Red Onion Saloon

In the heart of Skagway, Alaska, the infamous Red Onion Saloon stands as a vivid reminder of the Gold Rush era's wild days, where former madams and "soiled doves" are said to still roam the halls of what was once the town's most notorious brothel.

WRITTEN BY

James Sutton

Built in 1898 during the height of the Klondike Gold Rush, the Red Onion Saloon served as both a saloon and a brothel, where miners fresh from the goldfields would spend their newly acquired wealth on drinks downstairs and companionship in the cramped cribs upstairs. Today, the building operates as a restaurant and bar, but its colorful past refuses to stay buried in history.

The most frequently encountered spirit is believed to be Diamond Lil, a madam who managed the establishment’s second-floor brothel. Employees and visitors regularly report glimpsing her figure in a long black dress, particularly near the staircase leading to the former brothel rooms. The sound of her high heels clicking across wooden floors echoes through the building long after closing time, and her signature rose perfume often wafts through the air without explanation.

The second floor, which now serves as a brothel museum, seems to be the epicenter of paranormal activity. Staff members have reported clothes hangers swinging violently in empty rooms, doors slamming shut on their own, and mysterious cold spots that appear even during Alaska’s warmest summer days. Perhaps most unsettling are the numerous accounts of visitors feeling unseen hands touching their shoulders or tugging at their clothes, particularly in the former prostitutes’ cribs.

Modern-day bartenders tell tales of wine glasses flying off shelves, cash registers opening and closing on their own, and lights flickering inexplicably. Some have even reported seeing full-bodied apparitions of women in period dress reflected in the saloon’s antique mirror, only to turn around and find no one there.

One of the most compelling pieces of evidence for the haunting came from a renovation project in the 1980s, when workers discovered numerous artifacts hidden in the walls, including personal items belonging to the women who once worked there. Since these discoveries, paranormal activity has seemingly intensified, as if the disturbance of these items awakened long-dormant spirits.

The Red Onion embraces its haunted history, offering guided tours that combine historical facts with ghost stories. Visitors can explore the preserved brothel rooms upstairs, complete with original furnishings and artifacts, while learning about the harsh realities of life during the Gold Rush era. The tour guides often share their own encounters with the supernatural, adding personal touches to the building’s ghostly lore.

Despite – or perhaps because of – its haunted reputation, the Red Onion Saloon remains one of Alaska’s most popular tourist destinations. The establishment maintains much of its original decor, including the cherry wood bar and the infamous dolls that once served as a tracking system for which girls were “available” for customers.

Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, the Red Onion Saloon offers visitors a unique glimpse into the raw, untamed days of the Gold Rush, where fortune, desperation, and tragedy often walked hand in hand. And if you’re lucky – or perhaps unlucky – you might just encounter one of its permanent residents who never quite managed to check out.