Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacob Caputo.
Hi Jacob, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
A number of years ago, I traveled to Key West and experienced a ghost tour that was offered there. After attending this tour, I felt it was a very fun way to teach local history as well as the folklore. It struck me that the town I grew up in, Whittier, California was quite historic as well. Not to mention the town has some great local myths and legends as well. I thought Whittier would be a great place for a Ghost tour to exist and do well. Unfortunately, I wasn’t living in Whittier at the time. Still, the idea lingered in my mind. Some years later, I did return to Whittier. During the 2020 pandemic, I found I had some time on my hands, and it struck me that it was the right time to develop such an idea. I figured because it was an outdoor activity, it might do well. The production was challenging. I already had a few storied, but not enough for an entire tour. I tracked down a local realtor who was also a local historian. She was quite helpful and shared a few stories I hadn’t heard. The next step was creating a social media presence and before long stories and experiences were being shared with me by former and current Whittier residents.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No project is easy. I found writing the script pretty tough. Even though I had some great stories to work with, putting it all together in a way that was interesting that flowed well for a tour took a lot of trial and error. I experimented with family and friends a number of times. They probably were a bit bored of my tour after a while, but they were always supportive and told me part of the stories they liked best, which helped me tell those tales them better.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’ve had a few careers over the years. I started out my career at Disney while I was getting a degree in International Business. I drove Jungle Cruise boats; I worked in the Haunted Mansion as well. Later on, I transitioned in an office at the Disney Studio as a purchaser. During those Disney years, I had a hobby where I restored old military helmets from World War I and WWII. I was starting to see some success with that little hobby, and I figured it might try my hand at doing it as an actual business. Eventually, I left Disney and stuck out on my own, starting my own business doing restoration work on helmets and field gear. Today I do everything from World War I to the Vietnam War. I still do a bit of theme park work though.
I work every year as a venue supervisor at Knotts Berry Farm during their Scary Farm event. I have an absolute passion for history which I hope everyone who takes my tour can feel. I’m also a bit of a showman. I suppose that’s the old Jungle Cruise skipper that comes out of me now and again. In a way. My ghost tour is pretty much that. A combination of being a showman, but also my passion for history. The two parts of my personality coming together. I feel this does make me a bit unique. When you come on my tour, you’re not getting a board tour guide who just goes through the motions. You’re getting me, someone who loves history and ghost stories and wants you to feel that passion.
How do you think about luck?
Well, I can’t say it was lucky to have a pandemic. That said, it gave me the time to produce the tour. I’m not sure I would have made the times otherwise. It’s funny how life works. I suppose it was making the very best out of a bad situation. If there was any real luck, I have been fortunate enough to meet plenty of people who have helped me produce this tour. I mentioned the real estate agent/local historian. Her name is Candi she had an amazing amount of local knowledge about Whittier History. I also was lucky enough to meet a wonderful local restaurant owner named Kim, who runs Modern Shaman. We paired up to create a second tour which I start from her restaurant after the patrons have eaten their meals. It’s been a great venture for both of us.
Pricing:
- The tour runs $20 per person
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hauntedwhittiertours/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mansionghost77/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/haunted-whittier-ghosts-myths-and-legends-tour-whittier
Image Credits
Photos by Jacob Caputo
