I didnt even know I booked the spookiest suite until I checked in.
By then, it was too late to turn back.
Thats a different story.
The exterior of the historic boutique hotel, The Jackson Hotel.Credit:James Barrett/Travel + Leisure
I felt myself entering a living time capsule when I arrived.
(The decline of Eureka came as the silver boom began to wane in the early 20th century.
As mining slowed, so did the town.)
View of downtown Eureka, Nevada.James Barrett/Travel + Leisure
I stayed atThe Jackson House, which once had a bustling saloon and restaurant.
According to local legend, some of the original guests of The Jackson House never left.
Guests visiting The Jackson House include thrill-seekers, paranormal enthusiasts, and travelers who enjoy historical architecture.
Interior of a guest room at the Jackson Hotel in Eureka, Nevada.James Barrett/Travel + Leisure
My room The Jackson Suite wasn’t modern at all.
I spent the night watching MTVs Video Music Awards which wasnt very scary at all.
Am I getting robbed?
An antique shop and an underground tunnel in Eureka, Nevada.James Barrett/Travel + Leisure
Was it a ghost?
My heart pounded as I lay still, now wide awake, listening for any more sounds.
Could it really be a person?
Or something else entirely?
I had to find out, but part of me didnt want to know the answer.
I built up the courage to open my bedroom door only to find no one there.
The deadbolt was still on both of my doors.
I would later learn that the Jackson Suite has the most reported paranormal activity in the building.
Once Highway 50 was built, the majority of the tunnels were collapsed for the new construction.
The shop’s name is inspired by her experience with spirits.
“That is partly what inspired the name of our place, Afterlife.
Some things left behind after death shouldn’t be forgotten and still have some life left in them.”
Umina has experienced paranormal activity in the tunnels but none to scare her away from her shop.
“I usually just laugh and say hello or good morning to you too out loud when that happens.
She, herself, only made it partially through the doorway of the suite four years ago.
Inside I felt like someone was choking me and I couldn’t breathe, she said.
As a local resident, Umina has heard plenty of stories.
