The Distillery of Moss Beach

From: Lauren Elise (lrizy@hotmail.com)
Story type: Ghost
Location: Moss Beach, CA
Source: Form Submission

Many people have heard about the old speakeasy cafe in Moss Beach, California called The Distillery. A perfect setting for a haunting, some might say, with it's history as a thriving speakeasy during Prohibition, the way that it sits 'just right' on a Pacific Ocean cliff so that you'd be able to see the cops coming for a raid. It has a rich history of blackmarket rum, love triangles gone sour, a womanizing piano player, a woman in blue who drowned, a car accident, and so on. It's even been featured on 'Unsolved Mysteries.'

Back in 1996(this was after the incident in Newark), while visiting some friends out in San Francisco, I convinced them to head down the coast have have lunch at this place, my curiosity overwhelming. It's quite a nice place with great atmosphere and delicious food (especially the local clams and garlic bread), and right outside the window is the sprawling Pacific Ocean, edged by rocky cliffs dotted with white calla lilies. I had heard that there was a lot of activity/sightings/occurances in the basement, especially the ladies room, where both restrooms and the exit to the back deck lie. After lunch, I excused myself, took my camera and headed alone into the basement.

When I opened the door to the ladies room, I saw that it was empty and without really thinking about it, snapped a picture with the flash. I didn't 'feel' anything though I suddenly felt like a bit of a fool with a camera. I proceeded to shrug it off, enter one of the stalls, latch the door and take a bit of a wee, before the long ride back to the city. I finished up, zipped up, flushed and opened the stall door.

As I opened the door and stepped out, I tell you with a shiver in my stomach, that it was as though someone was waiting for me. I tell you this with all sincerity, I was pounced upon. I froze in my tracks as I felt, with the same ferocity and intensity of a bucket of icewater being thrown on me from head to toe, the most struck-straight-through-to-the-bone sensation I have ever had in my life. If I had to describe it in one word, it would be violent.

It occured to me in the midst of this, that I should pretend that I didn't 'feel' it and despite my momentary freeze/startle response, it was best to continue towards the sink, wash my hands, dry them and act as naturally as possible. I was shaking like a leaf, one thought in my head repeating itself, 'why do you mess with this when deep down you are such a chicken sh*t?'

I was in such a daze, that I can't remember any 'feelings' from the room itself at that point. I simply felt as though I had been struck, and I had really ticked someone off. With all the publicity, maybe this ghost had had enough of the camera flashing in the ladies room, I don't know, but I was certainly put in my place. I am still to this day, grateful that whoever it was waited for me to exit the stall before pouncing. It makes me think it was the a gentleman of some sort.

Just before I left, I believe I said, 'I'm very sorry,' to the 'empty' room and that was the extent of the experience. I have been back twice since and nothing has happened, though I didn't take my camera. Like with my other experiences, I do hope the people there have found rest. With this one, however, I think I got a bit carried away and I think I showed disrespect to someone trapped in what I imagine to be an unpleasant situation, one where the past and the present are the same and wounds don't heal.

As a side note, the photo of the bathroom came back with nothing out of the ordinary in it. And also, the last time I was at The Distillery, June 2001, the bathrooms were in a different basement location and were all remodeled.