Walking through the tunnels beneath Cal State Dominguez Hills is eerily quiet, to the point that it’s unsettling. It’s hard to ignore the darkness and the seemingly endless pathways, and if you’re not careful, odds are that someone could get lost.
If only those tunnels could talk.
Every year, around Halloween, the Central Plant hosts a tour of the tunnel system, which dates back to the founding of the university. The tunnel system has a rich history—and some of those stories can only be told in the dark.
Kenneth Seeton, director of the Central Plant, told The Bulletin that the circular section was built in 1970, when the university’s underground utility network marked a shift in state funding. While earlier campus funding allowed for monster tunnels to be built, the narrower aqueduct-style pipe system was designed to accommodate a tighter budget.
“The Natural Science and Mathematics Library, LaCorta Hall and Social and Behavioral Science all have the same kind of construction,” explained Seeton, who has worked for the university since 2011. “They also have connections to the tunnels.”
Unlike other universities, Seeton said, CSUDH’s piping infrastructure runs through the tunnels as opposed to being buried in the dirt. According to legend, the university invited the campus to submit ideas for its original logo, and it was a facilities worker who thought of the design based on the tunnel system.
“The idea was from the shadows of the lighting. That was the inspiration for the original logo, flip it 90 degrees,” Seeton said.
The tunnels have served as the backdrop for low-budget films, but campus administrators say they ultimately serve to help educate the campus community about the sustainability programs.
“It’s pretty complicated how sustainable and clean energy works when you break it down into the technology,” said Aemelia Hellgren, CSUDH sustainability coordinator. “The tunnel tours serve to translate the advanced engineering system in a way that the public can understand what’s happening behind closed doors when it comes to our energy strategies on campus.”
Still, Hellgren didn’t dismiss rumors that there might be something supernatural roaming the premises. She told The Bulletin that while doing a routine check, one Central Plant worker reported seeing something move quickly and suddenly in the shadows.
Cris Loraditch, a building service engineer, said one of the university’s mechanics once reported strange noises while walking through the tunnels.
“As he approached, he discovered an elevator door repeatedly opening and closing by itself,” Loraditch said. “Just as he was about to step inside to investigate, the doors suddenly slammed shut, and the elevator returned to the upper floor.”
That elevator, according to Loraditch, has never again experienced this problem. He also mentioned a toy that resembled the Talky Tina doll featured in an episode of the classic anthology series “The Twilight Zone.”
“It sat on a chair in a dark corner of a tunnel illuminated by flickering lights, creating a particularly eerie sight,” Loraditch said. “It startled many people who passed by. Then, one day, it simply disappeared. To this day, some joke that it got up and walked away on its own.”
Seeton explained that when the water running through the pipes changes temperature, it creates a cracking and creaking sound.
“It’s like an old house—you’re like, ‘what was that’?” Seeton said. “It’s not haunted. That’s physics. It’s about the most [haunted experience] for me. People would have their stories.”
Other tall-tales about the tunnels are considerably less spooky.
“I have heard rumors that the tunnels go all the way to Long Beach,” Hellgren said.