The Old Washoe Club – Spirits of the Old West

The bar at the Old Washoe Club has left both staff and guests feeling unsettled. Visitors have experienced being touched, electronic devices malfunctioning and disembodied voices around the bar. The lingering spirit of an old prospector is rumoured to reside here, renowned for his fondness of bourbon shots. His mischievous presence is blamed for drinks disappearing, bar stools being knocked over, and doors locking. He is said to enjoy the company of women and often shows this by opening doors for them.

The staircase is known for the spirit of “The Lady in Blue”, a figure that has captivated visitors and staff alike. Believed to be Lena, a prostitute who met a tragic end in the 1880s, she is frequently spotted at the top of the staircase and is described as wearing a blue Victorian-era dress with blonde hair. She is rumoured to have been a victim of foul play within the club and photographs taken of the staircase have revealed white or blue mists. People often smell cigar smoke and hear phantom poker games from upstairs, where “The Millionaires Club” once thrived, adding to the mysteries of this forbidden staircase which is now closed off to the public.

The ballroom has been witness to a tragic history, having once served as a makeshift hospital during the tumultuous 1860s. In 1864, the life of a 10-year-old girl named Gretchen, was cut short after unfortunately being struck by a horse-drawn carriage on the street, she was bought back inside the club but ultimately died from her injuries. Witnesses have reported sightings of a ghostly figure resembling a young girl as well as the sound of footsteps and the innocent laughter of a child in the ballroom.

In 1873, a neighbouring building explosion claimed the lives of 12 individuals, including two residents on the third floor of the Old Washoe Club, one of whom was 8-year-old Ella. There are several accounts of child laughter and of Ella’s toys moving on their own, including an Annabelle Doll, sat in a rocking chair that is known to sway back and forth. The third floor was more recently marked by the heartbreaking suicide of bartender Scotty in 1982, after suffering the loss of his son in a mining disaster. The third floor also has a Red Room that has reported unexplained scratches, doors slamming and a strange sulphur smell that leaves visitors feeling dizzy. The third floor music room is also known for notes of piano music, occasionally accompanied by disembodied voices and footsteps.

Located at the back of the building, the crypt is a haunting reminder of the Old Washoe Club’s dark history. Once used as a morgue overflow in 1874, during the unforgiving winter months, the crypt housed the remains of 77 individuals unable to be buried due to the frozen ground. Visitors describe an uncomfortable and uneasy feeling when steeping foot inside the crypt.

Stepping through the weathered doors of the Old Washoe Club feels like a journey back in time to the “Old West”. Each creaking floorboard and flickering light holds the promise of meeting the spirits that call this place home. You can experience the Old Washoe Club for yourself by booking a ghost tour or an overnight investigation, whether you wish to visit the onsite museum, or gaze upon the longest spiral staircase without a supporting pole as seen in ‘Ripley’s Believe It or Not’, or make connect with the resident spirits, the Old Washoe Club offers something truly special for every visitor to appreciate!