The Old Washoe Club

Posted: 06.27.2025 | Updated: 06.27.2025

For a brief time in the 1870s, the Washoe Club was the hottest place to be in Virginia City. An exclusive social club, only the wealthiest got to enjoy the many amenities and splendors of the club. 

However, circumstances could change fast in the wild, wild West. Before long, the Washoe Club was a shadow of its former self. While the rest of the town pushed onward, the Washoe Club started collecting dust. Yet, the building wasn’t empty. A new exclusive crowd had moved in — of the spectral variety. 

Virginia City offers a glimpse into what life in the dirty, dusty, and dangerous Old West looked like. While it’s full of spirits from another era, it’s not the only haunted city in Nevada. Sin City itself is home to all kinds of spirits whose lives were cut short from mob hits, blazing fires, and gambling disputes. To learn about these dark stories and to see some of the most haunted sites in Las Vegas, book a ghost tour with Vegas Ghosts. 

Is the Old Washoe Club haunted?

The Old Washoe Club is considered to be one of the most haunted locations in all of Nevada. The building has developed such a spooky reputation that it’s attracted the likes of Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures and A&E’s Ghost Hunters, one of which captured some truly unbelievable footage on-site. 

Shadow-like figures are often seen around the old club, with several having unique identities, like Lena, the Lady in Blue. 

The Early Days of the Old Washoe Club

In the early 1870s, Virginia City was the place to be. A rich supply of silver was discovered just outside the town, known as the Comstock Lode, and before long, gold was also found nearby. 

Miners started flocking to the area, and the city was quickly built up to accommodate the growing population. This included the oldest saloon, built on the ground floor of what would come to be known as The Old Washoe Club. Not long after the saloon was opened, the upper floors were introduced to the public. These floors, however, were not open to any old miner off the street. 

The Membership-Only Club

On June 1, 1875, the exclusive social club was opened on B Street in Virginia City. The owners were inundated with applications to become members of the hottest spot in town. For a few months, the club was incredibly popular and regularly hosted some of the wealthiest residents in town. Then, disaster struck.

Virginia City was almost entirely destroyed by a massive fire in October 1875. Rather than dwell on what they lost, the town was rebuilt quickly, and that included the Old Washoe Club. The new club was constructed a block over, on C Street, and had even more fineries than the original did, including a beautiful library, a billiard room, a wine room, and a parlor with Italian marble accents. There was also a specially designated telegraph to tell the members the newest stock market updates.

To gain access to the club, members climbed a secret spiral staircase. With all these amenities, the club soon became known as the “Millionaires Club” and included well-known figures such as Ulysses S. Grant, General Robert Sherman, and Edwin Booth, an acclaimed actor and the brother of the infamous John Wilkes Booth. 

The Downfall of the Club

Life was fast-paced in Virginia City. One day, the mines were pumping out silver and gold; the next, they realized they had tapped out the raw materials. This was the case for the residents of Virginia City. 

Members started to fall behind on their payments, while others moved on to areas with better prospects. While the club held on as long as it could, it officially closed the upper floors in September 1897, while the saloon on the first floor remained open. The end of the club was impactful for the entire town, as the local newspaper, the Territorial Enterprise, wrote, “The closing of The Washoe Club marks an era in the history of Nevada, as did its opening. 

Who Haunts the Old Washoe Club?

Despite its short run, The Old Washoe Club obviously left an impact on some people, as they have chosen to remain within the building for all of eternity. So, what ghosts still reside in the once-thriving club?

The Lady in Blue

The spiral staircase is a common place to spot a specter, perhaps because this was the entryway to the club. Around the top of the stairs, a woman known as the Lady in Blue is often seen floating in a blue dress. Locals have dubbed her Lena, and some believe she was a prostitute who was murdered at the club. 

There is a dark figure with a menacing presence who is sometimes seen on the upper floors. Some believe this was the murderer of Lena, who continues to stay close to her even after death.

The Little Girl

One of the most common spirits to see is a small child. The little girl is dressed in a white dress and appears to be shy, disappearing before anyone can get too close. However, it seems she likes support when walking up the steep spiral staircase — visitors will feel a small hand touch theirs when they’re climbing the stairs. As soon as they try to spot whose hand they’re holding, the sensation is gone. 

The Miner at the Bar

Down at the saloon, anyone was welcome to enjoy a drink. Today, a prospector’s spirit is often spotted hanging around the bar, looking to order a beverage. At the same time, the ghost welcomes someone buying him a drink, which some do. 

In recent years, people have left bourbon shots on the bar counter to help quench the spirit’s thirst. Before long, the shot glass will appear to move on its own. If left there for a long time, the glass has been known to vanish altogether. In the bar area, bar stools have also been known to move on their own.

Paranormal Investigations

Of all the ghost-hunting teams that have investigated the Old Washoe Club, the most famous is the original Ghost Adventures documentary film. While inspecting the property, the paranormal team caught a full-bodied ghost moving across the floor on one of the upper floors on camera. 

Haunted Las Vegas 

From the Old Western saloons of Virginia City to the extravagant casinos of Las Vegas, Nevada has plenty of ghost stories from every corner of the state. However, some of the most twisted and tragic tales are tied to Vegas. 

Las Vegas has been the site of mass tragedies, like fires, as well as more individualized crimes, such as theft, fraud, and murder. While most spirits from these events have moved on, some remain tied to their final resting place — or refuse to move on.

To witness some of the most haunted locations in the entire city, including Planet Hollywood, The Venetian, and Bally’s (and escape the heat of the day), book a ghost tour with Vegas Ghosts tonight.

Learn more about other haunted saloons or cursed social clubs around the Western United States, by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. To read about more of Nevada’s dark and spooky past, be sure to check out our blog. 

Sources:

• https://travelnevada.com/museums/the-washoe-club-haunted-museum/
• https://vegasghosts.com/
• https://hauntedus.com/nevada/old-washoe-club/
• https://www.thewashoeclubmuseum.com/history
• https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-washoe-club-haunted-museum-saloon