Meet & Greet at Casa de Fruta in Hollister

What is usually a pit stop for motorists traveling between the Bay Area and SoCal, Bay Area Ghost Hunters is turning into a destination.

In her book, Haunted Houses of California, Author Antoinette May reports that her friend, Psychic Medium Sylvia Browne, almost had a meltdown along Pacheco Pass as she and her husband rode through the route in 1977. While passing the San Luis Dam, she was hit with a barrage of voices and visions of Native Americans, American settlers, Mexicans and Spaniards. This bout refused to settle down before reaching the restaurant at Casa de Fruta.

Anxiety seems to be a prevailing feeling for many people driving through Highway 152, believed to be the residual energy from abused Native Americans and old west bandits. In 1977, Pacheco Pass was just a two-lane road leading to a four-way stop that connected to Highway 5. Highway 152 was an escape route for Native Americans fleeing from the Padres and Spaniards determined to convert them to Catholicism during the 18th and 19th centuries.

On top of everything else, May also believes travelers through the region experience some form of time distortion. Trips take shorter amount of time than expected. While that could happen because of various and more mundane reasons, fellow BAGH organizer and Psychic Intuitive Madeleine Harmath, during a recon trip, had an odd experience in a section of the parking lot at Casa de Fruta. She said she felt like she was in bridge between the 1950s and the present day.

Oldtimers in the Bay Area can remember some of the various billboards by local highways related to Pacheco Pass. One, not too far from Casa de Fruta, said something like “87 motorists died here; don’t be the next.” (The number would be updated as the death rate increased.) A less menacing billboard promoted the late, famed Cup Flipper, Eugene Zanger, who showed off his talents in Casa de Restaurant. (He was also called on to appear on Late Night with David Letterman in 1987.) Additionally, Zanger was well known for having a large collection of local ghost stories.

With the energy from Highway 152’s past violence culminating in so many car accidents in recent decades, it’s a place worth exploring. We’ll meet at Casa de Wine & Deli, where we’ll have lunch and chat. Madeleine will join us, answer any questions she can and pass on any messages wandering spirits may have. We’ll contact the management at Casa de Fruta to see if they can send a representative to talk about the complex, nearby ghosts and whether staff has had any of their own experiences. One that’s fairly common knowledge is that of a woman looking to hitch a ride. Considering how dangerous it was to pass Casa de Fruta when the road only had two lanes, the “mysterious hitchhiker” cliché is easy to accept.

Casa de Fruta can be an excursion in itself. Children are welcome, but please use discretion as to whether they are easily frightened by ghost stories. Casa de Choo-Choo and other family-friendly activities are open for business on weekends. A peacock and peahen wander the property with a flock of ducks. There is also plenty of shopping for fresh, seasonal fruit; wine; sweets; pies, snacks and gifts.

Lunch is Dutch treat. BAGH organizers will be wearing their flashing ghost necklaces. There is plenty of free parking around the Casa de Fruta complex as well as a plethora of available toilets.

I look forward to seeing everyone there.

Adrienne

To see the Cup Flipper in action, please go to:
https://youtu.be/AUYtoY5RYVE?si=VCyCFvI5byoBg3E5