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On the heels of the Gold Rush, the American West blossomed. Mining camps and settlements dotted the landscape, offering shelter and creature comforts to those cashing in on productive lodes. Today, though many encampments have vanished, others have left behind imprints of their sordid histories, residual spirits bound by horrid true stories of the Wild West.
Blood was spilled across these mining towns, but apparitions remain most active in buildings that once housed saloons and brothels. From the infamous Saloon No. 10 in Deadwood to Tombstone’s Bird Cage Theatre, these haunted relics are well-known examples of Old West venues touched by a darkness that often feels unique to saloons and brothels. What is it about these early-20th-century dens of debauchery that tends to draw ghostly activity?
The answer is rather simple, if not a little distressing and damning to the romanticized vision of the American West.
Once abundant throughout the United States, the number of existing saloons and brothels has dipped into the teens. Some have done their best to retain their Old West theming, but others followed the times to become common pubs or, in some instances, different businesses altogether. For the most haunted saloons and brothels, operating and otherwise, travelers will want to look to:
- Bird Cage Theatre, Tombstone, AZ
- Wunsche Brothers Cafe, Spring, TX
- The Pioneer Saloon, Goodspings, NV
- The Overland Hotel, Pioche, NV
- The Red Onion, Skagway, AK
- Antique Warehouse, Galveston, TX
Before getting too deep into the history of haunted saloons and brothels, it’s important to understand what can cause a spirit to manifest.
In movies, ghosts are often depicted as having unfinished business, and while that’s not an unsound theory, it doesn’t fully encompass the broad spectrum of hauntings around the world.
One prevailing theory is that moments of intense emotion leave an imprint on the invisible fabric of our realm. These events replay on a loop like memories, unaware of the world around them. Possible causes of this kind of haunt include:
- Murder
- Suicide
- Acts of violence
- Desperation
- Extreme sorrow
There’s also the theory that spirits return to somewhere familiar, a place where they may have found comfort or purpose.
A prospector whose gambling addiction proved fruitful at the saloon, or a madam who practically lived in her brothel, is likely to return to these locations due to their familiarity and what they meant to their living counterpart.
Saloons and brothels sometimes existed under one roof. They had distinct purposes, offering a place where workers could spend their stipend, drowning themselves in gambling, drinks, and, in many places, women.
The dangerous amalgam of vices didn’t always mesh well, leading to moments of trauma and tragedy that left many of the nation’s remaining saloons and brothels haunted by the ghosts of their past.
For men seeking the thrill of physical touch, brothels provided the opportunity to fulfill fantasies and forget the world while in the arms of a beautiful woman. Unfortunately, encounters sometimes ended with blood pooled on the floor.
After it opened in 1907, the Mizpah Hotel became the site of a murder when a working girl was killed. Some accounts claim it was her John, while others point to a jealous lover. Regardless, her death is imprinted on the hotel, and she’s become known locally as the Lady in Red.
Similar cases were abundant in the Old West, dotting the late-19th and early-20th century timeline with horrific murders that left behind an eerie presence. In Santa Paula, for example, the Glen Tavern Inn is said to be home to the spirit of Rose, a brothel worker left decapitated by her client.
It’s not just the trauma of slain working girls that resonates in these old establishments. At the Red Onion in Skagway, Alaska, for instance, a dark energy pulsates in the air. It’s believed this is the spirit of a bouncer who was killed for harassing the brothel’s workers.
Similar to brothels, saloons also saw their share of violence and death. A card game gone wrong or a clash of loud and unwavering egos could, and occasionally did, lead to smoking guns and new graves.
In Goodsprings, Nevada, the Pioneer Saloon is known for many spirits. Among them is a poker player who was shot to death while trying to flee with his winnings after he was caught cheating. Some believe an old miner also visits the historic saloon, reliving his days spent drinking at the bar.
With gambling and alcohol prevalent at classic saloons, they weren’t strangers to desperation. At Denver’s The Navarre, the gambling hall drained one man of his earnings. Despondent and low on options, he turned the gun on himself and fired, making him a permanent fixture of the old building.
The spectral energy at some brothels and saloons can be borderline palpable, electrifying the air. These Wild West establishments were charged with emotion or marked by tragedy, which persist well over a century later. From the sorrowful phantoms of murdered working girls to greedy gamblers who faced punishment for cheating, apparitions still linger, waiting to tell their tales to anyone who will listen.
https://usghostadventures.com/haunted-stories/why-are-former-brothels-and-saloons-prone-to-hauntings/