Mackay Mansion
Virginia City, Nevada, USA
“Where there is desperation, there are stories that linger.”
By Hallozween founder and Paranormal Investigator Andrea Beattie
Why Ghost Hunters Travel to Virginia City
Founded in 1859 during the Comstock Lode silver rush, Virginia City quickly became one of the richest — and roughest — towns in the American West.
Silver fortunes were made overnight.
Saloons thrived.
Violence wasn’t uncommon.
Where there is rapid wealth, there is often desperation. And where there is desperation, there are stories that linger.
Today, Virginia City is considered one of the most active paranormal locations in the United States. Investigators travel from around the world to explore its historic hotels, saloons and mansions — drawn by consistent reports of shadow figures, intelligent responses and physical interaction.
At the centre of it all sits the Mackay Mansion.
I Booked It … Then Told My Sister
We didn’t join a tour.
I privately hired the entire Mackay Mansion for several hours.
And then I told my sister Samantha.
To her credit, she was completely game. But neither of us were prepared for what was about to happen.
Once again, Samantha proved she is an absolute paranormal magnet.
The Vault and the Robbery That Turned Deadly
One of the most infamous areas inside the mansion is the lower-floor vault.
In the late 1800s, when the building operated as offices for the Gould and Curry Mining Company, two men attempted to rob the vault, unaware that an armed guard was stationed inside to protect the silver bullion and cash.
The guard shot and killed both men on sight — right near the vault door.
Today, that area is considered one of the mansion’s most active hotspots. Visitors frequently report:
• Shadowy figures
• Wraith-like forms
• Sudden cold spots
• Feelings of dread
So naturally, that’s where we began.
Inside the Vault
We sat inside the vault itself. The atmosphere shifted almost immediately.
Samantha began asking simple, respectful questions.
The responses were clear. Direct. Intelligent.
There was no slow build. It started straight away.
As we moved just outside the vault, the cat balls we had placed nearby began triggering.
One after another.
There was no one near them.
The timing — directly outside the location where the two men were shot — felt significant.
And then it escalated.
After stepping into the adjoining room and finding a comfy spot on the carpet to continue investigating, Samantha froze.
She turned slowly toward the vault.
The heavy vault door was moving.
Opening. By itself.
We went and checked it - with Samantha hiding behidn me.
No breeze. No airflow. No mechanical reason it should have shifted.
This is not a lightweight door. It’s solid, heavy, and not something that casually moves on its own.
Samantha freaked. I loved it.
We caught a Shadow Figure!
We moved upstairs to continue the investigation.
Activity was quieter there — but not absent.
Near the staircase, I both saw what appeared to be a shadow figure.
Later, Samantha captured something even more compelling — a shadow reflected in a mirror.
The next day we sent the image to Dawn, who is the mansion caretaker.
Her response?
She was thrilled.
According to her, we had captured their resident shadow figure — known as “Mr Fair.”
Here is the image Samantha caught – there was no one in the room with ehr, and images taken from the same angle do not show the figure on the right of the mirror frame – what do you think?
The Gold Leaf Toilet (Yes, Really)
Just when you think you’ve seen everything — vault robberies, shadow figures, moving doors — the Mackay Mansion casually reminds you that this was once serious mining-money territory.
Tucked inside one of its historic bathrooms sits a toilet finished in gold leaf paint.
Not modern bling.
Original late-1800s-era extravagance.
Built in 1859 by George Hearst and later owned by “Silver King” John Mackay, the mansion was ahead of its time — including having one of the first plumbed-in toilets in Virginia City.
And naturally… they made it impressive.
In a town fuelled by silver fortunes, even the bathroom reflected prosperity.
After hours of investigating shadow figures and deadly vault legends, discovering a gold leaf toilet feels oddly grounding.
Yes, Virginia City is haunted.
But it was also very, very rich.
Only in a Comstock boomtown would a toilet double as a statement piece.
Why You Should Visit the Mackay Mansion
Virginia City isn’t polished.
It isn’t curated.
It’s raw.
The Mackay Mansion carries layers of ambition, wealth, desperation and violence.
Hiring it privately removed distraction.
No outside influence. No crowd energy. Just us.
And whatever was there with us.
We locked ourselves inside one of Nevada’s most haunted homes.
And Virginia City delivered.