The Witch’s Castle

Posted: 03.05.2025 | Updated: 03.05.2025

A seemingly peaceful hiking trail in the woods of Portland, Oregon, leads to an eerie and haunting location. Its dark history is associated with the area, which many believe has been cursed, making it a space where dark energy now resides.

The City of Portland is filled with many urban legends for you to discover. Find out more about the great ghostly tales of the area by booking your next ghost tour with Portland Ghosts today!

What is the Story Behind the Witch’s Castle?

The Witch’s Castle, found in Portland’s Forest Park, is a popular site that is considered a rite of passage that every local must visit. Near the end of this serene hiking trail sits an old, abandoned stone building, covered in graffiti after years of vandalism. 

But there is a very morbid history attached to this otherwise tranquil location, and in this case, the truth is more horrifying than fiction.

The Legend of the Witch’s Castle in Portland, OR

In 1850, a man named Danford Balch traveled the Oregon Trail in a covered wagon with his wife Mary Jane and their children. He staked claim to the land that is now known as the Northern Heights neighborhood, as well as part of present-day Forest Park. 

This was some of the most valuable land in all of Portland at the time. After Balch laid claim to this prime real estate, the community quickly started to prosper. This caused Balch to think very highly of himself, as he considered himself to be a viable person within the community.

Danford and Mary Jane were married around 1842. This was Mary Jane’s second marriage. She was a widow when she met Danford and had two children of her own.

The records from that era are not clear; some reports say the Balch had ten children altogether, while others say nine. Once they staked a claim in Portland, they had to start constructing their new home right away.

Building the Balch House

Danford hired several workers to assist with building their new home. Among them was a man named Mortimer Stump. 

After all, the land was cleared and the job was completed, Mr. Balch was generous enough to allow Mr. Stump to live under his roof until he was able to find more work.

Unfortunately, Balch’s kindness and generosity didn’t last very long.

The Cursed Love Story of Mortimer and Anna

While staying with the Balch family, Mortimer developed feelings for one of Danford and Mary Jane’s daughters, 15-year-old Anna. And according to most variations of the story, the feeling was mutual. 

Eventually, the couple decided to get married; however, Danford was vehemently against it and denied giving them his blessing. It is believed his adverse reaction was because Mortimer was several years older than Anna and because he didn’t have any financial prospects to support her.  

Offended by the thought of it, Danford warned Mortimer that if he married Anna, he would kill him. He then forced Mortimer off the property. 

But a few days later, Anna ran away, meeting up with her beloved, and they eloped across the border to Vancouver, where they were married. Danford did not take the news well. According to the story, he wrote the following in response.

“The night I came home and found the girl gone, it struck a pain to my heart, like a knife cutting me,” Balch later wrote. “I ate a little supper and went to bed, but did not sleep a wink all night. In the morning, at once after getting up, I started for town, and it seemed as if my stomach would burst from anxiety and grief, which were more than I can express.”

Many feel that his quote insinuates there is a very distorted plot twist to the tale. The words are written as if Balch was referring to Anna not as his daughter but as a romantic interest. 

This has led people to believe Anna was one of Mary Jane’s children she had before her marriage to Danford. Therefore, she was Danford’s stepdaughter, and he was in love with her.

A Confrontation Between The Balch and Stump Families

Then, there was a fierce encounter between Balch and Mortimer’s father. One day in November, Balch was in a Portland saloon, drinking, when the newlywed couple came into town to buy supplies. 

Danford and Mortimer’s father had a brutal exchange of words, mainly due to Danford’s drunkenness. Balch soon returned to his home, grabbed his double-barreled shotgun, and went back into town.

There are several versions of the story and how it all took place. Some say that Balch returned to town alone with his gun. Others say that Mary Jane accompanied him, and they found the couple at the Stark Street Ferry.

It is said that Balch was pressured by his wife to shoot Mortimer, and Balch later used the excuse in his defense, claiming that Mary Jane was a witch, and she cursed him to carry through with the horrific act. 

However, the situation took place beforehand, and the result was the same. Danford Balch shot his son-in-law Mortimer Stump in the face at point-blank range, killing him instantly.

The Arrest and Execution of Danford Balch

Danford was arrested on the spot and taken to jail; however, he managed to escape while awaiting trial. He fled back to his home in the woods and evaded authorities for a short time until he was caught by the city Marshall James Lappeus.

There are rumors that Marshall Lappeus had offered to allow him to escape from the city jail for a one thousand dollar bribe, which they could not raise. These rumors haunted Lappeus for the remainder of his career in law enforcement.

On October 17, 1859, Danford Balch was the first person to be publicly hanged in Oregon. It was reported that Anna Balch attended the execution and didn’t shed a tear. A reporter who was present stated the following:

 “The idea of a daughter, by her own volition, attending the execution of a father upon some gallows is a disgrace to the intelligence of the age and to every principle of filial affection manifested or exhibited by every species of the brute creation, in the sea or upon the earth,” he wrote in the following week’s paper. “This fact is of a character that we cannot pass unnoticed and must meet with the surprise, reprobation, and detestation of the whole community.”

His sentiment may have been on point, but then again, he likely didn’t know the whole story.

The Witch’s Castle

Mary Jane lived out her years at the Balch residence as the children continued to farm the land. The cabin passed through several owners until it and the land were acquired by the city in 1897. The original home had deteriorated to ruins over time.

In the 1950s, a ranger station with public restrooms was built near the location of the old cabin, but it was eventually abandoned. The site around the building has since been coined “the witch’s castle,” and many have noticed there is a dark presence still lingering there today.

Ghostly Encounters at the Witch’s Castle

There have been several reports of encounters with spirits and unusual energy at the old site of the Balch cabin. Some visitors have reported seeing strange floating lights, the presence of something malevolent, peculiar shadowy figures, and an overall feeling of unease while there. 

Some say that the ghosts of both Danford and Mortimer haunt the former home. While others believe it is the ghost of Mary Jane, who has been deemed the Witch of the Witch House. 

For generations, the location has been a popular nighttime hangout for local teens and vandals. The elder locals often warn them to be careful and stay away. The ghosts of Danford Balch or Mortimer Stump may be creeping around in the darkness, seeking their vengeance.

 Haunted Portland

The Witch’s Castle is just one of the haunting tales that has been shared by locals in Portland for generations. This historic location is full of scary legends just waiting to be heard. If you are interested in finding out more about the most haunted places to visit in Oregon, check out our blog. And be sure to book your tour with us at Portland Ghosts for a haunting good time!  

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Sources:

• https://www.reedquest.org/articles/2024/11/1/haunted-oregon-the-witchs-castle
• https://newsregister.com/article?articleId=6462
• https://oregonessential.com/witchs-castle-portland/
• https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-witches-castle-portland-oregon
• https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/16jchv3/the_witchs_castle_in_the_woods_of_oregon/