Goldfield Hotel – Haunted Hotel in Goldfield, Nevada

The Goldfield Hotel stands like a haunting monument to Nevada’s wild mining past. This four-story structure has earned its reputation as one of America’s most actively haunted locations.

Built during the height of the gold rush boom, this hotel witnessed both opulence and tragedy. Today, it draws paranormal investigators and thrill-seekers from across the globe.

The building has remained largely abandoned since 1945, frozen in time. Its empty halls echo with stories of murder, betrayal, and restless spirits.

Visitors report overwhelming sensations of dread upon entering certain rooms. The hotel’s dark history seems to permeate every corner of the crumbling structure.

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Historical Background

The Goldfield Hotel opened its doors in 1908 during Nevada’s gold mining heyday. Construction cost a staggering $400,000, making it the most expensive building between San Francisco and Denver.

George Wingfield, a powerful mining magnate and casino owner, financed the luxurious establishment. The hotel featured 154 rooms, gold-leaf ceilings, and a lobby adorned with mahogany columns.

Goldfield’s population exploded to over 20,000 residents during the mining boom years. The hotel served as the town’s social epicenter, hosting extravagant parties and political gatherings.

By 1923, the gold deposits had largely depleted, and the town’s population plummeted. The hotel struggled financially but continued operating through several ownership changes.

The establishment finally closed its doors permanently in 1945 after decades of decline. Goldfield’s population had dwindled to just a few hundred souls by then.

The building suffered significant deterioration over the following decades, enduring vandalism and neglect. Several renovation attempts began but were mysteriously abandoned, with workers reporting disturbing experiences.

Paranormal Activity Summary

The Goldfield Hotel consistently ranks among America’s most haunted locations in paranormal circles. Activity reports span decades, with consistent patterns emerging from independent witnesses.

Visitors frequently describe sudden temperature drops of 20 to 30 degrees in specific areas. These cold spots appear without explanation, even during Nevada’s scorching summer months.

Shadow figures regularly materialize in hallways and doorways, particularly on the third floor. Witnesses report these entities moving with purpose, as if conducting business from another era.

Disembodied voices echo through empty corridors, speaking in hushed whispers that sound conversational. Some investigators have recorded what appears to be period-appropriate language and accents.

Objects frequently move on their own, with bricks and debris relocating between investigation visits. Locked doors open by themselves, and footsteps pound across empty floors above witnesses.

Electronic equipment malfunctions inexplicably, with fully charged batteries draining within minutes. Cameras shut down, recorders stop working, and flashlights fail simultaneously during peak activity.

By the way, have you visited this haunted place in Nevada State? The Mizpah Hotel – Haunted Hotel in Tonopah, Nevada

Ghost Stories & Reports

Elizabeth is the hotel’s most famous ghostly resident, allegedly murdered in Room 109. According to legend, George Wingfield had an affair with this woman of ill repute.

When Elizabeth became pregnant with Wingfield’s child, he reportedly flew into a rage. The story claims he chained her to a radiator in Room 109.

Elizabeth allegedly gave birth alone in that room while still restrained. Wingfield supposedly took the infant and threw it down an abandoned mine shaft.

Elizabeth herself died in that room, though accounts differ on whether from childbirth complications or murder. Her spirit now roams the third floor, appearing as a woman in period dress.

Visitors to Room 109 report overwhelming feelings of sadness and despair. Some women experience phantom labor pains or hear the cries of an invisible infant.

The ghostly figure of George Wingfield himself allegedly haunts the lobby and his former office. Witnesses describe a well-dressed man in early 1900s attire who vanishes when approached.

A stabbing victim from the hotel’s operational years reportedly haunts the first-floor hallway. This entity appears as a man clutching his chest, blood staining his white shirt.

Room 310 hosts activity from an unknown male presence who becomes aggressive toward female visitors. Women report being pushed, having their hair pulled, and feeling unwanted touches.

The hotel’s basement contains evidence of animal sacrifices left by previous trespassers. Some believe these rituals awakened darker entities that now reside in the lower levels.

A suicide victim who jumped from a fourth-floor window allegedly replays her death. Witnesses report seeing a woman falling past windows, yet no body ever appears below.

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Most Haunted Spot

Room 109 on the first floor remains the hotel’s most paranormally active location. This small chamber witnessed Elizabeth’s alleged imprisonment, childbirth, and death under horrific circumstances.

Investigators consistently capture unexplained phenomena in this specific room during their sessions. Electronic voice phenomena recordings reveal disturbing messages and cries for help.

The temperature in Room 109 frequently drops to near-freezing, even when adjacent rooms remain normal. Visitors report seeing a woman’s figure near the radiator where Elizabeth was supposedly chained.

Many people refuse to enter this room after experiencing overwhelming negative emotions. Some investigators have fled in tears, claiming they felt Elizabeth’s suffering firsthand.

The stairwell leading to the basement comes in as a close second. Witnesses report being followed by unseen entities and hearing threatening voices in the darkness.

The paranormal doesn’t stop here—this haunted place might also interest you in Nevada State? Old Washoe Club – Haunted Saloon in Virginia City, Nevada

Can You Visit?

The Goldfield Hotel is not regularly open to the public for safety reasons. The building’s structural integrity has deteriorated significantly, making unsupervised visits extremely dangerous.

Ownership has changed hands multiple times, with current owners occasionally allowing supervised paranormal investigations. These opportunities typically require advance booking and come with liability waivers.

Entry fees for special investigation events range from $150 to $500 per person. These limited events often sell out months in advance due to the location’s reputation.

Photography is generally allowed during sanctioned visits, though success rates vary wildly. Many investigators report camera equipment failures that resolve immediately upon leaving the premises.

No regular visiting hours exist, and trespassing is strictly prohibited by law. Local law enforcement actively patrols the property and prosecutes trespassers.

The town of Goldfield itself remains accessible, with several hundred permanent residents. Visitors can view the hotel’s exterior from public streets and photograph the imposing facade.

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity at the Goldfield Hotel appears most intense during late-night hours between midnight and 4 AM. This timeframe corresponds with traditional “witching hour” beliefs and when most dramatic encounters occur.

Autumn months, particularly October, see increased reports of supernatural phenomena throughout the building. Some theorize the thinning veil between worlds during Halloween season amplifies existing energies.

Full moon phases correlate with heightened activity levels according to multiple investigation teams. The lunar cycle may influence whatever forces manifest within these walls.

Winter visits present their own challenges, as Nevada desert temperatures plummet after dark. The hotel’s unheated interior becomes dangerously cold, though paranormal cold spots remain noticeably different.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Ghost Adventures featured the Goldfield Hotel in their very first episode in 2008. Lead investigator Zak Bagans called it the most intense location he’d ever investigated.

During that investigation, Bagans reported being physically attacked by an unseen entity. He captured audio of a voice saying “I’m going to kill you” in Room 109.

Mark and Debby Constantino, renowned paranormal investigators, recorded extensive evidence during their visits. Their EVP sessions yielded clear responses to direct questions about Elizabeth and Wingfield.

A 2015 investigation team member claimed a brick flew across a room, narrowly missing her head. The incident was partially captured on their stationary camera equipment.

Local historian Virgil Bucchianeri documented numerous accounts from Goldfield residents over the years. Multiple witnesses described seeing lights in the hotel windows when the building had no electricity.

Construction workers attempting renovations in the 1980s repeatedly abandoned the project citing disturbing experiences. One crew foreman reported his workers refusing to return after hearing screams from empty rooms.

A 2003 visitor described being touched by invisible hands while exploring the third floor. She ran from the building with scratches appearing on her arms during her exit.

Paranormal investigator Virginia Ridgway spent multiple nights in the hotel during 2012. She documented shadow figures moving intelligently to avoid detection and manipulating investigation equipment.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

Ghost Adventures returned to the Goldfield Hotel for multiple episodes due to extraordinary evidence collected. Their thermal imaging cameras captured unexplained heat signatures matching human forms moving through walls.

The show documented Zak Bagans experiencing a full-body possession in the basement. His personality changed dramatically, and he became aggressive toward his crew before snapping out of it.

Ghost Hunters investigated the location during their fifth season in 2009. Team members recorded unexplained footsteps and voices responding to their questions in real-time.

The Atlantic Paranormal Society collected electromagnetic field readings that spiked impossibly high in Room 109. These readings suggest energy sources with no identifiable natural explanation.

Independent investigator Bryan Bonner conducted overnight investigations between 2010 and 2015. He compiled over 200 hours of audio recordings containing unexplained voices and sounds.

His analysis revealed patterns suggesting multiple distinct entities with different voice characteristics and personalities. Some entities appeared aware of investigators and attempted direct communication.

Numerous teams have photographed orbs, light anomalies, and shadow figures throughout the hotel. While skeptics dismiss many orbs as dust particles, some photographs defy conventional explanation.

Full-spectrum photography has captured figures invisible to the naked eye but present in ultraviolet wavelengths. These images show human-shaped forms in period clothing standing in empty doorways.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

The Goldfield Hotel’s structural condition poses serious physical dangers to anyone entering without authorization. Floors have weakened significantly, and collapse risks exist throughout the building.

Asbestos and lead paint contaminate the interior, creating serious health hazards for trespassers. Extended exposure without proper protective equipment could result in long-term health consequences.

Nevada trespassing laws carry significant penalties, including fines up to $1,000 and possible jail time. Local authorities take violations seriously due to liability concerns and previous incidents.

The building lacks basic safety features like handrails, and stairwells have deteriorated dangerously. Multiple stories of floors mean falls could prove fatal in this isolated location.

No emergency services station themselves in Goldfield itself, meaning response times exceed 30 minutes. An injury inside this abandoned structure could quickly become life-threatening.

Paranormal investigators have reported psychological effects lasting days or weeks after visiting. Some describe persistent nightmares, feelings of being watched, and unexplained anxiety.

Local Legends & Myths

Beyond Elizabeth’s tragic story, locals whisper about guests who checked in but never checked out. Several missing persons cases from the 1920s allegedly connect to the hotel’s operational years.

Some Goldfield residents claim the hotel sits atop sacred Native American burial grounds. This legend attempts to explain the concentrated paranormal activity within the structure.

A persistent rumor suggests George Wingfield practiced occult rituals in the hotel’s basement. No historical evidence supports this claim, but investigators report finding strange symbols carved into walls.

Town folklore describes a gambler who lost everything at Wingfield’s casino before hanging himself in Room 310. His spirit supposedly harbors resentment toward living visitors, particularly those showing wealth or happiness.

The curse legend claims anyone attempting to renovate or restore the hotel faces ruin. Multiple owners have indeed gone bankrupt after purchasing the property, lending credence to this belief.