SLO After Dark: Legends, Ghost Tours & Haunted Spots

Downtown SLO feels peaceful by day—historic facades, soft light, small shops. But when dusk falls, some say the city hums with stories just below the surface: phantom nuns, restless shop basements, and dark portraits that watch.

Let me take you down three of the eeriest tales that locals whisper about when the night grows quiet.

🕇 The Ghost Nun at Mission Prep / Convent

One of SLO’s most whispered legends involves a ghostly nun. In the halls of the old convent portion of the property (now part of Mission Prep), people claim the nun wanders, turns lights on and off, knocks at doors, or drifts through corridors. Whether it's spiritual or symbolic, this story adds a chilling undercurrent to a place dedicated to faith and learning.

🏚️ Central Coast Surfboards (formerly Law’s Hobby)

The basement of this storefront (once Law’s Hobby) has a reputation. Workers and visitors report things like items shifting, footsteps, and pricking unease. Some say the third floor portrait gallery is especially weird—portraits whose gazes seem to shift. Others back it up: doors creaking, sounds from below, presence felt.

👀 Mee Heng Low & Street‑Level Hauntings

During ghost walking tours led by local historian James Papp, one stop intrigues everyone: Mee Heng Low noodle house. Legend says it’s haunted—by a spirit that only wants Mountain Dew. One tour recounts hearing footsteps in darkness, odd noises upstairs, and a lingering presence. 

Other downtown buildings—like A. F. Fitzgerald Building on Higuera Street or the old Masonic Temple—get mentions too. The creek under parts of downtown is also part of some stories, suggesting undercurrents not just in water but in history. 

Why People Walk at Night

SLO’s ghost and true crime tours blend history, mystery, and local characters. Walkers trace the old town’s layout, uncover hidden tunnels, hear about past crimes, and sometimes feel, for a moment, that the past lingers in the present. 

Whether or not you believe, these stories let us see the city differently: understanding how its architecture, human stories, and shadows all play a part.