This Historic Nevada Building Is So Haunted Even Ghost Hunters Came To Investigate

A spiral staircase with no center pole climbs three floors here, and a lady in blue supposedly waits at the top. Ripley’s Believe It or Not even took notice of that staircase. The ghost stories came free.

Downstairs, an old prospector spirit allegedly moves objects and shoves barstools around. Below that sits a historic crypt once used as a temporary resting place during the coldest winter months. I can’t imagine being the person who had to check on it.

TV paranormal crews have investigated this Nevada building again and again. One team reported a full-bodied figure following a crew member out of a ballroom. That is not the kind of tagalong anyone requests.

I like that regular folks can still tour every floor today. You can even stay overnight. So how brave are you feeling?

Millionaires Once Ran This Place, And Some Never Checked Out

Rich folks needed somewhere to show off, and the Washoe Club Museum & Saloon was that spot. During the Comstock Lode boom, it served as an elite social club for the wealthiest people in town. Locals called it the Millionaires Club, and the nickname fit.

The first version opened on B Street in June 1875. Four months later, the Great Fire wiped it out along with much of the town. Talk about a rough opening season.

Members didn’t give up, though. The club moved into new quarters in the Douglas Block in 1876, after the fire destroyed its original location. That stubborn comeback says a lot about the money flowing through Nevada back then.

As the Comstock Lode faded, so did the membership list. The club closed in 1897, and the upper floors sat mostly unused for decades. Later, the building held business offices and apartments.

Today it carries the title of Virginia City’s oldest saloon. It also sits inside one of Nevada’s largest historic districts. So before you even think about ghosts, you’re standing on serious history. And honestly, a building that survived this many chapters probably has a few stories it still hasn’t told.

A President And A Famous Actor Walked These Floors Before The Ghosts Took Over

Ulysses S. Grant was on the guest list. So was famous stage actor Edwin Booth. Railroad money man Darius Ogden Mills also counted among the distinguished names connected to the club.

That kind of crowd expected comfort, and the club delivered it. Members enjoyed a library and a billiard room for long evenings. The parlors featured Italian marble and bronze statuettes, which was pretty fancy for a mining town.

Picture the contrast for a second. Outside, miners were hauling silver ore from deep underground. Upstairs, the wealthy were relaxing among polished stone and art pieces.

The second and third floors held this exclusive space. Now those same floors form the heart of the museum and the investigation areas. The rooms that once hosted business deals now host ghost tours instead.

Tours explain how the club tied into bigger national events, not just local gossip. That’s a nice bonus if you enjoy history as much as spooky stuff.

You’ll leave knowing a lot more about how silver money shaped the West. And you might glance back over your shoulder once or twice on the way out.

Look Up At The Staircase Ripley’s Couldn’t Ignore

No center pole. That’s the wild part about the spiral staircase inside the Washoe Club Museum & Saloon. Ripley’s Believe It or Not recognized it as the longest freestanding spiral staircase of its kind without a central support.

Back in the club days, that staircase led the wealthy up to their private world. Ordinary folks weren’t heading up there. Now your tour ticket gets you the access millionaires once guarded.

The staircase is also a ghost story hotspot. The Lady in Blue is frequently reported at the very top. She seems to enjoy the view.

Another spirit tied to the staircase is Lena, described as a young blonde woman. Her story involves a third-floor bedroom and a mysterious chapter in the building’s past. Guides share the details, so listen closely.

Here’s a practical tip for this spot. Photos and videos are allowed on tours, so snap plenty of shots. Then look through them later with fresh eyes. You may notice nothing at all, or you may spot something you can’t explain. Either way, you’ll have a great picture of an architectural oddity.

The Coldest Room In The Building Has A Very Good Reason

Winters in Virginia City got harsh enough to freeze the ground solid. The frozen ground made traditional winter burials difficult, so arrangements sometimes had to wait. The crypt at the Washoe Club served as a temporary morgue during those months.

The town needed a temporary resting place until warmer weather made burials possible again. This basement room got the job. Today the crypt ranks among the most talked-about stops on the daily tour. Guides lead groups down and often turn out the lights.

Then everyone waits to see what happens next.

Bring curiosity and maybe a light jacket. The room has a reputation for feeling chilly. Some tour groups use meters to watch for EMF spikes in the dark. Overnight investigators also get access to the crypt. That means hours down there instead of a few minutes.

I respect anyone who signs up for that willingly. If small, dark spaces make you nervous, stay near the stairs and your group. Nobody will judge you. The crypt is unforgettable, and it’s easily the room people bring up first when the tour ends.

Meet The Spirits Who Supposedly Never Left

Every haunted building needs a cast, and this one has a big one. The Lady in Blue tops the list. She’s frequently reported at the top of the spiral staircase. Then there’s the mischievous prospector. He’s said to linger downstairs, moving objects and shifting barstools.

Every saloon has that one regular, apparently.

Lena is another familiar name tied to the building. Her story centers on a third-floor bedroom. Another mysterious figure connected to her story is said to linger on the second floor.

Some accounts mention a young girl too. One version connects her story to the old doctor’s office on the second floor and an incident involving a wagon. That office was once the ballroom.

People have also reported doors swinging, objects shifting, and barstools tipping over. Investigators describe EVPs, which are voice recordings with no clear source. Tours also share names that guides use for other resident spirits.

Whether you believe or not, the stories are part of the fun. Learn the names before you head upstairs. If something knocks during your visit, at least you’ll know who to greet politely.

TV Ghost Crews Couldn’t Stay Away

Ghost Hunters showed up. Then they came back. The Washoe Club Museum & Saloon has appeared multiple times on the show, first on SyFy and later on A&E.

Ghost Adventures has visited plenty too. The building even helped boost the popularity of the show’s original documentary film. That’s quite a résumé for a former gentlemen’s club.

During one investigation, the Ghost Adventures team reported footage of a full-bodied figure crossing an upper floor. They also documented a seven-second apparition following a crew member out of the second-floor ballroom. Nobody wants that kind of escort.

The crew also described personal and chilling exchanges with spirits. Those moments helped cement the building’s reputation. It’s now widely called one of the most haunted places in the American West.

So why does this matter for your trip? You get to walk the same rooms you’ve seen on screen. Fans of these shows often find that pretty thrilling.

Watch a few episodes before you visit. You’ll recognize spots on the tour and catch details you’d otherwise miss. It feels a bit like touring a movie set, just with possible extra cast members.

Forty Minutes, Three Floors, Zero Guarantees You’ll Sleep Tonight

Tours are offered daily, with most starting on the hour. Each one runs about 40 minutes. You can buy tickets right on-site. That schedule makes the tour easy to fit into a day in Virginia City. You don’t need a huge plan. Show up, grab a ticket, and wait for the next group.

The tour covers all three floors of the building. You’ll see the old Millionaires Club spaces, the staircase, and the crypt. Guides blend real history with the ghost stories, so it never feels like a cheap scare show.

Photos and videos are welcome, so keep your phone ready. Some folks like taking mirror shots or photos in dark corners. Review them later and see what turns up.

The Washoe Club Museum & Saloon runs year-round, seven days a week. That means a snowy winter visit works just as well as summer. Fall naturally brings extra spooky energy, though.

Find it at 112 S C St, Virginia City, NV 89440. It sits right on the main drag, so you won’t wander far looking for it.

Brave Souls Can Book A Whole Night Inside

Forty minutes not enough? The overnight paranormal investigations, called lock-ins, give groups much longer with the building. And yes, it happens after dark.

Lock-in groups get access to all three floors. That includes the crypt and the famous spiral staircase. Basically, the whole haunted playground opens up. This option suits people who want to run their own experiments. Bring recorders for EVP sessions or meters for EMF readings.

Quiet hours in an old building can reveal plenty of strange little sounds.

Plan ahead with your group before booking. Decide who handles cameras and who takes notes. A little teamwork makes the night much more productive and less chaotic.

Comfort matters too. Wear layers, since old buildings and Nevada nights can both get chilly. Pack snacks, water, and fully charged batteries.

I love that regular folks get the same kind of access TV crews had. You’re not just hearing stories secondhand. You’re sitting in the dark, listening for yourself. Maybe nothing happens. Or maybe you leave with a story you’ll tell at every campfire for years.

Save Time For The Saloon Downstairs

After all that ghost talk, the ground floor feels refreshingly lively. The historic saloon sits right downstairs from the museum. It’s the spot where the mischievous prospector supposedly causes trouble.

Keep an eye on your barstool. Legend says it might move without your help. That’s a fun story to share with whoever sits beside you. Saloon hours run from 11 a.m. most days. It stays open later on Fridays and Saturdays. Hours can shift, so check before a late visit.

The downstairs space adds another layer of local character, with playful references to the building’s famous ghost stories. The space makes a great meeting point before your tour. Grab a seat, soak in the Old West surroundings, and swap theories about what you’ll see upstairs.

It beats waiting outside in the Nevada wind.

Most of all, the saloon connects you to the building’s long story. It’s still the oldest saloon in Virginia City. Sitting there, you’re part of a tradition that stretches back to silver-boom days.