The Cielo Drive Murders and Haunting: Echoes of Manson’s Dark Legacy
The Manson Family’s savagery shocked the world—but on Cielo Drive, did the horror leave behind more than just memories?
Case File: The Cielo Drive Mansion Murders and Hauntings
Case No.: 08CL-1969-LA Classification: Haunting and Historical Tragedy
Location: 10050 Cielo Drive, Beverly Hills, California
Date of Incident: August 9, 1969
Filed by: Beverly Hills Police Department, Investigators, Paranormal Researchers Status: Closed, Property Demolished and Rebuilt
Incident Summary
The secluded Cielo Drive property, nestled in the hills of Benedict Canyon, Los Angeles, California, was initially an idyllic French country-style mansion with charm and Hollywood allure. Designed by architect Robert Byrd in 1942, the home became a retreat for numerous celebrities, from Cary Grant to Terry Melcher, son of actress Doris Day. It was during Melcher’s stay that the property would unwittingly intersect with one of the darkest figures in American history—Charles Manson.
On August 9, 1969, actress Sharon Tate, eight months pregnant and on the brink of Hollywood stardom, was hosting a few friends at her home while her husband, director Roman Polanski, was away. Her guests included coffee heiress Abigail Folger, her partner Wojciech Frykowski, celebrity hairstylist Jay Sebring, and Steven Parent, a young visitor to the property’s caretaker. As the night progressed, Manson Family followers broke into the home, killing Tate and her guests in a brutal spree that sent shockwaves through the nation. The chilling messages they left in blood marked the beginning of a cultural obsession with the site, and for years afterward, the address itself evoked terror and tragedy.
After the property sat unsold for years, it was demolished in 1994, and the address was changed to 10066 Cielo Drive. Television producer Jeff Franklin built a sprawling 21,000-square-foot mansion on the lot, yet despite its luxurious amenities, reports of haunting phenomena persisted.
Location Overview and Paranormal Activity
The original home at 10050 Cielo Drive was a picturesque retreat, featuring stone fireplaces, beamed ceilings, and a guest house, all surrounded by thick pine and flowering cherry trees. But following the 1969 murders, the home gained an infamous reputation as a cursed or haunted location. Reports of unexplainable phenomena increased in the years after the murders and carried over even after the original structure was replaced.
Phantom Screams and Whispers: Several locals and visitors reported hearing what sounded like distant, distressed screams, usually around midnight or during the early hours of August 9 each year. Many described a high-pitched scream that fades suddenly, as if snuffed out, with no apparent source.
Cold Spots and Temperature Drops: Paranormal investigators reported sharp, unexplained temperature drops near the location where the living room once stood. Even in hot weather, some visitors experienced icy chills, which they described as oppressive and unsettling.
Unseen Presences: Neighbors have recounted eerie sensations of being watched, particularly near the hillside where the original home was built. Some report seeing shadowy figures just beyond the property line that vanish upon closer inspection.
Camera Malfunctions and Battery Drainage: Those visiting the rebuilt mansion, especially paranormal investigators, have noted frequent malfunctions with electronic equipment. Battery-powered devices drain unusually fast, and cameras often malfunction, leading many to believe that residual energy may still linger around the site.
The Haunting Backstory and Investigations
Charles Manson’s connection to 10050 Cielo Drive began through music producer Terry Melcher, who rented the home before Tate and Polanski. Desperate to launch his music career, Manson made several attempts to impress Melcher but faced repeated rejection. This series of rejections became an obsession, and in an act of revenge—or misguided rage—Manson directed his followers to murder everyone at the house, believing it would incite a “Helter Skelter” race war. Although Melcher had moved out by then, the Manson Family’s brutal act sealed the home’s fate as a dark landmark in American crime history.
Over time, various groups conducted unofficial paranormal investigations, documenting strange occurrences and sensations around the Cielo Drive property. Among these accounts:
1970s – Initial Reactions and Sightings: Shortly after the murders, the property struggled to attract residents, as potential buyers were deterred by its history. Law enforcement and others involved in the initial investigation noted a heavy, oppressive feeling on the grounds. Some individuals reported feeling an inexplicable sadness that would linger for days after visiting the location.
1990s – Trent Reznor and Paranormal Experiences: The Nine inch Nails front man, Trent Reznor rented the property in the early 1990s, converting it into a recording studio dubbed “Le Pig,” a dark reference to the word scrawled in blood on the walls during the murders. Reznor later remarked that the history weighed heavily on him, but decided to take the front door with him as a haunting keepsake. During his time at the property, Reznor and other visitors reported strange electromagnetic disturbances and equipment malfunctions that would often interrupt recordings.
Modern Accounts and Neighbor Testimonies: Though the original house was demolished, locals claim the energy remains. Neighbors and visitors frequently report flickering lights and the smell of cigarette smoke, which some attribute to the spirit of Jay Sebring, a known smoker. In the nearby trails, hikers have recounted fleeting sightings of figures dressed in vintage clothing, seemingly watching from a distance before disappearing.
Documented Phenomena and Residual Hauntings
Despite the mansion’s luxurious transformation, several strange and unsettling occurrences have continued to plague the area, reinforcing its reputation as one of the eeriest locations in Los Angeles:
Apparitions of Former Residents: On multiple occasions, visitors have claimed to see a woman resembling Sharon Tate walking along the perimeter of the property, often described as serene yet solemn, appearing briefly before vanishing. Others have spotted shadowy figures that some interpret as residual hauntings—impressions of past events replaying in a loop.
Disturbing Messages: Some visitors describe faint whispering near the entrance of the property. A few have claimed to hear words resembling those that were written in blood at the original crime scene, while others report ghostly voices murmuring phrases that convey a sense of confusion and fear.
The “Pig” Imprint: Following the installation of Reznor’s recording studio, paranormal investigators noted that equipment failure and cold spots were most pronounced around where the word “Pig” had once been written in blood. Several people have since claimed to experience nausea or a strange tightness in the chest when standing in this area.
Case Status and Continuing Legacy
Although the case of the Manson Family murders is long closed, the property on Cielo Drive remains an object of fascination and dread. Today, it stands as a luxurious mansion, but the tragic history beneath its foundations has not been forgotten. Paranormal investigators continue to study the area, even though reports of activity have dwindled since the original home was demolished.
The Cielo Drive hauntings reflect not just the memory of a brutal crime but a lingering imprint on the collective psyche, symbolizing the enduring nature of trauma and horror. The events of 1969 changed the landscape of Beverly Hills and left a haunting legacy that seems woven into the hillside itself, destined to keep the spirits of Cielo Drive alive in both memory and myth.
The Story
David Oman’s journey with his house on Cielo Drive began as a simple father-son project in 1999, intended to be a new home on land just a short distance from the infamous Sharon Tate murder site. But as soon as construction started, Oman sensed something was different about this place—an unsettling energy that seemed to grow with each brick laid.
In the early days, the strange occurrences were subtle, almost dismissible. Tools would vanish and then reappear in places no one remembered putting them. Oman initially laughed it off as “construction gremlins,” but the unease started to deepen among the workers. Several of them reported feeling cold drafts in the basement despite the summer heat, or hearing whispers as though someone was carrying on a conversation just out of earshot. One worker quit, claiming he’d felt an icy hand brush against his neck, leaving him chilled and unnerved.
As the house neared completion, things only grew stranger. Oman had intended to make his home a retreat, a peaceful place to entertain friends. But by the time he moved in, the house seemed to have developed a personality of its own—one that was anything but welcoming. Friends who visited often felt a heavy, almost oppressive energy, particularly in the stairwell and basement, and more than one claimed they’d seen shadowy figures darting at the edge of their vision.
Oman began hosting friends for movie nights and casual gatherings, where discussions often turned to the paranormal events unfolding around them. One evening, as a few guests were chatting in the living room, the temperature dropped so suddenly that everyone went quiet, their breath visible in the air. Almost immediately, they heard the distinct sound of footsteps coming from the staircase—a slow, deliberate tread that grew louder with each step. As the group turned to watch, the footsteps stopped abruptly, but no one was there. This encounter left everyone shaken, and one guest claimed he heard a whisper at his ear, a voice murmuring something he couldn’t understand but that left him paralyzed with fear.
Another night, Oman’s friend reported seeing a woman in a white gown standing near the kitchen, her face partially obscured by shadows. When he blinked, she was gone, but the chilling feeling remained, and he refused to stay overnight. Oman himself began experiencing unsettling visions, including one of a woman he believed was Sharon Tate, lingering in the hallways, appearing just long enough for him to question if he was seeing things—or if she was truly there, watching him.
Objects in the home developed a life of their own. Figurines on the shelves would tumble to the ground, doors would slam without cause, and the sound of murmured conversations seemed to drift from room to room. More than once, Oman was woken by three sharp knocks at his door, only to find the entrance empty. He began sleeping with lights on, hoping to keep whatever was lurking in the shadows at bay, yet the sense of being watched never left him.
Among the most disturbing episodes involved Oman’s dogs, who refused to enter certain parts of the house. One evening, as they both barked furiously at something invisible in the basement, Oman felt a sudden rush of cold air and the sensation of a hand pressing against his shoulder. He turned, expecting to see someone standing behind him, but he was alone. Frightened but determined to understand what was happening, he contacted paranormal investigators to explore the energy permeating his home.
The investigators who arrived were seasoned professionals, accustomed to haunted sites, yet even they were startled by the phenomena at Oman’s house. Their equipment often failed in certain areas, batteries drained inexplicably, and some claimed to see orbs of light moving through the rooms. One investigator reported seeing shadows moving along the walls as though a figure were walking just beyond view, and another felt a chill settle around him, so deep he shivered uncontrollably for minutes afterward.
Oman continued to live in the house, but with each passing year, the strange activity only intensified. The knocks at his door, the cold spots, and the apparitions became part of daily life. Some visitors refused to return, shaken by the unsettling presence that seemed to saturate the house. For Oman, each incident further confirmed his belief that the house was indeed a “spirit portal,” a gathering place for entities perhaps connected to the violent history of Cielo Drive.
Today, Oman’s house stands as both a home and a haunting, an unwelcome reminder of the tragedies that once unfolded nearby. Those who visit leave with tales of ghostly encounters and spine-chilling experiences, recounting shadows, whispers, and an unshakable feeling of being surrounded by the supernatural. The house’s dark atmosphere continues to capture the imagination of ghost hunters and skeptics alike, each leaving with their own unsettling memories of Oman’s haunted hillside home.