Virginia City

In 1859, the fortunes of Virginia City changed overnight when miners struck silver in the the nearby desert hills of Storey County. The Comstock Lode silver deposit—America’s first major silver discovery—attracted investors, miners, and residents from all over the country in search of new fortune, and in its peak year the mine produced the equivalent of $465 million. A city of millionaires was born, and during the mine’s 30-year lifespan newly minted tycoons built operahouses, mansions, and upscale saloons along the main drag. Today, fewer than 1,000 people live in Virginia City, but it’s held onto its history, with many of the buildings from its heyday still standing. With the boom also came bar brawls, murders, and Wild West shootings, and as a result Virginia City has been called one of America’s most haunted towns. Erie energy and ghost sightings are commonly reported, especially at the Washoe Club, a historic gambling hall where millionaires once played. Ask the bartenders to regale you with the town’s spookiest ghost stories.

Stagecoach rides and mine tours are ever-popular attractions, and Virginia City’s gourmet restaurants like Core and Cafe Del Rio compete with some of the best in Las Vegas. The annual festival lineup is a huge draw for visitors, and this September Virginia City will be hosting its 56th Annual International Camel & Ostrich Races, where jockeys vie for the fastest humpback (the camels reach speeds up to 40 mph). The annual zombie run, saloon crawls, and Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry also make Virginia City well worth a trip.