'Grave Concerns' highlights Haunted Weekend

by Laurie Hickey

Special to The R-C

Make sure the final will and testament is updated as thrills, chills and mysteries abound during "Haunted Weekend," a series of four "spirited" events, Oct. 20-22, throughout the Carson City/Carson Valley areas.

The scare tactics feature the ever-popular Carson City Ghost Walk, this year themed, "Grave Concerns," which has brave visitors touring a specially tailored, one-mile, 90-minute walk along the historic Kit Carson Trail. Visitors should expect apparitions galore in and about Carson City's haunted buildings and Victorian homes. It could be ghosts and goblins from the past in the form of costumed actors from the Bruka Theatre Company of Reno or your guide draped in period attire. Or beware of gunfighters in the alleys as well as the occasional horse-drawn stagecoach careening wildly down the street re-enacting strange encounters of Carson City's colorful past.

A word of caution: reserve your tickets now for this popular event. An annual sell-out, the Ghost Walk attracts over 1,000 victims. Call (800) NEVADA-1 or (800) 727-7677.

For the more courageous souls, the panic has also spread to channeling spirits in the Gardnerville and Genoa areas with a cooperative package developed by the Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau, Douglas County Historical Society and Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Authority. Included is a haunted evening at the Gardnerville Ghost Walk, a Genoa Cemetery Tour with living history characters escorting participants, and the haunted sights and historic landmarks of Genoa, Nevada's oldest settlement. This four-event package is just $30 along with a variety of lodging options to round out the weekend of ghosts and goblins. For special room discounts visit: www.sweetnevadadeals.com.

n The guided evening tour of the Gardnerville Ghost Walk featuring historic sights and long-gone residents is Friday, Oct. 20. Tours are available at 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Several ghosts from Gardnerville's rich and exciting history will come to life for an educational, fun and spirited evening.

n The Carson City Ghost Walk is Saturday, Oct. 21 beginning at 9:00 a.m. until 3:00pm with departures every 30 minutes from the St. Charles Hotel on the corner of Third and Carson Streets. Hopefully, most visitors will return!

n That night features the historic Genoa Cemetery from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Step back in time as family members and others bring to life some of Nevada's earliest pioneers on a spirited adventure into haunted history.

n The weekend of activities concludes with the Genoa Ghost Walk, Sunday, Oct. 22, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Mormon Station, later known as Genoa, was the first permanent settlement in Nevada and has a rich and colorful history. Considering the time of year and the location, expect a few other ghosts and ghouls.

Come for the thrills, the chills and the mysteries behind the haunted trails. Be sure to take another person with you when ghost hunting; you never know what you might encounter.

Individual tickets for "Grave Concerns," the Carson City Ghost Walk are $15, while admission for the Haunted Gardnerville Ghost Walk, Historical Genoa Cemetery Tour and Haunted Genoa Tour is $5 for each. Advance purchase is available by calling (800) NEVADA-1 or (800) 727-7677. Application forms to attend the four tour VIP Haunted Weekend package are now available on-line at www.visitcarsonvalley.org or www.visitcarsoncity.com.