'Ghost Adventures': The real story of the horrors of Union Brewery in Virginia City and its violent past

The ancient Brewery has a history of violence and tragedy — so much so that it's current owner Dawn Grant has no option but to seek the help of Zak Bagans and the 'Ghost Adventures' crew
UPDATED MAR 20, 2020
 'Ghost Adventures' crew (Travel Channel)
'Ghost Adventures' crew (Travel Channel)

Virginia City is one of the most haunted places in the country, but Union Brewery takes the cake when it comes to being one of the paranormal hotspots in the city.

The ancient Brewery has a history of violence and tragedy — so much so that it's current owner Dawn Grant has no option but to seek the help of Zak Bagans and the 'Ghost Adventures' crew. Here's the real story behind this eerie hangout that was once abuzz with life and laughter. 

The first version of The Union Brewery was burned to the ground in a violent fire in 1965 and was rebuilt a year later into its current reincarnation. It was also used as a funeral home for a short period of time and it is believed that it was this time period that left behind something dark and sinister on the premises. 

There isn't much information out there regarding this haunting but the property is rumored to house a violent spirit strong enough to hurt people and even kill them.

The owner's tragic death

Dawn Grant and her husband bought the property in 2012 and things went south quickly.  Her husband became very aggressive, violent and obsessed with the property which wasn't normal. It had completely taken over him. It was like he was two different people, she said. He became "addicted" to the building and refused to leave. 

He died shortly after inside the property and his body could not be located for days inside. His wife believes that it was the spirits that caused his death. 

Spirits, disembodied voices

There are said to be multiple apparitions that people have seen on the property. Two young girls were seen by Christina George, a psychic medium during one of her visits. She claimed that the girls told her they wanted to leave but a dark man wouldn't let them.

The story goes that the girls were daughters of a sex worker who lived in the home — who may have gone through tremendous suffering at the property. Many believe they died in the fire.

The whole crew experienced physical pain at different times in the property and one of them even passed out, falling on her face. From disembodied voices that claimed to throw people down the stairs to possessions, everyone had some sort of negative experience. 

Dan, Dawn's friend, talked about a murderous spirit living on the property who is a "killer of men" and tended to take over women. Mediums claimed to have seen someone getting raped in the back table of the pub. There have also been incidents were explosions have happened in rooms and beds have levitated.

Some incredible communication and evidence were gathered by the team and they captured a total of five different female voices on their equipment.

Catch 'Ghost Adventures' every Thursday on Travel Channel.​

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

A quiet conversation reveals a shocking truth about the Others and may hold the key to stopping the Joining as ‘Pluribus’ heads into its finale
1 hour ago
'The Beauty' teaser introduced an ensemble cast of Ashton Kutcher, Rebecca Hall, and Evan Peters alongside Bella Hadid and Anthony Ramos
2 hours ago
As 'Stranger Things' heads into its final episodes, cast hints and dark teases raise fears that not everyone will survive
3 hours ago
Yasmin and Harper take the spotlight in electric trailer ahead of the show's January 11 release
13 hours ago
Fans have already been talking about a potential love story between Bode and newcomer Chloe
14 hours ago
The finale saw him pip runner-up Channing Wilson and third-place Cassidy Daniels
17 hours ago
‘Heated Rivalry’ stuns fans as Episode 5 earns a rare perfect IMDb score, putting the queer drama in the same conversation as TV’s all-time greats
18 hours ago
The key art features Okarun and Momo, along with Turbo Grammy, against the backdrop of Bamora donning her Kaiju suit
19 hours ago
The 'I Love LA' stars Sennott as Maia, an ambitious influencer manager balancing complex personal and professional relationships
21 hours ago
‘Black Clover’ returns in 2026 with a dark new trailer, signaling Asta’s most dangerous battles are finally about to begin.
23 hours ago