HauntBound archive · catalog record
Reported phenomena — as catalogued
An 1857 Grass Valley brick saloon and steakhouse with a resident card-game ghost named George
134 Mill St, Grass Valley, CA 95945
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages in dining area; 21+ at the bar
Cost
$$
Steakhouse and bar pricing; entrees roughly $15-35
Access
Wheelchair OK
Paved downtown sidewalk and entry
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1857 · Gold Rush-Era Commercial Building · Grass Valley Historic Downtown · Continuously Operating Saloon · Post-Fire 1857 Brick Construction
The building at 134 Mill Street went up in 1857, two years after a fire destroyed much of Grass Valley's commercial center. According to the local paper, The Union, the structure was first established as Montgomery's Bank by banker George A. Montgomery. The property changed hands in 1883 when it was sold to Patrick S. Murphy, who renamed it the Bank Exchange Saloon in 1887.
The establishment eventually became known as the Owl Tavern, a name tied to its 24-hour operation serving miners through the night during Grass Valley's hard-rock gold mining decades. Nevada County was one of the most productive gold districts in California, and downtown bars like this one ran on a round-the-clock schedule that matched the mines' shifts.
The Owl has continued as a working bar and restaurant through multiple ownerships. Steve Graham, who bought the business in February 2012, told The Union he had no interest in modernizing the interior, describing the place as historic and choosing to preserve its character. The kitchen now centers on steaks, and the bar remains a gathering spot for regulars.
The brick walls, narrow footprint, and long bar are consistent with the surviving 19th-century commercial buildings that line Mill Street in the Grass Valley historic district.
Sources
The Owl's ghost goes by George. As the story is told by staff and printed in The Union, George was a gambler shot in the saloon during a card game after being accused of cheating. Regulars ask to sit in the booth associated with the shooting, and the owner has spoken openly about the legend to local press rather than promoting it as a formal attraction.
The reported activity is the kind described in many old bars. Former employees have said the dishwasher turned on by itself and that bottles moved or fell behind the bar without an obvious cause. A paranormal-interest account published through HPI Chronicles recounts an investigation of the Owl alongside the nearby Holbrooke Hotel, attributing the same patterns of activity to George and describing the building's long after-hours history.
The Owl does not run ghost tours or paranormal events. The story circulates through the staff, the occasional newspaper feature, and patrons who hear it from the bartender. The card-game detail and the name George are consistent across the local coverage and the investigation write-up, which is what keeps the legend in regular circulation in Grass Valley.
Notable Entities
A meal or a drink in the 1857 brick saloon on Mill Street. The booth where regulars say the ghost called George was shot during a card game remains a point of conversation among staff and patrons. The kitchen and bar are the spots where former employees reported the dishwasher turning on by itself and bottles moving.
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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