Rispin Mansion

Rispin Mansion is a four-story Spanish Colonial Revival house in Capitola containing 22 rooms spread across approximately 7,100 square feet. The building displays stucco walls, terra cotta roof tiles, and handcrafted wood details throughout its interior spaces.

Henry Allen Rispin built this mansion in 1921 originally as a real estate showroom but lost his fortune during the Great Depression. Ownership later transferred and the building took on a completely different purpose.

The mansion served as a convent from the 1930s through 1957, shaping local religious life during this period. This role left a lasting impression on how the community views the building.

The City of Capitola manages the property and is currently developing plans to transform the surrounding grounds into a public recreational space. This makes the site more accessible for visitors interested in exploring the area.

Local residents report unusual phenomena within the building, including disembodied voices from the basement and sightings of a woman on the top floor. These accounts have given the site an intriguing reputation in local folklore.

Location: Capitola

Inception: 1921

Architectural style: Spanish Colonial Revival architecture

Address: 2200 Wharf Road

GPS coordinates: 36.97861,-121.95611

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:46