Elsie
Lake Elsinore, California
In 1884, a creature that appeared to be a cross between a plesiosaur and a sea serpent was sighted in the lake at the small town of Lake Elsinore. Since then at least once a decade, the creature has apparently been seen.
Lake Elsinore was named after the Danish city, Elsinore, in Shakespeare's Hamlet. Besides a lake monster, Lake Elsinore is rumored to also have ghosts, UFO's, satanists, vampire cults, and even a group of ten citizens who claim to all have known each other in past lives and have all been mass reincarnated. But the lake monster remains the most talked about super natural aspect of the area.
The creature is colorfully referred to as Elsie, a play on Nessie, and occasionally "Hamlet" after the name of the lake. The lake monster has been taught to local elementary school children, appeared on numerous news reports, been a part of its own local cookbook, and even graced a page in the local phone book. Native Americans have claimed to witnessed Elsie lurking on the waters. Although some people believe that a rupture in the suplphur springs on the north shore of the lake produced a big enough black bulge of mud in the water that it was mistaken for a lake monster.
1932 turned up what may have been a hoax sighting as several swimmers were frightened off by what had been a baby sea lion placed in the lake on a prank. In 1934, a C. B. Greenstreet along with his wife and children reported seeing it. He described it as 100 feet long with a thirty foot tail. He also stated that waves as high as light posts washed on the shore in its wake.
1967 saw a family boating on the lake capturing a view of the monster. It supposedly rolled by them making dark high humps in the water. In 1970 the creature was sighted twice by a Bonnie Play. It was described as being twelve feet long and three feet wide with a series of humps and a dinosaur head. After 1970, three state park officials supposedly saw it surface about fifty feet from their craft.
Finally, numerous reports surfaced in 1992. Despite the many documented sightings of Elsie, one big factor rules against its existence. In 1954 the lake went completely dry, and not surprisingly there weren't any beached sea serpents lying on the bottom. In the 1960's it was refilled and since then there has been an ongoing effort to maintain the water level within it. Those who argue Elsie's existence, claim the creature wandered into a nearby cave in the hills and resided there until the lake was refilled. So apparently Elsie can survive on both land and water.
Through the nineties and recent years a fiberglass replica of Elsie has even existed. It was built at 13 feet tall and 102 feet long. Last I heard in 2002 the fiberglass float was still land locked, but its supportes were trying to get it installed on the lake somewhere or failing that turned into a parade float.
Lastly although I've heard speculation of an Elsie Museum at 199 Graham Avenue in Lake Elsinore, one does not exist, at least not at that address. In fact there wasn't even a building at 199. However, I believe that nearby at 201 is an old building that use to be or is part of what was called the Chimes Building. Once the Crescent Bath House a young boy is suppose to have drowned on the site in 1939 and now still wanders the building's halls.
So is there a sea serpent lurking within the depths of Lake Elsinore? Well speculation is out, but there does appear to have been at one time a fiberglass replica, and currently there does not appear to be any museum dedicated to the missing Lake Monster.
Comments:
- Josh of Lake Elsinore, CA on 2010-07-13 said:
- Growing up in Lake Elsinore i have been inside of the old academy as well as the main street hotel. both are in pretty good shape.in the academy's kitchen there are alot of news paper clippings posted on one wall going back as far as the late 1880's. the hotel looks like it was ran out of because the lobby has everything still set up with old skeleton keys and receipt books.
- Chris Bieber of Lake Elsinore, CA on 2010-07-11 said:
- as a 3 year resident of Lake Elsewesnore, it is "great" to see publicity for our unique city.
Sure there's no Nessie or Elsie..but there are real stories of real people and real events...that make up Lake Elsinore..or any other town...Except Montebello...
- Richard of Wildomar, Ca on 2010-06-29 said:
- I have lived in Lake Elsinore and the area for about 20 years now. I started spirit hunting and such about a year ago. I have seen Elsie but of course it was a replica in someone's backyard which is also part of the shore. It's the fiberglass one that is mentioned in the post. As far as the Chimes, they are currently open on the first story as an antique shop but have the entire first floor open for tourists. There were 2 rooms that I felt a presence. Mainly in the kitchen. I have also driven past Amy's Castle but I'm not sure if it would be haunted. I heard there is a secret tunnel that leads from there to the lake though. And the academy is highly known to be the most haunted in Elsinore. I have never been in there, but I have heard a lot of stories about local's experiences. Twice have I heard about the disappearing piano. So I'm pretty sure it would be spirited.
- tanner of canyon lake, ca on 2010-06-25 said:
- i grew up for some time in elsinore and heard stories about the chimes and amys castle. ive been in both chimes is very creepy i wanna hear more and learn more about the buildings hat have underground tunnels. help me out pleae =]
- karen of lake elsinore, california on 2010-05-05 said:
- everytime i go to sleep around like 12:00 at midnight i hear the train going and i get very scared and once i looked in the window i hear the train but i didnt see anything but im pretty sure i heard a train so did my brother gus he and me have heard it at night!
- pam of sacramento, ca on 2010-03-21 said:
- three friends and i lived in amy's castle in the late 60s. it was a very uncared for building at that time. rent was cheap ($400/mo) and we enjoyed living there. it was very quiet in elsinore at that time, even tho the academy was still open.
- Joey of Lake Elsinore, CA on 2010-01-03 said:
- i saw a ufo with a green light one night over mcvicker park it was from sky
- Brandy of Lake Elsinore, ca on 2009-11-11 said:
- Oh my god my wife and I have been awakened twice this month! We both heard the distinct sound of a train whistle just like it was on its way through town. I live in the avenues and know of the chamber of comerce. I also know that the site on the corner of Misson trail and Diamond drive was a train station. I get the heebeejeebees every time this happens.Also there are old forgotten rails all over the city. THANK YOU for your post Pam of Wildomar/Lake Elsinore, Ca!It was the only other witness story i found.
- Tina of Lake Elsinore, California on 2009-10-20 said:
- I lived in Elsinore for a long time. My brother and our friends and I used to go into the Chimes and visit Amy's Castle late at night alot as well as the old dance hall that I heard burned down since. I have so many stories of unexplained things that have happened while I was there. It seems as though whenever we would spend nights in the oldest part of town...where the old gas lamps are near Amy's castle...strange things would happen. I want to go back and explore these places again someday...Lake Elsinore is definately a strange, eerie place.
- Amanda of Lake Elsinore, Ca on 2009-10-03 said:
- I've lived in Elsinore 25 years. I've been in the Chimes when i was younger and i thought i saw stuff. I have always loved the fact that it was the first whore house in Elsinore...
- Ryugexu of Lake Elsinore, California on 2009-09-15 said:
- I saw the guy in a jumpsuit at the Hotel at 1am when driving around with some friends. I want to get into the Chimes for exploration, does anyone know how to contact the owners about opening it for a while? I heard some guy got a vase thrown at his head in the Chimes.
As for Elsie, I've been in the Lake. I regret it because the water is disgusting, but I thought there was an odd undercurrent in the water that would be similar to either a small group of dolphin or a small whale swimming under a person.
- Samantha of Perris, CA on 2009-08-14 said:
- I used to live in Lake Elsinore, last night me and my friend actually walked passed the old military academy was I scared! so we went and sat across the street, I am dating a guy who claims he has been in their he says he would never go in their again, Also in Lake Elsinore the old Abandoned Hotel on Main St. been known to see a old Janitor at the top of the building looking down on the street around 1:00 a.m.. I know the city is very old so who knows! I was also walking near Central and the business buildings in the reflection of the windows I witnessed my friends reflection and mine walking forward but I also witnessed a reflection walking towards us the lady with a handbag NOW THAT IS CREEPY! as for Lake Elsie I was taught about that when I was a kid. Would love to witness her/him if she is real. Never have so don't know.
- Dillon of Lake elsinore, california on 2009-08-11 said:
- So me and my friends were going to go up to Amy's palace, and we went the wrong way I'm pretty sure of and it took us to Skyline... My friend didn't want to take her car up there so we parked and walked up the hill... As we went up further we heard footsteps and saw a figure of a man, that had a jumpsuit on and it looke like he was walking towards us... And as we stood there my friend said we should leave and come back a different time. So we walked back down and the whole I was walking backwards so I could see it still and it looked like he was waving at us... We walked back up a little bit and we could see he was bekoning. My friend asked him his name and why he wanted us to go up there and no answer. Then we walked back to the car and noticed he couldn't go pass the tower. When we were driving home my friend got some what of a name.. His name was Chris. My friends that got the name were feeling this weird feeling that he knew we were gonna come back and explore futher and he's going to have more with him. If anyone knows anything about this it help greatly... But whether we get more stories or anything we are going back. So some information would help greatly... Thank you.
- Mina Ochoa of Corona, California on 2009-04-20 said:
Friday night I went to The Chimes and took two pictures. This may sound crazy but I actually communicated with whom I believe was the little boy. There was no wind, yet one chime had gone off twice. I asked the boy if he could make the chimes go off again to let me know he was there, just a few moments later the chimes rang again, twice. This gave me the chills and I ran to my friend to tell him. While I tried to prove it to my friend, it didn't work. My friend walked around to the side of the building and I asked the boy again to please ring the chimes. I watched as the middle of the chime was slowly moving back, as though someone was pulling it from the balcony. I slowly moved as if the boy was unsure to ring it again. I apologized to him for running away and that's when the chime lightly began to make the noise. However, my friend had turned the corner and began walking back toward me so it stopped again.
If that isn't weird enough, there is more. Sunday morning I uploaded my photos onto my computer to study them. I had took a picture of the left side of the building, at an angle that included the roof. There was a large orb so I decided to zoom up on the orb to see it's size. That is when I began to notice a figure. It is indeed the photo of a ghost, a man. I am able to make out his face, his body, and I can even see his stance. I have the picture to prove it still. If you want to see it, email me at minabell09@yahoo.com
I know many other places that are haunted as well. I investigate these places with friends, not as a thing to pass up time, we are actually hunting ghosts. So if you want to experience more places, just email me :)
- paul of lake elsinore, CA on 2008-09-05 said:
- I get very intrigued by all these old buildings. Especially the abandoned hotel on Main. I would be very interested in exploring that. I am a photographer, so I always love documenting by adventures.
Does anybody know the history of the house on the hill as you exit Main Street? When coming from the south the hill with the house is on your right. I have recently explored it and I am very curious if anyone knows its history.
- Pam of Wildomar/Lake Elsinore, Ca on 2008-07-31 said:
- Lake Elsinore is an old city with lots of historical places to enjoy. Amy's Castle is not open to the public, it was recently purchased however by a church of some sort. Sometime during the fall or winter Elsinore does do a tour through some of the older known haunts. The Chimes is currently closed but definitely haunted as I've been in there several times. The Old Military School is off limits due to how old it is and it's structural damage, but one can easily see it from Grand Ave. Even though the places mentioned are closed or don't have access, that doesn't limit the amount haunts that are still available although maybe not as famous. Main Street is a must see, go into the shops that have been there since the beginning and tell me you don't feel something! Also, the Chamber of Commerce building which is open to the public is the old train station from way back in the day... people around here say they can hear a train whistle early in the dawn hours. But the train station and almost all of the tracks are long gone...I have heard the train whistle myself. Anyone else hear it?? Lovely ghost town!
- Carla of Lake Elsinore, Ca on 2008-07-28 said:
- Hi, I have lived in Lake Elsinore for 6 years now, and I have yet to see anything weird...I would love to see it though..I am very into spirts and ghost and would love to see anything like that..I have never heared of amys castle...where is it?
- Mauricio of Lake Elsinore, California on 2008-06-13 said:
- I have heard of most of the things here. I really want to go and explore The Chimes. I also want to explore Amys Castle and the old abandoned hotel off of Main St. What about the old military school off of Grand?
- Kathy of Trenton, New Jesery on 2008-05-11 said:
- I used to live and work in Lake Elsinore. I have witnessed many strange things there. The Chimes is definately haunted. You can go in there on a 115 degree day and hit weird cold spots in the building that leave you freezing for hours afterwards. The Satanist cults are all over the outlaying hill areas and they wander around at night sometimes appearing in the streets or at your door without making a sound.
- johnny of San Diego, CA on 2008-02-11 said:
- I hear alot stories about lake monsters in San Diego County and i also heard about the Lake Elsinore monster from some friends of mine....they said there's an underground cave on the bottom of lake that connects through the mountains where the monster stays it only comes out when the temperature changes and maybe feeding time for it......to me that sounds kinda fun to explore and find out the truth......So i say any LAKE ANYWHERE that is about 90-100 yrs old MUST something protecting it especially deep lakes between mountains....u see i'ma fisherman and i only fish in big lakes i had some encounters but never really seen it but,i know there is something lurking in these lakes if u wanna ask more about it just e-mail me i'll try to respond back as soon as i can.......keep searching and you'll eventually find it....
- crystal of lake elsinore, california on 2008-02-11 said:
- I grew up in lake elsinore. I heard stories my whole life of amy mcpherson and her castle. stories about the tunnels that lead under the lake. I got the opportunity to enter amys castle and walk through one of her hidden passageways wich leads from the gym to the guest house....way cool! I visited the chimes and was brought about by the most eerie feeling ever. I grew up in a old home in the avenues, and I as well as neighbors have all had the same experience with a ghost we had named "lady in white". Elsinore is one hell of a eerie town. Elsie is the least of the worries here !
- stacy of lake elsinore, ca on 2007-11-10 said:
- amy's castle was a place i would visit late at night, it was a very creepy place. when you got to the top of the hill all of the trees surounding the house would start blowing in the wind but no other trees would move unless near the castle,also once inside the chain link fence i would get a horrible feeling of being watched. i never made it into the house too scarey
- Megan of Lake Elsinore, CA on 2007-10-31 said:
- The little boy was the Mayors son who jumped the fence and drowned in the pool... Also, the founder of the Town Haunts it. Chimes is haunted...I have been in there many times as a child and adult and there are a lot of spirts there. There are a lot of spirts in this whole town.
- Colleen of Lake Elsinore, ca on 2007-10-27 said:
- Hi there, This is the first time I have ever heard of a monster in the lake. I have heard that Elsinore is haunted though! I know that Amy's castle is very haunted and when I was young going to school it was the biggest topic of the day every one knew about the story and If you didn't, well, than people would tell you about it. I also know the chimes very well. Never open though only on weird days would it be open and not open for long. Yes Lake Elsinore is very haunted. The water tower on the hill is haunted too. All can say what they want not believe or believe but Lake Elsinore has the most Unknown things happening at night. There are so many buildings that have underground tunnels and much more. Very interesting to know that.
Outside References:
- The Field Guide to North American Monsters (1998) by Blackman, W. Haden, p: 76, 78
- Haunted Places: The National Directory (2002) by Hauck, Dennis, p: 49
Last Edited: 2007-03-10
