The Villa Park Haunted House is a historic home surrounded by decades of local ghost stories. The house itself has a documented history that predates its move to Villa Park, while many of the supernatural stories come from former residents, guests and local folklore. This page separates what is known about the house from the legends that grew around it.
The house is a private residence, not a public haunted-house attraction or historic site. Please respect the property and its residents.
History of the Blasdale House
The historic house is associated with William Blasdale (1834–1892), who settled in Orange in 1875 on a ranch at the northeast corner of Chapman and Tustin. Historical documentation describes Blasdale growing orchard crops including oranges, peaches and plums and having a two-story house built on the ranch in the late 1880s.
As development surrounded the original property, the Blasdale House was eventually moved from Orange to the Villa Park community. Historical documentation also identifies the Henry Grote House at 169 N. Shaffer Street in Orange as having been built by the same builder and resembling the original Blasdale House.
How the House Came to Villa Park
The house remained at its original Orange location for decades as the surrounding area developed. Accounts of the move say that in the 1950s the house was acquired by restaurateur Murray Ramon and relocated to Villa Park, where it was restored. Stories associated with the restoration say the porch incorporated two-story columns salvaged from an old San Francisco hotel and that Disneyland carpenters fashioned exterior trim. These restoration details are part of the home’s commonly told history and should be distinguished from the better-documented Blasdale history.
Longtime residents have referred to the property by several names, including the Blasdale House, the Villa Park Haunted House and the White House. The home was later painted beige, but the older nickname persisted.
What Was on the Property Before the Blasdale House?
A smaller home reportedly stood on the Villa Park property before the Blasdale House was moved there. Local lore says the earlier house burned and includes a darker story involving insurance fraud and the former owner’s later death by suicide. Those details have circulated as part of the haunted-house legend, but they should be treated as unverified folklore rather than established history.
The property’s older history has also been associated with the Ryan family and the Bathgate Ranch. William Bathgate is an important name in the broader history of the Villa Park district and Santiago Creek water rights, but the exact history of this particular parcel should be kept separate from local legend unless supported by property records.
How the Haunted House Legend Began
Some of the best-known haunted-house stories are attributed to former residents rather than to historical records. A former owner, Mr. McMurran, reportedly told later owners that he believed the house was haunted. Among the experiences attributed to him were the smell of cigar smoke and an entry-hall light that appeared to switch on unexpectedly, even after work was reportedly done on the wiring.
Later owners, the Smiths, reportedly did not experience the same light problem but said they occasionally smelled cigar smoke upstairs. They also described hearing footsteps or other noises on the landing and a wicker chair that seemed to creak loudly at night. Overnight guests were said to have reported unusual lights and sounds as well.
These accounts are part of the house’s oral history. They are interesting Villa Park stories, but they do not establish that paranormal activity occurred.
The Missing Third Floor Legend
One longstanding story says the house originally had three stories and that the top floor had to be removed when the structure was moved because of utility-line clearance. The available historical description of the Blasdale House, however, identifies it as a two-story house when it was built in the late 1880s. That conflicts with the missing-third-floor story, making the third floor best understood as part of the later folklore surrounding the house.
The Pamela Courson Rumor
Another Villa Park story connects the house to Pamela Courson, Jim Morrison’s longtime partner. Courson had ties to the Orange area, and her father, Columbus “Corky” Courson, was an educator in the local school system. Over the years, a rumor developed that Pamela had lived in the Villa Park house and later haunted it.
We have not found documentation establishing that Pamela Courson lived in the Blasdale House. The known owner history also does not support the story. For that reason, the Courson connection should be treated as local folklore, not documented house history.
What’s Documented—and What’s Folklore?
- Documented history: The Blasdale House originated in Orange and was associated with William Blasdale.
- Documented history: Historical descriptions identify the original Blasdale House as a two-story house.
- Documented history: The house was later moved from Orange to the Villa Park community.
- Former-resident accounts: Cigar smoke, an unexplained light, footsteps and other noises were reported by former residents or guests.
- Local folklore: The house supposedly lost a third floor when it was moved.
- Unverified local story: The earlier house on the property was deliberately burned for insurance money and followed by a suicide.
- Unverified local story: Pamela Courson lived in or near the haunted house.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Villa Park Haunted House really haunted?
The house has decades of local ghost stories and accounts attributed to former residents and guests, but those stories do not prove paranormal activity.
What is the real name of the Villa Park Haunted House?
It is commonly associated with the historic Blasdale House and has also been called the White House and the Villa Park Haunted House.
Was the house originally in Villa Park?
No. The historic Blasdale House originated in Orange and was later moved to the Villa Park community.
Did the house originally have three stories?
The available historical description identifies the Blasdale House as a two-story house. The story that a third floor was removed during the move appears to be local folklore.
Did Pamela Courson live in the Villa Park Haunted House?
We have not found documentation showing that Pamela Courson lived in the house. The story remains part of Villa Park folklore rather than documented history.
Can you visit the Villa Park Haunted House?
No. The house is a private residence and is not a public haunted-house attraction. Please respect the property and its residents.
Who was William Blasdale?
William Blasdale was an early Orange-area rancher associated with the historic house. He settled in Orange in 1875 and grew orchard crops including oranges, peaches and plums.