Troutdale, Multnomah County, Oregon

Photo: Wikipedia

On the shores of Sandy River, just outside Portland, Oregon, sits a sprawling historic complex known today as McMenamins Edgefield. Once the Multnomah County Poor Farm, Edgefield has stood for more than a century as a place where the burdens of life, hardship, and even death have left their mark on the land. With its long, complex history and countless reported supernatural encounters, Edgefield has become one of the Pacific Northwest’s most talked‑about haunted locations.

From Poor Farm to Entertainment Landmark

The roots of Edgefield date back to 1911, when the Multnomah County Poor Farm was established to care for the indigent, sick, elderly, and mentally ill residents of the Portland area. Entire families were sent here to live and work the 345‑acre property, producing crops and caring for livestock in exchange for room and board. At its peak, more than 600 residents called the farm home, many suffering from chronic illness or untreated conditions.

Over the following decades, the property evolved: it became a nursing home, veterans’ facility, and infirmary before falling into disrepair in the 1980s. Local preservationists convinced county officials that the historic structures needed to be saved, and in 1990 the farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places. That same year, the McMenamins brothers purchased the property and began restoring it to become the vibrant entertainment, lodging, and event venue it is today — complete with restaurants, pubs, gardens, a movie theater, golf course, wedding venues, and hotel lodging.

Why Edgefield Is Considered Haunted

The property’s long use as a poor farm and institutional residence means thousands of lives — many filled with hardship, sorrow, and even premature death — passed through its buildings. It’s perhaps no surprise that many believe the energy of those decades remains embedded in the halls and rooms of Edgefield.

Guests and staff have reported numerous eerie experiences throughout the hotel and lodge buildings, including:

Eerie Voices & Whispers: Some guests report hearing disembodied voices, cries, or whispers, especially late at night or in empty hallways. One story tells of a woman on the upper floors singing or comforting a crying child at midnight.

Unseen Touches: Visitors have described the sensation of invisible hands pushing against shoulders, backs, or chests as they walk through the corridors.

Apparitions: Some witnesses claim to see figures — such as a small child running down a hallway or a woman dressed in period clothing — that disappear when approached.

Unexplained Sounds: Footsteps, doors opening or closing on their own, and sudden cold spots have all been attributed to paranormal activity by guests and staff alike.

One particularly chilling discovery occurred during renovations when workers found animal bones arranged in a pentagram‑like pattern in one of the rooms. While there’s no definitive explanation for the bones or their arrangement, the finding contributed to Edgefield’s already eerie reputation.

Local lore also speaks of unmarked graves across the property — including those of a young mother and her child who reportedly succumbed to illness and were buried on site. Some believe their spirits still wander, drawn to the land where they spent their final days.

Edgefield Today

Today, Edgefield is both a thriving entertainment destination and a magnet for ghost enthusiasts. Guests can enjoy fine dining, listen to live music, play golf, relax in gardens, or spend the night in one of the historic buildings. Yet for many, the supernatural experiences — whether subtle or spine‑tingling — are part of what makes Edgefield so unforgettable.

Whether you chalk it up to suggestion, imagination, or something truly unexplained, there’s no denying that thousands of lives and stories are wrapped up in this Oregon landmark. And some say the spirits of Edgefield’s past are still very much present.

The Haunting of the Shanghai Tunnels in Portland, Oregon

Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon

Beneath the lively streets of Portland, Oregon lies a dark and eerie underworld — a hidden labyrinth of brick-lined tunnels, secret trapdoors, and crumbling passageways known as the Shanghai Tunnels. Once part of a bustling system that connected the city’s waterfront saloons and hotels to the Willamette River docks, these tunnels were the backdrop for one of the most sinister and chilling chapters in Portland’s history.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Portland was considered one of the most dangerous port cities in the United States. It was during this time that the practice of shanghaiing — the kidnapping of men to serve as forced labor aboard ships — reached terrifying heights. Unsuspecting victims were often drugged or knocked unconscious in local bars, then dropped through trapdoors into the tunnels below. There, they were held in underground holding cells, sometimes for days, before being dragged through the tunnels to the docks and sold to ship captains as unpaid crew for long voyages across the Pacific.

Women were not safe either. Tales of sex trafficking, brothels, and illegal gambling dens lurk in the oral histories of the tunnels, adding layers of darkness to an already disturbing past. The air underground is damp and stale, and the silence is broken only by the echo of your own footsteps. Some say it’s also broken by ghostly whispers.

Paranormal investigators and curious tourists alike have reported spine-tingling encounters in the tunnels: disembodied voices, the sounds of chains dragging along the floor, sudden temperature drops, and shadow figures lurking just out of sight. Some claim to have felt tugging at their clothes, as if unseen hands were trying to pull them deeper into the darkness. Others report an overwhelming feeling of dread or nausea, as though the walls themselves are heavy with suffering.

One of the most well-known spirits said to haunt the tunnels is that of a man named Sam, a supposed shanghai victim who never made it out. He’s often seen in one of the old holding cells, his presence marked by flickering lights and cold spots. Visitors also report hearing faint cries for help, or footsteps following close behind — only to turn and find no one there.

Today, sections of the tunnels are open to the public via guided tours that delve into Portland’s seedy and supernatural past. But be warned — the stories aren’t for the faint of heart, and the tunnels themselves, even with lights and guides, remain deeply unsettling. The past may be buried, but in Portland’s underbelly, it’s far from forgotten.

The Haunting of the Heceta House

The Heceta House – Lincoln County, Yachats, Oregon

Constructed in 1894, this charming abode, originally serving as the residence for lighthouse keepers, has undergone a delightful transformation. Today, it stands as both a bed and breakfast and an information center.

Within the historical confines of the Heceta House, a singular spectral presence is said to wander—the apparition believed to be none other than Mrs. Frank DeRay, the wife of a former innkeeper.

The ethereal Mrs. DeRay is notorious for orchestrating phantom footsteps ascending the stairs from the basement. Frequented auditory phenomena include the inexplicable toggling of light switches, the rattling of dishes inside cupboards, and the distinctive sound of cabinet doors being secured.

Beyond mere auditory manifestations, Mrs. DeRay's ghost is known to influence the ambient temperature within the house, and, in a memorable instance, interrupted a card game with an ear-splitting scream, showcasing her apparent disapproval.

On occasions, witnesses have physically encountered Mrs. DeRay's apparition. A carpenter, tasked with restoring the house, had a chilling encounter in the attic. Startled by a reflection in the window, he found himself face-to-face with the disgruntled apparition. Claiming she began to float toward him, the carpenter hastily retreated. Another eerie encounter transpired when he ascended a ladder to repair a window, only to discover Mrs. DeRay staring intently from within. This unnerving experience prompted the carpenter to abandon the job site, steadfastly refusing to return.

While reports of paranormal activity still echo within the house, their frequency has diminished from the intensity witnessed in bygone days.

Address:
92072 Highway 101 South
Yachats, Oregon 97498
(866) 547-3696
Website

The Haunting of the Lafayette Cemetery

Lafayette Pioneer Cemetery – Yamhill County, Lafayette, Oregon

During the late eighteen-hundreds, many a woman lost her life after being accused of being a witch; whether the accusations were true or not. Back then, methods of interrogation consisted of flogging, hanging, branding, dunking, and many more techniques that were much more severe and painful. Basically the accused would be tortured until they confessed.

A woman, whose true identity remains a mystery to this day, lived in the town of Lafayette during that period and was put too death by hanging after being found guilty of practicing witchcraft. Fortunately for this woman, being hanged was one of the less brutal methods of death, however, she still holds a grudge and isn’t afraid to let the people of Lafayette know it.

The Lafayette Cemetery seems to have several restless spirits roaming its grounds, but the accused witch is perhaps the most frightening and active, making her presence known at any time during the day, night or changing seasons.

Many of the visitors who have entered here have claimed to see the witch’s apparition either standing silently or walking through the graveyard. Some have claimed that she laughed at them or chased them out of the front gates. Some have even caught the witch’s voice on EVP’s; one woman recorded her saying “Run Home!”

If these were the only claims, most people wouldn’t be afraid to enter the cemetery, however, the reports have also become physical. Many have been chased out of the cemetery, leaving there with deep cuts up and down their backs. Those who laugh and question these stories have had the surprise of their lives when the victims have lifted their shirts to reveal the scars!

Today, the cemetery still stands and the reports of the witch are still made, however, most do not risk their skin or their freedom to enter since there was a no trespassing rule put into effect.

Address:
Mineral Springs Road
Lafayette, Oregon 97127

Featured Post

SpookFest January 2026 Edition, Part 5 Season Finale: The Demon Cat of Washington, D.C.

The Haunting of McMenamins Edgefield — Former Poor Farm & Haunted Hotel