You’ll find Nevada’s most spectacular ghost town events in Virginia City, which hosts month-long Hauntober celebrations featuring costume contests, haunted cemetery tours, and trick-or-treating at historic storefronts. Carson City’s renowned Ghost Walk connects over 50 heritage sites through theatrical Victorian storytelling, while Beatty Days offers authentic Old West shoot-outs and chili cook-offs. Ely’s haunted ghost trains and Nelson Ghost Town’s year-round guided mine tours round out Nevada’s premier ghost town festival circuit. Discover ideal timing strategies and insider booking tips that’ll maximize your paranormal adventure.
Key Takeaways
- Virginia City hosts Halloween Hauntober with costume contests, parades, haunted trains, and paranormal saloon crawls throughout October.
- Carson City celebrates Mark Twain Days featuring Victorian ghost tours, theatrical reenactments, and walks connecting over 50 historic sites.
- Beatty Days includes chili cook-offs, Old West shoot-outs, horse-drawn wagons, live music, and bed races during Nevada Day Weekend.
- Ely offers haunted ghost train rides and haunted history events during early fall and October ghost town explorations.
- Nelson Ghost Town provides guided mine tours, self-guided explorations, and creative filming opportunities on its historic 51-acre site year-round.
Virginia City’s Hauntober: A Month-Long Halloween Celebration
When October arrives in Virginia City, this legendary ghost town transforms into Nevada’s ultimate Halloween destination with Hauntober—a month-long celebration that draws thousands of thrill-seekers to one of America’s most haunted towns.
You’ll discover authentic haunted history through immersive paranormal investigations, spine-chilling ghost tours at Gold Hill Hotel and Mackay Mansion, and after-dark cemetery strolls.
Experience spooky traditions with the October 31st Costume Contest and Parade, Haunted Halloween Graveyard Train, and the thrilling Haunted Horseless Hayride.
From family-friendly V&T Railroad Pumpkin Patch trains to the Victorian All Hallows Eve Ball at Fourth Ward School Museum on October 25th, you’ll find events spanning the entire month.
Don’t miss The Spirits Made Me Do It Saloon Crawl, where you can explore Virginia City’s historic watering holes with a paranormal twist.
The Bats in the Belfry Ghost Tours guide you through the town’s most haunted locations with expert storytelling about Virginia City’s supernatural past.
Cap off Halloween night with safe trick-or-treating along historic boardwalks and haunted house experiences at Silver Terrace Cemetery.
Carson City Ghost Walk: Three Decades of Theatrical History Tours
Since 1992, Carson City Ghost Walk has captivated over three decades of visitors with its award-winning blend of theatrical performances and paranormal history, making it Nevada’s longest-running Halloween tradition.
Nevada’s longest-running Halloween tradition combines award-winning theatrical performances with authentic paranormal history spanning over three decades.
You’ll set out on two-hour outdoor tours exploring the haunted West Side, where historical reenactments bring Victorian-era spirits to life at landmarks like the 1860 Stewart-Nye House and the 1879 Bliss Mansion—Nevada’s largest home at completion.
Led by costumed Spirit Wranglers, you’ll discover paranormal investigation stories from the 1862-founded Ghost Club while touring sites including the state’s oldest standing brothel.
The tour explores Victorian spiritualism practices from an era when 4-11 million Americans identified as Spiritualists, connecting Nevada’s statehood history with 19th-century paranormal beliefs.
All-day Saturday tours depart every half-hour from 10:00 AM, featuring family-friendly theatrical elements and deathly Victorian beauty demonstrations.
The largest turnout occurred in 2005, when over 2,000 participants joined the 13th annual event.
This immersive experience offers you unrestricted access to Carson City’s most compelling haunted history.
Elko’s October Walking Tours Through Haunted Downtown
* Wine and hors d’oeuvres served at multiple downtown stops throughout your evening journey.
- $40 tickets grant 21+ access to extended weekend tours during prime 6–8 PM slots.
- Psychic medium exhibitions and local storytellers deliver authentic western desperado accounts.
- Modern archaeology sites where researchers actively uncover artifacts at the St. Thomas interpretive center
- Foundation structures from the town’s peak population of several hundred residents
- Environmental impact evidence showing how Lake Mead’s formation created America’s largest reservoir
- Two sanctioned chili cook-offs competing for bragging rights alongside quick-draw competitions and Old West shoot-outs
- The Tombstone 5K running past historic graveyards and mining-era landmarks
- Quirky contests including bed races, root beer belching competitions, and pickle liquor challenges
- Limited to 40 participants per departure from Bob McFadden Plaza (10:00 a.m.)
- $25 advance tickets via carsoncityghostwalk.com ($30 at door, cash only)
- Rain or shine operation—dress accordingly, costumes encouraged
- Literary hotspots including Orion Clemens Mansion where Twain crafted his frontier tales
- Penny dreadful narratives featuring vigilante justice, rowdy miners, and tragic ends
- Architectural gems from the 1860s housing Comstock millionaires’ restless spirits
- Mid-October weekends (16-19) feature multi-day festivals like Carson City Ghost Walk running 13+ hours and Mark Twain Days theatrical performances.
- October 25 delivers concentrated thrills with Fright at the Museum ($15, ages 10+) from 6:00-9:00 pm plus evening Ghost Walk tours.
- Early November extends your adventure with Nevada Day Parade’s four-hour spectacle starting 10:00 am.
- https://visitvirginiacitynv.com/hauntober/
- http://carsoncityghostwalk.com
- https://gonevadacounty.com/halloween-tours-nevada/
- https://www.nevadahauntedhouses.com
- https://exploreelko.com/things-to-do/uncommon-activities/ghost-towns/
- https://nvtami.com/2023/12/05/las-vegas/
- https://www.worldatlas.com/cities/these-8-nevada-towns-have-the-most-unique-festivals.html
- https://travelnevada.com/ghost-town/
- https://www.whitepinecounty.net/Calendar.aspx
- https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/nine-small-town-nevada-festivals-with-big-time-charm
Both the Downtown Business Association and Chamber of Commerce operate competing October tours, maximizing your opportunities to experience Elko’s paranormal heritage under nearly full Nevada Day weekend moons. The three-night event runs October 23–25, featuring theatrical retellings at venues including the Western Folklife Center, Lostra Inc., and The Underground. Tour highlights include visits to Kate Brown Photography studio, Burns Funeral Home, and the historic jail yard where Mr. & Mrs. Potts were hanged.
Nelson Ghost Town: Year-Round Photography and Exploration
Nestled in dramatic Eldorado Canyon just 45 minutes south of Las Vegas, Nelson Ghost Town delivers $10 million worth of historical authenticity from its peak production era between 1864-1900.
You’ll explore 51 acres of meticulously restored buildings and weathered mining equipment that Tony and Bobbie Werly transformed after their 1994 purchase.
The mining history here runs deep—from the 1861 Techatticup Mine establishment through violent claim disputes and Civil War deserter chaos until operations ceased in 1941.
Photography tips? You’re in a designated photographer’s paradise with year-round access to dramatic canyon backdrops, rusting relics, and ghostly structures.
Take guided mine tours, wander freely through Wild West remnants, and capture the lawless spirit that made this location perfect for film shoots and music videos. The town’s outlaw reputation stemmed from frequent murders over mining claims, with law enforcement rarely intervening given that the nearest sheriff operated roughly 200 miles away. Before gold prospectors arrived, Native Americans extracted turquoise from this site for hundreds of years.
St. Thomas: Nevada’s Sunken Town Rises Again
You’ll find St. Thomas’s concrete foundations and structural remnants exposed along a 2.5-mile loop trail, where ruins once submerged under 50 to 70 feet of Lake Mead water have dramatically reemerged due to declining reservoir levels.
The National Park Service protects this historic site within Lake Mead National Recreation Area, providing parking access and vault toilets at Stewart’s Point and St. Thomas for your exploration.
You’re witnessing a rare phenomenon—a town founded in 1865, drowned in 1938, and now rising from the depths as one of Nevada’s most extraordinary ghost town experiences.
Before its flooding, archaeologists and the Civilian Conservation Corps rescued thousands of artifacts from the region’s ancient Basketmaker and Pueblo sites, which are now displayed at the Lost City Museum in Overton.
The town’s name honors Saint Thomas, though the settlement’s history differs from other places sharing this common designation.
Exploring the Submerged Ruins
When drought conditions lowered Lake Mead‘s water levels in recent years, they revealed something extraordinary: the ruins of St. Thomas. You’ll discover a preserved piece of 1865 history emerging from decades underwater.
The National Park Service maintains trails through these foundations, letting you walk freely among remnants of homes, businesses, and the historic Gentry Hotel.
What You’ll Experience:
This ghost town offers unprecedented access to submerged history. You’re witnessing a settlement that survived abandonment in 1871, thrived again by 1913, then vanished beneath water in 1938—now dramatically resurging.
Access and Visitor Information
Getting to St. Thomas requires traversing a 3.5-mile dirt road from Highway 169’s intersection with North Lakeshore Road—you’ll need high-clearance vehicles for this bumpy adventure.
Your parking area off Old St. Thomas Road launches you into 2.5 miles of freedom through Nevada’s 1.5-million-acre Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
Pack water, wear long pants and sturdy shoes for the 1.5-hour trek through salt-encrusted terrain and tamarisk branches.
You’ll encounter vault toilets at Stewart’s Point, though the trailhead offers no facilities.
The Lost City Museum welcomes you daily 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ($3 admission) near Overton.
Remember: environmental conservation rules strictly prohibit collecting artifacts or metal detecting—report violations to 702-293-8998.
Wildlife observation opportunities abound throughout this protected corridor.
Beatty Days: Small-Town Festival With Historic Charm
During Nevada Day weekend each October, the small town of Beatty transforms into a bustling celebration of Old West heritage that draws hundreds of visitors from across the region.
This unincorporated community of 1,200 residents opens its doors for Beatty Days, where mining heritage meets modern community celebrations in an authentic desert setting.
You’ll experience genuine freedom at this multi-day festival featuring:
From the Lions Club pancake breakfast to horse-drawn wagon rides through town, every event honors Beatty’s survival through boom-bust cycles.
Live music, motorcycle shows, and historical reenactments fill the weekend with adventure.
Virginia City’s Halloween Finale: Costume Contest and Trick-or-Treating
Where else can you watch thousands of ghouls parade down a historic boardwalk before trick-or-treating at 150-year-old storefronts? Virginia City‘s Hauntober culminates October 31st with its Costume Contest and Parade—your chance to showcase costume creativity in America’s most authentic ghost town.
Check-in starts at 4:30 p.m. at Virginia City Jerky Company, where prizes await the best-dressed goblins. The 5 p.m. parade transforms C Street into a Halloween spectacle, welcoming adults, kids, and costumed pets.
From 6-8 p.m., you’ll trick-or-treat along the boardwalk while experiencing genuine Halloween traditions in a town that’s been celebrating since the 1800s.
Call the Visitors Center at 775-847-7500 to join the thousands who’ve discovered Nevada’s ultimate Halloween freedom.
Carson City’s Themed Tours: From Twain to Penny Dreadfuls
You’ll discover Carson City’s ghost tours transform historical landmarks into spine-tingling theatrical experiences, with the Kit Carson Trail connecting 50+ heritage sites where Mark Twain’s literary legacy meets Victorian-era supernatural folklore.
The Nevada State Museum and Brewery Arts Center anchor themed walking adventures that blend 19th-century mining town history with penny dreadful-style ghost stories, drawing thousands of visitors annually to Carson City’s spirited streets.
From Madame Curry’s lantern-lit expeditions to dramatic re-enactments at haunted mansions like the Ferris House, you’re experiencing living history where Comstock Lode tycoons and founding fathers still make their spectral presence known.
Twain & The Fabulists Tour
Since 1993, Carson City’s Ghost Walk tradition has captivated thousands of history enthusiasts, and the third annual Mark Twain Days on October 18, 2025, elevates this 32-year legacy with the Twain & The Fabulists Ghost Walk—a 90-minute theatrical journey through the Victorian west side‘s most scandalous tales.
You’ll traverse Twain’s 1863 paths alongside Spirit Wranglers who bring Wild West legends to life through Victorian storytelling. This 1.5-mile adventure reveals mining mayhem, literary hoaxes, and unruly scribes like Sam Davis who shaped Nevada territory.
Tour Essentials:
Tickets are non-refundable but transferable with 12-hour notice. Arrive early to secure your spot exploring Carson City’s battle-born era!
Madame Curry’s Flashlight Adventures
Summer 2025 tours depart Saturdays at 7 PM (June 14th, 28th; July 12th, 19th, 26th) from McFadden Plaza.
September’s flashlight tours (6th, 13th, 20th, 27th) illuminate historical ghost stories inside the Governor’s Mansion and private West Side residences.
Spirit wrangler Baylee Biber guides you through Civil War-era hauntings and gold rush narratives—these theatrical re-enactments will liberate you from ordinary history tours.
Theatrical Re-enactments and Partnerships
When Madame Curry and her Spirit Wranglers sweep through Carson City’s gaslit streets, you’re witnessing Nevada’s longest-running theatrical ghost tour—now celebrating its 29th season of blending historical accuracy with spine-tingling entertainment.
These haunted reenactments transform Victorian-era landmarks into living stage sets where Mark Twain’s literary legacy collides with Wild West outlaws and silver rush spirits.
Theatrical partnerships with organizations like Lizzie Borden Ghost Tours and the Nevada State Museum create extensive experiences spanning 48 historic stops along the Kit Carson Trail:
You’ll explore freely—self-guided trails run sunrise to sunset, flashlight tours Saturday nights through October.
Elko County’s Self-Guided Ghost Town Adventures
Preservation efforts protect these 800+ sites statewide through federal and state law, so you’re required to leave artifacts untouched—trail cams monitor compliance.
ExploreElko.com and NVtami.com provide essential resources, while Angel Lake Scenic Byway and the Gem trail system from Harrison Pass open access to centuries-old mines waiting for your discovery.
Planning Your Visit: Best Times to Experience Nevada’s Ghost Town Events
October transforms Nevada’s ghost towns into spine-tingling destinations, with 90% of the state’s haunted events concentrated in this peak month. You’ll discover the preferable freedom to explore ghostly folklore when fall’s atmospheric chill replaces summer’s oppressive heat.
Strategic timing maximizes your haunted architecture experiences:
Book tickets early—popular events like Ely’s Haunted Ghost Train sell out quickly.
Saturday evening tours at 7:00 pm offer ideal darkness for spine-chilling encounters with Virginia City’s paranormal residents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Nevada’s Ghost Town Events Suitable for Young Children?
Many events are perfect for your family! You’ll discover historical reenactments and family-friendly activities at Virginia City’s festivals and Pahrump’s Balloon Festival. However, you should check specific ghost tours beforehand, as some feature intense paranormal themes.
What Should I Bring for a Ghost Town Tour in Nevada?
You’ll want sturdy boots, sun protection, water, and cameras to capture memories! Many visitors love bringing Wild West costumes for photo opportunities and budget extra cash for Historical souvenirs—over 80% of tours feature authentic artifact shops!
Do I Need Advance Reservations for These Ghost Town Events?
Yes, you’ll need advance reservations! Event registration is essential—Sutro Tunnel sells zero tickets at the door, and Mackay Mansion investigations cost $50 per person. Meeting reservation requirements guarantees your spot at these incredible historical adventures!
Are the Ghost Town Locations Wheelchair Accessible?
Accessibility features vary considerably! You’ll find wheelchair-accessible parking facilities and barrier-free pathways at Las Vegas’s Neon Museum, while Carson City and Elko tours don’t specify accessibility details—contact operators directly to guarantee your independent exploration isn’t limited!
Can I Camp Near Nevada’s Ghost Towns During the Events?
While Nevada boasts 600+ ghost towns, you’ll need camping gear for remote sites since event schedules rarely include designated camping. The 6-day Beatty tour offers all-inclusive accommodations, and Virginia City hotels provide freedom to explore without pitching tents!
