Pioneer Saloon – Haunted Bar in Goodsprings, Nevada

The Pioneer Saloon stands as one of Nevada’s oldest continuously operating bars. This weathered establishment has served miners, gamblers, and wandering souls since the early 1900s.

Bullet holes still mark the walls from violent gunfights long past. The wooden floors creak with memories of countless boots and broken dreams.

Visitors report strange occurrences that chill them to the bone. Whiskey glasses slide across tables when no one is near them.

The spirit world seems unwilling to abandon this frontier outpost. Ghosts from Nevada’s rough mining days allegedly walk these rooms still.

This tiny desert town saloon attracts paranormal enthusiasts from around the world. The building’s authentic Old West atmosphere makes the ghostly encounters feel even more real.

Historical Background

George Fayle constructed the Pioneer Saloon in 1913 during Goodsprings’ mining boom. The town’s population swelled to over 800 residents seeking fortune in zinc and lead.

The saloon became the heart of this isolated desert community. Miners gathered here after long shifts underground to drink away their exhaustion.

Goodsprings produced millions of dollars in ore during World War I. The Pioneer Saloon witnessed both celebrations and tragedies during these prosperous years.

A devastating murder occurred inside these walls in 1915. A man named Paul Coski shot and killed another patron during a heated dispute.

The bullet hole from that fatal shooting remains visible today. Blood allegedly soaked into the wooden floorboards where the victim fell.

Film star Clark Gable made the saloon his temporary headquarters in 1942. His wife Carole Lombard had died in a plane crash on nearby Potosi Mountain.

Gable waited at the Pioneer Saloon for three agonizing days. Search parties used the bar as their base while recovering bodies from the crash site.

The saloon barely survived when mining operations ceased in the 1940s. Goodsprings became a ghost town with only a handful of stubborn residents remaining.

The building has changed hands multiple times over the decades. Each owner reports unexplainable phenomena that drives some away and intrigues others.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Unexplained footsteps echo through empty rooms at all hours. Staff members hear heavy boots crossing the floor when they’re alone.

Glasses and bottles move without any physical contact from the living. Bartenders watch as full shot glasses slide several inches across the bar.

Cold spots manifest suddenly in specific areas of the saloon. These freezing pockets of air appear even during scorching Nevada summers.

Shadow figures dart between the antique slot machines and poker tables. Multiple witnesses describe these dark shapes moving with purposeful intent.

The scent of old tobacco smoke wafts through non-smoking areas. This phantom smell comes and goes without any logical source.

Door handles rattle violently when nobody stands on the other side. Locked doors swing open moments after staff secures them for the night.

Disembodied voices carry conversations in empty corners of the building. These whispered exchanges stop abruptly when approached by curious witnesses.

Electronic devices malfunction frequently inside the Pioneer Saloon. Cell phones drain completely within minutes despite full charges upon entering.

Visitors feel unseen hands touching their shoulders and backs. These phantom touches feel solid and deliberate rather than imaginary.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The most famous spirit belongs to an unidentified miner shot dead decades ago. This entity reportedly died during a card game dispute over suspected cheating.

Witnesses describe seeing a transparent figure wearing old mining clothes and boots. He appears most often near the original poker tables in the back room.

Paul Coski’s victim from the 1915 murder allegedly haunts the exact death spot. A dark stain mars the floor where his blood supposedly seeped into the wood.

Patrons report feeling overwhelming sadness when standing on this particular area. Some visitors become nauseous or dizzy without understanding why.

Clark Gable’s grief-stricken energy supposedly lingers near the bar’s far corner. He spent countless hours there drowning his sorrows after Carole Lombard’s death.

People sitting in his preferred spot report sudden waves of profound sorrow. These emotional attacks come without warning and disappear just as quickly.

A female spirit wanders through the building wearing early 1900s attire. Her identity remains unknown though many theories exist about her origins.

Some believe she was a prostitute who worked upstairs when the building housed rooms. Others think she was a miner’s wife searching for her lost husband.

This woman appears as a full-bodied apparition to select witnesses. She never speaks but makes direct eye contact before vanishing completely.

Children’s laughter sometimes echoes from the empty second floor. No historical records confirm children died here though families lived in Goodsprings.

The phantom children allegedly run through upstairs rooms playing hide and seek. Their footsteps pound overhead while the second floor stands completely vacant.

A menacing presence occupies the saloon’s old storage cellar. Staff members refuse to enter this space alone due to overwhelming feelings of dread.

This entity supposedly belonged to a violent criminal who hid underground. His aggressive energy manifests as chest pressure and difficulty breathing.

Most Haunted Spot

The back poker room generates the most consistent paranormal reports. This area housed the gambling tables where violent disputes frequently erupted.

The bloodstain on the floor marks the epicenter of supernatural activity. Standing directly on this spot triggers intense physical and emotional reactions.

Visitors photograph strange orbs and mists hovering above this location. These anomalies appear in digital images despite clear air visible to the naked eye.

The old wooden bar itself serves as another paranormal hotspot. Glasses arranged neatly before closing are found scattered across the counter by morning.

Bartenders working late shifts refuse to turn their backs on this area. They report sensing someone watching them from the empty barstools.

Can You Visit?

The Pioneer Saloon remains open to the public as a functioning bar. Anyone can walk through the doors and experience its authentic atmosphere.

No entry fee exists as it operates as a regular establishment. Visitors purchase food and drinks while exploring the historical space.

The saloon serves as a restaurant and bar seven days weekly. Hours typically run from late morning through evening though times vary seasonally.

Paranormal tours are not formally offered by the establishment. Visitors are welcome to explore and investigate during normal business hours.

Photography is allowed and actually encouraged throughout the building. The walls display historical photos alongside modern visitor snapshots.

Staff members happily share ghost stories with interested patrons. Many employees have witnessed unexplainable phenomena during their shifts.

Overnight investigations require special permission from the current owners. Serious paranormal research teams occasionally receive access after closing time.

Best Time to Visit

Late evening hours produce the most frequent supernatural encounters. Activity increases dramatically after dark when fewer living patrons occupy the space.

The hours between midnight and three AM yield the strongest phenomena. This timeframe corresponds with traditional heightened paranormal activity periods.

Weeknights offer better investigation opportunities than crowded weekends. Fewer people create a quieter environment where subtle sounds become more noticeable.

The anniversary of Carole Lombard’s death on January 16th holds special significance. Sensitive visitors report exceptionally strong energy surrounding this date annually.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

A bartender named Michelle worked closing shifts during the early 2000s. She repeatedly heard her name whispered by unseen voices when alone.

Michelle watched a full whiskey bottle fly off the shelf unprompted. The bottle traveled several feet before crashing to the floor and shattering.

Tourist James Anderson photographed a misty figure near the poker tables in 2015. His image shows a human-shaped form that wasn’t visible during shooting.

Anderson felt ice-cold fingers grip his forearm moments before capturing the photo. He discovered fingerprint-shaped bruises on his skin the following morning.

Local resident Patricia Gomez refuses to enter the building after dark. She encountered the female spirit face-to-face during a 1998 visit.

The ghostly woman walked directly through a solid wooden table. Patricia watched in horror as the apparition approached before disappearing completely.

Paranormal investigator Rick Martinez conducted overnight research in 2010. His equipment recorded disembodied voices responding to direct questions.

Martinez’s thermal camera detected a human-shaped heat signature in empty space. The figure moved independently before dissipating into nothing.

Former owner Dennis reported glasses flying off shelves during his tenure. These incidents occurred multiple times weekly regardless of precautions taken.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

Ghost Adventures filmed an episode at Pioneer Saloon in 2010. Zak Bagans and his crew documented extensive unexplained activity throughout their investigation.

The team captured electronic voice phenomena responding to their questions. These recordings included clear words and phrases in vintage-sounding voices.

Their equipment registered significant temperature drops without environmental causes. These cold spots moved around the room defying natural explanation.

The crew’s cameras malfunctioned repeatedly in specific haunted locations. Batteries drained completely despite being fresh minutes before.

Independent paranormal groups regularly investigate the saloon with owner permission. Teams have documented shadow figures on infrared cameras during overnight sessions.

Multiple investigators report physical contact from unseen entities. These touches range from gentle taps to aggressive pushes and scratches.

EVP recordings consistently capture voices saying names of people present. The phantom voices sometimes answer questions with remarkable specificity.

Electromagnetic field detectors spike dramatically without explainable power sources nearby. These readings suggest intelligent responses to investigator questions.

Local Legends & Myths

Old-timers claim the saloon sits on cursed Apache burial ground. This legend supposedly explains why violence plagued the location throughout history.

No archaeological evidence supports this claim about indigenous remains. The story likely emerged to explain persistent bad luck and tragedy.

Another legend involves a lost gold mine hidden near Goodsprings. Miners allegedly buried their dead partner beneath the saloon’s foundation with the map.

His spirit supposedly cannot rest until someone discovers the treasure. This tale encourages visitors to search for hidden clues within the building.

Some locals believe Carole Lombard’s spirit visits the saloon. They claim her ghost comforts Clark Gable’s lingering presence during lonely nights.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

The building’s age creates legitimate structural concerns in certain areas. Visitors should exercise caution on old staircases and uneven flooring.

The second floor remains off-limits to regular patrons. This restriction exists for safety reasons due to deteriorating conditions.

Trespassing on the property outside business hours constitutes illegal activity. Local law enforcement actively patrols the area protecting the historic site.

Visitors should respect the functioning business and its paying customers. Disruptive ghost hunting during operating hours is not permitted.

The remote desert location presents environmental hazards year-round. Summer temperatures exceed 110 degrees while winter nights drop below freezing.

Rattlesnakes inhabit the surrounding area especially during warmer months. Visitors should watch their step when exploring outside the building.

Cursed or Haunted Objects

The original wooden bar counter allegedly holds residual supernatural energy. Multiple psychics claim the wood absorbed decades of human emotion and trauma.

An antique mirror hanging near the entrance reflects figures not present in the room. Visitors photograph strange faces appearing in the glass behind them.

The poker table where the 1915 murder occurred still occupies its original spot. Card players report their hands inexplicably changing when they look away.

An old mining lamp displayed on the wall reportedly swings without air movement. This pendulum motion occurs during moments of heightened paranormal activity.

The bloodstained floorboard itself qualifies as the most haunted object present. Some believe the victim’s life force permanently imprinted on the wood grain.