An urban legend is a form of modern folklore that’s been passed down for generations. Because Nevada is one of the most haunted states in the U.S., it comes as no surprise that there are many interesting urban legends still told in the Silver State today. These seven urban legends in Nevada will definitely keep you awake at night:

1. The Water Babies of Pyramid Lake
Jonas Dovydenas/wikimedia commons
One of the most interesting urban legends within the Reno area has to do with Pyramid Lake. Each spring, an unlucky fisherman disappears and the bodies aren't normally recovered. Many people blame the disappearance of the fishermen on the depth of the water, while others claim it's the Water Babies. The Water Babies were ill-formed or premature babies that were thrown into the water by the Paiute tribe. As legend has it, the infants' angry spirits have taken hold of the lake over the past centuries. According to staff members of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Museum and Visitor Center, this urban legend began with a family vacation to the California coast. Many people have reported hearing the cries of an invisible baby or the laughter of ghostly children.
2. Haunted Robb Canyon
facebook/Haunted Robb Canyon/Krisstopher Jorgensen
During the early 1970s, four mutilated bodies were uncovered. To this day, their brutal murders have never been resolved. According to legend, if you go down into the canyon, you'll experience screams, cold spots, full body apparitions, shadowy figures and disorientation.
3. Ghost at Goldfield Hotel
flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
There are several urban legends associated with Goldfield Hotel. The most famous urban legend is the story of Elizabeth. As legend has it, Elizabeth was a prostitute that George Wingfield (a past owner) had gotten pregnant. Because George was afraid of the publicity destroying his reputation, he chained Elizabeth to the radiator in Room #109. Supposedly, after Elizabeth gave birth, Wingfield threw the baby down an abandoned mine shaft in the basement of the hotel and either allowed Elizabeth to die or murdered her.

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4. The Dead Bodies of Hoover Dam
wikipedia
According to legend, seven bodies were buried within Hoover Dam during its construction. Officially, 96 workers died during the dam's construction, but none of them were buried in the actual concrete. Because several of the workers were watching the placement very closely, it would've been impossible for anyone to be buried in the concrete.
5. Aliens in Area 51
flickr/Airwolfhound
Area 51, an Air Force testing facility located approximately 110 miles from Las Vegas, had been a secret until 1990--when the U.S. government admitted that the base does in fact exist. Many people have reported seeing UFOs, little green men, and of course those gray creatures with almond-shaped eyes we're all familiar with. The Pentagon has confirmed that there are no aliens in Area 51. However, you could always take a drive along the Extraterrestrial Highway to see for yourself.
6. The Ghosts of Gold Hill
flickr/Brent Cooper
Gold Hill Hotel's eerie reputation goes all the way back to the early morning hours of April 7, 1869 when a fire swept through the Yellow Jacket Mine. This tragic fire remains one of the worst mining disasters in Nevada history. Approximately 37 miners and firemen lost their lives that day. During Nevada's early mining days, Gold Hill Hotel served as a boarding house for the miners. And supposedly, many of these miners' ghosts have been spotted hanging around the hotel. The most popular of these ghosts is a man named William. He prefers Room #5, but he's also been spotted in other areas throughout the hotel. Several hotel guests have reported hearing scratching on their door during the late night hours.
7. The Lost Gold of the Overland Express
wikimedia commons
The site of the Great Train Robbery of 1870 has become an excellent location for a Reno urban legend. During the night of November 4, 1870, five masked men held up the Central Pacific Overland Express train while it was on its way to Reno. They stole more than $40,000 worth of gold coins that were intended for the Yellow Jacket Mine's payroll. The men escaped to the northwest and were eventually caught and thrown into the Nevada State Prison by Christmas Day. Only 150 $20 gold coins were recovered. After serving their sentences, four of the masked men were never heard from again.

Pretty interesting, huh? If you know of any other interesting urban legends in Nevada, please share them with us! If you enjoy learning about the creepier side of the Silver State, here are some supposed hauntings in NV.

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Urban Legends In Nevada

Leah | February 27, 2021

What are the most haunted places in Nevada?

If you're interested in learning more about creepy things in Nevada, here are a few places that are considered to be rife with paranormal activity. The Boulder Dam Hotel in Boulder City, Nevada has had quite a few ghost sightings reported by visitors. Supposedly, a ghost of a night clerk named Tommy Thompson is said to lurk in the lobby at night. Bonnie Springs Ranch in Las Vegas, Nevada is said to have a little girl haunting the schoolhouse on the property. There is also a wax museum there, creepy on its own to some, and creepier still when you hear that people have heard creepy voices and seen figures move on their own.

Are there any ghost towns in Nevada?

Brush up on your trivia about Nevada with this statistic: there are more ghost towns in Nevada than there are inhabited towns. Indeed, with over 600 ghost towns, there are tons of them across the Silver State. The mining rush helped a lot with that, towns popping up in mere days with the prospect of finding silver or other precious materials, and fading away just as quickly when the mine ran dry. Though many of them are completely gone by now - with only historic records as proof of their existence - you can still visit quite a few. Here is an entire list of ghost towns in Nevada to check out.

What are the most popular ghost stories in Nevada?

Here are a few scary stories in Nevada that are perfect for your next late-night campfire story session or simply if you want to creep yourself out. The Mizpah Hotel in Tonopah, Nevada has a resident ghost. Known as the "Lady in Red," this supposed spirit was a prostitute during the hotel's wild west days. Her ghostly apparition is said to linger in Room 504 and in the hallway outside of the room. It's said she touches male guests' hair. There is a house in Carson City, Nevada that houses the ghost of the city's founder. Abraham Curry is said to roam his house, which is now a private law office, after he died from a stroke in 1873.

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