The Old Nevada State Prison

Posted: 05.20.2025 | Updated: 05.20.2025

Before Nevada was even a state, it was the destination for many settlers looking to strike it rich in mining or enjoy the dry desert air. However, with these aspiring travelers came thieves, con artists, and murderers, and they needed a place to go where they could be held accountable for their crimes. So begins the haunted history of the Old Nevada State Prison. 

Dozens of inmates drew their last breath within this prison’s walls, with 30 alone being executed in the terrifyingly eerie gas chamber. It’s believed that these men have never moved on, with all kinds of strange activity being seen in and around the haunted prison yard over the years. 

While the Old Nevada State Prison is considered to be one of the most haunted sites in the whole state, some of the most concentrated ghostly activity takes place south, on the Las Vegas Strip. 

From jilted gamblers to jealous lovers to deadly fires, many spirits call Sin City home. If you want to learn about these stories of backstabbing and tragedy and see the sites for yourself, book a ghost tour with Vegas Ghosts tonight. 

Is the Old Nevada State Prison haunted?

In the prison’s 150-year history, countless strange phenomena have been observed. From strange shadows in photographs to phantoms floating in mid-air, many people are adamant that this retired prison is extremely haunted. 

In recent years, guests touring the grounds have reported hearing sounds that send shivers down their spines, from moans to whistles to ear-piercing screams. 

The Storied History of the Old Nevada State Prison

The very beginnings of the Old Nevada State Prison already seem a little shady, in retrospect. In December of 1861, Nevada’s first territorial legislature convened at the Warm Springs Hotel in Carson City. 

The hotel and surrounding land were owned by one Abraham Curry. In this meeting, the men authorized the creation of a board of prison commissioners for the area. 

Just a few days later, on January 1, 1862, the legislature leased the land next to the hotel, owned by Curry, to build their first prison. At the same time, who did they appoint to be the first warden? Abraham Curry, of course. 

When they began constructing the large prison, they needed a great deal of materials. Luckily, Curry also owned a quarry nearby, which is where the sandstone for the building was supplied from. 

While Curry made a great deal of money from this agreement, remember that none of this process was state-sanctioned, as Nevada didn’t officially become a state until 1864. Yet, we still have to wonder if some of these deals behind closed doors were a little questionable. 

A Prison with a Memorable Past

Once the prison was up and running, criminals and scoundrels from all across the West were taken to the site, as there were only two other prisons West of the Mississippi River at the time (San Quentin and Alcatraz).

The prison didn’t have great luck in these early years, burning down twice in 1867 and 1870. It was rebuilt with stone from Curry’s quarry using inmate labor. 

Over the next decade, several memorable events took place, including a mass escape of 29 prisoners in 1871. Using stolen guns, the prisoners wounded the warden, Frank Denver, and killed two more people. 

Two years later, in 1873, the still-warden/Lieutenant Governor Denver refused to give up his position as warden. His refusal became so heated that the governor had to send 60 armed troops to the prison to demand that Denver open the prison gates for the new warden. One can only wonder what prompted this kind of extreme response from Denver.

The Dozens of Executions Carried Out

The prison carried out several kinds of executions over its time as an active prison. While the first prisoner was hanged in 1905, they changed to death by firing squad for the next inmate in 1910. 

From 1924-1979, however, the preferred method of execution shifted to one not widely used throughout the United States: death by gas. The story goes that it took some adjusting to figure out the proper amount of gas to use, resulting in excruciating deaths for the first two inmates to be killed in this way. 

In total, 30 prisoners were killed in the small gas chamber within the prison, which is still visible to tourists visiting the now-historic site that was decommissioned in 2012.

The Ghostly Activity within the Old Nevada State Prison

Many believe that the spirits haunting the prison are those of the inmates who were executed or killed in the prison by their own hands or in fights with fellow prisoners. 

One of the most commonly described experiences to have within the prison is a sudden feeling of intense dread. Others feel like someone is watching them, and footsteps are often heard echoing from deserted parts of the site. 

Visitors and tour guides often hear strange noises throughout the prison as well, such as a piece of metal being struck along the bars of the cells. Others have heard knocks on walls, whistles, and all types of screams and yells from disembodied voices.

The Gas Chamber

Of all the spots in the prison, the gas chamber has some of the most regular spectral activity. Visitors looking into the room describe suddenly feeling like they can’t breathe, needing help to walk away. Others experience a sudden foreboding feeling when they get close to the gas chamber where so many were killed. 

The Ghost of Carroll Cole

While the identities of all the ghosts aren’t known, many believe some of the darkest experiences come from the ghost of serial killer Carroll Cole. While Cole was convicted of killing five women, he admitted to killing 35 people throughout his life. He was the first person to be executed by lethal injection in the prison in 1985. 

It’s believed that Cole’s spirit targets women who tour the premises. 

Paranormal Investigations

Many ghost hunters have examined the old prison, with many also finding evidence of spirit activity. One team could see the outline of two large figures sitting on the shoulders of one of the investigators on a thermal monitor. As they did, the investigator in question experienced an intense cold feeling and a headache.

Countless orbs have also been spotted in photos and in person by different investigative groups. These firsthand accounts have led many paranormal professionals to agree that the Old Nevada State Prison is haunted.

Haunted Las Vegas

Some of the most dangerous criminals of the Old West likely resided in the Old Nevada State Prison at one point or another. For the ones that died there — have they refused to leave? Or are they still confined to the prison even after death?

Nevada is home to a plethora of spectral stories and locations. Many of the most haunted sites are in Las Vegas, with some histories tied to mass casualty events like casino and hotel fires. 

If you’re looking for a break from blackjack and buffets and want a truly unbelievable experience, book a ghost tour with Vegas Ghosts. 

Curious about other haunted prisons and jails around the U.S.? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to learn about some of the most notorious and haunted prisons around the country. To read about other haunted locations in Nevada, check out our blog. 

Sources:

• https://amyscrypt.com/nevada-state-prison-beyond-the-cell-bars/
• https://vegasghosts.com/
• https://nevadamagazine.com/issue/summer-2020/14034/
• https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/october-31/the-u-s-congress-admits-nevada-as-the-36th-state
• https://mynews4.com/news/knowing-nevada/knowing-nevada-the-paranormal-at-the-nevada-state-prison
• https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-12-07-mn-14259-story.html