Carson City's 1863 home of the Ferris wheel inventor's family, where a second bride appeared uninvited at a 1900s wedding reception
311 W Third St, Carson City, NV 89703
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
$
Exterior viewing is free. Included on the Carson City Ghost Walk tour (ticketed, runs June–October); check US Ghost Adventures for pricing.
Access
Limited Access
Private residence on a residential street; exterior viewing from sidewalk only.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1863 · Birthplace of the Ferris Wheel Inventor · National Register of Historic Places (1979) · Carson City Pioneer History
The house at 311 W Third Street in Carson City was built around 1863 by Gregory A. Sears, described in early records as a pioneer businessman. The property changed hands in 1868 when George Washington Gale Ferris Sr. purchased it for his family.
Ferris Sr. was an agriculturist by trade and left a visible mark on Carson City — he imported large numbers of eastern trees and is credited with planting some of the early specimens on the Nevada State Capitol grounds, possibly including the blue spruce that became the state Christmas tree. The family occupied the home until 1890, and one of its most historically significant residents was Ferris Sr.'s son, George Washington Gale Ferris Jr., who lived there as a boy from 1868 until 1877, when he departed for school.
The younger Ferris went on to become a civil and mechanical engineer. His most famous work — the original Ferris wheel, standing 300 feet tall — debuted at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893, where it carried passengers on 36 cars around its 825-foot circumference.
The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 (reference no. 79003438). It features Colonial Revival and Georgian Revival architectural elements and occupies a roughly sixty-by-sixty-foot footprint on a 0.3-acre lot. It remains under private ownership and is not open to the public.
Sources
The best-documented incident at the Ferris Mansion involves a wedding reception held at the property in the early 1900s. Multiple guests independently asked the bride's father about a second woman in a wedding dress they had seen near the back gate. The man told them his daughter had been the only bride present, but the guests insisted they had not only observed the figure but spoken with her. The apparition has been reported at the property in the years since.
A second recurring report involves a strong smell of aftershave, particularly in the home's hallways. It is attributed to Ferris Sr., who by contemporary accounts applied the scent generously. Neither phenomenon has a documented origin in tragedy — the mansion's ghost lore leans toward lingering presence rather than violent history.
The house is included on the Carson City Ghost Walk, a seasonally operated walking tour of downtown Carson City's historically notable addresses. Ghost walk participants have reported feeling followed through the house grounds.
Notable Entities
The Sears–Ferris House is a private residence and not open to the public. The 1863 Colonial/Georgian Revival structure at 311 W Third Street can be viewed from the sidewalk. George Washington Gale Ferris Sr. owned the home from 1868 to 1890; his son, future Ferris wheel inventor George Washington Gale Ferris Jr., grew up here before leaving for school in 1877.
The Ferris Mansion is a stop on the Carson City Ghost Walk tour, a family-friendly evening walking tour led by Madame Curry through downtown Carson City. The tour runs June through October. Tickets available through US Ghost Adventures.
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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