Black Star Canyon

January 22nd, 2024

Afternoon

Map of Black Star Canyon. Courtesy of Oc Ghosts and Legends.

Just off Santiago Canyon Road in the Santa Ana Mountains, there is a favored recreational park and trail.

Black Star Falls. Photo courtesy of 500experiences.com

In the winter, when it does rain, there is even a scenic path that leads to seasonal waterfalls. It has a long and interesting history full of tragedy. Because of this, it is also known as one of the most haunted spots in Orange County, California.

It’s called Black Star Canyon. It is scenic, beautiful, and, depending on what you believe, full of blood.

Acorn pounding holes at Black Star Village Site. Photo Courtesy of landmarkquest,com.

Early History

The canyon has been inhabited for thousands of years. The Tongva and Acjachemen people called it home as well as other native tribes. The Taaqtam, Maarrenga’yam, and Yuhaaviatam people also called the canyon home.

They foraged for acorns, traded with neighboring tribes, and lived their lives for millennia. There is an ancient village site one can visit. You can see the acorn pounding and grinding holes ground into large boulders. It remains a significant archaeological site today.

Missions were established by Spanish monks during the colonization of California in the late 1700s. During this era, there was a heavy Spanish influence on the native culture. This is where the names Gabrieleno (for the Tongva) and Juaneno (for the Acjachemen) come from. During this period the canyon itself went by the name “Canon de los Indios”. This shows just how prevalent the native tribes were in the area.

In the 1830s Mexico had defeated Spain and won its independence. Mexico then began to issue land grants to its citizens (both native-born Mexicans as well as Naturalized citizens). The canyon was part of the Rancho Lomas de Santiago rancho land grant. Now, most of the land is part of Irvine and the Cleveland National Forest. ("Black Star Canyon")

White American Settlers and Mining Operations

Covered Black Star Mine shaft. Photo courtesy of OCGhostsandlegends.com

During the California Gold Rush of 1849, gold prospectors and those seeking to provide them with supplies moved into the area.

This could be another reason for the decline of the indigenous population. Apart from miners, American ranchers also settled in the area. James Irvine, for example, formed the Irvine Ranch, which eventually became the City of Irvine.

In the late 1800s coal was discovered in Canon de los Indios. In 1879, August Witte started the Black Star Coal Mining Company. He set up shop in a shallow pit to the east of the opening of the canyon. It had 900 feet of tunnels and produced six to ten tons of poorer-grade coal each day of operations. The coal was then sent by mule teams to Anaheim and Los Angeles.

A survey of the mining operations was conducted roughly the same time August Witte founded Black Star. It was discovered that Witte was not operating on government land as was originally thought. Rather, it belonged to the Irvine Ranch. James Irvine had no real interest in the mining operation so he sold the mine back to August Witte. It was in operation off and on, under different owners (Santa Clarita Mine was one such owner) until the early 1900s.

The Legends

Native American Massacre

It was during the land grant period that the first of the legends is said to have occurred.

It should be noted that the following events do not have any solid evidence behind them. However, it is a story that has been passed down orally through the native tribes. It bears out some veracity as some of the people mentioned in it were real. It should also be noted that many oral legends have turned out to be factual. There’s an adage in archaeological circles that goes “Trust the locals”. I’m personally inclined to; especially given the period that is being discussed here. However, it is always best practice when researching to go with primary sources and documentation, of which there are none.

As the story goes, in 1831 a group of reported Shoshone tribesmen were stealing horses from the Californio ranches. They sought the help of local mountain man and trapper William Wolfskill in dealing with the supposed thieves. Wolfskill proceeded to lead a band of armed men who then tracked down and slaughtered the alleged Shoshone horse thieves.

William Wolfskill was a famous individual in the area at the time. He had led a group of fellow trappers from New Mexico into Los Angeles. He was one of the early trailblazers who established the Old Spanish Trail. He later became known as an important figure in the history of Southern California.

This, if true, would be Orange County’s only native american massacre on record. However, as stated, the historical record doesn’t verify the event. It is only known because back in 1931 a historian recounted the tale told to him by a then 91-year-old man who claimed William Wolfskill himself confessed it to him seventy years prior. There are no primary documents, first-hand accounts, artifacts, or anything besides hearsay. While it appears in nearly every YouTube video, newspaper article, and even history books on the area, it remains in the status of folklore and urban legend. (Arellano)

While there is, as stated, a Native American settlement site at the location, no horse or cattle bones of any type were found at the site. Furthermore, it was said that the Shoshone had stolen the horses to eat. The eating of horses was a myth propagated by the Spanish in the area and is not verified. Nothing is mentioned of a massacre taking place by the other trappers in the area at the time. No documentation was ever found about the matter at all. More to the point it wasn’t mentioned in Wolfskill’s lifetime or in his biographies. None of his associates ever mentioned it. There are no citations of the story before 1929.

The fact remains, however, that Canon de los Indios (aka Black Star Canyon) was home to a significant population of native Americans of various tribes. Then suddenly the natives were gone. It could have been assimilation. It could have been the Spanish. It could have even been a series of attempts at land grabs. This certainly wouldn’t be far from the norm. However, it remains an official mystery today.

It’s also a good setup for many of the later urban legends about Black Star.

Murder At Hidden Ranch

In 1899 another story of violence supposedly took place in the canyon.

Hidden Ranch. Photo courtesy of OC Public Library. Photo Credit: Diana Wamsley.

The Hidden Ranch was owned by Henry Hungerford and George M. Howard. On June 8th, James Gregg, his brother-in-law Decatur Harris, and Clinton Hunt (a 13-year-old boy) came to drive some cattle out that were owned by Gregg.

James Gregg and Henry Hungerford came to heads during this interaction, it seems. There was a question of ten dollars owed by Gregg to Hungerford for a horse. Instead of $17.50, Gregg was insisting on paying $7.50. Thus incurring a $10 deficit.

As the telling goes, Gregg, Harris, and Hunt slept on the ground in front of the ranch house. In the morning Hungerford and Gregg argued again. It got so heated this time that shooting broke out. The Hungerfords fought with shotguns. Gregg had his revolver. In the end, Gregg had been shot several times with various shotgun rounds ranging from buckshot to birdshot.

The Hungerfords rode into Santa Ana and gave themselves up to Sherriff Theo Lacy. This resulted in a trial presided over by Judge Ballard and the conviction of Henry Hungerford. Later, however, a retrial was called for by the Hungerfords and it was granted by Judge Ballard. This time Ballard found that not enough evidence was present for a conviction and it was overturned.

This would end up spelling doom for Judge Ballard’s career. Allegedly, the public was against Hungerford, and when Ballard overturned his conviction it led to him losing his reelection bid to Z. B. West. (“Black Star Canyon”)

Hauntings

There are many reported sightings of paranormal incidents in Black Star Canyon. These reports range from the expected ghost sightings to strange lights, cryptids, and even a cult.

Many of these are chalked up to tales of teens and young adults getting high and seeing things or the mere reputation leading to the frequency of sightings. After all, if you prime yourself by telling yourself and others with you that a place is haunted, you’re more likely to have “encounters” as your confirmation bias kicks in.

Many apparitions have been attributed to James Gregg, or the massacred Native Americans. There have also been reported KKK activity and lynchings in the Canyon, so some ghosts are also linked to those activities. There have also been stories of disembodied cries from a baby heard at night throughout the canyon.

Something interesting to note is that in Chumash (another Californian native tribe) legend, nunasis is a creature that has the sound of a newborn baby crying.

Abandoned school bus before removal from the canyon in 2012-2013. Photo courtesy: OnlyInYourState.com

The Schoolbus

According to urban folklore, in the 1970’s a school bus crashed in the canyon, killing all onboard. Visitors to the canyon say they can hear and see the spirits of the children who died in the crash. There was an abandoned school bus in the canyon, but it was removed around 2012 or 2013. The apparitions included people seeing ghostly faces and children’s handprints on and in the bus windows as if children were trying to escape the crash still. No official documentation of the crash has ever been found.

La Llarona

One of the oldest ghost legends possibly dates back to Spanish occupation.

La Llarona is the spirit of a woman who lives in a well and often appears with the head of the horse. The legend of La Llarona is from Spanish culture and involves a woman who drowned her children and was hung for the crimes. In Southern California, La Llarona is linked with the aforementioned creature, the nuasis; perhaps because of the wailing or crying. (McBride)

UFO’s

Aside from ghostly encounters and spiritual sightings, Black Star is known as a UFO hotspot as well.

There have been several reports of strange lights hovering and flying through the Canyon. It is thought that the canyon walls block out much of the ambient light and so it makes these unidentified lights easier to see. But perhaps the nature of the canyon itself is what could attract them. Who’s to say?

Cryptids

Adding to the strange smorgasbord of the bizarre, there are also cryptid sightings in the canyon.

Supposed image of Santiago Sam. Photo courtesy of OCHistorical.blogspot.com

One of them is colloquially known as Santiago Sam. Sam seems to be a species of Sasquatch or Bigfoot. He also seems to be much shorter than typical. He is reported to be only around the five-foot marker. However, he is also reported to have twenty-inch footprints.

Giving credence to the legend is the fact that there have been numerous sightings by hikers and visitors to Black Star. Even more credible are a couple of ranger sightings. Santiago Sam calls the canyon as well as the surrounding Santa Ana mountains home.

Artist’s Illustration of Black Star Waddlers/Penguins/Dwarves. Photo courtesy of Obscurban-legend.fandom.com. Image credit: User Balrog5555.

Another interesting group of cryptids reportedly seen in Back Star Canyon are the Black Star Waddelers. They are also known as the Black Star Penguins. As can be expected, given their name, these are short humanoid creatures. Sometimes they have been associated with gnomes or dwarves. The original account has them at only a few feet tall. They were noted as being about two feet tall. They were black, possibly shadow beings. They marched in single-line formation and had a slight waddle to them when they walked.

While this account took place on January 23, 1995, there have been multiple sightings since then. (McBride)

The Black star penguins have been attributed to being possibly an unidentified species of animal, dwarves, or demonic entities. Their coloration might also place them into the “shadow person” category as well.

Other Reports

If classified spooks aren’t enough for you, Black Star Canyon also has various, uncategorized sightings to contend with.

Hikers and visitors have seen other figures, shapes, and unknown entities at night and during the day. These are often described as lurking behind trees, stalking the hikers, and sometimes acting aggressively.

An article on the canyon from OC Ghosts and Legends offers an explanation for all the weirdness (besides cults and the Illuminati). They theorize that there is some kind of energy vortex inside the canyon. This vortex may have been caused by so many tragic events reportedly happening in one spot. (McBride)

The problem with this theory is, of course, that there is little to no solid evidence that any of these negative events ever even happened.

Final Thoughts

But, in the end, whether real or imagined, fact or folklore, Black Star Canyon remains an important piece of Southern California history. Places like this enrich local culture through mythology and history. They combine to form a fun and interesting amalgamation.

The Canyon is home to native wildlife and archaeological sites. It offers spectacular scenery and a chance to get in touch with nature; something that, as an Orange Countian, I can say is often sorely missed. I think the paranormal stories are really just icing when you think about it.

Sources:

"Black Star Canyon." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 1 Apr. 2022, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Star_Canyon. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.

Arellano, Gustavo. "Black Star Canyon's Indian Massacre." OC Weekly, 28 Nov. 2023, www.ocweekly.com/black-star-canyons-indian-massacre-6429355/. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.

McBride, Austin. "Black Star Canyon- Facts, History, Hauntings, and Legends." OC Ghosts and Legends, 1 Jan. 2022, ocghostsandlegends.com/black-star-canyon-facts-history-hauntings-and-legends/. Accessed 22 Jan. 2024.

https://ochistorical.blogspot.com/2010/04/santiago-sam.html

https://www.horrorbuzz.com/paranormal/crypto-country-courier-black-star-canyon/