The Dorn Pyramid in SLO has towered over the San Luis Cemetery (aka Odd Fellows Cemetery) for over 100 years now as a masonic symbol for the remains of a mother and child. This Egyptian Revival funerary architecture was generally an extravagance of American tycoons who wanted themselves remembered as long and as well as the ancient pharaohs. Pyramid monuments were also considered fashionable for wealthy Victorians who buried their families in these beautuful tombs in London's Highgate Cemetery. Often compared to a latter-day Taj Mahal, the Dorn Pyramid sits as a somber monument to a lost love. But the two-story-tall, 113-year-old Dorn Pyramid shares something else in common with the Taj Mahal: It has become so much more than just a grave marker. It is an enduring part of San Luis Obispo's mythos. Not surprising the Dorn Pyramid is also the site of a mystery: Why is the man whose name is on the pyramid not interred inside it? Like many good novels, it begins with young, doomed love. In 1890, Adolphus Dorn married Cora Russell, a very influential woman in town. Cora Russell was the eldest daughter of Charles Jay Russell, a county supervisor, merchant, real estate investor and member of the San Luis Obispo Knights Templar. It seemed destiny. Then, it seemed doomed. There was talk of a family curse. The year before Cora conceived her child, her mother died. Then her newborn dies, and then she dies. Not long after- her sister dies. And then her father dies. The entire family within a three year period of time. The truth to that mystery of misfortune is unknown. From the pyramid outside, we are able to gather that a mother, Cora Russell Dorn (1868-1905) and her son, Fred Adolphus Dorn, Jr. (1905 - 1905) are the only officially interred inside. The entrance eerily reads: "DISTVRB NOT THE SLEEP OF DEATH." Fred Adolphus Dorn was a wealthy lawyer, an elected district attorney 1894 and in 1899, he entered a lucrative private practice with contacts both in San Luis Obispo and San Francisco. He was a highly respected citizen and a Master of King David's Masonic Lodge. In grief, he wanted to pay tribute to his beloved wife and son the best way he knew how, and so having a 25-ft granite pyramid as a memorial seemed the perfect way. To build the mausoleum, Dorn brought in granite all the way from Porterville. This being before the days of California freeways, Dorn had to build special wagons to transport all that stone. The pyramid was chosen due to his role with the Freemasons, and some say it stands strangely alone and isolated. This is because of its weight, the location was the only one with solid enough rock to support the massive mausoleum. Two stones once lied in front of the door waiting to be cemented in place once all the Dorns were laid to rest inside. Once the pyramid was built in 1905, Dorn interred his wife and son inside. Their names were engraved on the side of the pyramid along with Dorn's. The pyramid was left unsealed so that Dorn could one day join his family in death. Then life happened. Fred Dorn Sr. had intended to be buried there, but went on a cruise and met another woman. Which is reasonable -- as he was still a young man. Dorn ultimately remarried and moved up to the Bay Area. He eventually died in San Francisco in 1940 at the age of 74 and is buried in Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Colma, San Francisco's famed "city of the dead." His current memorial is nothing more than a small brass plate. Dorn's new family wasn't interested in dealing with a monument to his old family, but that wasn't the end of the story. Legend has it that one dark night in the 1960s, "A mysterious car pulled into the cemetery dirt lot. Some man came through with a box, went inside the crypt and came out with nothing. This led to speculation that Dorn, or at least some of his ashes, had finally rejoined his former wife and child in the tomb marked "DISTVRB NOT THE SLEEP OF DEATH." In January 2018, Master Masons prepared to seal the pyramid, which has sat unfinished for more than a century. They attempted to inspect the crypt inside to see if there was any truth to the legend, but could not get inside. Time, and vandals had rendered the crypt impossible to open without damaging the historic landmark. Even snaking a camera into the crypt failed to turn up an answer. It remains unknown if Dorn ever rejoined his family in death. Which is great, because everyone loves a mystery. read more

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I don't usually make it a habit to visit cemeteries but Atlas Obscura had this spot down as an "attraction" in SLO - specifically the Dorne Pyramid. We came by and parked in the back of the funeral home parking lot and explored a bit on foot. The cemetery appears to be well maintained, and groundskeepers were on staff when we visited. The pyramid is easy to get to but I found it odd that there is no plaque or anything - the interesting story behind it's creation are apparently only found online, so the visit itself wasn't really needed. J David H's review can fill you in on all you need to know. NOTE: The pin/GPS to navigate here doesn't quite take you to the right place. Drive past the cemetery and park in the funeral home parking lot. No other parking appears to be available. Fastest route to the Pyramid, too. read more

Don't be scared to step inside I promise it's peaceful and kind! Coolest cemetery I've ever stepped foot in. Very traditional European influenced graves all around. Very historical! Spent a little while walking around looking at all the different structures built. Unique and a walk down memory lane with peoples past. read more

San Luis Cemetery - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Took a bike ride down Higuera and stopped here for a visit. Went to see the Dorn pyramid and got a surprise. Found a living resident of the cemetery, hiding behind the pyramid (see photo). Wanted to send the pic to the manager, but couldn't find an email address. read more

San Luis Cemetery - The cemetery had a living resident! - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Also known as the Odd Fellow Cemetery it is worth a visit to see the Dorn Pyramid (see my picture). The pyramid is over 110 years old (with an urban legend that if you knock 12 times on the crypt door on Midnight on Halloween you will get a knock in return). At the front door is the admonition "Do Not Distvb The Sleep Of Death". I am assuming there is extra security on All Hallows' Eve so approach, and knock, at your own risk. It is a towering, and majestic Masonic tomb overlooking the Cemetery. This is an interesting Cemetery due to the fact that there is a Jewish section with a gate, and no fence, a cannon in a separate section and other interesting things to see. read more

San Luis Cemetery - The Dorn Pryamid - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Pleasant, Peaceful, Well Maintained, and I still miss my friends who are there, memories every time I drive by! read more

San Luis Cemetery - What a peaceful place. - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California