Temecula isn’t just vineyards and sunshine; there’s a darker side hiding in the shadows of Old Town. If you’re itching for a good scare or a deep dive into the city’s eerie past, you’re in luck. This Halloween 2025, Temecula’s haunted houses and ghost tours are serving up spine-chilling fun, and trust us, you won’t want to miss it.
Step Into the Scream – The Mansion of Lost Souls
One of Temecula’s most talked-about scares returns this fall: the Mansion of Lost Souls. Located at the Temecula Promenade Mall, this full-scale haunted house resurrects the tragic story of a once-peaceful family home turned house of horrors. Whispers of madness, demonic possession, and a doctor gone rogue set the stage for a heart-pounding experience.
Tickets are sold online and at the door. While they’re not refundable, you can transfer them to another open night. The haunt runs on select nights from October 2 to November, with mobile or printed tickets accepted at entry. Military and first responders score discounts with a valid ID at the box office.
Important heads-up: This is not for the faint of heart. You’ll face intense lighting, strobes, fog, moving floors, loud sounds, and jump scares. The attraction bans anyone with medical conditions like asthma, heart issues, or claustrophobia. No running, touching actors, or flash photography rules are strictly enforced.
Geared toward ages 12 and up, the Mansion of Lost Souls is a must if you’re ready to face the unknown.
Walk Among the Spirits – Old Town Temecula Ghost Tours
For a slower, more atmospheric fright, Temecula After Dark Ghost Tours guides visitors through the haunted history of Old Town. Held nightly at 7:30 PM, this 2-hour walking tour starts at 28522 Old Town Front Street and takes you through some of the city’s most storied spots.
Expect real ghost stories, historic photos, and even EVPs (electronic voice phenomena) captured over the years. Your guide, a local historian and paranormal investigator, will equip your group with EMF meters to detect spiritual energy. You’ll visit the Historic Jail patio, where objects move on their own, and Murrieta Creek, a site of past tragedies.
Highlights include the Palomar Inn Hotel, rumored to be haunted by a Native American totem and strange bird-like entities, and the Welty Building, where a century-old murder echoes in the walls.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for kids, and $12 for seniors and military. Groups get a souvenir photo sent via email and a free history book. No need to book ahead just show up ready to explore.
Spooky Stops With a Twist
Other chilling options include Nightly Spirits’ Temecula Booze and Boos Tour, a ghostly pub crawl that combines haunted history with wine tastings aboard a cable car. If you’re in the mood for a community-built scare, don’t miss the Haunted Studio at JDS Creative Academy, a student-run haunted house packed with theatrical frights.
Families can unwind with the Headless Horseman Harvest Wagon Ride from Temecula Carriage Co., a milder evening ride through fog-laced trails perfect for older kids. And for those who love a haunted landmark, Vail Ranch and the Old Town Bridge are said to be crawling with spirits of cowboys and lost souls.
Whether you’re chasing adrenaline or just want to hear the whispers of Temecula’s wild past, this season’s haunted offerings won’t disappoint.
Sources: mansionoflostsouls.com, nightlyspirits.com, oldtowntemeculatours.com
Header Image Source: Mansion of Lost Souls Facebook Page
