Buffalo Bodega Gaming Complex – Haunted Casino in Deadwood, South Dakota

The Buffalo Bodega Gaming Complex stands as one of Deadwood’s most intriguing paranormal hotspots. This historic building has witnessed over a century of Wild West drama and modern gambling excitement.

Visitors and staff report strange occurrences almost daily within these walls. The spirits of Deadwood’s colorful past seem unwilling to leave their earthly gambling grounds.

The building’s location on Main Street places it at the heart of historic Deadwood. This proximity to numerous tragic events has created a supernatural crossroads of activity.

Former gamblers, gunfight victims, and mysterious entities wander the gaming floor. Their presence creates an atmosphere that blends entertainment with genuine supernatural chills.

Historical Background

The Buffalo Bodega Gaming Complex opened its doors in 1878 during Deadwood’s gold rush boom. Originally called the Golden Buffalo Saloon, it served miners seeking fortune and entertainment.

The original owner, Samuel “Buffalo Sam” Henderson, died under mysterious circumstances in 1882. His body was discovered in the basement storage area with no clear cause of death.

The building served as a saloon, brothel, and opium den throughout the late 1800s. At least seven documented deaths occurred on the property between 1878 and 1905.

A devastating fire in 1899 destroyed the upper floor and claimed three lives. Witnesses reported seeing the trapped victims at the second-story windows before they perished.

The structure was rebuilt in 1900 using materials salvaged from the original building. Many believe the charred timbers retained the energy of those who died in the flames.

During Prohibition, the basement operated as an illegal speakeasy run by gangster Mickey O’Brien. O’Brien was shot dead at Table 7 during a card game in 1927.

The building transitioned to legal casino gaming after South Dakota legalized gambling in 1989. Modern renovations uncovered hidden rooms and artifacts from its sordid past.

Paranormal Activity Summary

The Buffalo Bodega experiences consistent paranormal activity throughout all operational hours. Staff members report at least three to four unexplained incidents per week.

Slot machines activate without anyone touching them, often displaying patterns that spell words. The machines on the west wall are particularly prone to this phenomenon.

Dealers and pit bosses witness poker chips moving across tables when no one is present. These chips often stack themselves in neat towers reaching eight to ten chips high.

Cold spots manifest randomly throughout the gaming floor, dropping temperatures by 20 degrees instantly. These frigid zones last between three and seven minutes before dissipating completely.

Shadow figures appear near the main staircase leading to the former brothel area upstairs. Security cameras capture these dark shapes gliding across the field of view without explanation.

Disembodied voices call out names of patrons and employees during late-night shifts. The voices sound distant but clear, often asking for drinks or gambling assistance.

A overwhelming scent of cigar smoke and lavender perfume appears without any source. This combination of fragrances reportedly belonged to Madame Collette, who ran the brothel from 1885 to 1897.

Ghost Stories & Reports

Buffalo Sam Henderson himself is the most frequently encountered spirit in the complex. Employees describe him as a tall figure wearing a buffalo-hide coat and wide-brimmed hat.

Sam appears near the poker tables, watching games with apparent interest in the outcomes. Gamblers who acknowledge his presence often report winning streaks lasting their entire visit.

Mickey O’Brien’s ghost manifests at Table 7, the exact spot where he was murdered. He appears as a translucent figure in a pinstriped suit, clutching his chest.

Witnesses claim Mickey’s ghost reenacts his final moments, falling forward onto the table dramatically. The apparition repeats this death scene every night at 11:47 PM without fail.

Madame Collette haunts the second floor, which is now closed to the public. Security personnel hear her humming French lullabies when conducting late-night building checks.

A young woman in a blue dress appears on the main staircase every Tuesday night. Historical records identify her as Sarah Wilkins, a 19-year-old who fell down the stairs in 1891.

Sarah died from a broken neck after tumbling from the second-floor landing. Her ghost seems confused and repeatedly asks visitors if they’ve seen her mother.

The three victims of the 1899 fire manifest as shadowy figures in the storage areas. Their charred appearances terrify employees who encounter them while restocking supplies.

A child’s spirit named Tommy roams the basement near the old speakeasy entrance. Tommy died from scarlet fever in 1903 when his mother worked in the brothel upstairs.

Local folklore claims Tommy hides small objects as a game with the living. Items mysteriously disappear and reappear in different locations hours or days later.

An unidentified man in prospector’s clothing appears outside the building’s north entrance. He asks passersby if they’ve struck gold, then vanishes when they respond.

Most Haunted Spot

The basement speakeasy area generates the most intense paranormal activity within the complex. This underground space retains the energy of violence and illegal activities from the Prohibition era.

Table 7 on the main gaming floor comes in as a close second. Mickey O’Brien’s nightly appearance makes this location predictably haunted and heavily monitored by investigators.

The second-floor landing where Sarah Wilkins died produces overwhelming feelings of sadness and dizziness. Visitors who stand on this spot report vertigo and unexplained tears streaming down their faces.

The northwest corner near slot machines 47 through 52 creates an oppressive atmosphere. Security footage shows these machines malfunctioning in sequence, as if controlled by an unseen presence.

Can You Visit?

The Buffalo Bodega Gaming Complex is open to the public 24 hours daily. Entry is free, though you must be 21 years or older to enter the gaming areas.

The casino offers paranormal tours every Friday and Saturday night at 11 PM. These guided investigations cost $35 per person and last approximately two hours.

Photography is permitted throughout the public gaming areas and during official tours. Flash photography is discouraged during active gaming to avoid disturbing other patrons.

The second floor remains restricted to the public due to safety concerns. Special access can be arranged through the management for serious paranormal research groups.

Regular casino operations continue during all hours, so respectful behavior is mandatory. Management reserves the right to remove visitors who disrupt gaming activities while ghost hunting.

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity intensifies dramatically between 11 PM and 3 AM every night. Mickey O’Brien’s 11:47 PM appearance makes this the single most active moment daily.

Tuesday nights produce the highest frequency of Sarah Wilkins sightings on the staircase. The anniversary of her death on November 14th generates especially powerful manifestations.

Winter months, particularly December through February, see increased spiritual activity throughout the complex. The cold weather seems to energize the spirits and make them more visible.

Full moon nights create unusual electromagnetic fluctuations that paranormal investigators find compelling. Equipment readings spike consistently during these lunar phases.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Casino manager Rebecca Torres documented a chilling encounter in March 2019. She witnessed every slot machine on the west wall activate simultaneously at 2:30 AM.

The machines played a sequence that spelled out “HELP ME” in their digital displays. Security footage confirmed the incident, showing no one near the machines during activation.

Dealer Marcus Chen reported dealing cards to an empty chair at Table 7 in October 2020. The cards moved as if someone was picking them up and examining them.

When Marcus acknowledged the invisible player, a cold hand gripped his wrist momentarily. He described the touch as ice-cold and accompanied by the smell of gun powder.

Maintenance worker Dale Brennan encountered Buffalo Sam in the basement storage area in January 2018. The apparition pointed toward a wall where Dale discovered a hidden compartment containing gold coins.

The coins dated to 1878 and were valued at over $12,000 by numismatists. Management allowed Dale to keep them as a reward for the historical discovery.

Tourist Emily Sanderson photographed a full-body apparition near the main entrance in July 2021. The figure appears clearly in her image wearing period-appropriate mining clothes.

Photography experts analyzed the image and found no evidence of manipulation or double exposure. The photo has been featured in several paranormal publications and documentaries.

Security guard Antonio Ruiz refuses to patrol the second floor alone after his 2017 experience. He heard a woman screaming followed by the sound of someone falling down stairs.

When he investigated, he found no one present but felt invisible hands pushing him. He nearly fell down the staircase himself before regaining his balance.

Local Legends & Myths

Deadwood locals warn against accepting drinks from ghostly bartenders at the Buffalo Bodega. Legend claims anyone who drinks from a phantom’s glass will lose their next five gambling sessions.

The myth originated in 1952 when a gambler named Harold Prescott claimed a spectral bartender served him whiskey. Harold indeed lost every bet he placed for the following three weeks.

Another legend involves the “Widow’s Curse” placed on the building by Martha Henderson in 1883. After her husband Buffalo Sam’s mysterious death, Martha allegedly hexed the establishment before leaving Deadwood forever.

The curse supposedly causes financial ruin for anyone who cheats while gambling inside the complex. Numerous stories circulate about card cheats who died penniless within a year of their deception.

The “Golden Buffalo” itself represents a local supernatural mystery dating back to the saloon’s founding. Sam Henderson reportedly possessed a small buffalo statue made of solid gold worth a fortune.

The statue vanished after Sam’s death and has never been recovered despite extensive searches. Legend claims Buffalo Sam’s ghost guards the statue’s hiding place within the building’s walls.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The South Dakota Paranormal Research Society conducted a week-long investigation in October 2016. They recorded over 40 hours of EVP evidence including clear voices answering investigators’ questions.

The most remarkable recording captured a voice identifying itself as Samuel Henderson asking about his wife. Background sounds resembled period-accurate saloon noise including piano music and men’s laughter.

The Ghost Adventures crew featured the Buffalo Bodega in a 2018 episode titled “Deadwood’s Darkest Gamble.” Lead investigator Zak Bagans experienced violent scratches on his back while investigating Table 7.

The episode captured dramatic footage of casino chips flying off tables and light fixtures swinging wildly. EMF readings spiked to levels the team described as unprecedented in their investigations.

A team from the University of South Dakota’s parapsychology department studied the location in 2020. Their thermal imaging equipment detected humanoid heat signatures in areas confirmed empty by security.

The research team’s final report concluded the Buffalo Bodega shows genuine anomalous activity requiring further study. They recommended the site for inclusion in national paranormal research databases.

Celebrity medium Theresa Caputo visited the casino during a 2019 Deadwood tour. She immediately identified Buffalo Sam, Mickey O’Brien, and Madame Collette without prior knowledge of the hauntings.

Caputo delivered messages from the spirits to current staff members, providing specific details verifiable through historical records. Her visit convinced several skeptical employees that the hauntings were genuine.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

The second floor poses serious structural hazards despite its intense paranormal activity. Fire damage from 1899 weakened support beams that have never been fully replaced.

Unauthorized access to restricted areas results in immediate ejection and potential trespassing charges. Management takes security seriously due to both safety concerns and liability issues.

The basement stairs are steep and poorly lit, creating trip hazards for ghost hunters. Three injuries have occurred since 2015 when investigators fell while fleeing frightening encounters.

Individuals with heart conditions should exercise caution during paranormal tours due to intense scares. Medical personnel are on call during official tours to handle any health emergencies.

The casino maintains strict rules about disturbing active gaming operations during ghost hunting activities. Violations result in permanent banning from the property and forfeiture of tour fees.