UPDATE OCT. 3: Zak Bagans announced that he was postponing the grand opening of his highly-anticipated haunted museum on Monday in wake of the tragedy on the Las Vegas Strip.
On Tuesday, he announced that he will hosting a candlelight at 7 p.m. to honor the victims who were killed and injured during the mass shooting on Sunday night.
ORIGINAL STORY
Zak Bagans, the host of "Ghost Adventures" from the Travel Channel, is known for collecting some of the world's most haunted objects. And starting October 2, he'll share some of his findings inside his Haunted Museum near Charleston Boulevard and 6th Street.
Take heed before entering
The museum has over 30 rooms filled with disturbing items like Dr. Jack Kevorkian's "Death Van" and the "Propofol Chair" from the room where Michael Jackson died.
Zak also owns the Dybbuk Box, which inspired the movie "The Possession," and is apparently so haunted that he refuses to display it open. The museum also houses the original staircase from Indiana's "Demon House." A group of construction workers walked off the job and refused to come back after it was installed.
Bottom line: there are some seriously chilling items in the Haunted Museum. Guests under 16 years old aren't allowed to go inside, and everyone else has to sign a waiver stating that they understand the risks before entering.
Preserving the (haunted) history of Las Vegas
Zak has lived in Las Vegas for a while - long enough to see some historic buildings crumble as the city continues to look toward the future.
"I feel that preserving the history of Las Vegas is something that is not a real big thing here, especially with some of the historic casinos we've lost," Zak said.
So in a way, building his Haunted Museum has allowed Zak to help keep the past alive.
The museum itself is built inside a mansion owned by Cyril S. Wengert, a prominent businessman in Vegas' history. In 1938, his home was one of the largest buildings in Las Vegas.
"The Wengerts, who lived here, were instrumental in really helping Vegas turn into a city," Zak explained. "The hauntings that came along with it... is just that extra bonus."
Museum staff claim that dark rituals were rumored to take place in the mansion's basement in the 1970s. They also say that hostile spirits terrorized previous occupants.
"This place was meant for me. Literally. It wasn't my decision," Zak said. "I think the spirits that are around me and in this [building] guided me here to own this place."
