Whispers and touches Our creepiness rating 💀💀💀💀💀
Susan Bernard, who leads the prison's ghost walks, told the Reno News & Review in 2022 that visitors have seen apparitions, heard voices and felt touches, and named the old execution chamber a highlight. Source: Reno News & Review, 2022.
Facts below are drawn from the linked sources.
Real history
The prison operated from 1862 until it closed on May 18, 2012. It carried out the first death sentence by gas chamber in the United States, executing Gee Jon on February 8, 1924 (Wikipedia).
Ghost stories
These are reported legends, not verified events. The creepiness score (1–5) is Spook Atlas's own editorial rating, not a measurement.
Shadow figures Our creepiness rating 💀💀💀💀💀
A 2026 notice from the preservation society claims guests frequently report shadow figures, footsteps, distant conversations and doors moving on their own. Source: Carson Now, 2026.
A 2026 notice from the preservation society claims guests frequently report shadow figures, footsteps, distant conversations and doors moving on their own. Source: Carson Now, 2026.
Then and now
Public access
Partly open The preservation society says it is open Saturdays from May through October and for special events (Nevada State Prison). Last checked: Oct 31, 2026.
Explore more
- More places in Carson City and Nevada
- More haunted & abandoned prisons
- Nearby: Gold Hill Hotel (Gold Hill, NV), Mackay Mansion (Virginia City, NV), Washoe Club (Virginia City, NV), Piper's Opera House (Virginia City, NV)
⚠️ Please read: This information may be outdated and conditions change. Verify access with the owner or operator before you go. Spook Atlas does not encourage trespassing. Entering private, closed or condemned property can be illegal and dangerous. Report a correction.
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