Mizpah Hotel

Posted: 02.21.2025 | Updated: 02.24.2025

In the high desert area of Nevada is the small town of Tonopah, which is home to one of the most eerie hotels in the country, The Mizpah Hotel. Many haunting legends dating back to the early 1900s came from the tales of encounters shared by staff members and guests.  

The State of Nevada has a rich history of haunted culture that no ghost enthusiast should miss out on. Be sure to book your tour with us at Las Vegas Ghosts today for a spooky good time.

Who Haunts the Mizpah Hotel?

There are several reports of strange and unusual occurrences inside this historic hotel. Many have felt the presence of Rose, the Lady in Red, during their stay on the fifth floor. Others have noticed several spirits lurking around the basement who don’t take kindly to visitors.

Why do these spirits cling to the dark energy within the walls of this otherwise peaceful and welcoming hotel? Could it be linked to the city’s history of dangerous silver mining?

The History of Tonopah, Nevada

Tonopah, Nevada, was founded in the early 1900s when a rich silver deposit was discovered by pure luck. A miner named Jim Butler was looking around the hills for his lost burro and decided to spend the night below a rock outcropping.

The next morning, his burro returned. In a fit of rage toward the animal, Butler picked up a large rock to heave at it before he realized the rock was much heavier than it should be. After examining it, he discovered the rock was actually silver. This discovery led to the second-largest silver strike in the state of Nevada.

The Haunting of Tonopah

The town of Tonopah is believed to have many haunted hot spots and ghostly legends. Along with several notable ghosts that have existed in the town’s lore for generations, it is also home to a haunted cemetery where visitors have seen full-body apparitions of ghosts visiting the dead. 

If that isn’t terrifying enough, the cemetery is located beside Nevada’s World Famous Clown Motel. But the most popular haunted location in Tonopah is, without a doubt, the historic Mizp Hotel.

The History of the Mizpah Hotel

If you visit the official website of the Mizpah Hotel, you will instantly realize that the idea that this hotel is haunted is more than just a local rumor. On the landing page, in large text, are the words, “#1 Haunted Hotel in America by USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards.” This hotel is not only the most haunted in the state of Nevada but has also been recognized as the most haunted hotel in the country.

Known as the “Jewel of the Desert” because of its association with the silver boom, the Mizpah Hotel has been a desirable travel destination since it first opened its doors in 1907. At the time, the hotel was meant to be the centerpiece of the community. It was designed by architect Morill J. Curtis at the price of $200,000.

The hotel was a grand location featuring solid oak furnishings, steam heat, brilliant brass chandeliers, stained glass windows, and one of the first electric elevators in the state. Standing five stories tall, it was the tallest building in Nevada at the time.

Noteworthy Guests at the Hotel

Jack Dempsey was a legendary boxer at the time. He took on his first fights in Tonopah, some of which lasted 25 rounds. Before becoming a fighter, Dempsey was also a miner, gambler, and bouncer. Today the Jack Dempsey Room, an elegant dining area inside the hotel, is named after him.

Key Pittman was a United States senator from Nevada between the years of 1913 and 1940. He was very fond of the town of Tonopah and frequently stayed at the Mizpah Hotel. 

According to local lore, the senator died of a heart attack the night before the 1940 election. His supporters kept his body on ice in the bathtub in one of the hotel’s guest rooms until the election was over and his successor could be appointed. He is honored at the hotel with The Pittman Café named after him.

The Hotel’s Downfall and Renovation 

Business was good at the hotel until the gold and silver rush dwindled in the 1920s and miners moved on to a more prosperous location. During the 1940s, gambling became popular at the hotel after a casino was added, drawing in more guests. 

However, it was never as busy as it was in the early days, and in 1999 the Mizpah Hotel closed its doors, falling into disrepair until a couple, Nancy and Fred Cline, purchased it in 2011. After renovations, they brought the hotel back to its original glory and reopened it to the public.

The Ghosts of the Mizpah Hotel  

There are several spirits who haunt the halls of the infamous Mizpah Hotel, the most popular being the entity of a friendly lady named Rose, whose risqué occupation led to her unfortunate demise.

Rose: The Lady in Red

The fifth floor of the Mizpah Hotel is believed to be the area where the most spiritual activity takes place. Guests have noticed feeling the strong presence of a spirit while staying there. 

Items will go missing or be moved from one location to another. Some gentlemen have heard sweet nothings whispered in their ears by an unknown source, and guests have found stray pearls underneath their pillows when they wake up in the morning.

While most of the details about The Lady in Red have been lost over the years, according to legend, she went by the name of Rose. She was said to be a very kind, welcoming, and generous soul, in more ways than one.

The majority of men who visited the Mizpah Hotel during the silver rush in the 1920s were often looking for more than just a place to lay their heads at night. Rose had a suite on the top floor, where she worked year-round, taking part in the oldest trade in the world. Her suite has since been converted into three guest rooms: 502, 503, and 504.

The Unfortunate Death of the Lady in Red

It is believed that one night a former lover and patron of the hotel barged into her boudoir and proceeded to stab and strangle her to death in a fit of jealous rage. The pearls that guests find underneath their pillows are believed to be part of the pearl necklace Rose was wearing the night of her death.

Today, Room 504 is officially known as The Lady in Red Room, featuring scarlet curtains and an antique canopy bed. However, more activity is felt in room 502, which is said to be where her murder took place.

Still, you never know where Rose’s spirit will reveal itself. Her presence has also been felt in the old elevator she once used to transport her clients from the lobby to her room. The ancient electric elevator is known to make loud creaking and groaning noises while in operation.  

The Forgotten Miners in the Basement

While the true identity of the ghosts who occupy the basement of the Mizpah Hotel is unknown, most of the locals and staff members believe they are the lost souls of two old miners who were buried alive after an underground explosion caused a cave in at the silver mines. It is believed the men attempted to flee the fate of the afterlife by hiding out in the hotel.

Even though the basement is closed to the public, there are many staff members who have stories to tell and several who refuse to go down there. Those who have encountered the miners claim they are very tall men and very territorial of their space. While down there, you get the feeling that you are unwanted.

However, as with most ghost tales, there is a spin on this legend where many locals believe the spirits haunting the basement were not miners but instead, two bank robbers who were murdered while they were conducting a heist. It is believed they were killed by their co-conspirator.

Ghostly Children Running and Playing Through the Halls

Those who have stayed on the hotel’s third floor have reported seeing apparitions of small children and hearing them run through the hallways. As soon as the ghostly figures are seen, they quickly disappear. Many guests say that the ghost children will go away after you turn on the light.

Some have reported being annoyed by the sound of childish laughter while they are trying to sleep. When the guests open the door to scold them, they discover that no one is there. Guests have also called the front desk to complain about the noise, and they soon learn that there are no children staying in the building.

The Spirit of the Nameless Soldier

The spirit of a nameless soldier haunts the third and fourth floors of the hotel. It is believed that he died inside the Mizpah, but no one ever found out his identity. He is known only as the soldier who suffered from an unfortunate death at the hotel.

Ghostly Encounters at The Mizpah Hotel

Unexplainable cold spots, whispers from disembodied voices, and sightings of shadowy figures are all part of the Mizpah Hotel’s rich history. The Lady in Red, along with the spirits of the miners, the mischievous children, and the forgotten soldier, all make their way through the hallways and guest rooms, offering curious visitors the chance to delve into the world of the unknown.

While several of the ghosts tend to remain in their own areas, a haunting presence can be felt throughout the hotel. The lobby and guest rooms are decorated with old antique furnishings featuring multiple mystery drawers that guests often rummage through. There are spooky old black-and-white photographs hanging on the walls that give the place a dark and macabre feel.

But even with the dark presence, the Mizpah Hotel is not a place full of doom and gloom. Along with their on-site fine dining establishments, each floor also has a shelf filled with books and a cozy place to sit and read.

Haunted Las Vegas

The Mizpah Hotel may be the most popular place to encounter entities in the vicinity of Las Vegas, but it is not the only hotel in the area that is home to dark energy. If you would like to learn more about all the famous ghosts and spirits lurking through Sin City, be sure to book your tour today with Las Vegas Ghosts.

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Sources:

• https://themizpahhotel.com
• https://themizpahhotel.com/dining/
• https://travelingfiction.com/a-skeptics-guide-to-the-mizpah-hotel/
• https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/lifestyle/travel/2021/10/17/beyers-byways-night-tonopahs-haunted-mizpah-hotel/8467116002/
• https://travelnevada.com/haunted-history/meet-the-lady-in-red-nevadas-most-famous-ghost/
• https://www.tripadvisor.com/FAQ_Answers-g46006-d2328142-t2141864-What_is_the_most_haunted_room_where_there_is_the.html
• https://themizpahhotel.com/our-history/
• https://nvtami.com/2023/03/12/who-was-the-lady-in-red/
• https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/mizpah-haunted-hotel/
• https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-haunted-hotel-2018/