Only a few miles from the Reno/Sparks metropolitan area, the Truckee River Murder House sits forlornly in a desolate field. I raced the ending of day to arrive there in time for some photographs before the sun winked over the snowy hills. I have been to this location before, in the summer, but the frozen January landscape applies a pending dreariness I had not seen or felt previously.
It consists of a stone cabin, its windows and doors long given way. The wooden roof, with gaping holes on the west side, is slowly following suit. Reaching down at least ten feet below the brittle floorboards is a roomy cellar, and though it has been reduced to merely catching and entombing the blowing sagebrush, it obviously was a place of some importance with entrances from the side and the rear.
Behind the house extends a faltering wooden platform. This was no sun deck, but rather, a floor of an extension on the house, presumably bedrooms or storage space, as the stone part of the structure contains only remains of a kitchen, bathroom and very small entryway. Remains of wooden walls litter the ground around this floor. In my estimation the stone part of the house dates back to the late 1800’s, but the place was lived in or used up until the 1960’s or even later, accounting for the additions, indoor plumbing and a utility pole.
A view from the rear
Nearby are remains of a well house, a metal tower, and evidence of other out buildings. It is on a sizable plot of land just south of the Truckee River and requires a hike of about two hundred yards.
Of course, the first question asked by someone is, “Why is it called the Truckee River Murder House? Was someone murdered here?” My best answer is “possibly.” Let me explain.
The story that looms over this forsaken site is a family of five was murdered here by a hitchhiker in the 1940’s and was therefore christened with its grisly name. Fading graffiti on the inner wall reads; “All was quiet and then he came,” or “he is watching,” along with other scrawls.
Fading scrawls inside
Due to this certain reputation, the site has become somewhat of a magnet for paranormal investigation teams. “The Haunted Side” and other spirit seekers have been out here on the darkest of nights chasing ghosts, voices, rats, and each other. Their electronic devices blink and bleep, their cameras just miss a startling apparition, and the whites of their eyes affirm all things paranormal.
To be fair I believe anything is possible. I spoke with Anthony Lynn, who heads the Paranormal group, “Our Paranormal Oasis.” He states:
“I do believe the Truckee River Murder House to be haunted. I have been able to investigate this location on three separate occasions. I have had interactions with spirits there through my equipment. I have video of a yes and no session using light up cat balls. I ask a question and they can interact with me by lighting up these balls, responding to my questions. I have also gotten EVP evidence and also responses doing the sensory deprivation. One person uses noise canceling headphones and a blindfold along with a SB7 spirit box. It cycles through am or fm channels at a high pace. One person asks the questions and the spirits can use the SB7 spirit box to reply back. This has been the evidence I have captured while investigating this location.”
For more on “Our Paranormal Oasis” visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfJtbYsqKTZIDOw5AK6ZjbQ
Being less of a paranormal enthusiast and more of a historian, I constantly seek out documentation to back up speculation. It solidifies and makes a claim more authentic. With the Truckee River Murder House there is no documentation at all. Murders were well recorded in county records as far back as the 1800’s, let alone the 1940’s, and the annals of local history has a fair share of murders. But nothing from this particular locality. The closest thing I found was a family of five that were victims of a murder suicide, perpetrated by the father, in 1991, about 25 miles away in the family vehicle. Perhaps part of that story was borrowed, as well as parts from other stories.
Another oddity is the aforementioned metal tower adjacent to the house. It looks like a communication tower of some sort, leading one to surmise that the place may have been no home at all, but rather, a utility station or way station or some kind of county office. But there are no records to support this either.
So, we are back to assumptions.
My assumption? As stated above I believe anything is possible and there may or may not be a supernatural presence. But here is my theory. The murder story was made up by teenagers partying there, perhaps borrowing some particulars from other stories. The story spread and stuck. That is all.
I apologize for my boring conclusion to an intriguing topic, but that is where I stand until I can find documentation to back up or lend something to the tale.
Aside from that it is a remarkable work of stone craftsmanship, most likely embedded with noteworthy history, although we are ignorant to just what history that is. I can assume that the original stone structure was indeed a cabin at one time. Later on it is entirely feasible that the place was modified to serve in another manner, whether a communication center or what have you.
As with many investigations, more questions are raised than answered. But then again, isn’t that the nature of our quest?
For another Outerrealmz post with a paranormal twist visit https://outerrealmz.com/into-the-canyon-…-cannibal-giants/
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