Paul W. Papa - Haunted Las Vegas: Famous Phantoms, Creepy Casinos, and Gambling Ghosts

Copyright 2012 by Morris Book Publishing, LLC

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to Globe Pequot Press, Attn: Rights and Permissions Department, PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437.

Text design: Sheryl P. Kober

Project editor: Lauren Brancato

Layout: Justin Marciano

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Papa, Paul W.

Haunted Las Vegas : famous phantoms, creepy casinos, and gambling ghosts / retold byPaul W. Papa.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-0-7627-6994-0

1. Haunted placesNevadaLas Vegas. I. Title.

BF1472.U6P34 2012

133.109793'135dc23

2012009397

Printed in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

This book is dedicated to all those spirits who came to Las Vegas and found it a city far too intriguing to ever leave.

I would first and foremost like to thank all those people who sat with me and retold their spookyand often creepystories. Thanks also go out to Mark P. Hall-Patton at the Clark County Museum, for both his assistance and his understanding of a writers needs; Laura Hutton at the Boulder City/Hoover Dam Museum, for letting me rummage through so many records and stories in a not-so-haunted basement; and Cowboy Joe at Bonnie Springs, for taking me on my own private tour.

Special thanks go out to Kerry Giese for all his help, Ray Jones for his guidance throughout the writing of this book, and Melissa Parsons, who kept my grammar on track (not an easy task), and let me use the word and every once in a while when I wasnt supposed to. Finally, Id also like to thank my wonderful editor, Tracee Williams, for her insight, guidance, and obvious desire to make this the best book it could possibly bethanks!

Ghosts in Las Vegas? How couldnt there be? After all, its a town that was controlled by the Mob for close to thirty years. Who knows how many people were persuaded to cross over to the other side at the hands of a crooked-nose gangster with a nickname like The Ant? Not only that, but anyone who is anyone has played or performed in Las Vegas at one time or another. Opulence is king in this unique town, which was home for many years to the king of opulence himself, Liberace. When you arrive in Las Vegas, you are treated like youre the only person in the world who matters. Is it any wonder that many of those who came here decided never to leave?

Las Vegas is a one-of-a-kind place. Where else can you find a town haunted by both Elvis and an elephant (thats right, an elephant)? It even has its own ghost town. Las Vegas is known for discarding its past like most people discard clothing, imploding buildings with little care for their historical value. Yet it is also a city rich in historyeven though its only a little more than a hundred years old. The Rat Pack made Las Vegas its home, and the town is still closely associated with the glitz and glamour known only to the likes of Hollywood.

Strange is another word often associated with this town, and what can be stranger than stories of ghosts? Haunted houses and schools, bathrooms with faucets that turn on by themselves, a showroom where the audience has never left, a gangster who remains at the resort he never got to see succeed, and a restaurant where the deceased owner still commands respect are just some of the strange and ghostly occurrences Las Vegas has to offer. And whether you believe these eerie tales or not, one thing is true: They are all very Vegas.

One of the best things about writing a book like Haunted Las Vegas is that you get to see your town through a different set of eyes. In choosing which stories to tell, I have tried to give you a slice of Las Vegas that combines a little of the old with a taste of the new. Because so much of this town is lost to the present, only viewable in photos or secret videos found on the Internet, I have chosen stories that help link Las Vegas to its past.

According to the History Channel, Las Vegas is a hot zone of cold spots, unsettled spirits, and well-documented anomalous experiences. The question, therefore, begs to be asked: Are these stories true? Do ghosts really haunt Las Vegas? Ill leave that up to you to determine for yourself. So whether you read this book before your next trip to Las Vegas or wait until the dead of night during your stay, I hope these stories appease your creepy side, while at the same time giving you a taste of just how great this little town really is. Just a word of caution, however: After you have read these stories, you may want to follow a time-honored Las Vegas tradition and leave the ghost light on. Enjoy!

While las Vegas is known as Sin City, its also known as the entertainment capital of the world. many of the greatest entertainers in the industry have come to las Vegas and made it their home, and when some of them died, they refused to leave. So many singers, dancers, and musicians found fame and fortune in las Vegaswhether they were discovered here, or became a success the second time aroundthat even though they died somewhere else, it didnt stop them from returning to the city they loved. Some returned to homes they once occupied in las Vegas, while others chose places that meant something to them, like a restaurant, or the stage where the roar of the crowds greeted them every night.

Las Vegas is known for entertainment, and what better place to start than with the people who made las Vegas famous. in this first section well visit the restaurant liberace opened and frequently entertained friends in, cooking for them himself. Well travel to the suite in the las Vegas hilton where elvis stayed during his record-breaking years of performing. Well also visit some spots where the pressures of entertainment proved too much and the results were... well, ghostly.

So tip the matre d and get ready for the best seat in the house.

In a restaurant that once served Hollywoods elite, side by side with Las Vegass most notorious crime element, the flamboyant previous owner still roams the halls. Diners and employees alike have all experienced the playfulnessor wrathof Liberace.

What did she say?

It couldnt have been what he thought hed heardcould it? Could that bartender have just said that, about Liberace, in his own restaurant?

Jacob Harding had walked into Carluccios Tivoli Gardens Restaurant only a few minutes ago, thinking he would have a drink to honor the famous musician on this, the anniversary of his death. After all, Liberace had opened the restaurant, which was then only called Tivoli Gardens, and what better way to honor the man who helped make Las Vegas famous?

The bar where Jacob sat was over one hundred years old. Liberace had imported it from England, and frankly, it was gorgeous! It was gorgeous because it was ornate and it was made of wood. Not that fake wood they make things out of nowadays, but real hardwood, harvested from real trees. The wood was reddish-brown and it seemed to fill the space perfectly. Decorative panels made up the bottom section of the bar, the top of which was covered in granite.