Monte Carlo Ghosts are one of Nevada’s best-kept secrets. Hidden within the rugged, timeworn hills of Storey County lies a piece of the Old West that many overlook. While Virginia City often takes center stage in ghost tours and folklore, it’s the smaller, lesser-known locations like the Monte Carlo building that hold the juiciest spiritual residue. This eerie site offers visitors a rare blend of authentic mining-era history and spine-chilling paranormal activity, making it a must-visit for ghost hunters and history lovers alike.
If you’ve ever felt a mysterious chill in the air while wandering an old mining town, or heard a disembodied voice when the winds die down, then you’ll feel right at home among the Monte Carlo Ghosts.
The History
The Birth of a Mining Town
During the mid-1800s, Nevada was the heart of a mining boom, thanks to the discovery of the Comstock Lode in 1859. Virginia City quickly sprung up as one of the most prominent settlements of the time. Nearby, smaller establishments began to form, catering to the influx of miners, gamblers, and opportunists. One such place was the Monte Carlo building, rumored to have started as a saloon, brothel, and boarding house rolled into one.
The Monte Carlo structure, located near Virginia City’s main strip, served as a vibrant social hub for miners blowing off steam after long days underground. It’s said the building offered top-shelf whiskey, card games that could go on for days, and the company of women—though often under tragic and controversial circumstances. The building, one of the oldest still standing in Virginia City, has seen countless people pass through, many of whom never left.
Surviving Fires and Economic Collapse
The late 1800s were not kind to the residents of Nevada’s mining towns. In addition to labor strikes, disease, and volatile mining conditions, devastating fires swept through Virginia City in 1875, destroying many wooden structures. Remarkably, the Monte Carlo building survived—either by sheer luck or through divine (or possibly sinister) intervention.
As silver veins dried up, the population dwindled. What was once a town teeming with life became a semi-abandoned relic of its former self. The Monte Carlo building changed hands several times, functioning as everything from a gambling parlor to a storage facility and even a temporary museum over the years.
A Landmark Reimagined
Today, the Monte Carlo remains a prominent fixture in Virginia City’s landscape. Though time has weathered its timber bones and its floors creak with age, the building draws in curious tourists, history buffs, and paranormal investigators alike. It now operates occasionally as an event venue and a central stop on local ghost tours. Those interested in exploring the Monte Carlo Ghosts usually find themselves inside its dimly lit halls, flashlight in hand, waiting for something—or someone—to make themselves known.
The Haunt
Paranormal Reports Through the Years
For decades, tales of Monte Carlo Ghosts have circulated among locals and visitors. Though not as famous as some of Virginia City’s “celebrity spirits,” the entities suspected of haunting the Monte Carlo are no less active—or terrifying. Paranormal investigators have reported cold spots, unexplained noises, and shadowy figures moving from room to room during late-night sessions.
One of the most compelling stories involves a known spirit dubbed The Lady in Blue. Believed to be the apparition of a former brothel worker who died tragically within the building’s upper rooms, The Lady in Blue has been sighted wearing a flowing gown, her translucent figure appearing at windows and on staircases. Witnesses claim they’ve felt a gentle but icy hand rest on their shoulders and heard weeping when no one else was around.
Ghost Hunting at the Monte Carlo
Several paranormal teams have investigated the Monte Carlo in recent years, including episodes on independent YouTube ghost-hunting channels and local Nevada ghost tour groups. Their findings? EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomena), EMF spikes, and captured footage of doors closing on their own—and not due to drafts or old hinges either.
- EVP Recordings: Muffled cries, whispers, and responses to direct questions—including one eerie clip where a clear voice answers, “Still waiting,” when asked, “Why are you here?”
- Personal Experiences: Guests and guides alike have reported feelings of dread in certain parts of the building, most notably rooms in the back that were allegedly used for less-than-savory activities in the past.
- Apparition Sightings: Multiple eyewitness accounts describe full-body apparitions, including a man dressed in old-time miner garb and a child believed to have died during one of the many tuberculosis outbreaks.
Is the Monte Carlo Truly Haunted?
While skeptics may shrug off these reports as overactive imaginations or creaky floorboards, seasoned investigators believe there’s something uniquely spiritual—perhaps even sacred—about the energy within the Monte Carlo building. It may be the layered history, a tragic past, or something else entirely. Even those without ghost-hunting experience often leave convinced they’ve encountered something… otherworldly.
Whether you’re a professional investigator with a full spectrum of gear or simply an enthusiast with a smartphone and a thirst for the paranormal, the Monte Carlo Ghosts offer a rich and disturbing playground of activity waiting to be documented.
Planning Your Visit: Join the Hunt
Monte Carlo may no longer serve miners their nightly whiskey or house high-stakes card games, but it offers something even more exhilarating—a brush with Nevada’s spiritual underworld. Located conveniently along Virginia City’s ghost-tour circuit, the Monte Carlo is accessible year-round, though evenings and off-tour hours provide the most authentic paranormal experiences.
Before you go, here are a few tips:
- Bring a flashlight and extra batteries: The interior is dim, especially after dusk. Shadows linger even with overhead lighting.
- Go with a guide or tour group: Some of the best ghost stories come from veteran guides who’ve spent hours wrestling with the unexplained inside those haunted walls.
- Document your journey: Many visitors capture photos and audio worthy of a second glance. You might walk out with proof of the Monte Carlo Ghosts yourself.
Whether you’re deeply entrenched in paranormal investigating or just dipping your toes into the spectral world, Monte Carlo welcomes you with open arms—and perhaps, cold fingers. Experience history, mystery, and a dose of the unexplained, all under one creaky roof.
Ready to meet the Monte Carlo Ghosts? Pack your gear, charge your devices, and set your ghost-senses to high. Nevada’s shadowy past is waiting for you—and it never truly sleeps.