Haunted Gold Hill Hotel

Hubby and I celebrated the anniversary of our first date with an evening in Nevada’s oldest hotel. We attended the Gold Hill Hotel Haunted Ghost Tour and dinner. Benefits support the Comstock Foundation for History and Culture. This wonderful group has restored and preserved many structures around Virginia City, including Donovan Mill.

I’m pretty sure twenty-three years ago, Hubby would have never thought I’d be taking him on a ghost hunt.

Gold Hill Hotel

Within months of Nevada becoming a territory in 1861, Gold Hill boomed, and the population doubled from 638 to 1,297. Miners, merchants, and town residents needed a place to stay. To meet the town’s needs, Riesen House, a boarding house, was under construction by July 1861.

Horace Vesey took over Riesen House in 1862, and it changed name to Vesey’s Hotel. Over the years, it changed names several more times.

Vesey’s Hotel c1860s
(Photo credit: Gold Hill Hotel)

The structure has served as a rooming house, private residence, bar, and even a brothel. I have had the pleasure of staying in the newer hotel section and at the 1864 Gold Hill Brewery house across the street.

Haunted Gold Hill Hotel at night ghost towns Virginia City, Comstock, Storey County Nevada out signs

Gold Hill Hotel has been a fixture of the Comstock for over one hundred sixty years.

The hotel also includes the “Miner’s Cabin” at the base of the Yellowjacket headframe.

Haunted Gold Hill Hotel at night ghost towns Virginia City, Comstock, Storey County Nevada Miner's Cabin — Miner’s Cabin

Crown Point Restaurant

Haunted Gold Hill Hotel at night ghost towns Virginia City, Comstock, Storey County Nevada Miner's Steak dinner

Crown Point Restaurant at the hotel is amazing. I am hard-pressed to decide if dinner or Sunday brunch is my favorite. I had the Miner’s Tri-Tip; I’m confident miners did not enjoy the same quality. Hubby had Crown Point Chicken which was yummy. That says a lot since I’m not a chicken fan.

Haunted Gold Hill Hotel at night ghost towns Virginia City, Comstock, Storey County Nevada French Toast

Bananas Foster French Toast, so decadent!

On another trip, I enjoyed a delicious brunch at Crown Point before a day of ghost towning with my mom and sister.

Hauntings

Gold Hill Hotel has many reports of hauntings. Each part of the hotel and grounds is said to have its own inhabitants.

Room 4: Said to be visited by Rosie, a prostitute who lived in the hotel and likes to unlock doors, accompanied by the scent of roses.

Room 5: Visitors report the previous owner or a miner who enjoys sitting on the corner of the bed

3rd Floor: It is reported a little girl still finds the landing a good play area.

Miner’s Cabin: Guests have claimed they hear a man crying.

Yellow Jacket Mine: The mine is purported to be one of Nevada’s most haunted locations.

Haunted Gold Hill Hotel at night ghost towns Virginia City, Comstock, Storey County Nevada Yellow Jacked Ore chute and bin — Yellow Jacket Mine

The Yellow Jacket Mine fire was the worst mining disaster in Nevada. On April 7, 1869, fire overtook the mine and two neighboring mines. The fire and smoke were intense. A handful of miners survived and no one was rescued after two hours from the start of the blaze. Over thirty-five people died. Many bodies were never recovered and remain in the tunnels.

Gold Hill Nevada Ghost Town Virginia City Yellow Jacket Mine Fire Disaster firefighters fighting fire — Yellow Jacket Mine Fire
(Photo credit: Only in Your State)

Haunted Gold Hill Hotel at night ghost towns Virginia City, Comstock, Storey County Nevada Yellow Jacket headfrme — Yellow Jacket Mine Headframe

Haunted Gold Hill Hotel at night ghost towns Virginia City, Comstock, Storey County Nevada Miner's Cabin Yellow Jacket Gold Mine Office

Hunting Ghosts

Northern Nevada Ghost Hunters lead our post-dining ghost hunt. We visited several of the rooms and the headframe of the Yellow Jacket Mine.

Haunted Gold Hill Hotel at night ghost towns Virginia City, Comstock, Storey County Nevada tools

Our guides instructed us in the use of ghost hunting tools, including an EMF meter, REM Pod, dowsing rods, and reading energy.

Our efforts were unsuccessful. The guide believed this may have been due to the presence of the hotel’s cat or three large, grounded men, including Hubby, keeping the spirits at bay that night.

Northern Nevada Ghost Hunters have tours at other locations, so I might try again.