Paranormal Globe Our Paranormal World
Las Vegas has more than its fair share of mysteries and hauntings. It’s a popular tourist destination after all, with millions of people from over the world visiting every year. That’s why one should expect to hear all kinds of stories. In fact, it was suggested that the dybbuk box at Zak Bagan’s Haunted Museum was responsible for rapper Post Malone’s series of bad luck. In 2016, Paranormal Globe even covered a UFO sighting over the mountain range in Nevada.
One of the most popular ghost stories in Vegas involves a gigantic tiki mask at the entrance of the Tropicana Hotel and Casinos. It is said that anyone who touches the mask will mysteriously develop a purple rash. According to Ranker’s list of Las Vegas ghost stories, guests who took photos with the mask also claimed that the photos show a purple mist distorting the mask’s appearance.
How did the mask end up there in the first place? Well, the Tropicana first opened in 1957. At the time, the hotel opted for a tropical island theme, hence the construction of two 35 foot Aku Aku gods, a long house with tiki carvings, and a large tiki called “Kalanui”, also known as the God of Money. Apparently, it became a tradition to touch the mask before entering casino, as people believed it would bring good luck.
But because of paranormal accounts from numerous guests, the management has decided to move the large tiki elsewhere. Visitors can no longer find it at the main entrance of the Tropicana.
That doesn’t necessarily mean the hauntings in the hotel have stopped. In February 2007, an anonymous guest who stayed on the 64th floor of the Tropicana claimed to experience a haunting. She said that on one night, she had difficulty falling asleep because of an uncanny feeling that she was being watched.
After finally managing to doze off, she suddenly awoke to discover a human standing right next to her but with his back to the bed. Scared out of her wits, the woman screamed, and this prompted the mysterious man to turn towards her. The lady immediately turned on the lamp next to her bed, and the moment the light came on, the figure disappeared.
Like with many other stories on this website, there’s no physical evidence proving any of this. Perhaps the tiki and the haunting on the 64th floor are simply urban legends.
Regardless, these stories have made guests think twice about booking a stay at the Tropicana. But the hotel itself still enjoys a large number of guests, most likely because of its gorgeous casino attraction. But for those who are easily scared by such stories, they are fortunate to still have the option to experience the Tropicana’s casino. The company has released an online version where gambling enthusiasts can register and play. Top NJ Casinos even indicated that online players get extra bonuses that aren’t offered in the land-based casino. It may not compare to the live experience, but at least people will not have to worry about encountering ghosts.
