The Haunted History of Turnbull Canyon

Turnbull Canyon has long been rumored to be home to occult meetings, ghostly haunts, the scene of brutal murders, and tragic accidents. How is it that this seemingly peaceful hiking trail has earned a reputation as a place of mischief and evil?

Does this canyon truly keep dark secrets? Or are the tales of Hell’s Gate, a mysterious plane crash, and KKK meetings just ghost stories? Our team delved into Turnbull Canyon, present and past, determined to plumb its depths and get to the truth, however far down it might drag us.

While the sun’s rays steadily creep behind the sycamore trees and the gentle breeze promises serenity, hidden deep within the many rises and ravines that separates Whittier from Hacienda Heights is the sinister history of Turnbull Canyon: a macabre past filled with rumors of an insane asylum, ghostly sightings, and a tragic plane crash.

Even if you do not believe in ghost stories, the residents of Whittier have reason to be concerned about what goes on up the many trails in Turnbull Canyon. Sure, the persistent rumor of a macabre insane asylum remains in the realm of legend, but the murder of Gloria Gaxiola and the plane crash of 1952 are all too real. Thus, causing some residents to wonder why this canyon seems to be like a landlocked Bermuda Triangle, and a magnet for unexpected tragedies and chill-seeking adventurers. Some residents are even convinced that the area is tainted by a malevolent energy. Even with its bloody history, though, there is something about Turnbull Canyon that continues to entice those seeking either respite from urban sprawl in its green spaces or escape from youthful boredom in its haunted history.

TRIBAL HISTORY

Looking through the numerous websites on the myths and hauntings of Turnbull Canyon, one of the most popular theories for all the horrific events is that Native American spirits are still angry about having their land taken away. Although these claims cannot be proven, there was a history of tension between the White interlopers and the Indigenous people when it came to the canyon.

In the mid-1840s, there were many conflicts over the ownership of land in California which, at the time, belonged to Mexico, and which the U.S was trying to annex. Early in 1845, William Workman became captain of a cadre of Americans and Europeans serving with Governor Pio Pico in his fight against Governor Manuel Micheltorena in the battle at Cahuenga Pass during the Mexican-American War. Following the battles against Micheltorena, Pio Pico was appointed governor of Alta California. Pico awarded William Workman 49,000 acres of land, which included what people now know as Turnbull Canyon. Workman did not get along well with the Gabrielino Indians who were the original inhabitants of the land.

Even though Gabrielinos would later work for him, it is said that they would raid his property from time to time. The Gabrielinos were understandably upset because, prior to Workman’s arrival, their land was invaded by Spanish conquistadors. Father Junipero Serra, a founder of some of the California missions, recounted in a letter the brutality of the Spanish soldiers to the Viceroy of Mexico. “When the Indian men sought to defend the women, the soldiers killed several with musket balls,” Serra wrote.

Given this history, some people have concluded that the spirits of the Gabrielinos haunt the canyon, along with the ghost of William Workman. According to hauntedlosangeles.blog.spot.com, some claim to hear war drums up in the canyon. Whittier College alumni, Hugo Guzman, grew up in Whittier and believes in the many tales of the canyon.

He even spoke of an odd experience he had while walking around the canyon. “A friend and I once climbed down the ravine and we had to hike through bramble to get out,” Guzman said. “There was something following us. We never saw it, but we could hear it and feel its presence. So, yeah, I can believe that there are some [angry] spirits up there.”Other Whittier residents say that all the fright hype about the canyon is just a bunch of bologna. “I have heard all [the] stories about the canyon and I still don’t think it is haunted or anything,” former Whittier resident and experienced hiker Amanda Garcia said. “I’ve been up in the canyon several times and have never had any odd experiences.”

Alek Martinez believes that everything that has happened in Turnbull is just coincidence. “It is just unreasonable that people try to make it out to be a place of evil,” Martinez said. “Yes, bad things happened up there, but bad things happen all the time, everywhere.”

HORROR TALE FOR THE AGES

When speaking to Whittier residents about the myths and incidents surrounding Turnbull Canyon, few of them knew of how the canyon was named after murdered Scottish immigrant Robert Turnbull.In the Forgotten Tales documentaries series, executive producer John Garside discusses the historical background of Turnbull Canyon. In the episode, “How the Canyon Got Its Name,” Garside tells the story of Robert Turnbull, who arrived in California in 1873, where he lived until being murdered in 1888.Robert Turnbull was a shepherd who moved to California seeking to make money in real estate. The first patch of land he bought was located in L.A. near the Macy Street Bridge, now known as the Cesar Chavez Bridge. Not long after moving to California, Turnbull gained a reputation as the town drunk. It is said that people who had known Turnbull and did business with him never saw him completely sober. His drunkenness would later be a leading factor in his murder.

At around the same time Turnbull was making his way in real estate, the owners of the Temple-Workman Bank, William Workman and his son in law, F. P. F. Temple, were poorly managing their business. In 1875, the state’s economy collapsed and the bank was unable to meet the demands of the townspeople. Unable to save their business, the bank was closed in January of 1876. In May of 1876, Richard Garvey told Workman that Elias J. “Lucky” Baldwin, a landowner investing in the L.A. area real estate market, was going to foreclose on his property. A couple days later, Workman grabbed his revolver and took his own life.

Following the downfall of the Temple-Workman and the death of Workman, Turnbull was appointed to an advisory committee that consisted of the bank’s largest creditors. The committee was to work toward getting the townspeople their money back, but whether they did or not is unclear. Being part of the advisory committee, Turnbull was able to buy land for cheap. That is when he decided to buy Turnbull Canyon, which cost him almost nothing.

Turnbull liked the canyon because it was a great place for sheep whose wool made him great profit, and it had an active stream.

In 1885, two Quaker men, Aquila Pickering and Jonathon Bailey, were searching for land in California to start a new colony. They purchased land surrounding the canyon and, seeing that the canyon had the water resources they needed to start their new settlement, they approached Robert Turnbull and offered to buy the land. Knowing the value his land had, Turnbull refused to sell it.

For two years, the Quakers continued to make Turnbull offers, and in June of 1887, they presented to Turnbull their final and highest offer of $30,000. That was nearly half the money the Quakers invested in what is now known as Uptown Whittier area. Finally, Turnbull accepted their offer.

On Jan. 18, 1888 Robert Turnbull spent the evening as he had many others — drinking. On his way back home, he fell off of his horse and was arrested for public drunkenness. The next morning, after spending a night in jail, Turnbull returned home with a broken, bruised, and bloodied face. He had been beaten, but could not recall how.

As a result of his injuries, the next day Turnbull succumbed to a brain aneurysm that the coroner said was the result of a blow to the head. The aneurysm caused Turnbull to fall off the Macy Bridge into the L.A. River, where his body was later discovered. Coroners concluded that Turnbull had been murdered.

When the Quakers got news that Turnbull had died, they decided to name the canyon after him, since he was kind enough to sell them that land. Of course the guy it was named after was murdered,” said Guzman, laughing, when told the story of Robert Turnbull. “The canyon is a place of darkness. I grew up in Whittier, and it is just a spooky place in general, but that canyon . . . that canyon is just a really weird place. Every time I go there, I feel something eerie.”

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#paranormal