The Spookiest Spot in Washington?
Enter if you dare
The state of Washington has more than a few spooky settings. Numerous true-crime tales have emerged from the region’s wild woods and wicked waters—and it’s a popular backdrop for mystery/suspense novels.
But is there a #1 spooky spot in Washington? I had trouble deciding on the best, but this eerie place should definitely be in the running...
Imagine heading to the Washington coast for a little day hike. You drive into a scenic state park, stop your vehicle, and step into the forest. The narrow trail begins to climb. You hike up, enjoying the view and listening to the roaring ocean below.
But when you reach the top, you find an abandoned concrete mound, rising from the forest like a Mayan pyramid in the jungle. The bunker’s roof is overgrown with moss and ferns, the metal doors are rusted and broken, and puddles of mysterious dark liquid flood the entry (hey, it's probably rainwater...)
You're alone—so you stand outside the bunker, wondering if you should go in. You approach the door and peer inside. The building looks to be part tunnel, part cell-block, and part nuclear-fallout shelter. Hmm. It's very dark. The only "windows" are narrow slits in the concrete. The air is heavy with moisture. Weighted with ominous tidings.
But you're brave! You take a deep breath and enter. It just seems creepy, right? It’s not like anyone is hiding inside.
You stay as long as you can bear it, skulking past each abandoned room to peek in. More puddles of mystery liquid. Dangling cobwebs. Dead bugs. Scattered trash. Pentacles and graffiti on the walls. And then...a red Solo cup? Ah, partying teenagers.
Well, if they DARE TO ENTER, so can you!
Welcome to a morbid curiosity of the southern Washington coast: gun batteries.
In the 1800s, three forts were built to protect the mouth of the Columbia River from intruders: Fort Canby and Fort Columbia in Washington, and Fort Stevens in Oregon.
After a suspected Japanese submarine got close enough to fire on Fort Stephens in 1942, the forts were upgraded to defend the Pacific coastline against enemies from the sea. During World War II, these batteries hosted multiple cannon-size guns. The buildings were bustling, filled with teams of men to watch the radar, plot out targets, and operate the guns. The bunkers offered them protection—and prime views of the Pacific Ocean and any marauding warships. But after the war ended, the buildings and guns fell out of use.
The eerie mound above is called Battery 247. It was built in 1944 at the historic Fort Canby, now part of Washington’s Cape Disappointment State Park. The park also contains a well-preserved Battery Harvey Allen by the visitor’s center.
Battery 247 isn’t the only spooky place to explore on the southern coast. Fort Columbia State Park is a few miles away, offering more coastal-defense batteries (aka dungeons/bunkers) that you can enter—IF you’re feeling brave:
Both state parks offer accommodations! So if you enjoy GETTING SCARED, book an overnight stay at either spot, creep around in the dark, and report back on your experience!
A spot closer to home?
I’ll have more spooky Northwest (PNW) settings to highlight in future newsletters. In the meantime…
Does your state or hometown have a local haunted spot? A place where people go to get scared?
What’s the eeriest setting you’ve ever visited, here or abroad?
Please feel free to share in the comments!
A Spot of Sun
The gun batteries are actually quite interesting to visit—and Cape Disappointment is one of the loveliest coastal parks in Washington. The visitor center is steeped in history, including an explanation of why the Lewis and Clark expedition named this place a disappointment. Here’s a glimpse of the park’s beautiful coastline:
My favorite line: "But when you reach the top, you find an abandoned concrete mound, rising from the forest like a Mayan pyramid in the jungle." I enjoyed the backstory about this spooky location!
Just saw this post -- great read! Now it has me thinking about spooky spots I've visited in my home state of CA. I have a feeling that thought will be rolling around in my head all day....