LUCKY NUGGET CASINO INVESTIGATION

Black Hills Paranormal Investigations

Sept. 29/30, 2008 – Oct. 6/7, 2008 – Oct. 29/30, 2008 ­-

Apr. 20/21, 2009 ­- May 18/19, 2009

This photograph shows the buildings that housed the brothels of Deadwood, which were closed down in 1980. Photo taken by Mark Shadley 2008.

Alleged paranormal activity reported:

Monday September 15, 2008, BHPI members Josh, Susan, and Mark S were given a tour of the Lucky Nugget by one of the Lucky Nugget managers and also a witness to some of the paranormal activity reported. Activity experienced has been shadow people, being grabbed or pushed, feelings of anxiety, footsteps, sounds of people running in the hallways. A photograph taken by a former employee shows a shadow of a man standing in one of the hallways. Unfortunately, the employee moved out of state and the photo was unavailable to view.

BHPI investigator Josh Wennes standing in approximate location where employee experienced being touched.
Picture taken by Mark Shadley, 2008.

Photograph taken of Josh a few minutes later standing in the same location. Notice how dark the background
 is in this picture compared to the above picture. Picture taken by Mark Shadley, 2008

Hallway leading into south-side of brothels. Picture taken by Mark Shadley, 2008

Back hallway that leads off of main hall where prostitute was alleged to have been killed and thrown
out back door. Picture taken by Mark Shadley, 2008

History of the Brothels and the Badlands:

Much of this information comes from many sources including; Boots on Bricks, a Walking Tour of Historic Downtown Deadwood by Mark S. Wolfe. Published by the Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission. Gold, Gals, Guns, Guts: a history of Deadwood, Lead, and Spearfish, 1874-1976. Bob Lee, editor. Deadwood library.
There has been much written about Deadwood and its rich history. With regard to where the current Lucky Nugget Casino is located we have found that this section of Main St has a very well known and colorful history.

The following photo captures modern day Main St looking north from Wall St and is what was commonly referred to as “The Badlands.” The current Fairmont Hotel was originally named the Melodeon, later the Mansion House. One account of this block of buildings was mentioned in “A History of Deadwood, Lead, & Spearfish, 1874-1976 Gold, Gals, Guns, Guts edited by Bob Lee” ISBN 0-9715171-8-5.

“The “Bad Lands,” common during the first 25 years of the mining camp, had by 1900 extended to include an entire block of two-story brick structures on the west side of Main Street from the Mansion House at the corner of Wall Street down to the end of the block.”

Looking north on Main St from Wall St. This photograph shows the current Fairmont Hotel and the
Lucky Nugget Casino. Photo taken by Mark Shadley, 2008.

The story continues, “A druggist said that he used to deliver supplies…to the headquarters for the “girls.”…he could enter at the Mansion House, go through a fire door, enter a hall and deliver the package to the house he was looking for. It was an entire block of girlie houses…”

Depicted in the photo below is the probably site of the original #10 saloon where Wild Bill Hickok was shot and killed. During our research we learned that this current building was built in 1898, and referred to as the second I.H. Chase Building. This building was a clothing store operated by I.H. Chase. In 1903, I.H. Chase moved out and Frank X. Smith opened a beer hall on the location. It later housed the Eagle Inn and as stated before, the probable location of the saloon where Wild Bill Hickok was killed. This can not be proven since no records remain as to the actual location of the saloon.

Unfortunately, this is one of the frustrations we run into while researching the background of a location, especially when it comes to Deadwood. There have been fires and floods along this stretch of Main St. and many of the foundations of previous buildings were destroyed along with any documentation that would help us reconcile actual locations. Equally frustrating is the fact that many of the foundations of the stories we have heard reference these locations seem to be as non-existent as the old foundations of buildings past.

Building on right of Oyster Bar is known as the Second I. H. Chase Building built in 1898. Said to be
built on probable site of original Saloon #10 where Wild Bill Hickok was killed. Now current location
of Lucky Nugget Casino. Photograph taken by Mark Shadley, 2008.

This building was built after a fire destroyed the original buildings in 1948. This lot was known as the Schwarzwald
Buildings and was a furniture store for many years. The new owner dealt in Indian artifacts and had the building
remodeled in the Southwestern style as it is seen today. Photograph taken by Mark Shadley, 2008.

The Bullock – Clark Building, Horace Clark and Apex Building, M.B. Wilson Building, and L.M. Parker
Buildings are depicted in this photo. Photograph taken by Mark Shadley, 2008.

Although each building depicted in the photographs have a shared and wild history for housing prostitutes and saloons, we learned that each building also housed its own unique history individually.

The Bullock – Clark Building was the original location of the Bella Union Theater and the IXL Hotel. The Bella Union Theater and IXL Hotel occupied this location from 1876 – 1879 when the great fire destroyed most of the buildings on Main St. The current building, Bullock – Clark was built in 1894 and housed the Boston Restaurant and the second floor served as barracks for the Salvation Army. This building also served as a car showroom and garage.

There are many historic accounts about the Bella Union Theater. A famous actor of the era, Jack Langrishe actually leased the Bella Union and, “…tendered that building [Bella Union Theater] for the miners’ trial held the morning after Wild Bill was shot by Jack McCall.” There are other reports as well that the Bella Union was used for community meetings and trials. Here is one newspaper account of the popularity of the Bella Union Theater.

“Tom Miller’s Belle Union seems to be drawing a liberal share of patronage this past week. Of course the show is of a Vaudeville type, and in addition is a little naughty, but Pete Reed and others sing a few songs nightly that is worth the price of admission, and as for Tom, himself, what with his bone solo and his comic songs, he is a host in himself.”

pt. 26, 1876

Bella Union Theater circa 1876-9.

The next buildings in line are the Horace Clark and Apex Buildings. The Apex building is the stone building and was built in 1897 serving as the official government assay office until 1907. It was said the Apex Building featured beautiful stained-glass windows at one time. The Apex was later known as the home of Pam’s Purple Door brothel that operated until 1980.

The next building just south of the Apex Building is known as the M.B. Wilson Building and it was built in 1902-03. The first tenant of the building was Henry Maillard and his Pickwick Saloon. It later housed an auto garage and electrical service. The upstairs housed the Shasta Rooms in the 1930’s and 40’s.

The white building depicted in the picture is the L.M. Parker Building that was built in 1894. This building housed a grocery store, Ruth Brothers Machine Works and Country Club Beverage and Supply.

Conclusions:

The Lucky Nugget Casino occupies an enviable piece of property that is not only historical in nature, but one that is haunted with the spirits of Deadwood’s original inhabitants. The Lucky Nugget Casino clearly encompasses the original #10 saloon where ‘Wild Bill’ was shot and killed. It also occupies the site of the original Bella Union Theater where hundreds of plays were performed. Probably most notably, the Lucky Nugget houses the original upstairs brothels that gave this section of town the moniker, “The Badlands.”

What is so compelling about this location is the fact that one can actually close their eyes and imagine the lively exchanges of miners, saloon owners, prostitutes, bull whackers, and business owners all going about their daily lives. It also helps when we at BHPI can provide EVP and video evidence that captures this activity of the past.

The historical as well as the paranormal significance of this property can not be denied and must be preserved for current and future generations to experience.

Those of us at Black Hills Paranormal Investigations would like to sincerely thank the employees and management of the Lucky Nugget Casino for letting us come into your business and conduct these investigations. We also like to take the time to personally thank Trish for taking the time out of her busy schedule to give us tours of the location and telling us her story.

Evidence

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