Casinos, lavish suites, wild parties, and exclusive clubs might come to mind when you think of Las Vegas, but of course, there's more to the city than that. Vegas isn’t known as "Sin City" for nothing. Unfortunately, the city has seen more than its fair share of mafia leaders and crazy killings throughout the years.
Card games, parties, and spectacular evening shows draw the tourists in—but behind the glitz and glamor, Las Vegas harbors a chilling dark side. In this article, we'll let you in on some of the most horrifying incidents to have occurred in the city over the years.
Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino
According to some stories, Elvis is still in the building! In spirit, at least. To be more specific, the King is said to haunt the ultra-luxurious Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. This is the same venue where he once put on an incredible 837 shows between 1969 and 1976. The resort was known as the International Hotel and later as the Las Vegas Hilton.
Presley’s spirit has purportedly been sighted on the upper-floor halls of the Resort, as well as the International Theater backstage. You might say that He Touched Me—from beyond the grave. Long live the King.
The Tunnels of Sandhill Road
The strange flood tunnels beneath Sandhill Road are terrifying to venture through, particularly at night. Some late-night drivers have recounted tales of being followed in their automobiles down an adjacent dirt road by the spirit of a mad old lady, who then vanishes once they leave the area.
Other visitors to the tunnels claim to have heard eerie voices coming from deep within. Could this lady have died in these tunnels? Perhaps someone who died in an automobile accident on this very site many years ago continues to haunt the tunnels of Sandhill Road.
Bugsy Siegel Memorial
The famous criminal, Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, was a major player in the rise of the Las Vegas Strip. His Flamingo Hotel & Casino was the first luxury hotel to open there. However, a year after it opened, Siegel was assassinated in cold blood while reading the Los Angeles Times at Virginia Hill’s house.
A bronze memorial to Siegel can be located right outside the wedding chapel at the Flamingo Las Vegas. According to local legend, the ghost of the mobster can be seen strolling aimlessly about the area in his smoking jacket.
Redd Foxx House
Redd Foxx was a terrific comedian in his day. He was best remembered for his depiction of "Fred G. Sanford" and was a lifelong resident of Las Vegas. Foxx is said to have cherished his home so much that he refused to leave it, and he purportedly continues to haunt his property to this day.
Even in the afterlife, Foxx seems to love getting a rise out of folks. Visitors to the Foxx house claim to have seen doors opening and closing on their own, as well as lights turning on and off of their own accord, among other paranormal occurrences.
Binion's Gambling Hall
Here’s another one for you haunted hotel enthusiasts: Binion’s Gambling Hall is said to be haunted by the ghosts of mobster Benny Binion and Teddy Jane (his wife), according to local legend. The Hall was purchased by Binion in 1951.
Irene Matthews, the hotel's front desk supervisor, shared that many of her employees have experienced strange happenings in the hotel. She mentioned a housekeeper who, after mopping the floor, turned to find a set of footprints in the puddles that were unaccounted for by the housekeeper. Another employee said that they had their hair yanked by an aetherial figure.
The Mob Museum
If you’re interested in the colorful mafia history of Las Vegas, make sure to include The Mob Museum in your travel itinerary. The Mob Museum, situated in the downtown area, is housed in a former courtroom building where many local mobsters were tried and convicted.
It also has the reputation of being haunted by those same criminals. As a result, it's a fantastic site to combine your ghost-hunting abilities with your thirst for mob lore. At the very least, it certainly contains interesting details about some of Sin City's most renowned mobsters.
La Palazza Mansion
The La Palazza Mansion is rife with paranormal activity. One previous resident even claimed to have been almost strangled to death by an evil ghost while staying here. The frightening residence said to have been previously owned by a mobster has been dubbed "Satan's Mansion."
In addition to housing a variety of secret chambers, the now-abandoned edifice, constructed in 1959, is said to have been the site in which several brutal mob killings took place over the years.
Liberace Museum Collection
Famous pianist Liberace (1919-1987) was a cornerstone of the Las Vegas entertainment industry for more than four decades. Renowned for his "flamboyant excess" both on and off the stage, Liberace was born in New York City and raised in Los Angeles. The Liberace Museum Collection has relocated multiple times throughout the years, and it is currently housed at Thriller Villa, the former residence of Michael Jackson.
The colorful stage costumes, pianos, and other items from Liberace's illustrious career accompany the Liberace Museum Collection from one location to another, wherever it may go. However, it seems that wherever his things go, Liberace’s spirit also follows. While visiting the museum, some have reportedly seen the flash of his sequined cape in the dark.
Corner of Flamingo & Koval
The junction of Flamingo and Koval, a seemingly innocuous Las Vegas crossroads, is the site of the sad shooting (and consequent death) of the highly prominent rapper and actor Tupac Shakur (1971-1996), who was just 25 at the time of his passing. His murder remains unsolved to this day.
According to some wild theories, the known hip-hop artist is still alive and lives in New Mexico. Of course, some morbidly inquisitive visitors to the crossing have claimed to have encountered Shakur's soul hovering over the scene before disappearing into thin air without a trace.
Hoover Dam
The 70-story-tall Hoover Dam, an engineering marvel, stands along the border of Arizona and Nevada. It was dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on September 30, 1935. The Hoover Dam has also been the subject of several hauntings, such as unexplained footsteps and voices heard by visitors throughout its hallways, as well as the anxious ghost of a former worker.
Over 100 workers lost their lives in its construction, so it’s no surprise. The Hoover Dam is available for public visits, and a visitor center is on the property. Nearby Boulder City was constructed to accommodate the 5,000-man labor that created the Hoover Dam.
Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum
The award-winning Zak Bagans' Haunted Museum is filled with fascinating macabre curiosities, including a mirror "with evil powers,” the original staircase from the Indiana "Demon House," and Dr. Jack Kevorkian's infamous "Death Van.”
Perhaps most impressive of all, the Haunted Museum itself is housed in one of the city's oldest residences: an 1838 mansion that has been rumored to have been the site of satanic rituals. The Haunted Museum is located in the heart of downtown Las Vegas and is not to be missed.
Fox Ridge Park, Henderson
The Fox Ridge Park in Henderson is a popular location for serious ghost hunters. Here, professionals regularly bring out their EMF detectors, digital voice recorders, and other paranormal equipment in search of apparitions from beyond the veil.
In addition to being a pleasant local gathering spot during the day, the park is said to be haunted by the soul of a young child who, on a regular basis, appears on the swings around midnight. According to an urban legend, the youngster in question was killed by a drunk driver who was passing by in the area many years ago.
Rhyolite Ghost Town
Rhyolite is unquestionably one of the most beautiful ghost towns in Nevada. It makes for a great day trip out of Las Vegas. Rhyolite was once a bustling gold-mining town. After the Great Depression of 1907, the town was devastated. It became a ghost town. Only the ruins of its former self remain.
According to Atlas Obscura, tourists can go there to see "the general store, smaller buildings, and the three-story bank... as well as well-preserved ghost town ruins, as well as a great-looking railroad station."
Las Vegas Academy of the Arts
The Las Vegas Academy of the Arts is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is a magnet school specializing in music, drama, and other fine arts. Mr. Petri, a ghost who roams the halls and haunts the school's theater, has inspired generations of students to tell their tales.
Strange noises or out-of-place chills have been heard and felt by several students, particularly when rehearsals go into the evening. Many assume this is the work of a former teacher at the school. Others assert that this is the ghostly owner of a house that stood on the location of the school before it was destroyed by a mysterious blaze.
The Luxor
The Luxor, with its dark, melancholy interior and dramatic pyramid edifice, can appear foreboding and spooky, especially for a resort on the Las Vegas Strip. It contains an exhibition about the Titanic called “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition,” which is dedicated to relics found from the fatal ocean ship.
Although the subject matter is melancholic, the exhibit is nonetheless compelling. They claim that the ghosts of deceased passengers, in the form they took before the ship sank into the Atlantic, actually haunt the hotel, arriving and departing at will.
Clark County Museum
Goldfield is said to be Nevada's most haunted ghost town, located roughly 185 miles north of Las Vegas. The only remaining sign of life there is the Clark County Heritage Museum—a modest cottage and antique store. It is presently one of the property's twenty restored structures.
The Beckley House, which used to be on 4th Street in downtown Las Vegas, is another example. Some claim to have seen a young girl wandering around the house. Curator Mark Hall-Patton, who recently visited the property, does not believe these rumors, stating, "There has never been a death of a child in that place.
Whiskey Pete's
Whiskey Pete's, a casino and hotel established near the state line in the 1970s, can be seen from the highway between Nevada and California. Whiskey Pete is said to have haunted the location. His grave was dug up by workers during the resort's development and moved off property.
But even if his ghost has been purged, that doesn’t mean the place is spirit-free. The bullet-riddled automobile in which Bonnie & Clyde were famously killed, as well as Clyde's bloodied clothes, are on display in the foyer. While standing near the display, visitors report a strong sense of unease and negative energy.
Oasis Motel
The Oasis Motel is tucked away amongst a slew of pawn shops, bail bond companies, and wedding chapels. There's nothing unusual about it... except that after folks check-in here, many of them commit suicide. Stu Ungar, a world-renowned poker champion, and actor David Strickland were discovered dead in this motel after hanging themselves.
Both stayed in Room 20 and are reported to still haunt the location. The Oasis Motel is located just across the street from the Stratosphere Tower, where many have attempted suicide by jumping from the top.
Little Choo Choo Daycare
One of the saddest ghost stories you’ll ever hear about is the one about the Little Choo Choo Daycare. The story revolves around two tragic deaths: one was a depressed teacher who committed suicide, and the other was a small kid who was allegedly run over by the daycare center's famous ride-on train.
Visitors to the empty lot where the daycare was formerly located have claimed to be able to see the boy and the teacher's ghosts still wandering around the site. What a tragedy. This one put a real tear in our eyes.
Circus Circus
Guests and employees at this hotel/casino claim to have heard loud beeping noises from inside the casino's unoccupied poker rooms. Several witnesses claim to have seen the words "Help Me" scrawled on bathroom mirrors with no discernible author in sight.
Supposedly, it all began when a mother in room 123 shot her child before taking her own life. The soul of the small child is said to haunt various areas of the hotel to this day. As a result, Circus Circus is included on a list of some of the most well-known haunted attractions in Las Vegas.
Dell H. Robinson Middle School
It is common for new students to witness a man roaming about the hallways of this university with blood on his hands. After a brief apparition, the ghost disappears into thin air, according to the university’s local legend.
But not everybody gets just one look. The figure has been known to follow some students back to their beds, where it plagues them in their dreams. According to legend, these hauntings usually continue until the freshmen make their first pilgrimage to church.
Edwards Elementary School
A female with distorted facial features apparently trailed fourth-grade teachers and kids at this school, according to one report. According to the school's website, the girl, who appears in totally white attire, was one of the school’s former students, admitted in 1990.
She died when she was in the fourth grade, according to the school's records. Room 26, as well as the computer room, is frequently visited by the ghost of the young girl who died in the building just before the turn of the century.
Hartland Mansion
It's tough to visit Las Vegas and not run into someone who appears to be hauntingly similar to the rock and roll legend Elvis Presley, but it's less common to run across the actual ghost of the King himself. The Hartland Mansion is one of just a few spots in the city where sightings of Elvis' spirit have been seen wandering.
Because he stayed there several times while singing at the neighboring International, it's only natural that his ghost would want to re-visit the Hartland Mansion, which is now a popular venue for weddings and other formal events.
5285 Dean Martin Drive
This property is thought to be haunted after numerous commercial enterprises failed to establish their businesses here. When a paranormal investigative team was called in to try to figure out if the spot was cursed, readings of electronic voice phenomenon and electromagnetic field signals revealed that paranormal activity was taking place.
But there’s also a chilling backstory to this place. As the story goes, the mafia used this site to bury anyone unfortunate enough to cross them. Maybe this could have something to do with all of the hauntings and misfortunes.
Bonnie Springs Ranch
Bonnie Springs, one of Las Vegas's most haunted locations, is at the top of our list. It even made an appearance on the Travel Channel's "Ghost Adventures." The property, which dates back to 1843, appears to be haunted in a variety of ways.
On windless days, a tiny girl emerges from the schoolhouse, and the merry-go-round revolves by its own accord. In the wax museum, disembodied voices can be heard, and a shadowy figure pursues passers-by into the opera house. Is it any surprise that their annual Bonnie Screams Celebrations are held in high regard on Halloween?
Hotel Apache
It would be astonishing if the Hotel Apache did not have a few ghosts between its walls after nearly 90 years of history in Las Vegas. Hotel staff and ghost hunters alike have claimed to have been touched by spirits, seen shadowy figures, and heard messages from beyond.
The specters of gangster Benny Binion and his wife are said to haunt the hotel, according to the Reno Gazette Journal. After purchasing the building, previously known as the Eldorado Club, in 1951, the couple lived above the casino, which they renamed Binion's Horseshoe.
Carluccio’s Tivoli Gardens
Carluccio's is a Las Vegas restaurant that provides delectable Italian cuisine, once owned by famed entertainer Władziu Valentino Liberace. According to a bartender who worked for more than 16 years at the restaurant, the entertainer is still in residence.
Some years after his death, a patron casually mentioned that it was Liberace's birthday. Those who overheard at the bar cheered and wished him a happy birthday. Suddenly, the power went out, and a bottle on the bar toppled over of its own accord. The power was restored, and no more bottles were dropped.
El Cortez Hotel & Casino
When you stay at the El Cortez hotel, you'll get a near-as-possible experience of what it was like to visit Vegas in the 1940s. Before Elvis and Liberace, there was The Rat Pack. El Cortez has grown in size, just like Vegas, while maintaining its elegant mid-century modern style.
The ambiance of El Cortez is ideal for guests who want to gamble and relax while immersed in the world of Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky nostalgia. El Cortez also has a long history of paranormal occurrences, as do many other hotels often frequented by the gangsters of history.
Caesars Palace
Caesars Palace's statue-laden, Roman-influenced architecture provides the place an eerie yet disarming air, as well as a dark countenance. The creepy sense-activated fountains that switch on and off on their own are the source of much paranormal speculation.
Many ghost enthusiasts will also refer you to a crap table that was considered to be haunted for years: it once delivered a winning streak to all its players 13 months in a row—not a common occurrence in the casino business. The table had perturbed so many of the employees at the casino that it was eventually removed and burnt.
Madame Tussauds
After Dark is an interactive, eerie event that takes over Madame Tussauds Las Vegas celebrity wax museum at night. The museum, which was recently featured on Travel Channel's Ghost Adventures, invites adventurous visitors to investigate paranormal activities hiding in the attraction's halls.
As tourists see, hear, and feel the secrets and eerie phenomenon around Madame Tussauds Las Vegas, their hearts race and their blood curdles. Those who brave the lockdown during After Dark will be able to detect a mysterious presence lurking in its hallways.
Tropicana Las Vegas
Several people have claimed to have encountered ghosts at the Tropicana Las Vegas. The casino hotel was rumored to be haunted for many years by a spirit imprisoned beneath an old tiki mask that stood at the resort's entrance. Anyone who came into contact with the mask is said to have developed a terrible purple rash.
Guests who stood in front of the eerie mask claim to have witnessed a purple miasma emanating from it, which often distorts photography. Management eventually removed the mask, sparking even more speculation among paranormal enthusiasts and tourists.
Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
"Supernatural Suite" reservations can be made by guests who have a hankering for the paranormal at Planet Hollywood. Customers who stay there may encounter what dozens of other customers have described as whispers in the hallway and knocks on the door late at night.
Some guests have sought to camp near the door in order to determine the source of the whispering and the knocking. The problem is, no matter how fast or how sharp they are, no one ever shows up on the other side. Whatever wanders through Planet Hollywood does it on its own terms.
The Mirage
The opening of The Mirage, which originally opened its doors to customers in 1989, was overshadowed by the loss of a construction worker who was crushed to death when an incomplete wall fell on him. According to folklore, his spirit can still be found wandering the hallways.
In addition to the theater's bathrooms, ghosts may be heard knocking on walls, which often causes alarm among personnel. As well as this ghost, the area is known for other hauntings unrelated to The Mirage.
The MGM Grand Fire’s Ghosts
A fire raged through the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino resort in 1980, killing 85 people. It is remembered as one of the city's most heinous disasters. Sprinkler systems were not installed (and were not required to be installed) in Vegas hotels at the time.
As a result, when a fire was started by defective wiring, the fire burned without resistance. Bally's Las Vegas now sits on the site. It has been said that tourists staying in the new hotel's rooms encounter wandering ghosts of those who died in the fire.
Black Market
Imagine this: In a bar, a traveler encounters some locals. They share some drinks, and the last thing the traveler remembers is a friendly smile. When the traveler wakes up, they realize that their drink had been drugged. They find themselves in the middle of a nightmare.
In 1991, there was a report on the news that someone had been poisoning unsuspecting drinkers' beverages while they were out for the night in Vegas. Victims would sip cocktails with the stranger before waking up coated in ice in a hotel tub with stitches in their back and a letter instructing them to phone 911. The predator did it in order to steal and sell their kidneys on the black market.
Megabucks Jackpot
Cynthia Jay-Brennan won the Megabucks jackpot in the year 2000 and took home $34.9 million. Unfortunately for Jay-Brennan, she was involved in a car accident a few days later and was disabled for the rest of her life. In 2003, the Megabucks jackpot was won for the second time, this time for $39.7 million.
Once again, the winner met a horrible end when he died from a heroin overdose. Previous winners of the reward have allegedly been killed in gang fights, suffered fatal heart attacks, or died in plane crashes.
The Riviera Hotel
The Riviera Hotel & Casino, one of the oldest standing casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, is known for its ties to the Mafia and is thought to have been the scene of countless mob-related deaths. Is it any surprise that this place is known for its hauntings?
When cleaning the top-floor suites in the modern-day, hotel staff frequently hear voices in the stairwells and sense the presence of the dead. When the Ghost Adventures crew went onto the hotel's ninth story for an overnight lockdown, they discovered they weren't the only ones there.
Las Vegas Academy Main Theater
The legend of a ghost named Mr. Petri has been passed down from year to year in this Las Vegas High School. Objects fly in dressing rooms, weird noises are heard late at night after rehearsals, and a creepy vibe pervades the building.
Mr. Petri is frequently credited as an honorary member of LVA productions, and any strange events are usually attributed to him. Who is this mysterious individual? According to legend, Mr. Petri once owned a home on the property. After it inexplicably burnt down, his house was built over to make way for the school's expansion.
Stratosphere
The Stratosphere is the highest structure in Las Vegas, as well as the United States' tallest observation tower. Many people have observed odd phenomena on the Stratosphere's elevator. Four troubled souls attempted to solve their troubles by jumping over the security railing and leaping from the top.
Melanie Bell, the third person to jump, was reported to have demonstrated eerie behavior by the other hotel guests. Many people claim she was in a hypnotic, trance-like state the day before the drop after returning from a trip to the top of the tower.
Excalibur Hotel
With its medieval mood and vibe, the multi-turreted Excalibur Hotel attracts a large number of guests each year. Guests on the 10th floor have reported experiencing a variety of unusual and spooky happenings, such as the feeling of being followed, breathing on the back of their necks, or whispers directly in their ears.
Visitors have also reported seeing furniture move by itself and hearing static from televisions that aren't switched on. Alarm clocks that were never set go off at all hours. Phone calls made in the hotel are recorded without anyone on the other end of the line being picked up