Annual walk to summon up ghosts, history

Costumed characters from the past will lead the adventurous on a journey into the past when Carson City's history is explored and theatrically relived during the 19th annual Classic Ghost Walk on Oct. 22.

"The Carson City Ghost Walk is a delightfully spooky and enjoyable way to experience Carson City's Victorian era and diverse past," said this year's new event coordinator, Mary Bennett, who has been involved with the production for nearly two decades.

"You can meet lingering spirits of the past, with many haunted and paranormal stories. Some of our spirits even lead the guided walking tours of the downtown district's historic homes," she said.

Bennett said she is looking forward to the tour. "This year, we'll have classic skits from past years - some of the favorites," she said. "We've experimented a lot - one year we had 'Something Wicked This Way Comes,' and another year we did Shakespeare."

The 90-minute walking tour is less than 2 miles but offers 20 different narrations as well as tours into six historic homes.

At one stop, paranormal expert Janet Jones will talk to former resident Louise Rinckel inside the Rinckel Mansion, and tourists will be able to experience what a haunting is like at another house.

Among the stops along the tour are:

• The Bliss Mansion: This is a three-story, 8,500-square-foot mansion that was completed in 1879 and built by millionaire Duane L. Bliss, to become his dream home. The 15-room Victorian was built in the Italianate style, and was the biggest and most elaborate home in Nevada at the time.

• The Brewery Arts Center: Built in 1874 by the Carson Brewing Company, which produced Tahoe Beer, this building has been transformed into an arts center.

• Ferris Mansion: This was the home of George Ferris Jr., inventor of the Ferris Wheel for the Chicago World Columbian Exposition in 1893.

• Rinckel Mansion: This mansion was built with the fortune of Mathias Rinckel, a forward-looking meat magnate who struck it rich supplying Gold Rushers and Lake Tahoe lumbermen.

In addition, this year's tourists will be treated to a presentation by a group of paranormal specialists through a partnership with the Brewery Arts Center, Bennett said.

The tour goes on rain or shine, Bennett said, and tours leave from the parking lot behind the Firkin & Fox Pub, at 3rd and Curry, streets every half hour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 the day of the event. Children under 4 can join in for free. Tickets are available at Firkin & Fox, 310 S. Carson St., or the Carson City Convention & Visitors Bureau, 1900 S. Carson St. They also can obtained by calling 687-7410 or by going online to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/193745.

The Carson City Ghost Walk 2011 partners include the Brüka Theatre, the Firkin & Fox Pub and the Brewery Arts Center.

The walk was created in the early 1990s by the bureau, and the CCCVB produced it until this year, when Bennett assumed responsibility.

"I'm very optimistic about this transition. Mary Bennett is the perfect person for this because she helped create the Ghost Walk and has worked on it every year," said CCCVB Executive Director Candy Duncan. "I'm really looking forward to an exciting future as it continues to get bigger every year."