Yuma Territorial Prison Museum

up shop. Such would be the case with the original Red Onion Saloon. Once closed, the building would go on to be quite a few different businesses and even hosted the US Army for a time.

Red Onion Saloon

Jan Wrentmore moved to Skagway in 1978 and was immediately smitten by the history of the Red Onion Saloon. So, she purchased the property and reopened the place as a restaurant, bar, and museum. And, thankfully, it is still open and operating today.

As you can imagine, the Red Onion was quite a rowdy place while it was open in the 1800s. And it’s not uncommon for places with this type of history to be haunted. There are a few ghost stories concerning this old saloon

worth mentioning here, though I’d still recommend getting a full rundown of the paranormal by taking one of the museum tours.

There’s said to be at least two female spirits, both former “ladies of the night” who now haunt the old saloon. One is called Diamond Lil and is thought to have been the madame of the establishment at some point. She tends to roam the main area of the bar and restaurant, where she speaks into the ears of patrons (she prefers men) and will sometimes give a gentle touch. The other is named Lydia, and she is usually encountered in the upstairs museum. Legend says she took her own life in the “crib” where she worked—and it’s in that area where people see her apparition.

In addition to the two main ghosts, there is also a lot of playful activity in the kitchen and dining room. A male spirit is thought to wander this area, moving things about and generally spending his time trying to get people’s attention.

If you make a trip to the Red Onion Saloon, be sure to grab a meal and drink downstairs before you tour the museum. They have a great menu and your server can catch you up on the spooky happenings of that area before you go to the museum. You never know…you may just get a ghostly whisper in your ear while you’re dining, or catch a glimpse of Diamond Lil making her rounds.