(April 24th 2026)
Whaley House is a must-visit destination for paranormal enthusiasts and investigators alike. Widely recognized as one of San Diego’s most haunted historic locations, the house offers several tour experiences, including an intimate small-group paranormal investigation.
Rather than covering the extensive history of the property here, we highly recommend researching the fascinating background of the house beforehand. There is an abundance of historical information available online, and the tour guides also provide an informative overview before the investigation begins.
The paranormal investigation portion lasts approximately 45 minutes, so time is somewhat limited. Because of this, we recommend selecting one or two areas of the house to focus your attention on during the session. Since investigations are conducted in a group setting, noise contamination can be significant. Making verbal notes during recordings whenever outside sounds occur can be extremely helpful when reviewing evidence later. We also recommend reviewing your evidence soon after the investigation while the experience is still fresh in your memory.
At minimum, we suggest bringing an audio recorder, and if possible, a video recorder as well. The Whaley House provides several investigative tools that guests may borrow, including thermal cameras, REM Pods, K2 EMF readers, spirit word generators, dowsing rods, and illuminated trigger objects. However, your primary evidence will likely come from your personal audio recordings, video footage, and photographs.
The Museum
Upon arriving, our group gathered at the Whaley House Museum, where we began with an overview of the location’s history and an introduction to the investigative equipment available for guests to borrow. During this orientation, our tour guide was discussing photography and techniques for documenting potential activity.
While recording the session, we captured an EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) on our audio recorder. The recording appeared to contain a male voice saying, “Look now.” At the time, no photographs were being taken, and nothing unusual was observed in the moment. However, given that the discussion centered around photography, the message raised interesting questions about whether an attempt at visual communication may have occurred.
Although no visual evidence was captured, we were fortunate to document this EVP and include it as part of our investigation experience.
The Courtroom
Before the official investigation began, our group gathered in the courtroom area of the house. Historically, this room served several purposes over the years, including operating as the Whaley family’s general store, a billiard room, and eventually a courtroom rented by the city judge.
We began recording immediately upon entering the room and captured what sounded like billiard balls colliding. Interestingly, this was the only room where we experienced this particular sound, making the historical connection especially compelling.
As we gathered and prepared our equipment, we captured several EVP recordings that appeared to correspond with the investigative tools being discussed at the time.
One notable recording seemed to contain a female voice saying, “Red ball,” which may have been referencing the motion-activated cat ball commonly used during paranormal investigations. This particular device illuminates red when activated, making the timing and context of the recording especially interesting.
Additionally, we captured several other EVP recordings in which a female voice appeared to say, “Spirit Box,” while we were actively discussing and preparing that specific piece of equipment.
While EVP interpretation remains subjective and open to individual perspective, these responses stood out due to their apparent relevance to the ongoing conversation and added another intriguing element to the investigation experience.
The Dining Room Investigation
After briefly surveying where the rest of our group planned to investigate, we noticed the dining room was unoccupied and decided to begin there. During our session in this room, we captured several EVP recordings. While some responses were faint, others were remarkably clear and compelling.
One of the most notable names we captured was “Phillip,” which later surfaced again during our investigation in the living room area near “Violet’s Couch.” Curious about the significance of the name, we later discovered that Phillip was reportedly a business partner associated with the Whaley family’s general store and likely spent considerable time in the home.
The first EVP featuring “Phillip” appeared to be a male voice, while the second seemed to include a female voice. At another point during the session, we asked if any children were present with us and received a direct male response stating, “Absolutely.”
In addition to our primary recorder, we also captured several unexplained voices on our GoPro and body camera footage that did not appear on the audio recorder itself. One particularly memorable capture was the distinct sound of a dog barking. We were confident there were no dogs nearby at the time. Historically, the Whaley family owned a dog named Dolly, who is said by some visitors and staff to still make her presence known. Capturing this bark on video was one of the highlights of the evening.
The Living Room and Violet’s Room
The second and final area we investigated was the living room, often associated with the tragic death of the Whaley family’s daughter, Violet, who passed away there after taking her own life.
Throughout our time in this room, our spirit box consistently emitted an unusual screeching sound unlike anything we experienced elsewhere in the house. While it is impossible to determine the source, it was notable enough to document carefully during our review.
The living room also carries additional historical significance. Before the house was constructed, the property reportedly served as a public hanging site for the town. Historical accounts suggest that Thomas Whaley later built part of the home, including an archway, near the location where executions once took place.
This room, much like the dining room, appeared to be highly active during our investigation. Shortly after we began recording, we captured what sounded like a female voice saying, “Hey, I’m here,” on our GoPro footage.
At one point, our tour guide joined us and asked if Mrs. Whaley was present. Almost immediately afterward, we captured a female voice responding, “Yes.”
Later, the guide shared a story about a previous guest who had complimented Mrs. Whaley’s beauty while looking at her portrait on the wall. During the retelling of this story, we captured the name “Richard.” Although we were unable to verify the significance of the name afterward, it is possible it referred to the individual from the earlier tour experience.
One of the most intriguing moments of the evening occurred when our guide suddenly felt what he described as a touch on the top of his head. While discussing the experience, he joked that Mrs. Whaley would have needed to jump to reach him, noting that she was reportedly only 4 feet 9 inches tall. As he made this comment, our GoPro captured a clear female voice saying, “Hey A$$hole.” Given the timing, the response seemed almost directly connected to the guide’s remark about her height.
Final Thoughts
These moments represent some of the most compelling experiences from our investigation at the Whaley House. Due to time constraints, we were only able to thoroughly investigate two rooms and intentionally avoided overcrowding other areas of the house.
We absolutely plan to return for a follow-up investigation to explore additional rooms and continue documenting potential paranormal activity. Whether you are an experienced investigator or simply curious about the paranormal, the Whaley House offers a memorable and fascinating experience steeped in both history and mystery.
Below is a list of some of the recordings we received with a portable audio recorder during our investigation. These were some of the most compelling and clear sounding recordings we received. We highly recommend you use headphones while you listen. Enjoy!
Portable Audio Recorder*:
Audio 1 – Pool Ball Sounds in Judge Room (entire recording)
Audio 2 – You hear a male say “Look Now” when the tour guide is discussing photography. (0:04)
Audio 3 – Female say’s “Red Ball” when equipment is being discussing most likely referring to a red light up cat ball. (0:07)
Audio 4 – Female saying “Spirit Box” as we were gathering this particular equipment. (0:12)
Audio 5 – A Male Saying the Name “Phillip” (0:02)
Audio 6 – We ask are there any children here? You hear a male say “Yes”(0:03) and then “Absolutely” (0:05)
Audio 7 – Tour Guide asks if this is Mrs. Whaley. Female responds “Yes” (0:05)
Audio 8 – Tour Guide Speaking and you hear a female say “Richard” (0:20)
*Background noise due to Spirit Box being used.
*Background bell sound due to Dead Bell tool being used.
GoPro Audio*:
Audio 1 – Tour Guide mentioned that he got touched on the top of his head and that Mrs. Whaley was only 4″9 and would have had to jump to touch his head. You then hear a female say “Hey A$$Hole” (0:05)
Audio 2 – Male voice says “oooh”… followed by a female voice that says “Phillip” (0:05-0:06)
*Background noise due to Spirit Box being used.
*Background bell sound due to Dead Bell tool being used.
Whaley House Pictures*: We were not able to find any anomalies.
