Virginia City’s most famous haunted saloon still delivers history and atmosphere.

Paranormal activity at the Washoe Club adds real tales of the supernatural.

Introduction

Virginia City, Nevada. The Washoe Club.

The staff handed us the keys for a full overnight lock-in at the infamous Washoe Club. What followed was a mix of history, hospitality, and paranormal activity at the Washoe Club we’ve captured recently.

History of the Washoe Club

The Washoe Club opened in 1875 during the Comstock Lode silver boom.

Builders created it as an exclusive private club for Virginia City’s elite.

Paranormal activity at the Washoe Club is part of its legendary history.

The building featured fine furnishings, private poker rooms, and the iconic spiral staircase that still stands today.

By 1897 the silver boom had faded and the exclusive club closed. The ground-floor saloon continued operating, while the upper floors remained largely unused for decades.

Authorities reportedly used the building as a temporary morgue during harsh winters. Officials stored bodies from mining accidents inside when the ground was too frozen to dig graves. A horse-drawn carriage struck a young girl; people carried her upstairs to a doctor’s office where she died. These deaths tie the property to the incident. According to reports, Lena, known as the Lady in Blue, was murdered in the building. People still report her apparition near the spiral staircase.

People have reported shadow figures, footsteps, and physical interactions (including scratches) for decades. The location has appeared on Ghost Adventures, Ghost Hunters, and numerous independent investigations.

Today the Washoe Club operates as both a historic saloon and haunted museum, offering daily ghost tours and private overnight lock-ins.

Atmosphere & Service

The staff at the Washoe Club were professional, knowledgeable, and welcoming. They handled the overnight arrangement smoothly and gave us full access without unnecessary restrictions.

The atmosphere is excellent.

The ground-floor saloon retains genuine Old West character with dark wood.

Historic details and a strong sense of place define the space.

Even before the investigation began, the building carried a heavy, charged energy.

Serious investigators immediately notice it.

It is one of the rare locations that successfully combines authentic history with real potential for activity.

Equipment Used

We ran a focused kit for both communication and environmental monitoring:

  • SB7 Pro Spirit Box – continuous radio-sweep device
  • Spirit Chat – Ovilus-style word bank device
  • REM Pods – proximity and EMF-reactive sensors
  • Wave Shell – motion sensor
  • EMF Candle – simple visual EMF indicator
  • Multiple digital voice recorders
  • Full-spectrum and night-vision cameras

We placed the base camp on the ground floor. Primary investigation took place on the second and third floors.

Investigation Breakdown

Arrival & Setup (7:00 p.m.) We received exclusive access to all three floors. After a short walkthrough we moved upstairs to begin.

The young girl’s story, recounting that she died here after a carriage accident, ties this room to that tale. We introduced ourselves and invited communication.

The Spirit Chat responded quickly with:

  • “George”
  • “Symbols”
  • “Gave advice”
  • “Hidden grave”
  • “Harbor”

When we mentioned the building’s use as a winter morgue, the device replied with “hidden grave.” Both investigators noted cold spots and unbalanced physical sensations in specific areas of the room.

Second Floor – Millionaires’ Poker Room We left money on the table (as previous visitors have done) and invited any former members to interact.

Responses became more direct and darker:

  • “I am evil… but I am equal.”
  • “Fatal.”

Shortly after asking if the presence had died in the building, Mike saw movement in the hallway.

The investigators observed a dark figure. The dark figure caused a clear physical push. Both investigators heard movement further down the hall at the same time.

Audio review later revealed a sharp, aggressive EVP — a distinct “fuck off” — timed with the hallway encounter. It did not come from either investigator or the Spirit Chat.

Additional responses in this area included:

  • “Nursery”
  • “Throat”
  • “Cold hair”
  • “Don’t touch” (triggered when a surface was brushed)
  • “Revoked”

A young girl’s voice was also captured on audio — soft and clearly different in tone from the darker responses.

Third Floor & Remaining Areas The sensation of being watched and followed intensified. Unexplained sounds were noted. The overall energy remained territorial and charged, consistent with long-standing reports of shadow figures on the upper floors.

Activity came in waves throughout the night rather than remaining constant.

Wind-Down (Approaching 7:00 a.m.) As daylight returned the building grew quieter. We collected equipment, completed a final walkthrough, and locked up.

Key Evidence Captured

  • Visual of a shadow figure in the hallway at the moment we asked it to appear
  • Clear physical push during the hallway encounter
  • Aggressive and relevant Spirit Chat responses (“I am evil… but I am equal,” “Fatal,” “hidden grave,” “Don’t touch”)
  • Distinct hostile EVP (“fuck off”) timed with the hallway event
  • Young girl’s voice on audio
  • Multiple cold spots and unbalanced physical sensations
  • Persistent feeling of being watched and followed on the upper floors

Final Thoughts

The Washoe Club continues to live up to its reputation. The history is substantial, the atmosphere is strong, the staff make the experience professional and smooth, and the activity can be direct when it chooses to engage.

We left at sunrise with several compelling moments and a clear respect for whatever still occupies the upper floors.

If you are considering a visit or overnight investigation, the Washoe Club is worth it. Just be prepared that not every presence here is interested in a friendly conversation.