The Ghosts of the Loma Lighthouse

Could one of the old keepers still be watching over the seas?

The Old Point Loma Lighthouse guided ships into port for 36 years. Many keepers have kept watch over the waters of San Diego Bay. Perhaps some have stayed and continue the job even in the after life.

One report from a Ghost City Tours guide stated that he heard what sounded like deep, demonic moans coming from the old keeper's quarters. After hearing the noise and turning around, nothing was there.

After the sun sets, the lighthouse takes on a much different feel, especially at night. There are many reports of people seeing a dark, shadowy figure moving back and forth through the building's windows.

Could this be the spirit of one of the old keepers still watching over the seas?

Some believe that the ghost of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, the Portuguese explorer who originally explored the San Diego Bay area in 1542 for the Spanish Crown, haunts the lighthouse.

Rodríguez Cabrillo suffered an injury during this exploration, and eventually died of his wounds. His body was buried on Catalina Island, although Catalina Island's location is unknown to this day. Does his spirit linger on Point Loma? Chances are that if he is haunting any place, it's much more likely that he is haunting Catalina Island. But, with the graveyard next to the lighthouse, it wouldn't be too far of a stretch to assume the ghosts there sometimes wander around.

The Old Point Loma Lighthouse was commissioned right after California was annexed into the United States. The construction of the lighthouse was completed in 1855 at a cost of $30,000.

The lighthouse sits atop the summit on Point Loma overlooking San Diego Bay. This higher elevation had a particular disadvantage to it though. Ironically, the most dangerous type of weather to ships is fog. The fog surrounding the San Diego Bay area would roll in and obscure the light of the lighthouse, rendering it useless. A common joke passed down from light keeper to light keeper was, when it was foggy, someone would have to stand at the bottom of the cliff and shoot a shotgun to let ships know that they were there.

The lighthouse, the eighth oldest lighthouse on the West Coast, was decommissioned in 1891. At the time, there was a discussion about what to do with the decommissioned lighthouse. The U.S. wanted to tear it down and build a large bronze statue to Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo to memorialize his founding of the San Diego Bay and Alta California. Instead, it was decided to keep the lighthouse and the statue was put up right down the road.

The Old Point Loma Lighthouse was eventually restored, opening back up to the public in 1913.

Today, the Old Point Loma Lighthouse has been restored and is open to the public. It is still located within the Cabrillo National Monument, a beautiful destination with sweeping views of the San Diego skyline and a great reminder of the rich history the area has to offer.