The Haunting of Piper’s Opera House in Nevada

Virginia City, Storey County, Nevada

Photo: Wikipedia

Nestled high in the hills of Virginia City, Piper’s Opera House isn’t just a relic of the Wild West — it’s one of the most iconic haunted theaters in America. Built in the 1880s after two earlier versions were destroyed by fire, this historic venue has hosted legends like Mark Twain and Lillie Langtry, all while building a reputation for its ghostly residents.

Visitors and staff alike have reported unexplained footsteps echoing through empty hallways, shadowy figures flitting behind stage curtains, and the overwhelming feeling of being watched. The balcony is especially active — many believe a former actor or patron never left, still enjoying the show from the best seat in the house.

One of the most chilling tales involves a woman in period dress who appears during rehearsals, silently watching from the back rows before vanishing without a trace. Lights flicker, props move on their own, and cold spots plague certain areas of the building no matter the season.

Today, Piper’s Opera House continues to hold performances, tours, and ghost investigations — embracing its spirited legacy. Whether you're there for the history or the hauntings, one thing’s for sure: the curtain never really falls at Piper’s.

Address: 12 B Street, Virginia City, NV 89440
Website: pipersoperahouse.com
Tours: Offered regularly — check the site for hours and ghost investigation dates.

Whether you come for the legends or linger for the ghosts, Piper’s Opera House reminds us that in Virginia City… the past never truly dies.

The Haunting of the Grand Opera House

The Grand Opera House – Dubuque County, Dubuque, Iowa

Photograph © Dubuque Cultural Alliance

Steeped in the cultural tapestry of the late 1800s, this historic opera house has gracefully hosted a plethora of operas, plays, and ballets over the decades. However, alongside the artistry and the applause, the building has also become a stage for paranormal occurrences that have left an indelible mark on its storied history.

As the curtains close and the opera house transitions into its after-hours realm, employees have reported ethereal phenomena that defy explanation. Disembodied voices and haunting singing echo through the stage area, creating an otherworldly ambiance. Many have shared experiences of feeling an unseen presence beside or behind them, accompanied by unexplained gusts of chilling air. Phantom footsteps traverse the empty stage, leaving a spectral imprint on the hallowed space.

Live productions, intended to captivate audiences with seamless performances, often encounter unexplainable disruptions. Lighting malfunctions manifest, with instances where all the lights in the building extinguish, leaving only the stage lights aglow. Electricians baffled by the phenomenon find no issues with the wiring. Strikingly, once the production concludes, the lights mysteriously flicker back to life.

The spotlights, essential players in the theatrical dance of illumination, exhibit a life of their own. Moving in unpredictable directions without any human intervention, they occasionally defy the laws of physics by toppling from their stands without apparent cause.

The opera house itself seems to engage in a dance of light and shadow, as switches toggle on and off autonomously. Film cameras, operated by human hands, succumb to mysterious forces, zooming in and out of their own volition. In one eerie incident, a cameraman captured an apparition on film just before the camera spiraled into chaos.

Adding to the mystique, various objects within the opera house embark on unexplained journeys. They are clandestinely relocated, hidden from view, only to reappear later in a different location. Witnesses attest to these objects moving seemingly of their own accord, manipulated by unseen entities that weave an ethereal presence into the very fabric of the opera house's existence.
Address:
135 West 8th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001
563-588-4356
Website

The Haunting of the Woodstock Opera House

Woodstock Opera House – McHenry County, Woodstock, Illinois

Photograph ©National Trust for Historic Preservation

Within the storied walls of the opera house resides a haunting tale centered around at least one known apparition. The poignant narrative unfolds with the tale of a young actress, her dreams shattered after being denied a coveted role in a play. Faced with despair, she ascended the five flights of stairs to the belfry tower, choosing to leap to her tragic demise.

This sorrowful figure, forever etched in the annals of the opera house, is none other than Elvira. Witnesses have recounted encountering her spectral presence, adorned in a dancing gown, her beautiful blond hair cascading down to her waist.

Intriguingly, the belfry tower exerts a mysterious allure on young actresses, drawing them in under what some describe as a "hypnotic state." The prevailing belief is that Elvira, long departed from the mortal realm, emanates an otherworldly force that beckons these performers up the stairwell.

Beyond her ethereal manifestation, Elvira engages in mischievous activities, orchestrating the movement of props and the untying of scenery supports, resulting in their untimely descent. Witnesses have attested to audible sighs of annoyance, emanating from Elvira when actors falter in their lines or miss their cues.

Seat 113, nestled within the auditorium, holds a peculiar significance in Elvira's spectral realm. Claimed by many as her favored vantage point, during rehearsals, this seat purportedly descends to a lowered position as she watches with an otherworldly gaze. Adding to the enigma, these seats are spring-loaded, designed to resist staying in a lowered position without external weight. Despite repeated examinations, Seat 113 remains in perfect working order, serving as an eerie testament to Elvira's enduring influence within the opera house.

 
Address:
121 West Van Buren Street
Woodstock, Illinois 60098
(815) 338-4212
Website

The Haunting of the Orpheum Theatre

Orpheum Theatre –Maricopa County, Phoenix, Arizona

Photograph ©Debra Jane Seltzer

Constructed in 1927, the Orpheum Theatre is the most extravagant in the city of Phoenix. During the theatres many years of use, it has seen its share of good times, good money and good company.

To look upon this gorges building, you may never guess it is claimed to be haunted. However, employees of the theatre can tell you many stories that would make your hair stand on end!

Some of the strange happenings reported between 1995 and 1999 are kind of silly in nature. It sounds much like a bored spirit just trying to poke fun at the living.

A dark figure made itself known to a janitor by floating back and forth across the balcony. I can only imagine how alarmed this poor unsuspecting man was!

On another occasion, three of the staff members were in awe of a roll of paper towels that began to unroll itself at the concession stand. One of the employees stopped the towels from unrolling by placing his hand on them. As soon as he moved his hand, the towels began to unroll again.

In the men’s room of the theatre, several patrons and employees reported feeling a presence in the room and then they were suddenly shocked by a small charge of electricity.

Another account of the men’s room happened after closing one evening; apparently all of the toilets began flushing and all of the sinks turned on full force!


Address:
203 West Adams Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85003
(602) 534-5600
Website

The Haunting of the Landers Theatre

Landers Theatre – Greene County, Springfield, Missouri

Photograph ©Richard Grosenbaugh

The Landers Theatre was built in 1909 by John and D.J. Landers and R.W. Steward. Today the theatre is known as the Springfield Little Theatre and it has a reputation for being haunted.

A male apparition has been spotted by numerous performers, watching them from the balcony above. Another apparition, an unknown man, has been seen looking out of the costume room window on the fourth floor. This man is said to be wearing Elizabethan clothing.

A third male apparition was spotted in the theatre by one of the directors. Apparently the director mistook him for an actual living person and spoke to him. The man then went behind a pillar in the auditorium and vanished into thin air. The director described the man as middle aged, about six feet tall, long hair and beard.

Also spotted here is a green, free-floating orb, believed to be the spirit of a man who was knifed to death in the 1920’s. This “orb” is described as being approximately five feet tall and it usually appears in the first and second balcony areas.

Address:
311 East Walnut Avenue
Springfield, Missouri 65806
(417) 869-3869
Website