Located at the corner of Davie and Nicola Streets, the Gabriola House greets passersby with its ominous presence.
Once upon a time, there were a litany of impressive, grand homes like it in Vancouver’s West End; however, it is the last of its kind.
A relic of times long gone, this Victorian structure seems mildly out of place. Built at the turn of the 20th century, the home exudes mystery. As a result, it isn’t hard to fathom why the abode has been the centre of many paranormal tales.
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Standing at 1523 Davie Street, the home is the site of numerous ghost sightings, every year. In fact, many people say that they’ve seen ghosts in the window. Further, many claim they’ve seen multiple ghosts in the residence.
When the mansion was a restaurant, for example, staff claim they encountered ghosts on a regular basis. Further, they claim that utensils, such as cutlery, actually floated in the air.
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What’s more, the site was also the site of a horrific murder in 2016. Specifically, the body of a Japanese Student named Natsumi Kogawa was found inside.
Haunted Gabriola House
Interestingly, the home was built by the founder of B.C. Sugar, B.T. Rogers. After he passed away, the home was converted into an apartment building. Following that, the residence was converted into a restaurant called Romano’s Macaroni Grill. Since shutting down, the home sat vacant for many years.
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Unfortunately for horror fans, this haunted home was sold for a whopping $6.72 million in 2021. The long-standing mansion will be converted into a rental condos and townhouses put in its place.
Update: While the home is being converted, final plans do not include tearing down the structure. Instead, the building will undergo renovations.
Interested in some more spooky tales? Be sure to check out Vancouver’s creepiest urban legends!