Nevada, a state celebrated for its glittering casinos and spirited nightlife, harbors a lesser-known, shadowy facet that whispers tales from beyond. Beyond the neon glow and the desert sun lies a realm where the past refuses to rest, casting the Silver State as a mosaic of haunting histories and spectral secrets.
From the hushed streets of sleepy towns to the bustling corridors of historic hotels, an eerie undercurrent of paranormal activity flows through Nevada. These storied lands, painted with tales of triumph and tragedy, have become fertile ground for ghostly encounters and unexplained mysteries.
So, let’s venture beyond the surface glitz and glamour and explore the most haunted places in Nevada!
1. Silver Queen Hotel, Virginia City
An old Nevada hotel which is said to be haunted by the spirit of a prostitute is The Silver Queen Hotel in Virginia City.
See also: The Most Haunted Hotels in Nevada
Room number 11 is said to be haunted by a female spirit named Rosie. A young prostitute who actually committed suicide in the late 1800s, in the room’s bathtub by slitting her own wrists.
She makes her presence known by rattling doorknobs, phantom footsteps and disembodied voices within room 11.
2. Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum, Las Vegas
In the mood for a wickedly wonderful wander off the beaten Vegas track? Brave enough to saunter into Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum, where the supernatural shakes hands with the strange, and even the hard-boiled skeptics might start eyeballing their own shadow suspiciously?
Meet America’s celebrity ghostbuster and the maestro of Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures, Bagans, the man who’s turned collecting hair-raising keepsakes and goosebump-inducing gadgets into an art form. He’s got more spooky stuff than a graveyard on Halloween!
See also: Most Haunted Places in Las Vegas
Take a stroll through the museum’s eerie halls to discover ghoulish goodies like Bela “Dracula” Lugosi’s nefarious looking-glass, a corner crammed with mementos from notorious nemeses of the night, and the infamous Dybbuk Box, a wine cabinet with a worse reputation than a bat in a belfry for its demon-harboring hobbies.
Think you’re brave? Wait till you meet the creaky steps from Indiana’s notorious “Demon House” or find yourself chilling in the ghastly glow of Dr. Jack Kevorkian’s infamous “Death Van.”
But hold onto your hats, folks! This house of horrors isn’t just any old place – it’s tucked inside a 1938 dwelling with a past peppered with Vegas lore and whispers of wicked rituals. So, if you find your nightmares a bit more vivid after your visit, well… we did try to warn you!
3. Mackay Mansion, Virginia City
The Mackay Mansion was built in 1860 and served as the home of John Mackay one of the so called Silver Kings of Virgina City!
It is now a museum and is said to be one of the most haunted places in Virginia City, and the whole of Nevada.
Many of the guests who come to visit the museum, say that they have seen apparitions of a colonel in the kitchen and a little girl in a white dress in several of the rooms.
Staff say that they often hear the little girl playing upstairs when nobody is up there!
4. Yellow Jacket Mine, Silver City
The Yellow Jacket Mine in Silver City is one of the most haunted places in Nevada, thanks to a fire that ripped through the mine in 1869.
The fire is said to have killed more than 35 miners, but not all of the bodies were able to be recovered. This is perhaps the reason why up to 11 spirits are still haunting the mine.
5. Abraham Curry House, Carson City
The Abraham Curry House was built in 1871 by Carson City founder, Abraham Curry. Unfortunately, he died in 1873 from a stroke, so he never really had much of a chance to enjoy it.
However, it seems that Mr Curry has been been returning to the house since his death!
At first it was to check on the family that he left behind so suddenly, but even after the family was long gone his apparition has been spotted in the building.
The house is currently a private law office and many of the staff still see Mr Curry wandering the property.
6. Old Washoe Club, Virginia City
The Old Washoe Club in Virginia City was originally built back in the 1870s and at the time it was an upper class club for the rich.
One of the most commonly reported spirits that are said to haunt the club today is an apparition of a blonde woman known as ‘Lena’ who is believed to have been a prostitute.
She is often seen on the spiral staircase.
Lena was actually murdered in a bedroom on the third floor of the building and her murderer – who committed suicide on the second floor – is also seen in the club from time to time.
In addition to the spirits of Lena and her killer, there are also reports of the apparition of a teenage girl who was actually murdered in the basement.
7. Nevada Governor’s Mansion, Carson City
The Governor’s Mansion in Carson City was first occupied in 1909 by Governor Danver S Dickerson and his family.
It is now said to be haunted by his wife, Una and their daughter, June.
Many say that it is one of the most haunted houses in the entire United States. That remains up for debate, but it is certainly one of the most haunted places in Nevada at the very least.
Visitors to the mansion always comment on the cold spot throughout the mansion and both of the female spirits have been spotted on occasion.
8. Westgate Hotel, Las Vegas
The big claim to fame of the Westgate Hotel, is that it was a favorite of the king himself Mr Elvis Presley!
It seems like Elvis may not have left the building because it it said to be his ghost that is haunting the hotel!
See also: Haunted Hotels in Las Vegas
Originally, the Westgate Hotel was known as the Las Vegas Hilton and even before that it was The International Hotel.
It was during this time beginning July 1969 and spanning seven years that Elvis set, broke and reset numerous world records with performances for 2.5 million fans.
Some say that this was the site of his greatest success, so it makes sense that he would want to hang around here!
Ever since his death in 1977, Elvis’ spirit has been seen and heard at various places within the hotel!
9. Goldfield Hotel, Goldfield
The Goldfield Hotel is one of the most notorious haunted locations in all of Nevada.
It is well known to fans of the paranormal and has been featured on several paranormal television shows. With even national news programs running segments on the potential evidence gathered here. It now stands abandoned and boarded up, but it opened in 1908 by George Wingfield and his presence is still felt there today.
The most famous ghost that has been encountered in the Goldfield Hotel is a young woman named Elizabeth.
The legend states that she was a favorite of the hotel’s owner George Wingfield and he visited her with some frequency.
However, when Elizabeth became pregnant with his child, he was concerned for his reputation and business, so he lured her into room 109 at the hotel and he kept her chained to the radiator until she gave birth.
She died in the room and her baby was allegedly killed and thrown down a nearby mineshaft. Elizabeth has been seen in room 109, wearing a long white dress and appears to be sad.
She has also been heard crying and some visitors have heard what sounds like her chains clanking against the radiator.
Elizabeth is not the only spirit that hangs out in the Goldfield Hotel. It is believed that George Wingfield is also there and that he is still tormenting poor Elizabeth, even in death.
At least one former staff member is also haunting the hotel having committed suicide in the building.
There are also reports of a very dark and malevolent entity on the upper floors and there have been many different reports of poltergeist activity.
10. Mizpah Hotel, Tonopah
The Mizpah Hotel was built in 1907 and it is now believed to be haunted. Mainly by the lost souls of some of the prostitutes who lived and worked there in the early days of the hotel.
The most active of these spirits is known as The Lady in Red. She is very affectionate and she has been known to rub up against male visitors or run her fingers through their hair.
On the odd occasion, she has also been known to appear speaking to the ghost of a miner, who is perhaps one of her former clients.
The most common story regarding her personal history is that the Lady in Red was a prostitute, who was beaten to death by either a client or boyfriend. Others say that she was a woman killed by her husband when he caught her cheating on him.
Whatever the real story is, one thing is sure – she is now tied to the Mizpah Hotel for eternity.
11. Overland Hotel & Saloon, Pioche
While Tombstone and Dodge City snag the spotlight in western tales, Pioche, Nevada (just roll with “pea-OATCH”) truly takes the cake for wild west chaos, making the others seem like mere playgrounds.
This town, buzzing with mining frenzy and a scarce regard for law (or a lack of brave souls to uphold it), witnessed such relentless turmoil that the graveyard filled up with 72 souls before natural causes could claim a single one.
Now, Pioche, dubbed “Nevada’s Most Spirited Ghost Town,” has simmered down somewhat, particularly when the sun’s up. Take the Overland Hotel & Saloon, for instance.
Reborn in 1948 after a fiery calamity, the place seems to have held onto some fiery guests from the past. Their spirited antics are so notorious that the Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures team came knocking, capturing some of their most eerie encounters.
The tales of spectral figures causing ruckus and jolting guests from their slumber are so common that the hotel staff have a standing offer: ask nicely, and they’ll steer you to a room where the night bumps are just from the living. But honestly, dodging the spectral roommates? You might just miss out on the real adventure
12. The Clown Motel & Old Tonopah Cemetery, Tonopah
Brace yourself for a double dose of dread. Picture this: a motel decked out in clown decor, where thousands of clown figurines stare back at you from every corner.
Not eerie enough? Just next door, the restless souls from a 1900s miners’ cemetery might just tip the scales. If clowns give you the creeps, take note: it’s not just the lobby that’s a clown extravaganza.
Each room greets you with clown-themed doors and walls adorned with clowns masquerading as rock icons and horror film stars.
But let’s tip our hats to the true architect of ambiance, the Old Tonopah Cemetery. Long before The Clown Motel hoisted its colorful tent, this plot was the town’s final resting place.
In this treacherous mining town, tragedy struck so frequently that it only took a decade for 300 souls to be laid to rest, filling the cemetery to the brim. Many guests report feeling an otherworldly presence, often thought to be the spirits of those seeking a cozier spot than their earthly beds.
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