Damascus, OR

If your front gate were little more than a picket fence, no one would take notice. But if it were a towering edifice of wrought iron, stone statuary, and Egyptian symbolism, and if that were the only part of your house people could see, they’d have a few questions.

The Temple of Oculus Anubis is the unofficial moniker of a private Oregon residence, and it’s easy to see how it got its name. At the end of a cul-de-sac, flanked by mossy stone pyramids, the gate towers 30 feet over one’s head. While standing in its shadow, you can easily sense an atmosphere of suspense and intrigue.

At the crest of the great stone arch is a crowned seal, guarded by a lion and a dragon. Gaze through the bars, and you’ll spot a statue of Sekhmet, the lion-headed solar goddess of healing, lurking within the trees. (The misidentification of this statue as jackal-headed god Anubis likely contributed to the popular name of this location.) Off to the side, a stone walkway meanders through a side gate before quickly disappearing amid ferns and trees.

Naturally, people have been asking many questions about the mysterious property and its reclusive owners. Given all the rumors, people have dubbed it the creepiest house in Oregon.

Information about the family who owns the property surfaced in 2017, when it was reported they were convicted for health care fraud and that the family’s patriarch had a history of abusing his wife and disabled son.

Lots of security cameras and big barking dogs - didn't spend a lot of time here.