In our annual tradition, Hubster and I head off to Reno with friends for a short break from the everyday drudgery. Since tossing our money onto gambling tables gets old fast (especially when on the losing end), we always brainstorm other activities to partake in, something new every year. As Halloween was only a week away, we decided a paranormal side trip might be fun. And Virginia City is one of the three most haunted American locations, according to the Syfy Channel. The genius behind super-movies such as Dinocroc and Sharktopus couldn’t possibly be wrong.
We signed up for the Bats in the Belfrey ghost walk, rejecting the grand opportunity for a follow-up, full-on, extra-fee paranormal investigation. One can handle only so much spine tingling. The tour started out by stuffing us all in the Silver Casino chapel, where a wedding had just occurred (almost nabbed some free cake). Our photographer friend added in the background special effects.
The venture then led us through various parts of town…
The jail (a cool place full of history I plan to revisit)
The Silver Queen Hotel, which boasts a suicidal ghost haunting its creepy, narrow hallways (I’ll stay at the Sands, thank you very much) and its own (alleged) vortex…they felt it standing there, believe me. Well, one guy claimed to, anyway.
An old house with creepy kid’s room and ancient photograph of the prospector’s glaring, unhappy wife (which I should have taken a picture of, but she was too scary)
The Washoe Club and its haunted spiral staircase (and shots of SinFire)
But alas. No ghosties came out to visit…although there was a cold, whipping wind and some phantom odors. Oh wait – the investigator noted that malodorous vapor was just some bad chili wafting from someone in the crowd. I have my suspicions who produced it, but won’t name any names.
The only possible paranormal phenomenon was in the “Crypt” of the Washoe Club. As the name implies, the Crypt is a cold, beyond cozy, completely bricked in room. Hubster wanted a picture, so I grudgingly obliged. When he looked at me through the camera, tiny orbs floated everywhere. Picture time? Nuthin’. But it looked a lot like the below photo, courtesy of Travel Channel:
We did, however, encounter some fun with hats!
Visit any spooky places lately?
I’ve only ever passed through Reno, with a jaunt through a truck stop, a Walmart (or was it a Target), and an outdoor store. Beautiful area. Your getaway sounds like a lot of fun. I need to talk my husband into doing something similar 🙂
Well, Walmart has its own level of paranormal activity, I’m thinking. Scary place sometimes. 🙂 Thanks for dropping by, Jamie!
I’ve been to Virginia City and I love that place. I’ve not done the Bat Tour, but maybe someday. I did take the haunted Hawaii tour the last time I was in Honolulu. I actually did photograph a couple of orbs. Honest to goodness – I have the untouched photos to prove it. Our tour guide was a weird-o, but I guess you kind of have to be to get the crowd in the mood. I think he was just a drunk hippie, but whatever.
Thanks for sharing the fun. Next time you’re in the area give me a heads up and I’ll join you for the tour. Or you could come to my hometown – Old Hangtown – it has it’s own haunted places we could check out.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
Old Hangtown sounds like a blast – I’ll add it to next year’s itinerary and invite you! I have some scary pictures from my trip to Winchester House. Just thinking about it gives me chills. I caught a misty-looking thing with a face in it. Super-creepy place, and not as fun as Virginia City. Happy weekend!
No way, man. I have a strict, “Don’t scare me,” policy. You and I both know how much I LOATHE conflict. 😛
Oh my…have I never mentioned how much I loved to terrorize my sisters, hiding behind doors and jumping out? I’m lucky Hubster hasn’t had a heart attack. We should totally go to a haunted house together, Rhenna! I hate clowns, so we could compromise and go to a clown-infested Halloween house – it would fun!