Hauntober

October is Hauntober in Virginia City. As one of America’s most haunted towns, there’s no better place to spend October than immersed in events taking place throughout the month with a focus on our town’s haunted past. Hauntober highlights include The Spirits Made Me Do It Saloon Crawl, Bats in the Belfry Guided Ghost tours, paranormal investigations, V&T Railroad Pumpkin Patch and evening adult Lighted Trains, Hauntober Parade, Safe Trick or Treat, haunted tours at several attractions and much, much more.

V&T Railroad The Red Light Angel Murder Mystery Train, Oct. 7: All aboard the Virginia & Truckee Railroad for a journey that will take you back in time to uncover the tale of the Red Light Angel, Julia Bulette, and solve a murder mystery like no other. Purchase train tickets. 

Voices from the Past presented by Funtime Theater at Silver Terrace Cemetery, Oct. 7 & 8, 14 & 15 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. each day: Head to the spookiest of all places, the Silver Terrace Cemeteries, for Voices from the Past. Funtime Theater presents this living tour where attendees can “talk to the dead” as actors portray real 19^th century Comstockers who lived and died in Virginia City. Tickets are $15 for adults, children under 12 and seniors are $10. Purchase tickets in advance here. 

Piper’s Opera House Evening Paranormal Tours, Oct. 12, 15, 16, 22, 28, and 29, two tours 8 to 9:30 p.m. and 10 to 11:30 p.m.: Is Piper’s Opera House haunted?  Spend an evening here and find out. Learn about the darker side of the history of Piper’s including exploring with some ghost-hunting equipment. Tickets include a complimentary beverage, a guided tour and time to explore the first and second floors of the historic opera house. Groups are capped at 20 people. Advance registration is encouraged. Ticket available online here.

The Godmonster of Indian Flats 50^th Anniversary Celebration, Oct. 13-15: This campy, cult classic was filmed in Virginia City and the American Flats, and St. Mary’s Art Center is celebrating the 50th anniversary with a unique exhibition, film showings, and other festivities. Learn more online. 

TERRORtorial Enterprise – A Night with the spirits, Oct. 13: Join the Northern Nevada Ghost Hunters with special guests Thin Veil Investigators on Friday the 13th on the Haunted Comstock for a very rare chance to investigate the historic Territorial Enterprise building. Learn more here.

V&T Railroad Pumpkin Patch Train, Oct. 14 & 15 and 20-22: A pumpkin patch is fall’s ultimate playground for kids, so why not make an adventure of it with a train ride to the Gold Hill Pumpkin Patch? Purchase train tickets.

Halloween Bingo at Piper’s Opera House, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m.: Try your luck at Piper’s Opera House monthly bingo night, appropriately themed for the Hauntober month. Buy-in for five games is $20, benefitting the ongoing restoration of Piper’s. Learn more here.

Halloween Week Events

The Spirits Made Me Do It Saloon Crawl, Oct. 28, 1–5 p.m.: Embark on a fun and tasty tour through town. This is a 21+ event. Secure tickets here.

Haunted Stories and Spirits at the Gold Hill Hotel, Oct. 29 at 5 pm.: Come learn about Nevada’s oldest operating hotel and its storied past. Tickets are $40, reserve online in advance.

Electric Halloween Steam Train of Lights, Oct. 27-29 and Oct. 31: Get in the haunted spirit with a ride on this spooky, 40-minute round-trip route that comes alive underneath the dark skies with brilliant LED lighting. Tickets and details.

Piper’s Opera House Statehood Masquerade Ball, Oct. 27:  Dress in your best 1860s formal wear for the Statehood Masquerade Ball. Tickets and details.

Mackay Mansion Annual Haunted Mansion: Mackay Coven, Oct. 27, 28 and 31, various times:  This haunted house experience immerses you into a story of witches and people mysteriously disappearing. Reservations required, get details here.

Haunted Hills, Mills and Depots, Oct. 27 & 28: Join Northern Nevada Ghost Hunters for two nights of paranormal investigations through some of the Comstock’s most haunted locations. Benefitting the Comstock Foundation. Details here.

St. Mary’s Art Center Ghost Investigation and Sleepover, Oct. 27-29: Originally built as a hospital for the Comstock miners, then abandoned for many years. Spend the evening with ghost investigative team, W.I.G.S. (Women Investigating Ghost Sightings) and explore the possibility of connecting with those who have walked the halls in the past. Details online here.

Fourth Ward School Museum’s Victorian All Hallow’s Eve Ball, Oct. 28:  Explore this historic building on the eve of Halloween with this adults-only evening, including music and dancing, a costume contest, flashlight tours, tarot readings, light snacks and drinks. Tickets available here.

Haunted Stories and Spirits at the Gold Hill Hotel, Oct. 29, 5 to 9 p.m.: The Gold Hill Hotel, as seen on Ghost Adventures and proclaimed the 8th most haunted location in Nevada) is hosting an evening of thrills and chills including haunted themed finger foods, five themed cocktails and spooky stories told by local historian and Chautauqua performer DebiLynn Smith. Costumes encouraged with prizes awarded.RSVP in advance here.

Jack Osbourne’s Night of Terror, October 29: Follow Jack Osbourne for his Night of Terror October series where our “old mining town, that could possibly be stuck in a time warp”, Virginia City, is showcased in the two-hour grand finale. Watch as they investigate two of our most haunted locations, Piper’s Opera House and the Washoe Club.  View it online here.

Haunted Virginia City Mall, Oct. 31, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Wright Stuff Antiques and Just Because Gifts offer some fun Halloween shopping with fun and one-of-a-kind items with the mall decorated to the hilt. Locals Janice Oberding, author of numerous books on ghosts, local history and true crime, and Bill Brown, author of numerous horror fiction books taking place in Virginia City, will be signing books.

St. Mary’s Halloween for Kids & Families, Oct. 31, all day: Annual art, trick or treat and games for kids returns with a twist. Learn more here.

Hauntober Parade, Oct. 31, 5 p.m.: Goblins of all ages dressed to scare are invited to participate in the Hauntober Parade on Halloween night. Adults, kids and even pets are encouraged to wear a costume and join in the parade and participate in the costume contest. Check-in and costume contest starts at 4:30 p.m. at the Virginia City Jerky Company. The parade begins at 5 p.m. For questions, call the Virginia City Visitors Center at 775-847-7500.

Virginia City Cemetery, Oct. 31, 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.: On Halloween, the gates to the old Silver Terrace Cemetery stay open for visitors to experience a once-a-year stroll past dusk. Here, souls rest in peace, but their stories live forever. Take a self-guided tour with the downloadable audio tour, available online. Cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under. Proceeds benefit the Comstock Cemetery Foundation. Learn more about Virginia City cemeteries.

Hauntober Safe Trick-or-Treating, Oct. 31, 6 to 8 p.m.: Stick around after the parade for safe trick-or-treating at the many shops along the boardwalk. For questions, call the Virginia City Visitors Center at 775-847-7500.

Washoe Club Haunted Tours, offered daily, times vary – Featured multiple times on “Ghost Adventures,” The Washoe Club and Haunted Museum offers daily ghost tours. Private, overnight investigations can also be booked. Get details online here.

Ongoing Tours and Attractions *

• Bats in the Belfry Guided Ghost – Reserve in advance by 775-815-1050; visit online here
• Tours at Piper’s Opera House – View calender here.
• Haunted Virginia City Escape Room & Haunted Ghost Town – details online here
• Mackay Mansion Paranormal Investigations – reserve online here
• Washoe Club Haunted Tours – details online here
• Haunted Adventure Pass – details online here
• Haunted Horseless Carriage Rides – details available by calling 775-847-7500

*Days and times vary; contact directly for details

Stay the Night in the Most Haunted Place in the West

For the ultimate thrill-seekers, there’s no more complete way to do it than stay the night in one of Virginia City’s haunted hotels. Explore all lodging options, or choose from among a few recommendations:

• Gold Hill Hotel – Nevada’s oldest operating hotel with abounding stories of the ghosts of children running the halls and the scent of roses that appears randomly when a spirit is said to be present.
• Silver Queen Hotel – Allegedly haunted by one or more of the working women who did business in the hotel, this establishment was built in 1876 and is considered one of the most haunted locations in town. The hotel offers paranormal investigations for an additional fee.
• St. Mary’s Art Center – Originally built in 1875 as Virginia City’s hospital, this majestic building offers 16 guest rooms for artists retreats, or anyone looking to stay in Virginia City. Paranormal investigations are offered monthly or can be booked as a private tour and the building is reported to have very active paranormal spirits.
• Tahoe House Hotel – Dating back to 1859, this property offers plenty of tales of paranormal encounters from guests over the years. Renovated in 2020, it features five rooms with balconies overlooking C Street, along with a lobby bar, great room, and courtyard.
• More lodging options are available at VisitVirginiaCityNV.com.

There’s a lot more happening during October that isn’t creepy including lectures, mine and museum tours and much more. Visit our calendar to see everything happening.