Of all the places in the Bay Area, who would’ve guessed the most haunted is Pleasanton? But it’s true, say many people who believe in g-g-ghosts: Back during the Gold Rush, when it was called Alisal and nicknamed the “most desperate town in the West,” the enclave saw so much drunken violence, shootouts and illness that it’s now haunted by more spirits than reside in the “Scooby-Doo” universe.
This Halloween month, people can explore Pleasanton’s spectral side with the Museum on Main’s annual Ghost Walk. You might encounter the “lady in blue” who haunts an 1860s building now known as – of all things – Gay Nineties Pizza, where the word “Boo” mysteriously appears in the restaurant mirror no matter how often it’s scrubbed out. Or perhaps it will be the clanging poltergeists who shove objects around at the Blue Agave Club — featured on ABC’s “20/20” for its mysterious phenomena — or the ghost of an 1870s prostitute stabbed to death in the old Pleasanton Hotel. Heck, even Bigfoot’s reportedly been spotted in the area.
Despite all this horror, the tours are described as “family friendly” with costumes encouraged, so expect to be at least equal parts scared and entertained.
Details: Two-hour tours offered Friday and Saturday and Oct. 18-19 beginning at the Museum on Main, 603 Main St., Pleasanton; timed tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children; museumonmain.org/ghost-walk.
