The haunting of Joaquin Miller Park

Joaquin Miller Park is a visually striking and beautiful forest. Scattered throughout are old stone monuments and towering ancient trees. The park is home to over 200 species of native plants — including one of the rarest, the Oakland Star Tulip.

These woods have certainly seen their share of history. The atmosphere feels naturally mysterious, making it easy to imagine ghosts moving among the fog and trees.

The Mystery Woman of Joaquin Miller Park

Have you ever heard of the mystery woman said to haunt Joaquin Miller Park? When the trees grow dark and the fog thickens, a female apparition is sometimes seen gliding through the mist. Her true identity remains unknown, but legend has it she died in a roadside accident nearby on a particularly stormy evening. Some say she appears when the weather turns dreary and visibility is low — as though reliving the night she lost her life.

According to urban legend, a hut was once built to house her spirit, though no one knows exactly where it stands. So, if you ever come across one of the small tree forts scattered through the woods, be careful — you never know who it was really meant for.

Joaquin Miller and His Heights

Joaquin Miller himself was born under a different name in 1837 in Indiana. He later renamed himself after the famed California outlaw Joaquin Murrieta. In 1886, Miller purchased 70 acres above Oakland, intending to create a retreat for artists and writers. He called it The Heights.

Miller planted an astonishing 75,000 trees — eucalyptus, olive, Monterey pine, and Monterey cypress. He died at his home in the park in 1913. Years later, in 1929, the City of Oakland purchased the surrounding redwood groves and 68 acres of The Heights. Two acres were left to Miller’s wife, who continued to live in the house he built for her until her death.

Today, the park spans over 500 acres — a living testament to Miller’s vision. Many of the trees he planted still tower above the city, centuries later.

The Poet’s Creepy Wish

Miller’s ashes — along with those of his family — are scattered throughout the park. But that wasn’t his original plan. One of the park’s monuments is a raised stone platform that Miller had built for himself. His wish was to have his body left there, exposed to the elements. His family, however, found the idea too unsettling and instead chose to cremate him.

The stone platform still stands today — a haunting reminder of what might have been.

Tragically, in 2016, Oakland police discovered the burned body of a man on that very platform. It was a devastating event that deepened the park’s eerie reputation.

The Park’s Darker Side

Over the years, several tragic deaths have been recorded in Joaquin Miller Park. Perhaps it’s inevitable, given its size and proximity to the city, that it would become the final resting place for some. Still, it’s hard not to feel that the land itself holds the echoes of so many stories — a quiet, lingering energy woven into the trees and trails.

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the feeling is undeniable. Walk through Joaquin Miller Park at dusk, when the fog curls around the branches and the air grows still — and decide for yourself.

Do you feel it?