the plaza it overlooks.
Visit Casa de Aguirre
Casa de Aguirre is located at the entrance to Old Town San Diego State Historic Park and can be viewed from the outside at any time. The reconstructed adobe houses a small free museum and shops; check hours before visiting.
Our Ghosts of San Diego Tour stops at Casa de Aguirre to share the mysterious tale of the cloaked figure in the bell tower. Our guides explain the building's history and recount the numerous sightings of this enigmatic spirit who watches over Old Town.
Join our Ghosts of San Diego Tour to experience Casa de Aguirre's haunted atmosphere and perhaps catch a glimpse of the mysterious watcher in the bell tower.
