Spooky season is upon us, and like every major city, Vegas has a history of mysterious deaths and occurrences. Whether on the Strip or outside of city limits, there are several exciting stories that most locals haven’t heard about sites they go by on a regular basis.
Vegas Paranormal
Scope out this list and the stories behind each spot for a tour that’s equal parts history lesson and cautionary tale. Decide for yourself if they’re actually haunted or just rumors.
Horseshoe Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
Back in the 1980s, the MGM was actually located at the current site of Horseshoe Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. At the time, there were fewer laws about alarm systems and building materials, both of which contributed to the high number of casualties. A fire in the deli spread quickly through the building and took the lives of nearly 90 people, most of whom died due to smoke and carbon monoxide inhalation in the stairwells while trying to escape the blaze. To this day, front office staff allegedly receive reports of wandering figures on the upper floors and stairways, rumored to be the lost souls still trying to find their way out of the building.
La Palazza Mansion
Located in the historic Rancho South neighborhood, just west of the Las Vegas Strip, is the La Palazza Mansion. The home was purportedly owned by a mob boss back in the days of Sin City’s organized crime of the 1960s. Behind the façade of this Spanish-style mansion is a sordid history, allegedly the site of several mod attacks and murders. Ownership has changed hands several times over the years, but word has it that visitors have seen blood-splattered walls and heard disembodied voices arguing. Some even say that there are rooms with drains on the floor to help “clean up” these crimes. Currently privately owned and off-market, the most visitors can do these days is drive by the gates and wonder what’s inside.
The Mob Museum
Legitimately worth a visit in its own right, The Mob Museum features hundreds of artifacts and immersive exhibits telling the history of organized crime and the societal impact in the US. Here’s where the haunted part comes in: the museum itself is located at the former site of the downtown Las Vegas courthouse that prosecuted many of the mobsters that terrorized the city in the 1930s-60s. Those who are especially sensitive tend to avoid the areas with the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre wall and the gas chamber chair. On a lighter note, the museum also features an on-site distillery and hidden speakeasy.
The intersection of Flamingo & Koval
Every real hip-hop fan knows the story of how Tupac Shakur was shot to death on Friday, September 13, 1996, at the intersection of Flamingo and Koval. While it’s still technically classified as an unsolved murder, many people have strong opinions about who gunned down the “Thug Life” celebrity or whether he actually survived and quietly lived out his life in hiding. Die-hard fans visit the famous intersection to pay tribute, and many claim sightings of the famous rapper and his signature look with a bandana around his head — only to see him disappear into thin air.
Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum
Not for the faint of heart, this museum is a concentrated collection of haunted artifacts and the paranormal activity accompanying them. Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum itself is located inside a historic old Victorian house in downtown Las Vegas. It is allegedly a site where seances and other dark rituals were held in the 1970s. Visitors must sign a waiver before entering, and admission is limited to guests over age 16. Visitors can choose from a “typical” guided tour of the residence and its cursed contents or a seasonal “late-night flashlight ghost tour” experience that includes free reign of the facility armed with only a flashlight. Horror and paranormal movie fans will recognize macabre memorabilia like Peggy the Doll, the “Devil’s Rocking Chair” and the Dybbuk box.
Luxor Resort & Casino
The Luxor Resort & Casino is rumored to be the most haunted hotel on the Strip, allegedly due to a curse from Egyptian spirits offended by their likenesses used as a marketing ploy. Over the years, there have also been several deaths here, from construction workers during the initial building of the iconic pyramid to suicides and a series of unusual “accidents.” A cursory internet search turns up various deaths due to a parking lot bomb, a drunken fight in a suite party, a trio of Listeria infections, and several falls from open upper levels of the property. Is it an Egyptian curse claiming victims or just a series of unfortunate accidents and lax safety measures?
Hoover Dam
No Vegas list would be complete without mentioning the Hoover Dam, located about half an hour from the city. Urban legends claim that the mob disposed of bodies in the cement during the dam’s construction, but the actual deaths we know about are more plentiful. Round-the-clock construction crews built the dam, and there are many documented deaths from “industrial fatalities”—at least 100, by some records. Tours of the dam are available to visitors, some of whom have reported mysterious temperature drops, flickering lights, and dripping water sounds as possible signs of lingering spirits.
Westgate Resort & Casino
Celebrity deaths always seem to spark rumors, and Sin City is no exception. Even though it’s well documented that he died at his Graceland home in Memphis, Tennessee, many people swear that the ghost of Elvis Presley haunts the Westgate Resort & Casino, where he performed over 800 shows in the early 70s. Most sightings are reported in the 5,000 square foot “Elvis Suite” on the 30th floor, where he and his entourage used to stay. Visitors also report hearing his music and seeing him backstage at the theater where he used to perform.
