Researched, written, and compiled by author, Aubrey Graves
Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Boulder Creek Cemetery, Joe’s Bar, White Cockade
Big Basin State Park
Established in 1902, Big Basin is the oldest state park in all of California. The historical 18,000 acre park contains “eerie vibes”, or energy in certain areas.
Within Big Basin is a 60-foot waterfall which is named after an old pioneer and hermit, Tilford George Berry. One of the very first settlers in the region, Berry had a cabin close by which he had built in the 1860’s.
One day after years of being a recluse, the former lush and sawmill worker decided to sell his property and move back to Indiana. He found a buyer and headed toward the summit on his friend’s wagon to finish the deal.
“Two weeks later, Berry reappeared on foot in Boulder Creek; exhausted, disheveled, beaten down by cruel fate. The old demons had resurfaced. After accepting payment for his land, Berry had returned to the drink and gambled away his entire grubstake. There would be no returning to Indiana with his dignity restored. He was baffled, demoralized … ruined. Berry collected his rifle in Boulder Creek and without a word, disappeared in the direction of Big Basin; never to be seen again.” -Ryan Masters, Sempervirens.org
About twenty-five years later, a local man was walking through Big Basin and found Tilford Berry’s remains next to the waterfall.
“Breaking his way through low chaparral brush, he came upon an open rocky slope and there before him lay the perfect skeleton of a human being and beside it lay the old Berry rifle, metal corroded and stock decayed. Through the skull was the path of a bullet.” – Santa Cruz Sentinel, May 3, 1938.
It is believed that Berry had taken his life just minutes after he was seen in town.
Legend has it that the old pioneer haunts Berry Creek Falls; and that if you stare into the waterfall long enough, you’ll see the forlorn ghost of the gambling hermit Tilford George Berry gazing back at you.
Additional Information:
- It is claimed that in the 1920s an employee died at the park, and she is said to now haunt the little cabin (used as an employee residence) that is located next to Big Basin’s museum, gift shop, and general store.
BIG BASIN REDWOODS STATE PARK
Historical Landmark
Year established: 1902
21600 Big Basin Way
Boulder Creek, CA 95006
(831) 338-8861
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Boulder Creek Cemetery
The Boulder Creek Cemetery (I.O.O.F. Cemetery) has its share of paranormal activity. Dark shadow people have been seen meandering late at night in the eerie cemetery on occasion, EVPs have been caught, and rapid and drastic temperature fluctuations have been noticed.
Boulder Creek I.O.O.F. Cemetery Investigation:
November 20, 2011
As local sensitive Mel U. and I walked into the Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F) Cemetery, I felt a cold breeze hit me; as I listened to the dead leaves crunch and the gravel move beneath our feet. As we approached a bench in the graveyard, the Mel Meter, a device that measures EMF and temperature, began to jump from zero to three and then back down from two to one, and finally to zero again. (Note: For more information on how a Mel Meter or Milometer works, see the glossary.) Seconds later the K-2 Meter started to spike as well.
“If there is anyone here, can you please make the meter light up again?” I asked.
The device immediately spiked again.
The Mel Meter’s readings showed the temperature drop from fifty- eight degrees to forty-eight degrees in less than two minutes.
“Do you need help?” I asked.
The dowsing rods crossed for “Yes.”
After asking a series of questions and receiving more answers, the ghost gradually stopped communicating. By that time, the sun was down and it was completely dark out. We wondered if maybe the spirit had stopped communicating due to the change in the time of day. Many ghost hunters and researchers have found that sunset is one of the best times to communicate with the dead. They are known to have more energy then.
I started to feel a spider web sensation on my face and from the corner of my eye; and saw a large multi-colored orb floating near the gravesite we were walking toward.
We went to the next tombstone that Mel felt drawn to. It was a little girl’s grave by the name of Constance Austin, dated 1884 to 1887. Mel held out the K-2 Meter and asked if the spirit whose gravesite we were standing near could make the device light up. Not a moment later, it did just that. The Mel Meter also spiked at the same time and the temperature fluctuated within a second from forty-three to forty-seven degrees in a mere second. “If that’s you playing with the temperature gage, can you do it again?” Mel asked. Immediately following Mel’s question, the temperature fluctuated once again. For those of you who are unaware, fast and/or vast temperature change is believed by some to be connected with the paranormal.
We laid the flashlight down in front of the grave. A couple minutes later it was turned on by an unseen force. It was turned off about ten seconds later. “Was that you?” Mel asked. “Are you here? Can you please turn the flashlight on again?” Once more, the flashlight turned on and then off again. We tried communicating with Constance for almost thirty minutes, but because of her age, it was difficult. The flashlight turned on and off on its own sporadically, the K-2 Meter spiking at the same times. The Mel Meter started rising to a nine when we began to pack up, and stayed at an eight, until we were about to leave the site. As we walked out of the Boulder Creek Cemetery, the Ghost Radar said “Leaving.”
BOULDER CREEK CEMETERY
(AKA I.O.O.F. Cemetery)
Year established: Circa 1862
Harman Street
Boulder Creek, CA 95006
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