GHASTLY PAIR—Actors Larry Shilkoff and Veronica Scheyving portray Dr. Finis E. Yoakum and his wife, Mary, during last year’s Simi Valley Ghost Tour at Strathearn Park. To hear the ghost of Francisco Ybarra tell the story, thieves stole a chest filled with silver coins dated 1787 and hid the treasure in the Simi hills.

Now the Spanish monk wants his treasure back, and he’s daring the public to find it.

Padre Ybarra, a priest at the San Fernando Mission in the late 1700s, is one of several new spirits joining this year’s Ghost Tour at Strathearn Historical Park, which opens tonight in Simi Valley.

The family event that premiered in October 1999 features ghosts of pioneers, cult leaders and colorful personalities from Simi’s storied past.

“Padre Ybarra collected silver coins and became obsessed by the treasure,” said Art Roberts, the Thousand Oaks resident who’s playing the role. “He’s not really evil. He’s just misguided, in a crazy kind of way.”

Ybarra tells his tale of lost treasure inside old St. Rose of Lima Church, one of several historical buildings at Strathearn Park.

“All of the ghosts engage the audience and draw them into the scene,” said Jan Glasband, the show’s producer and director. “The tour provides an opportunity for parents and children to have a fun time together. It’s a community experience as well.”

A cast of 25 ghosts and several middle school children acting as narrators make up this year’s tour.

The event is a fundraiser for the Ventura County Cultural Arts Association and the Simi Valley Historical Society.

In groups of 30, the audience visits 13 historical sites in the park, each haunted by a ghostly apparition.

“The visitors learn history and meet lots of fun ghosts,” said Karla Hubbell, chair of the historical society tour committee. “The tour is a great family thing to do. I just can’t imagine not seeing it. The ghosts are looking forward to seeing everyone.”

This year’s new ghosts include Capt. Juan Bautista de Anza, who led the first group of settlers into this area from Mexico in 1775.

“He feels underappreciated and thinks Simi Valley should be named after him,” said Bruce A. Teitell, a Simi resident making his debut as an actor in the tour. “The scene is lighthearted. How could it be otherwise, when my partner in the scene is a parrot?”

Irene Hirschi, wife of Dr. Alfred Hirschi, drops by and has plenty to say. Her husband erected a monument in memory of both Irene and the Italian poet, Dante, who died in 1320. The ghostly wife, played by local actress Sharon Gibson, gives her opinion on Dante’s inclusion on her memorial, which is one of the stops on the tour.

Paired in one scene are returning ghosts Dr. George Cutler, played by Keith Jan, and “Honest” John Sawtelle, played by Tom Scabareti, both of Simi Valley.

Cutler was a promoter of Colony houses, prefabricated homes shipped from Chicago to Simi Valley in the late 1800s. Only 12 of the houses were built, and one of them is on the tour.

“Honest John comes across as a country bumpkin, but he’s really very astute,” Scabareti said of Sawtelle, who opened the first store in Simi Valley in 1888 at the corner of Los Angeles Avenue and Third Street. “He sees through Dr. Cutler’s rhetoric and reveals the truth.”

And for anyone who might search the Simi Hills and find the lost treasure, Padre Ybarra has a word of advice.

“Don’t open the chest,” he said. “The treasure is cursed!”

The Ghost Tour opens tonight and runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Sun., Oct. 25. Hours are 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays, 6 to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 6 to 9 p.m. Sundays.

Tours depart every 10 minutes and take about an hour. Light refreshments are served at the conclusion. Groups of 20 or more may make reservations by calling (805) 526-6453. All tickets are $8 and are available only at the gate.

Strathearn Historical Park is at 137 Strathearn Place (behind the former Kmart).