It may come as no surprise that the Luxor's purported to be haunted, since the purpose of the ancient Egyptians’ pyramids was to serve as monumental tombs for their pharaohs.
While there’s still a lack of consensus about the symbolism of Egyptian pyramids, one theory holds that they were built with the idea that they would act as a kind of resurrection machine. Another posits that the pyramids may have been designed to serve as a means to magically launch the deceased pharaoh's soul directly up through the night sky and into the heavens. Whichever theory you subscribe to, it’s a fact that all Egyptian pyramids were built on the west bank of the Nile, which, as the site of the setting sun, was associated with the realm of the dead in Egyptian mythology.
Las Vegas’s pyramid, built on the west side of the Strip, is 30 stories high and is home to both the largest atrium in the world and the most powerful light beam. And, allegedly, a few ghosts.
From the time of its construction, Luxor has had its share of tragedies. Three construction workers lost their lives during the building of the pyramid in 1992, while other fatalities include an unconfirmed number of suicides, including a woman who reportedly leaped from the 26th floor and landed in the buffet area and a man who jumped from the 10th floor and landed on the express checkout counter. Both the buffet and the counter have since been moved to new locations.
So, what of the alleged hauntings? Well, people walking down the 10th-floor hallway have reported feeling as if someone was hovering directly behind their back and whispering into their ear, but no one is ever there. (We’ve seen the same phenomenon attributed to areas of the Excalibur, too.) There have also been reports of an inexplicable "presence" felt by people walking on the 26th floor.
When Luxor opened in 1992, small barges navigated a river that encircled the casino floor and were intended to ferry guests to the inclinators (specially designed elevators designed to accommodate the unique pyramidal shape). When guests complained about the wait, however, the ride was promoted purely for entertainment purposes as the Nile River Adventure. The attraction remained in place for just three years.
While the official line is its demise was merely part of a major interior remodeling project, according to the unofficial, albeit popular, account, the Nile River was removed because guests kept seeing ghosts of the three workers killed during Luxor's construction whenever the river passed through dark tunnels.
Luxor isn't alone when it comes to spooky goings-on. Our research reveals that the city’s practically riddled with apparitions and other inexplicable happenings. Here (cue the theme from "The Twilight Zone," please) are some of the alleged haunted highlights:
Aladdin Hotel (now Planet Hollywood) Visitors to the Panorama Suite have reported hearing a key in the door and whisperings in the foyer. There are reports that a presence is felt. The door buzzer rings when no one is there and items have a habit of appearing from nowhere.
Bally’s Following the death of 84 people on Nov. 21, 1980, in the infamous fire at what was then the MGM Grand, there have apparently been numerous ghostly sightings in the older buildings at the site, generally concentrated in and around certain rooms on the 20th floor and above, where the bulk of the fatalities occurred.
Circus Circus Rooms 123, 203, 230, and 576, plus the poker room, are said to be haunted. Loud cries for help have been heard in all of them. We’re not sure what the story is for the other rooms, but one account holds that a woman shot her son and herself in Room 123 and that both are now said to haunt the place, looking for their husband/father.
Flamingo While little remains of the original property he helped build, Bugsy Siegel's ghost is said to remain, haunting the Presidential Suite, where he resided while in the city. Sightings have also been reported by the pool, in the wedding chapel, and around the Bugsy monument in the rose garden.
ThePlaza What was known formerly as the Union Plaza was built on the site of the former downtown train station and apparently some claim the showroom of the hotel is haunted by the ghost of a stagehand who committed suicide, with his hallmark hauntings consisting of cold spots and misplacing people's belongings.
Whiskey Pete's The Primm Valley casino is said to be haunted by the spirit of "Whiskey" Pete McIntyre himself, who died in 1933. It's reported that his spirit watches over those who gamble in his casino and many people have eported finding their cars' empty gas tanks filled up overnight in the parking lot.
Bellagio Built on the site of the former mob-run Dunes, witness accounts have stated there are unexplained cold spots Bellagio and a strange blue glow that will appear and disappear without explanation, plus the sound of disembodied voices.
