Is the Ice House Theatre haunted? Learn about the venue's spooky history in Visalia
Are there ghosts at the Ice House Theatre?
That’s what those attending “A Haunting at the Ice House” will find out when the community theater opens a unique experience for the two weekends before Halloween.
This will not be a typical “sit-down-and-watch-a-play” experience. Guests will begin outside the Ice House, learning some real history of the building, which really was an ice house, opened in 1921 as a state-of-the-art ice making and delivering business.
In 1976, the Visalia Players turned it into their theater, but many vestiges of the old ice house remain. And with a building that old, there have been rumblings of ghost stories there.
Once patrons enter the theater, they will watch a video created by the Ice House telling a story of kids breaking into the Ice House during Covid, and secrets they found there.
“We’ve confirmed some history and added a bit of fiction for the story,” said director and creator of the “Haunting,” Mike Pesto.
Then there will be a tour of backstage with spooky happenings, but nothing outlandish.
“There will be no blood, guts and gore. It will be like a PG Blair Witch project,” said Pesto. “There will be some moments of total darkness and flashing lights.”
Pesto said he would have no problem letting his 11-year-old daughter take the tour, and in fact she’s part of the show.
Paranormal experts
The final act will be a wine and spirits garden where guests can talk to members of the Porterville Ghost Society, who will show some of the equipment they use to ghost hunt and some of their findings.
The Ghost Society is a member of the Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS), an organization that investigates reported paranormal activity. At some point, the group will be doing a full investigation of the Ice House to see if they find any ghost activity.
“To be a member of TAPS, we had to be thoroughly investigated and show that we had found proof of paranormal findings,” said Ghost Society founder Kathy Guinn.
The group has taken photos and voice recordings of laughter, old music and furniture moving in various buildings in the Central Valley.
“We’re looking for spirits who have passed on,” said Guinn. “I’ve had my hair tugged and clothes pulled during these investigations.”
Used as a morgue?
Guinn found that during the Civil War, a Union encampment was located on or near the Ice House property.
“We know that during that time there were epidemics, and ice houses were used to keep bodies cold until they could be buried,” she said, although she can’t verify that happened in Visalia. “The Ice House is also close to the railroad, which means bodies could have been kept at the Ice House before being shipped elsewhere.”
History & Ghosts
Pesto did research on the Ice House and other local buildings and also found some relics rummaging around the theater, including an old ice hook.
“The more I delved into the history, I realized we could make this into a fun haunting. You get a scary experience but some history too.”
He has put together a team of Visalia Players to coordinate the different parts of the experience.
Those attending will go through each section of the haunting in small groups. Pesto suggests people buy tickets online, where they can sign up for a specific time to start the tour.
Those who show up without tickets may have to wait until there is an opening.
How to attend
When: Oct 20, 21 & 22, 27, 28 & 29 (and maybe a Halloween Eve showing)
Where: Ice House Theatre, 410 E. Race Street, Visalia
Information: Buy tickets for specific tour times
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: 'A Haunting at the Ice House' explores the Visalia venue's history
