Turnbull Canyon

By Crusader1307

 Some 20 miles Easterly from the sprawling and busy City of Los Angeles – lies the outskirts of the much smaller Cities of Whittier and La Puente, California. The surrounding woodlands dive deeper inland into a series of rocky ravines and dense woodland. An attraction for you ''Nature Hunters'' and Admirers – One can find the rustic Turnbull Canyon. But One needs to proceed with great caution here. For it is considered one of Southern California's most haunted and perhaps cursed locations....and with very good reason. But to better understand the many ''layers'' of the myths, legends and related misery associated with The Canyon – One must examine it quite literally – by the long centuries. So warned...Here We Go.....

California, as we have seen – was colonized by Spain in the late 17th thru mid-18th Centuries. Coming up from what would become Mexico into The North or ''Alta Mexico'', the migration included colonists, clergy and of course – soldiers. The primary goal next to colonization of the fresh and fertile land and resources was the ''conversion'' of the local ''heathen'' Native American Tribes to Christianity. The local group then was named The Gabrielnos. The area which would later be called ''Turnbull Canyon'' was known to them as ''The Dark Place''. According to their beliefs, Shaman's used the land to ''cast out'' Tribal Demons and other ''nasties''. The Tribe NEVER went near the location. The Spanish, used the simple tactic of ''convert or die'' against them. Most chose death, but some did convert – both against their will and it seems their Souls. The Spanish came up with the idea of using Christianity as the proving point for conversion – or rather that ''God would protect'' The Indians from ''Evil''. They round up hundreds of Gabrielnos and marched them into The Canyon. They were terrified. Some refused and were executed on the spot. The survivors converted, but according to legend – they who converted knew they were hence cursed to never leave the confines of ''The Dark Place''. It is said by many hikers on many of the trails there, that One can ''feel hundreds of eyes'' staring at them from the surrounding woods. A feeling of unease also comes over one. Blood stained grounds......Flash Forward...


Eventually Spanish Rule ended in what would become Mexico. But that Government exhibited some of the same tyrannical governing beliefs. By the mid-1840s, War would break out between The United States and Mexico, with California being invaded early on. Militia (composed of sympathetic Mexicans and American Colonial transplants), fought throughout the area, a series of small but nonetheless bloody skirmishes. Many a young soldier either died of wounds or illness. Residents of The Canyon have reported over the years of ''hearing'' the ''snare of drums'' – perhaps echoes of long fought engagements. Still more blood spilt on the ground.....Flash Forward.....

 
''The Dark Place'' gained it's current name ''Turnbull Canyon'' from one Robert Turnbull in the early 1870s. A Scots by birth and immigration, He found The Canyon an excellent location for a business venture – namely the raising of Sheep. Sheep equaled wool and wool equaled money. Turnbull did quite well in fact. But Robert had a vice.....alcohol. He was a well known drunkard, who relished a good fight (He constantly lost most of His). Seen as arrogant and moody, most in Town never remember ''seeing Him sober''. But Robert had a lucid moment in late 1888. Wishing to move onto other business, He sold a large swath of The Canyon to recently arrived Mormon Settlers for a profit, of course. The last time Robert was seen in Town, He was drunk and in a fight. Threats were levied. After several weeks of not being seen, local Authorities went looking for him. He was found at the bottom of The Canyon with His head bashed in. ''He Probably fell and crushed His head'' no doubt. But most looked to homicide. No Suspects were ever found. In a form of honoring their former benefactor, The Mormon Settlers named the area ''Turnbull Canyon''. But still now, His blood stains the grounds...Flash Forward.....


Since the 1890s and well into The Depression Era of the 1920s – many local Residents complained of ''strange folk'' taking residence in The Canyon. In one such ''encounter'', a local Man decided to sneak up into Turnbull Canyon to catch a glimpse of just what these ''secretive hermits'' were up to. The Man stated that He witnessed ''Men and Women in dark robes, chanting and making strange rituals''. As He watched, He claimed that the hooded figures brought forth a child of roughly 12 years of age. The boy was placed inverted on a wooden Cross and whipped repeatedly. Terrified, He ran home and told The Police. The next day they investigated. No evidence of anything was found. Not even blood...this time! Flash Forward to the 1960s and 1970s. ''People'' that fit a similar description from 70 years past were often seen in The Canyon, performing rituals consistent with Satanic practices. This was seen as common for The Era of Hippies and ''Love Freaks''. To this day, Satanic and blasphemous grafitti can still be found painted all over. ''Flashing Forward''..........

 
Roads and lanes built (first dirt then paved) run all through The Canyon. Hairpin curves and sharp inclines and drops created a natural attraction for foolhardy teenagers over driving equally ''supped up'' cars. This is a formula closely related to disaster. The Canyon has seen it's fair share of car crashes and related deaths since the 1950s. It still does. A particular stretch of road is called ''The Ascension To Hell'' and ''Hell's Gate'' – referring to the close granite overcrop from the hills and ancient tree over foliage. Ghostly Cars, unseen and unfound crashes are common in The Canyon. Which brings us to the only aircraft crash ever in The Canyon. A Passenger plane from 1952 – and carrying 30 Souls for a reason never made clear, crashed into The Canyon in a ''ball of flame''. It was a sunny and clear day and the plane had an excellent maintenance record. So deeply buried in hard to reach terrain, it took 2 weeks to locate the wreckage. All had perished, actually, most were incinerated on impact! Again, blood flows copiously in The Canyon.....Flash Forward....

 
Another enduring legend is that of a former Mental Health facility, said to have been built in 1930 was said to have existed in The Canyon. On a plateau, the Facility was said to have been. Many who remember, say Doctors and Nurses tormented the insane there. In 1940, the Facility mysteriously caught fire and burnt to the ground, with many of the Staff and Patients perishing. Very little of the foundation (if it is from the Facility) remain. Surrounded by a chain length fence, it is occasionally ''patrolled'' by Guard Dogs. These Canines cannot not be traced to any one Owner or Security Company. Sometimes they are ''there'' others not...assuming they are dogs! But others cite, that before The Asylum was built, an older structure existed. A ramshackle hut once owned by a Witch! And She was not a ''Good Witch'' to be sure. It is said that The Witch specialized in ''Black Magic'' and would ''sell Hexes'' and poisons. It was one of these ''spells'' that supposedly backfired on Her. A feeling of dread, depression and outright hate is often felt when people come too close to the fence line. A type of spilt blood added to The Canyon. Another Flash Forward.

 
Rose Hills Memorial Park is one of Southern California's largest privately owned Cemeteries. The ''average Joe'' can ''rest in peace'' among famous celebrities, heroes and other ''giants''. The far East portion of The Cemetery rests against the border of Turnbull Canyon. People come from all over The State to enjoy the tranquil lawns and World Class Art Collections and Statuary. They also have no idea of the link to Turnbull's haunted history.

The City of La Puente and Whittier were running out of ''burying grounds'' and needed to expand. But land was at a premium and needed for development of business. When Rose Hills was created they decided to simply close down their Cemeteries and transfer all remains into the new ''property''. It is said that cost cutting was made. Many headstones were moved.....but not the remains! As we know, removing a headstone from ''someone'' is the fodder of every Ghost Story imaginable. By the time Families found out and sued, most were recovered and properly interred. But many think a few were ''missed''. This leads us to the many ''sightings'' of ''forms'' moving thru the woods and Canyon, seeming ''lost and searching for something''....maybe peace? Turnbull Canyon has also seen it's share of Crime. Homicide seems to be an attractant to criminals bent of ''removing'' all evidence of their crime – and doing so in The Canyon. As many as 30 violent ends have been met there. In most cases, they involve women and are both robbery-murder and rape-murder. Bodies are seldom immediately discovered either. Often decomposed bodies and remains that fall prey to local wildlife (bears and mountain lions) are discovered many weeks (and years) later. More and more blood seeping into the grounds of The Canyon. Flashing yet again.


And finally, the issue of ''strange lights'' in the skies over Turnbull Canyon, since the 1960s – causes some to report Unidentified Flying Objects. From traditional ''disk shaped'' to the newer ''Black Triangles'' – all have become (although not regularly) seen. Many state that possible Extraterrestrial ''life'' are often attracted to Paranormal Activities. This is why The Canyon is somethings referred to as ''The Bermuda Triangle of The San Gabriel Valley''. While all these ''tales'' can be explained with some rationale, and truly most are speculative Urban Legends – the vast amount of misery, pain and tragedy has created such ''negative energy'' that it causes One to wonder just exactly ''what is going on'' in Turnbull Canyon?