Silver Queen Hotel

Posted: 04.10.2025 | Updated: 04.10.2025

If you love antiques, history, and places that feel like you’ve stepped into another era entirely, then you’ll love the Silver Queen Hotel in Virginia City, Nevada. It’s a hotel that has stood the test of time and managed to do so with most of its original architecture still intact.

But that’s not all the Silver Queen Hotel is known for. In fact, many who visit the hotel are looking for another kind of experience altogether—a ghostly experience! Those who stay at the hotel consistently report unexplained noises and, sometimes, full-body apparitions. As it is allegedly the most haunted location in Nevada, it’s no surprise that ghost hunters and history buffs alike converge here.

If you like ghosts converging with history, then we have something for you! Our tours are the #1 ranked nightly ghost tours, and for good reason. Our walking ghost tour takes you deep into the history of the Las Vegas Strip, Sin City’s most haunted area. So, what are you waiting for? Discover the ghosts of Sin City by booking a Las Vegas ghost tour today!

Is The Silver Queen Hotel in Virginia City the Most Haunted Hotel in Nevada?

To be honest, there are a lot of haunted hotels in Nevada. It’s hard to say who comes out on top. But, as one of the most haunted locations in the state, the Silver Queen Hotel is definitely ahead in the competition!

As the oldest hotel in Virginia City, Nevada it has hosted hundreds of guests over the years. But, one of its guests, Rosie, died there in Room 11 and still remains. Her spirit is said to haunt the premises still.

But why is Rosie sticking around, exactly? Let’s dive into history to find out. 

The History of The Silver Queen Hotel

Built in 1876, the Silver Queen Hotel boasts nearly 150 years of service to the public. You can tell just by looking at it that the hotel is the oldest in town. its brass beds and authentic lack of modern amenities make it a dead giveaway.

This is what makes this hotel in Virginia City so alluring for non-ghost-hunting visitors. Its 19th-century charm is so strong that you might be inclined to double-check the date after stepping inside.

Travelers can stay in one of 28 rooms at the Silver Queen Hotel, but that’s not all it offers. On the main floor, the hotel also offers a wedding chapel that was formerly a crypt. This chapel hosts Old West weddings and investigations into its ghostly activity. The hotel also has a saloon-style bar where the Silver Queen, a massive art piece, hangs.

The Silver Queen

The Silver Queen is a huge mixed-media portrait of Jerry Eaton, the hotel’s previous owner. It stands 15 feet tall and eight feet wide. Bob Richards painted the portrait in 1957 after being commissioned by Jerry’s husband, Carroll Eaton.

The most striking thing about this portrait is it’s inlaid with 3,261 silver dollars. This number is significant. The rock bottom of the deepest mine in Virginia City was 3,261 feet deep, so the number of silver dollars was chosen for that purpose. 

After the Silver Queen was finished, Jerry Eaton was desperate to get her husband’s attention. But, despite the lavish portrait, Carroll was having an affair. Her attempts to get his attention did not work, and Jerry shot herself in 1963.

Carroll remarried his mistress, a local bank teller, shortly thereafter. Within six months, he died of a heart attack, leaving his new wife, Ruby Eaton, with everything. 

The current owner, Connie, has nicknamed the portrait “The Tarnished Queen.” She says she was there the day Jerry died, and she saw everything that went down between the husband, wife, and mistress. “She was after his money,” Connie said about Ruby. 

Despite having the opportunity to take down the Silver Queen, an expensive portrait of her husband’s ex, Ruby left it up, and it continued to be a centerpiece in the saloon. Ownership passed from Ruby to Connie, who intends to keep it up.

Silver Queen Hotel Hauntings

The Silver Queen Hotel is completely carpeted, but that doesn’t matter to the ghosts! Visitors to the hotel report hearing booted footsteps on wooden floors throughout the halls. Creaks, thuds, and banging on doors are regularly reported as well. Some visitors even complained about all the commotion, only to find out they were the only people on the floor. 

Ghost Hunters

This haunted hotel in Virginia City has been the site of multiple ghost-hunting expeditions. Most notably, the Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures visited the hotel multiple times. While the team from Ghost Adventures was investigating, they found numerous instances of unexplained activity, such as voices and footsteps on a wooden floor. 

The evidence that they found was so compelling that the hotel went on to be featured in the show five times, including in a compilation of their most convincing evidence.

Rosie’s Room

The most notable haunting in the Silver Queen Hotel is said to be linked to Room 11. This room was used for business by a sex worker named Rosie. Rosie worked during the old mining days before taking her own life in the late 1800s. 

There have been reports of full-body apparitions that many believe are the spirit of Rosie. She most commonly lingers at the top of a long staircase. However, she has also been known to knock on doors and briefly appear in rooms, especially those of male guests.

Some say she is looking for love, and others say she is waiting for her lost lover who abandoned her. Whatever her reason for sticking around, she has now become famous as the spirit who haunts the Silver Queen Hotel.

Haunted Las Vegas

Did you know Nevada has a reputation for having some of the most haunted places in the country? Rosie’s ghost isn’t the only spirit who wants to come out and play.

 The spirits of those who suffered terrible accidents, mobsters and their victims, and more await. Hear their stories, and maybe you’ll be lucky enough to meet them! Does it sound like it’s right up your alley? Book a haunted Vegas ghost tour with Las Vegas Ghosts today!

If you love this kind of content, don’t worry! We’ve got more for you. You can check out our article on the Goldfield Hotel, another hotel that’s known as one of the scariest places on Earth. Read to find out why! Plus, read more stories like this on our blog.

You can always check out our Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for more general ghost business. We’d love to connect with you!

Sources:

• https://www.kolotv.com/content/news/Silver-State-Sights-The-Silver-Queen-Hotel-490746801.html
• https://travelnevada.com/hotels/unique-stays/silver-queen-hotel
• https://www.numismaticnews.net/collecting-101/silver-queen-located-in-virginia-city
• https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g46010-d252919-r46594743-Silver_Queen_Hotel-Virginia_City_Nevada.html