Weird California
Weird California
Weird California - By Joe Parzanese

This Ole House

Map 740 W Foothill Blvd, San Luis Obispo, California 93405

Now residences, This Ole House is haunted full of ghosts!
Now residences, This Ole House is haunted full of ghosts!

This Ole House was originally built as an actual house in 1917 by Eugene Johe as a wedding present for his son, Attilio. It lies on the outskirts of San Luis Obispo, and eventually operated as a brothel during World War II (perhaps called the Callaway House during this time). It was later converted into a restaurant, This Ole House, in 1950. It fast became a favorite of local ranchers and cowboys . . . and later ghosts!

The Old House started off as a simple restaurant that began by serving only fried chicken and potatoes. Local ranchers and cowboys enjoyed the place, and liked getting a drink there. Shooting contests often took place at the cowboy bar. As the place prospered additions were made to the ranch house, but so grew the tales of ghosts.

Formerly This Ole House
Formerly This Ole House

The restaurant is haunted, rumored to be the home of a ghost named John Vittey formerly of Autry, Utah. One story claims he died in a fire on the second floor and that he still haunts the upstairs. Additional ghosts have also been speculated.

During this time, the ghosts made themselves known by moaning, flashing lights, moving chairs, and cold spots. Shadowy forms were seen in the kitchen while the sounds of pots and pans banging were heard. A manager reported seeing a hazy misty man standing in his office, but the strange man simply disappeared. An opaque white figure was also reported drifting through walls, and a glass flew off a shelf at a 45 degree angle.

Other stories relate of a poker hanging by the fireplace swinging back and forth on its own, a jukebox that would start up all by itself and play only "The Days of Wine and Roses", and of a glowing presence that peeked through the curtains at night. Things were often reported being in places where they hadn't been left and candles often blew out on their own. Additionally cowboy boots have been heard stomping around on the upper floor when no one else has been in the building.

Sometime in the nineties, This Ole House eventually closed its doors and became AJ Spurs, a steak place, which didn't last long in the location. A family style Italian place soon took over the building. Called Pinky Carmines, it also closed soon after opening. The location known as This Ole House sat vacant for a few years before in late 2006 construction began on renovating the house. In 2007 Andrew Adams took over the place and set up The Clubhouse at This Ole House.

This Ole House Post Pinky Carmines
This Ole House Post Pinky Carmines
This Ole House 2013
This Ole House 2013

Shortly after moving into the location, workers claimed that glasses floated off the bar top and smashed against the floor, so apparently the ghost has stuck around through all the construction. Adams also discovered a false wall within the building during the renovations. Within, were old menus, employee logs, and stories of ghosts that had haunted the location since the thirties!

Now residences, formerly The Clubhouse, Pinky Carmines, and This Ole House, the building is haunted.
Now residences, formerly The Clubhouse, Pinky Carmines, and This Ole House, the building is haunted.

Coworkers of the Clubhouse experienced a host of new spiritual activity, creating new ghost stories for the location. One employee saw a strange figure on the second story, only to have the figure disappear before their eyes. The owner at the time, stated that he enjoys having the ghosts and that he feels they approve of what he had done with the place and are protecting the building.

But by 2011, the same bad fate that has happened to every other business in the building befell The Clubhouse and the bar / restaurant closed. Financial troubles hit the restaurant and the liquor license was pulled back in January of 2011 after the business fell behind on its state taxes. Additionally neighbors complained about noise issues from the establishment especially on the nights that the business had entertainment.

By 2012 though, the place had been sub divided into two residences and tenants had moved in. Now the massive place with the massive parking lot is simply a building with people renting and living in it. Do you think they know that they have tenants living rent free with them? One wonders if they have encountered any of the spirits lurking within the walls of This Ole House.



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First Created: 2010-02-07
Last Edited: 2013-11-02


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