Haunted Locations in Rancho Cordova

Every October, Rancho Cordova transforms into a playground for the bravest thrill-seekers at Heartstoppers Haunted House, the longest-running haunted house in Sacramento County. Step inside the Mineshaft and prepare to be immersed in a world of spine-chilling scares, elaborate sets, and masterfully crafted monsters. With masks, makeup, and costumes bringing every corner to life, this haunted house has earned its reputation as one of the best-rated in the United States.

Will you dare to enter the Deadlands, a western town plagued by zombies? 🧟 Will you gather your courage to step into Blightwoods, a cursed forest that acted as the grounds for cruel and unusual experiments? 🧪 Are you ready to face your fear of claustrophobia in the narrow tunnels of Misery Mine? ⚒️ Or will you travel back in time to tour a Victorian estate-turned haunted schoolhouse in House McCutchens? 🏚️

Try one or all four, and try to be brave!

A hidden—and often forgotten—corner of Rancho Cordova is the nearly 150-year-old Matthew Kilgore Cemetery. Established in 1874 and formally named after Matthew Kilgore in 1888, the cemetery holds far older secrets. Careful observers will notice that, among pioneer plots such as those of the Kilgore family, many headstones bear dates reaching back to the mid-1800s.

But the cemetery’s history is a bit shadowed. After the property was turned over to a mortician who was later exposed for fraud, Kilgore Cemetery fell into years of vandalism and ruin. Headstones were toppled, the gates torn down, trash scattered, trees chopped for firewood, and grave markers stolen. One particularly grim night, the grave of a Mr. Kennedy was robbed—his skull stolen and never recovered. To protect their loved ones, some families began to entomb entire plots beneath heavy slabs of concrete.

The cemetery is now carefully maintained and is a much more peaceful place thanks to wonderful community members who restored it. However, echoes of its darker days remain etched into the grounds. You can still see some deep cracks and broken headstones today.

Among the notable burials are the pioneering Kilgore family (1800s), businessman William Deterding (1818–1879), miner and community leader Peter Haase (1830–1912), and John Studarus (1824–1899), builder of Mills Station known today as The MACC. Visitors can still find their graves and pay their respects within Kilgore Cemetery’s quiet rows.

If you plan to visit, please tread gently. The cemetery is open daily from 8AM to 6PM. But be mindful… sprits of the past might linger here.

Click here to learn more about the fascinating history of Matthew Kilgore Cemetery

Mills Station House was built in 1911 by John Studarus. Originally a gathering place for farmers and a safe haven for weary travelers in the early 1900s, its sturdy walls went on to shelter many lives and community stories. Over the decades, the building was transformed into what was most needed at the time. It served as a tavern, fire station, gas station, restaurant, and even a lively dance hall.

Through this long history of change, the structure itself was uprooted not once, but twice: first moved to the northeast corner of Folsom Boulevard and Mather Field Road, then finally carried across the street to its present (and perhaps final) resting place on May 17, 1998.

Today, the Mills Station House is known proudly as the Mills Station Arts & Culture Center. Locals call it The MACC, a cornerstone of Rancho Cordova’s creative spirit. Within its walls you’ll find rotating art exhibits, theatrical plays, musical performances, and a warm atmosphere for community gatherings.

Some say the spirit of John Studarus still lingers here, keeping watch over the house he built more than a century ago. Staff members have whispered of flickering lights, unexplained noises in quiet hallways, and an elevator that chimes at random whether it was called or not. Perhaps it’s only the building’s long memory… or perhaps its builder has never truly left.

To learn more about the Mills Station House, check out The Rancho Cordova Independent's article here and learn more about the art exhibits and upcoming events here.

Kinney School was founded in 1871 and quickly grew into one of the largest rural schools in Sacramento County, enrolling 64 eager pupils in its very first year.

But as the decades passed, the school’s fortunes waned. Kinney experienced many ups and downs before it was finally abandoned in the early 1900s, left to crumble in silence. In 1966, the long-forgotten shell of the school was resurrected and transformed into a modernized high school. Yet the revival was short-lived. By 1971, just five years later, the original structure had fallen into such disrepair that it was torn down and rebuilt into the modest Kinney High School that still stands on the site today.

For many in the community, Kinney School was more than a place of learning. It was a cornerstone of local life. Influential figures such as German immigrant Peter Haase (1830–1912), a respected leader who served on the Kinney School District board of trustees, left their mark on its story. Today, Haase rests in Kilgore Cemetery, Row G, Block 4, Plot 2, where visitors can pay their respects.

Click here to learn more about Kinney School and other historical schools in the area!

The American River Grange was built in 1882 next door to Kinney School and still stands today in its original form, making it the oldest Grange Hall in the Sacramento region. For decades, the hall served as a gathering place for farmers, a forum for heated discussions and disputes over the pressing issues of the day: rising labor costs, falling crop prices, expensive machinery, and unpredictable rail freight rates.

The land shared by Kinney School and the American River Grange holds secrets older than any meeting or debate. Before the establishment of Kilgore Cemetery, this ground served as a burial site for many early community members, their resting places later moved to nearby Kilgore.

With more than 140 years of history etched into its walls, the Grange Hall might feel a bit eerie to visitors watching for spirits who still walk the grounds where the living once toiled and learned.

Learn more about the history of the American River Grange here.