The Ghosts That Haunt Nevada

The Nevada State Governor’s Mansion in Carson City is an elegant, two-story Classical Revival building. On the first floor is a grand entry hall, the reception room, a formal dining room, the governor’s study, a luncheon room, and the kitchen. The mansion was ready for occupation in July of 1908 and the first governor to take residence was Governor Denver Dickerson. His daughter June Dickerson was born in the mansion in September of 1909.

There are two theories about the haunting of the mansion by a woman and a young girl. One theory is that an antique grandfather clock given as a present to the governor at this time was haunted by these two spirits. Another theory is that the spirits were of “First Lady” Una Dickerson and her daughter, June. Then there is a third entity who some think may be a former servant and there are people who think he may be Governor Jones.

On the second floor for many years staff and overnight guests have seen the entity of a woman wearing a long white dress followed by the entity of a young girl. They wander about the second floor and hallways. Since the mansion was built the first family’s private quarters and guest rooms have been located on the 2nd floor.

The footsteps of a male entity have been heard going up the staircase. On the first floor if anyone stands in front of the antique grandfather clock a cold breeze or a paranormal cold spot can be felt. The parlor doors open by themselves and sometimes a cold moving presence can be felt passing by.

These are the entities that share the mansion with the present governor and staff.

The Saint Mary's Art and Retreat Center is down the hill from the town of Virginia City. It’s clearly visible from the town and the Virginia City cemetery. This building has some supernatural occurrences.

Spirit of the White Nun

Some involve “The White Nun”. When she was alive the nun was in charge of the hospital's operating rooms and she can be seen looking out of a second-story window. Late at night, the White Nun has been seen on the bottom step of the front staircase. At the same time, one can also see a little boy with iron braces on his legs at the top of the staircase. Then the nun hurries up the stairs to help the boy so he won’t fall and looks about for someone to help them.

Ghostly Horse-drawn Hearse

People have seen a horse-drawn hearse drive up to a far out-of-the-way door of the hospital building as if to collect corpses. The coach sways and one can see the horses snort but no sounds are heard.

The Gold Hill Hotel and Saloon is located in Virginia City and is the oldest existing hotel in Nevada. It opened in 1859 after gold and silver were discovered in the adjacent mountains. The original building is still being used as well as various renovations that have been made throughout the years. In front of the hotel is a nice patio eating area. In the original first-floor main room is a large fireplace and a sitting area. Beyond that is a cozy bar which was added on in 1962. In 1986 a new kitchen and dining room were added. There is a lovely view of the mountains from the dining area.

The second floor houses the guest rooms, hotel office, and gift shop. Over the original main room and adjoining bar are five guest rooms from the time the hotel opened each with a verandah. These rooms are kept as they originally were and they have ceiling fans and no TVs. The eight rooms added in 1986 have air conditioning and TVs but are furnished with antiques.

The original two-story building was known as The Riese House until 1862 when it was leased by Horace Vessy and a 3 story structure was built adjacent to it. The then-called Vessy Hotel existed for 20 years. In 1887 it became the Capitol Hotel and Lodging. The building the Vessy had put up was gone by 1890 but the original still remained standing. During the next years, this building was used as a hotel, a boarding house, and a private residence. In the 1950s it again became The Gold Hill Hotel. The entire structure was renovated in 1958 by Fred Doro who in 1968 added the bar. Carol and Bill Fain bought the place in 1986 and added eight new rooms, a kitchen, a dining room, and the wooden structure that wraps around the hotel. The Gold Hill Hotel and Saloon offers fine dining, a place for special events, and dinner theater in the fall, group meetings, weddings, and a Tuesday night lecture series.

The Apparition of Rosie

However, not only the living appreciate this hotel. Upstairs in Room 4, there is “Rosie” whom people think may have been a lady of the night. When walking into the room people get a very strong scent of roses. The lady spirit likes to turn the lights on and off. She also plays tricks like moving objects and guests' personal belongings from place to place. The hotel’s manager recounts one such incident: A lady guest had laid out her things including keys on the bed. When she went into the bathroom for a moment her keys had disappeared. After searching the entire room the keys reappeared this time on the bureau. The lady entity also likes to play tricks with the bathtub stopper.

The Miner William

In Room 5 is “William” who is thought to be one of the 47 miners who died as a fire raced through the Yellow Jacket Mine which is right behind the hotel. Entering this room people smell a strong odor of tobacco. After dinner, a lady went up to her room and knowing her husband was going to be up soon as well left the room door open and went out to the verandah to read. At this time “William” decided to lock the door. Her husband appeared below the verandah to inform his wife that he was locked outside of the room.

Ghostly Children

The hotel manager, also informs that when the hotel is quiet a throng of unseen children can be heard giggling and running around the upstairs halls. There is a wonderful smell at this time of chocolate chip cookies. A ghost hunters group who set up their equipment found out the great room downstairs is a popular spot for ghosts. In other words, you may be surprised at who you’re sitting next to.