This Creepy Day Trip Through The Spookiest Places In Nevada Is Perfect For Fall
The fall season in Nevada brings cooler weather and changing scenery, but it also marks the arrival of the spooky season. Thanks to the existence of Halloween, seeking out frights has become an iconic fall pastime! If you’re the type of person that absolutely loves exploring allegedly haunted and spooky places, then you’ll most definitely want to take on this road trip this season. The five-hour trip stops by some of Nevada’s most haunted spots. Attempt to cram them all in one day or space out your spooky adventure over a weekend. Here’s the Google Map so you can adjust the itinerary to your liking.
We'll start off this spooky day trip with a visit to the town in Nevada that's notoriously haunted: Virginia City. This historic mining town is loaded with haunts and we'd love to list them all. However, this trip focuses on just a few of our favorites! The Sugarloaf Mountain Motel has a long history that dates back to the 1870s. It originally operated as a boarding house for Virginia City's early miners. Many visitors believe those miners never really left the motel, and some have reported hearing disembodied heavy breathing, footsteps, and even laughter. To learn more about what you'll experience at this historic motel, check out our previous article.
Next, we're tackling one of Virginia City's most haunted locales. The Washoe Club was established way back in 1862, making it one of the oldest places you can still visit today. A combined museum and saloon, you're in for a real old-fashioned experience when you stop by the Washoe Club. Of course, a business this old has plenty of ghost stories. You can learn about some of them by taking one of the haunted history tours that are offered daily. Click here to learn more about them!
Our final destination in Virginia City is another iconic spot. Piper's Opera House is one of the most significant vintage theaters in the country. Originally built in 1885, the opera house has gone through several manifestations - it was burned down twice! Today, the Opera House operates as a performing arts center and a historical structure. Of course, many believe the Opera House to be haunted. Stop by, peek around, and decide for yourself if it truly is!
Now that we've explored Virginia City, we're going to hit the road and head to the state's capital city. Carson City is home to many allegedly paranormal hotspots, the most well-known of which is the Governor's Mansion. This grand estate is gorgeous both inside and out, but they say this stately mansion is home to several manifestations. Both staff and overnight guests have recorded witnessing ghostly apparitions, unexpected cold breezes, and doors that tend to open by themselves.
After exploring the Governor's Mansion, we're headed to what may just be the scariest hotel in the country. The World Famous Clown Motel is located in the town of Tonopah. Although not technically haunted, this is definitely the type of motel that will have you sleeping with one eye open. Decked out with decorative clowns in all shapes, colors, and sizes, this place is simply chilling! It doesn't help that there's the old Tonopah Cemetery is right next door, either. Would you spend the night here?
Our next stop in Tonopah is another hotel, but this one is slightly less eccentric. The Mizpah Hotel is located in the heart of town. Greeting visitors since 1907, it's chock full of historic charm and rich history. However, it also has a reputation as one of Nevada's most haunted places. From a spirit known as "The Lady in Red" to the restless manifestations of giggling children, meeting the ghosts of the Mizpah Hotel is all part of the experience. They even offer haunted tours from time to time (particularly in October), but you may just want to spend the night to check it out for yourself.
There's no better way to close out this spooky road trip than with a visit to a creepy old cemetery. Head south to the living ghost town of Goldfield, Nevada, where you'll find the Goldfield Cemetery. Goldfield was once a prosperous mining camp with a large community but is now home to just a few hundred residents. Reminders of the town's rich history survive, however, including the cemetery that's the resting place of around 1,200 people. Filled with crudely cut tombstones, walking through the cemetery will definitely send a chill down your spine.
What do you think of this spooky road trip through Nevada? Did we miss any of your favorite haunted spots? Share ’em with us in the comments below!
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