Tour introduces people to Carson history

About 70 people were treated to a candlelight historic tour of Carson City and the phantom residents of the area during the Kit Carson Ghost Walk.

The walk began at the St. Charles Hotel, with walk leader Mary Bennett " dressed in period clothing " telling the participants about the history that area of downtown, it's bars and houses of ill repute.

The group then walked to the Ferris Mansion and the only original cobblestone street left in Carson City. They heard the tale of a mysterious ghost bride who was allegedly seen in the house.

The tour visited several other historical homes and heard many more ghost stories before coming to the Bliss Mansion, where they were greeted by wine and refreshments served by "ghosts" dressed for a masquerade ball.

The Ghost Walk is put on by the Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau, Carson City Redevelopment and the Brüka Theater. Candace Duncan, executive director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau and one of the guides, said they have held the walk on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend for about a dozen years. In the past, they would hold the walks all day with groups leaving on the half hour, but they are looking to change things this year.

"This is kind of an inaugural tour for this year to see how it goes tonight, and then maybe do them every Saturday throughout the summer," Duncan said. "What we're hoping is maybe we can bring some people downtown who might not come down here, so they can see how nice it is, maybe have dinner at one of the restaurants."