Of all the spooky sights I’ve explored in the Sierras, the old, hollow Nevada City Hospital was a real hair raiser. The energy of the place was so heavy, the ghosts of the place seemed to scratch on its walls, whispering of insanity and murder. The Nevada City Hospital was built in 1860 to serve …
Author Archives: Hauntings in the Wild West
The lone highwayman known as Black Bart
Black Bart was famous for 28 Stagecoach robberies in Northern California between 1875 and 1883. He had a vile distaste for the Wells Fargo Company. His crimes were fueled by a sour revenge, he sought nothing more than to personally take back what he felt was rightfully his. A swift, agile pedestrian, Bart often traveled …
Ouija Board Parlor Games of the 1800’s
The history of Planchette divination is not as dark as you might think. It’s really remarkable at how many people find Ouija Boards absolutely terrifying. Everyone seems to know someone, that knows someone else, that has had some spooky experience that maybe involved a mysterious icy wind blowing candles out, shaking a table and a …
Living in an Arsenic Paradise
Living in an Arsenic Paradise
Is Shady Creek sludge an ugly red flag? If you go anywhere in the world where gold mining has carved the earth away, you see the same thing: nasty reddish brown toxic runoff. Heavy metals left behind in the sediments bind to the iron and create a nasty bacteria that can withstand the harshness of …
The haunted beauty of Sierra County
The town of Downieville has the roaming ghost of the only woman ever hung in the gold rush. Downieville is nestled in the beautiful heart of historic gold country. This small Sierra mountain town, home of the 427 pound gold nugget, is blessed by the forks of the North Yuba and Downie rivers. This gold …
Artist inspires positive change in the Wild West
Designs that increase the peace. Locals in North San Juan, California, are anxiously awaiting the release of artist Grace E. Mack’s latest project: The North San Juan coloring book. There seems to be a buzz amongst the residents of this historical gold rush town, a kind of bee like hum, with some anxiously awaiting the …
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Ghosts of the Dew Drop Inn
If you have ever traveled up highway 49 into the heart of Nevada County’s gold country, then you’ve likely passed the Dew Drop Inn. Nestled by the picturesque Cherry Creek, this road side tavern offers a friendly atmosphere for locals and visitors alike to enjoy drinks, billiards and live music. For those that are sensitive …
Reflections of “A simpler time”
The curious creations of photomontage artist Vincent Dileo. If you have a love for intriguing art, then you will probably enjoy a walk around the metaphorical block getting fantastically lost in the work of Vincent Dileo. His brilliant photography skills seem to dance, magically, with his collections of antique images. Once at play with his …
Gun Smoke and Secrets
A look into the mysteries that the notorious gunslinger Billy “The Kid” left behind. Billy “The Kid” was the most wanted gunman in the Wild West. His impeccable skill with a revolver and amazing ability for being master escape artist, gained him much attention in his time. The rumors that he faked his own death, …
Got Ghosts in your attic?
In her final years, my grandmother, rest her precious soul, once told me that she visited sometimes with her deceased husband. Apparently my grandfather would appear as an apparition, and sit on the end of the bed inquiring about her day and making polite chit chat. She remarked that she also often heard him clearing …
The Mysterious Cigar Box Children of North Columbia
Wooden box unearthed, containing strange photographs of the children of the California gold rush. A few weeks ago, an anonymous magical friend of mine, confided in me that he had taken some interest in my haunting adventures. He mentioned that he might have something special to share with me. Boy, did he ever! He had …
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The Ghost of Cherokee Slim
Life is usually pretty quiet in the old Cherokee hydraulic mining washout, here where I live here on the North San Juan Ridge. Occasionally, some good ole boys come come blasting through the dust at 3am, hollering and spinning donuts in some doorless four wheel ride that sounds like it’s muffler got sawed off somewhere …
Rambling ghosts in Forest City?
The abandoned ghost town of Forest City, California is one of Sierra County’s most awesome forgotten places. Unlike the more populated rusty tourist attractions in the Mother Lode, this empty cupboard of a place has a unique Oregon Creek charm, and lively spook appeal. Situated at a perfect mountain elevation just below 4,500 feet, Forest …
The lost town of Cherokee
My first ghost adventure starts right here in my mountain home in Nevada city, California. Lucky for me, I live in the heart of the Sierra Nevada Mother Lode. Here, the ghostly remains of a land once ravaged by hydraulic gold mining whisper in the dust that the Cherokee Diggens left behind. The town of …
Hauntings in the Wild West
The Sierra Nevada Mother lode is a great bet for a hair raising experience. Here in the historic heart of gold country, the ghost stories and haunting tales are abundant. It seems that the imprint of a forgotten time remains, where the gambling whispers of the new frontier call out to us from the dusty …
Introduce Yourself (Example Post)
This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right. You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the …
Hauntings in the Wild West 