Bonanza Saloon
1870 mining-era saloon with violent spirits and haunted table
27 C St, Virginia City, NV 89440
Age
21+ for alcohol service
Cost
$$
Menu items $12-18; drinks $4-8
Access
Limited Access
Historic building with uneven flooring
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1870 · Comstock Mining Boom · Virginia City Gaming Culture · 1870s Saloon Era · Mining-Era Architecture
The Bonanza Saloon was built in 1870 during one of the most transformative periods in Virginia City's history. Following the discovery of the Big Bonanza in the Comstock mining district, Virginia City reached a population of over 25,000 by the mid-1870s. During this era of extraordinary mining prosperity, the town supported more than 100 saloons, making establishments like the Bonanza essential social and economic centers for miners, prospectors, and merchants.
The construction of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad to Virginia City in 1870 connected the Comstock district directly to Carson City and the Central Pacific Railroad, catalyzing growth during the exact period when the Bonanza Saloon opened. The building's solid construction and prominent location on C Street ensured its survival through Virginia City's boom-and-bust cycles across subsequent decades.
Over the following 150+ years, the building served as home to many different businesses and enterprises. It has maintained its presence as a saloon and dining establishment while also serving other commercial purposes. The structure's architectural features—including its basement level and original gaming tables—remain largely intact from its 19th-century origins.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_City,_Nevada
- https://visitvirginiacitynv.com/history/
- https://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/2023/apr/11/nevada-traveler-virginia-citys-old-time-saloons/
The Bonanza Saloon has acquired a formidable reputation for violent paranormal activity, centered primarily on its basement level. According to accounts from staff and paranormal investigators, a dark and aggressive entity resides in the basement and is known to attack anyone who ventures into its domain without invitation.
The most notorious feature of the saloon is an artifact known as the Suicide Table—an original Faro gaming table now protected under Plexiglas. Three men are documented to have taken their own lives after losing substantial sums at this specific table. The concentration of tragic deaths around this object is believed to have anchored a particularly malevolent presence within the building.
Employee accounts describe a pattern of violent encounters: female staff members report having their hair pulled by unseen forces, being chased through the building by an invisible presence, having objects thrown at them, and being touched inappropriately. Multiple employees have reportedly quit their positions due to the severity and frequency of these encounters upstairs and in the basement. The intensity of these reports goes beyond typical paranormal phenomena—staff describe the encounters as overtly hostile and physically aggressive.
The Ghost Adventures crew investigated the Bonanza Saloon in 2020, documenting cases where the resident entity reportedly engaged in direct attacks on investigators. Beyond the basement violence, the saloon also reports the clinking of glasses, echoing laughter through empty rooms, and sudden temperature drops throughout the establishment. A waving female apparition has been observed on the balcony area, adding an additional layer to the location's paranormal activity.
Notable Entities
Media Appearances
- Ghost Adventures: Beneath the Bonanza (2020)
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