Hidden behind the glittering Las Vegas lights lies a dark secret of murder, mystery and ghosts.
Best known for being the “playground for adults,” Las Vegas history is a unique one that stems from the stories and activities of organized crime. Perfectly representing the “wild west,” interesting stories and tales cloud Las Vegas’ murky history.
And unfortunately, the city witnesses violence that starts during the true “mobsters” era. Shady situations, a constant flow of money and other illicit activities that happen on — and off — The Strip are also factors creating certain types of ghost stories, making for some of the most haunted places in Nevada.
Whether it’s a museum housing some of the scariest and “most haunted” objects in the world or the insane events that unfold on the Vegas Strip daily, there’s no denying that a few ghosts may be roaming the Sin City streets.
From the bare lands of the desert to the abandoned silver mine shafts, the lore of ghosts in Nevada is plentiful with big cities and, of course, small towns across the state having their tall tales and spooky stories.
Many paranormal experts and enthusiasts even call Nevada one of the hottest spots in the country when it comes to ghostly activity.
Between the metropolis of Las Vegas, Carson City and Reno, miles of bare land stretch between these cities. These long ribbons of desert starkly contrast the glitter gulch of Vegas, and it’s seldom known what truly occurs and what’s hidden beneath the desert sand — or in Lake Mead for that matter.
Ghost towns that once held bustling populations of people are sucked dry with only the empty shells of buildings as a physical sign of what used to be. These ghost towns were once thriving mining communities with many dark stories staining the land. Disease outbreaks, explosions, mining fires, inhaling toxic fumes, horrible working conditions, lack of food and so much more are just a few of the tragedies that occurred within these towns.
So, scroll down below and read about some of the most haunted places in Nevada whose histories are telling and equally heartbreaking.
Circus Circus - 2880 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
It’s almost fitting that scary ghost stories are part of Circus Circus’ history. Clowns have been part of the Circus Circus history since the property first opened its doors in 1968. Many Vegas locals can remember Fright Dome, which was a special Halloween event that turned the amusement park under the famous pink dome into a scary garden of horror.
Aside from the fun screams that come from the amusement park riders, there are screams that may come from a different source of scariness. The most recent tragedy took place in June 2018 when a man named Julius Trotter robbed and killed a Vietnamese couple Sang Boi Nghia and Khoung Ba Le Nguyen in their Circus Circus hotel room, according to a report from ABC News.
Along with that horrific event, there’s a popular rumor that has spread across the Las Vegas Valley involving the infamous “Room 123.”
According to GhostCityTours.com, “It all started in room 123, where, many years ago, a mother and her young son were found dead from an apparent murder-suicide. What drove the woman to take her child’s life and then end her own will now never be uncovered, but the reverberations of that heinous act are still felt in the hotel to this day.”
Have you ever stayed at Circus Circus and felt a presence?
Bally's Hotel and Casino (Horseshoe Las Vegas) - 3645 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Originally called the “MGM Grand,” Bally’s Hotel and Casino is historical when it comes to the churn-and-burn of comapny brands on the Las Vegas Strip. Bally’s sits on top of the former Bonanza Hotel and Casino, which was equally a fixture on The Strip, according to VegasGhosts.com.
A major incident occured when a catastrophic fire broke out at the former MGM Grand restaurant. The fire traveled to higher floors and engulfed a good portion of the hotel in flames, accoring to VegasGhost.com. This fire has been deemed as one of the worst in American history, and about 87 people died and 600 were injured as a result.
Many people who stay at Bally’s report seeing apparitions, hearing weeping, coughing or crying noises.
Pioneer Saloon - 310 NV-161, Goodsprings, NV 89019
Another structure that’s been featured on “Ghost Adventures,” is located in Goodsprings, Nevada. According to the Travel Channel, multiple people lost their lives in the old mineshaft that runs below the bar. Another rumor swirling around about the potential spirits behind this bar involves Clark Gable! The Travel Channel states that one of the spirits haunting the corridors of the salon is Carole Lombard, a 1930s screen siren and the wife of Clark Gable, who died in a plane crash on Potosi Mountain.
