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All the United States California Altadena Cobb Estate

Cobb Estate

This California estate was either haunted by ghosts or the Marx brothers.

Altadena, California

Added By
Mordy
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The Marx Brothers   Wikipedia
The Marx Brothers   Wikipedia
The current plaque on the gate.   Altadena Historical Society
The access road leading to the former estate, inside the gate   Avoiding Regret
  Avoiding Regret
What looks like foundation and steps   MonkeyB168 / Atlas Obscura User
Some remaining sidewalk   Avoiding Regret
Inside the gate   Avoiding Regret
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About

When retired lumber magnate Charles Cobb built an estate in the foothills north of Pasadena in 1918, the only indication that the "haunted woods" behind his house had any ghosts was the name.

Cobb lived on the property without incident until his death in 1939, when the 107-acre estate was deeded to the Pasadena Masons, as specified in his will. And still no ghosts.

Eventually the property was purchased from the Masons and converted to a retreat for the Sisters of St. Joseph, and not a word about supernatural activity was heard. It was when the Marx Brothers bought the estate in 1956 that the rumors of strange noises and eerie lights at the now vacant home began to circulate amongst the townsfolk. Whether or not that had to do with the squatters and teenagers who used the house for various nocturnal activities is an open question.

Finally, the Brothers Marx had the dilapidated home torn down in 1959 and the land sat unused until 1971. A plan to turn the formerly grand estate into a cemetery met with fierce neighborhood resistance, because the only thing worse for property values than a haunted forest is a haunted forest with a cemetery inside it. Finally, a private donation allowed the city to purchase the land, which is now a popular hiking destination for outdoorsmen who aren't fazed by the possibility of a spectral sighting.

Related Tags

Mystery Spots And Gravity Hills Haunted Forests Ecosystems

Community Contributors

Added By

Mordy

Edited By

Rachel, rmulherin, EricGrundhauser, Avoiding Regret...

  • Rachel
  • rmulherin
  • EricGrundhauser
  • Avoiding Regret
  • MonkeyB168

Published

November 15, 2013

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Sources
  • http://laist.com/2011/07/15/a_park_a_day.php#photo-1
  • http://thenativelatourist.com/2011/07/the-history-of-altadenas-cobb-estate/
  • http://laist.com/2011/07/15/a_park_a_day.php#photo-1
  • http://thenativelatourist.com/2011/07/the-history-of-altadenas-cobb-estate/
  • http://hauntedlosangeles.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-haunted-forest-pasadena.html
Cobb Estate
East Loma Alta Drive
Altadena, California, 91001
United States
34.200227, -118.12206
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Zorthian Ranch

Altadena, California

miles away

Mountain View Mortuary and Cemetery

Altadena, California

miles away

Bungalow Heaven

Pasadena, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Altadena

Altadena

California

Places 4

Nearby Places

Zorthian Ranch

Altadena, California

miles away

Mountain View Mortuary and Cemetery

Altadena, California

miles away

Bungalow Heaven

Pasadena, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Altadena

Altadena

California

Places 4

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