Whiskey Pete’s Hotel & Casino, a landmark in Primm, Nevada, is shrouded in a captivating legend – the tale of its haunting by none other than Whiskey Pete himself. Visitors and staff often speak of an unsettling sensation of being watched, followed by fleeting glimpses of an elderly figure in old western attire, who vanishes as quickly as he appears. The lore suggests that Pete’s restless spirit lingers because his grave was disturbed during the resort’s construction, a spectral watchman ensuring everyone knows he’s still keeping a close eye on his former domain.
Initially, this legend seemed like mere folklore, lacking concrete details or verifiable accounts. Was Whiskey Pete even a real person? It all sounded too much like an urban myth. However, as the story unfolds, the truth is stranger than fiction: Whiskey Pete was indeed a real man, and his grave was undeniably disturbed.
The Genesis of Whiskey Pete
Long before the sprawling hotels that define Primm, Nevada, straddled Interstate 15, a modest service station named State Line Station stood as a solitary outpost. It was operated by Pete McIntyre, a notorious moonshiner known for his cantankerous demeanor. To most, he was simply “Whiskey Pete,” a man who tolerated no nonsense. Pete was a well-known character in Las Vegas, though some felt he operated outside the bounds of the law and often got away with it.
Tracing Whiskey Pete through historical records proves challenging. He’s absent from the U.S. Census records of 1900, 1910, and 1920. Yet, the archives of Tulare County jail reveal his presence in January 1918. His offense? Running a “blind pig,” or speakeasy, during prohibition. While initially sentenced to 30 days, Pete served over two months due to an inability to post bail. Jail records list his birthplace as Arizona, a detail that differs from his 1930 Census entry. His listed occupation was miner. In 1922, Pete’s bootlegging activities landed him in Nevada jail for six months.
By 1930, the U.S. Census places him in Crescent, Nevada, a small mining community near the California border. He’s now listed as the proprietor of a service station. His first mention in Las Vegas newspapers appears in 1928, in the minutes of a Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce meeting. A letter was read from a woman recounting a disturbing encounter at Whiskey Pete’s gas station. Around 11 p.m., she stopped for gas, oil, and water. Whiskey Pete himself attended to her vehicle. Upon realizing the car only needed water, he reportedly became “abusive and threatening,” refusing to provide water. The woman was forced to drive to the next station with an empty radiator and overheating engine. The Chamber of Commerce noted receiving similar complaints for months from tourists traveling between Las Vegas and California, including accusations of Whiskey Pete firing shots at vehicles and making threats. The Chamber forwarded these complaints to the Las Vegas sheriff for investigation.
Pete’s behavior may have temporarily improved, but by March 1931, he faced serious charges: assault with a deadly weapon for shooting Elgin postmaster, Rube Bradshaw, in the shoulder. Unsurprisingly, the two men offered conflicting accounts. Bradshaw claimed he stopped at the station with his sons and found Pete in a “surly” mood. When Bradshaw requested coffee and was met with hostility, he decided to leave. As he reached the door, Bradshaw claimed Pete hurled insults, and upon turning to respond, was shot in the shoulder with a pistol.
A preliminary hearing was scheduled, where Pete pleaded not guilty and was released on bail. He told reporters he resented his negative reputation, citing the necessity of being armed in his remote location. He also emphasized that he was covering all of Rube Bradshaw’s medical expenses. Ultimately, the charges were dropped when Bradshaw failed to appear in court on three separate occasions.
In early 1932, Pete married Lauretta Frances Enders. However, by October, their marriage had soured, and Lauretta sought to have him declared insane. Physicians determined Pete was mentally sound but physically failing, likely days from death due to “miner’s consumption” (silicosis). Lauretta, the sole witness against him, claimed Pete flew into rages and made accusations. Pete admitted to rages but countered with claims of Lauretta’s infidelity, alleging she was “running around naked in the hills with other men.”
Pete recounted being taken to Stillwell Sanitarium in Banning, California, by Lauretta, who initially cared for him. However, upon his improvement, she allegedly left him, neglecting the service station in her absence and engaging in affairs. The judge dismissed Lauretta’s commitment motion. She largely disappears from historical record after this episode.
By December 1932, Pete declared himself “too busy to die,” claiming to be four months past his predicted demise. By September 1933, he was back at Stillwell, reporting his health as stable. Whiskey Pete McIntyre finally passed away on November 11, 1933. His funeral was announced in Las Vegas, setting the stage for another peculiar chapter in his legend.
The Unusual Burial Request
Sometime before his death, Pete shared his unconventional burial wish with friends: to be interred standing upright near his service station. His exact, colorful words were, “Bury me up on the hill, standing up facing the valley so I can see all those sons of bitches goin’ by.” Honoring his request, his friends used dynamite to create a six-foot hole in the limestone cliff overlooking Highway 91, behind his station. Over time, Whiskey Pete’s grave became lost and forgotten. Grave markers were repeatedly stolen until replacements ceased. His service station changed hands several times before the location was developed into Whiskey Pete’s Casino in 1977.
On February 2, 1994, construction workers were grading land for a railroad track to connect Whiskey Pete’s Casino to Buffalo Bill’s, located across the freeway. While working near the original State Line Station site, their equipment struck a decaying wooden coffin. Inside, they unearthed the skeletal remains of Whiskey Pete McIntyre. Contrary to some legends of him being buried with a ten-gallon hat, six-shooters, and whiskey jug, they found only his bones, remnants of hair, dentures, and shirt buttons.1 – Remains of Whiskey Pete found -Las Vegas Review-Journal – February 5, 1994
According to reports, Pete’s coffin was about 80% intact and buried at an angle facing the highway. The project manager stated they were aware of Whiskey Pete’s burial in the area but not the precise location. “The tractor caught the edge of the box and the skull popped out. There was Whiskey Pete staring at us.”
While the resort initially announced plans to rebury Whiskey Pete on the property with a memorial, no such memorial is apparent. The exact location of his reburial remains unknown. Rumors circulate that his remains were reinterred in one of the caves he once used for moonshining, adding another layer of mystery to the legend of Whiskey Pete’s Casino and its resident ghost.
