What It’s Really Like Inside Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum

Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum is a must for any fan of the paranormal. Set in a haunted 1938 mansion, the museum is home to some of the most haunted objects from around the world. Read all about my visit and the weird experiences I had with some of the spooky artefacts.

Back in 2019, I found the time to visit Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum during my whistlestop road trip of America’s West Coast. My friend and I spent four days living it up in Las Vegas, and my visit to Zak Bagans’ paranormal museum was highly anticipated in the run-up to our trip.

Funny enough, once we arrived in Vegas, we were so busy having fun that I completely forgot I’d planned to check out the museum! My friend isn’t really into the paranormal, so my plans were easily forgotten…until a bus drove past us, and I saw a huge advertisement for the museum! It felt like fate.

So the very next evening, I booked my Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum Tickets and attended alone. Here’s what happened.

Full disclosure: This post originally appeared on my other travel blog in 2019.

What is Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum?

Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum is a paranormal museum home to thousands of artefacts personally collected and curated by paranormal investigator Zak Bagans of Ghost Adventures fame. The 13,000-square-foot mansion-turned-museum was built in 1938 and is already haunted enough without all the cursed objects inside. The historic Wengert Mansion is haunted by its former occupants, and the basement was once home to dark rituals that took place in the 1970s.

Today, the museum is home to more than 30 different rooms, each filled with eerie, historic, and cursed artefacts. Guests can take guided tours through the museum, hearing the stories, hauntings, and history behind each item.

Before visiting, I hadn’t actually watched Ghost Adventures, but I still found myself completely drawn into Zak’s passion for the paranormal!

What to Expect Inside

The atmospheric and spooky museum is home to some of the most haunted items in the world, such as:

💀 The Dybbuk Box
💀 Peggy the Doll
💀 Dr Death’s Van
💀 The staircase from the famous Indiana Demon House

Many of the rooms are themed around specific topics and artefacts, from serial killers’ possessions to cursed dolls.

You can join a small guided tour around the museum or a RIP ALL-ACCESS ticket, which includes souvenirs and extended access on your tour, including off-limit areas. If you’re brave enough, you can instead attend a late-night flashlight ghost tour experience, which allows guests free rein of the museum – in the dark! The museum also offers different events and experiences, and you may even spot Zak himself wandering around the building (he was outside when my tour finished!).

It’s worth noting that you must sign a disclaimer before entering, as you will come in contact with genuinely cursed and haunted items. Some items or rooms may be genuinely gory, disturbing or eerie – although there are some instances where you can bypass certain rooms.

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Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum review: my experience

Because I’d never watched an episode of Ghost Adventures and was still fairly new to exploring haunted museums, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first arrived at Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum.

As soon as I joined the short line outside for my timeslot, my excitement began to grow. I could feel the anticipation in the air as we all waited to step inside this historic building.

But when we were handed a waiver, I did start to feel a little nervous. I hadn’t realised we’d need to sign one, so this definitely added to the fear…

The waiver warned us about potential experiences inside the museum, from feeling unwell to possible spiritual attachments. Essentially, we were entering at our own risk – and suddenly, I slightly regretted going alone!

Once inside, we listened to a short introduction before being taken back outside and guided to another entrance. Here, we learned more about the house’s history before stepping inside.

The first room is filled to the brim with eerie artefacts. At first, our guide spoke a lot about Zak, Ghost Adventures, and how the collection began. I did briefly wonder if the entire tour would focus heavily on Zak (he’s a very fascinating man!), but as we moved through the rooms, the focus shifted more towards the artefacts themselves, their histories, and the paranormal experiences connected to them.

Zak is still mentioned throughout – particularly in relation to how certain items were acquired – but it all adds useful context rather than taking away from the experience.

We saw a lot during the tour, although we only spent around ten minutes in each room. Each tour can vary slightly, but our group visited spaces featuring Peggy the Doll, the Dybbuk Box, and the staircase from the Demon House.

One of the most memorable moments was in Peggy’s room, when a member of our group asked a question and received a response. Visitors are encouraged to greet Peggy when entering and say goodbye when leaving, and a spirit box nearby occasionally produces audio responses. Whether you believe in it or not, I can only say that the reply we heard made complete sense.

If you enjoy haunted museums like this one, you might also be interested in my experience visiting Nottingham’s haunted museum in the UK.

My Experience with the Haunted Artefacts

I had a couple of my own strange experiences inside Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum. The first – and most memorable – was in the room with Dr Jack Kevorkian’s Death Van.

This was the part of the museum that stayed with me the most.

The Dr Death van is the vehicle Kevorkian used during his involvement in over 130 assisted suicides. Some of these took place inside the van itself, which was long believed to have been destroyed – but it wasn’t. Zak now has it on display inside the museum.

We were given the choice to either enter the room or wait outside. Not really knowing what to expect, I said yes without thinking.

The entire van sat inside a small room, taking up most of the space in an almost overwhelming way. We had a few minutes to look inside and read the information on the walls about the people who had lost their lives there. And then, quite suddenly, I became really emotional.

It was a deep, overwhelming sadness – far stronger than anything I’d felt at similar places before.

It stayed with me. Later, when I tried to tell my friend about it, I just started crying. Maybe I got caught up in the atmosphere. Maybe it was the way the room was presented. Or maybe it was something else entirely. All I know is that from that moment on, I felt uneasy for the rest of my visit – to the point where I almost wished I hadn’t gone in.

When we left the museum, Zak was actually outside. But I felt so deflated that I didn’t even want to meet him – I just wanted to go home.

I also felt particularly uneasy in the room with the Dybbuk Box, and in the final room of the tour – the Demon House staircase.

Before entering, we watched a clip from Zak’s documentary about the infamous Demon House in Indiana. After investigating the house, Zak demolished it, but brought the staircase (and even some of the dirt) back to the museum.

Our group was given the choice to enter or leave – and over half chose to leave.

I followed the few who stayed. Inside, partitions initially blocked the staircase from view. When they dropped, I lasted about 30 seconds before feeling too creeped out and leaving.

Overall, my visit to Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum was absolutely fascinating. I’ve been to plenty of haunted attractions before, but nothing like this. Every room and artefact had its own story, and I only wish I’d had longer to explore it all.

For a while after leaving, I felt genuinely unsettled. After my experience with the Dr Death van, my fascination with the paranormal didn’t feel quite as fun – it felt heavier, more emotional. I just felt… sad.

That said… enough time has passed that I’d probably go back.

Spooky Tips for Visiting

The museum is located just off the Las Vegas Strip, making it easy to reach by car or taxi from most hotels. It’s not really within walking distance, so the easiest option is to take an Uber or taxi, although there is limited parking available on-site if you’re driving.

Tours typically last around 1–2 hours and follow a set route with a guide, so you’ll move through the museum at a steady pace. Standard tickets start from around $54, with upgraded experiences like the RIP All-Access pass and late-night ghost tours available. It’s recommended to book in advance, although some walk-ups are available on a limited basis.

Due to the historic nature of the building, some areas include narrow hallways, stairs, and low lighting, which may make accessibility more difficult for some visitors. There is wheelchair access for all lower levels, and accommodations for upper levels too.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Haunted Museum

If you happen to be heading to Las Vegas and Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum in the near future, here are a few frequently asked questions to help you plan your visit to this iconic museum.

Is Zak Bagans Museum Worth Visiting?

Absolutely! While it’s not suitable for children, it’s a fascinating place to visit if you’re looking for something a little different in Las Vegas. If you’re into the paranormal, it’s a must-do – but even if you’re not, you’ll likely still find it eye-opening and memorable.

Is the Museum Actually Haunted?

The museum is filled with thousands of haunted, historic, and cursed objects, so it’s no surprise that there’s plenty of paranormal activity. The mansion itself – once owned by prominent businessman Cyril S – is also haunted by spirits of former occupants. The basement was even used for dark rituals in the 1970s, adding to the building’s eerie reputation.

What Is the Most Haunted Thing in Zak Bagans Museum?

It’s hard to pinpoint just one, although I personally had a strange experience with the Dr Death van. Some of the most haunted objects include the Dybbuk Box, Peggy the Doll, and the Demon House staircase.

What Things Are in Zak Bagans Haunted Museum?

The museum is packed with eerie and unusual objects – far too many to remember in full. You’ll find everything from death photography and Ed Gein’s cauldron to Bela Lugosi’s mirror and unsettling clown displays. Zak is also constantly adding to the collection, so there’s always something new to see.

Where is the Dybbuk Box Now?

The Dybbuk Box is housed inside the museum in a protective glass case. It’s one of the most infamous objects in the collection – even Post Malone experienced a string of bad luck after coming into contact with it!

Final Thoughts From a Morbid Tourist

Even though I came away with slightly conflicted feelings after visiting (mainly due to my own strange experiences), I still think it’s well worth visiting. Every room was more fascinating than the last, and there’s so much to see that you’ll likely want to return more than once.

Fans of Ghost Adventures will especially love learning more about Zak Bagans and his investigations, but even as someone who hadn’t watched the show, I found the entire experience incredibly immersive.

That said, it’s definitely not for the faint-hearted. The waiver alone sets the tone, and I have no doubt that there are genuinely haunted and cursed objects inside. I don’t scare easily, but I left feeling emotional, unsettled, and completely drained.

There’s so much to do in Las Vegas, but you’ll totally kick yourself if you don’t make time for Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum – especially as it’s been voted the #1 haunted destination in America.

Would you visit Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum? Do you watch Ghost Adventures? Let me know!

Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum
www.thehauntedmuseum.com
600 E Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89104, United States
Tickets from $54/£40.40 per adult.

There are toilets on site and a car park. Tours are around two hours long and guests must be aged 14+. It’s recommend to pre-book.