HauntBound archive · catalog record
Reported phenomena — as catalogued
Historic mansion in spiritualist community with documented hauntings
Summerland, Summerland, CA
Research updated May 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
$$
Closed - formerly upscale restaurant
Access
Wheelchair OK
Paved
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1890 · Victorian-Era Mansion · Spiritualist Heritage · Summerland Founder's Residence · Historic Restaurant
The Big Yellow House was built in the late 1800s by H.L. Williams, who founded the town of Summerland as a community with spiritualist beliefs. The original Victorian mansion served as a private residence for Williams and his family.
In the early 1970s, John and June Young purchased the property and transformed it into an upscale restaurant operation. The venue became known as an elegant dining destination with historical and paranormal significance. The restaurant operated for several decades, building a reputation as both a fine dining establishment and one of California's most actively haunted locations.
Summerland itself was established as a spiritualist colony where members of the Spiritualist religion gathered. The belief system emphasized communication with spirits of the deceased, who could purportedly provide guidance, information, and wisdom. Séances were commonly held in the Big Yellow House, establishing it as a spiritual center within the community.
The restaurant has since closed, though the building remains standing as a historic landmark visible from Highway 101.
Sources
The Big Yellow House is reported to be home to numerous spirits connected to its spiritualist history. The most documented entity is a spirit named Hector, who reportedly dwells in the basement and the upstairs library. Hector's presence has been extensively documented and is detailed in Rod Latham's book "The Spirit of the Big Yellow House."
Paranormal phenomena include apparitions of a woman who appears lonely and isolated, standing alone in various locations throughout the building. Witnesses who attempt to approach her report she vanishes upon closer inspection, suggesting a residual haunting or elusive intelligent entity.
Object displacement phenomena are documented, particularly involving money disappearing from dining tables. Currency vanishes without explanation, resituating itself mysteriously in other locations.
The paranormal activity is attributed to the building's spiritualist heritage. The spiritualist community that established Summerland believed in communion with the deceased. Séances were regularly conducted in the Big Yellow House, potentially establishing a spiritual gateway that continues to facilitate spirit presence and communication.
Paranormal investigation groups have documented the phenomena, and the location has become a destination for paranormal researchers studying spiritualist-era hauntings.
Notable Entities
Media Appearances
View the distinctive yellow Victorian mansion from Highway 101. The building is visible from the highway and remains a Summerland landmark despite restaurant closure.
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
Carmel, NY
Smalley's Inn was a tavern, restaurant, and former hotel in Carmel, New York, founded in 1852 by James Smalley, who also served the town as sheriff, coroner, and treasurer. The building survived major fires in 1924 and 1974 and operated for over 160 years before closing in January 2020.
Santaquin, UT
Leslie's Family Tree Restaurant operated at 77 W Main Street in Santaquin, Utah for 36 years before permanently closing on November 13, 2020. The building is over 100 years old and served as a mechanic shop, floral shop, post office, and Greyhound bus stop before becoming a restaurant. The owners retired during the COVID-19 pandemic; the closure ended a three-generation community institution.
Magalia, CA
The Depot Restaurant & Cafe in Magalia, California, occupied a building that began life as a railroad depot before being converted into an eatery in 1977. For decades it was a fixture of the Paradise–Magalia Ridge community until the building was destroyed in the November 2018 Camp Fire, the deadliest wildfire in California history.