Lexington Opera House

Built in 1886, this beautifully restored Victorian opera house has hosted performances for over 135 years. The ornate theater is renowned for its excellent acoustics and intimate atmosphere - and its resident ghost.

The Lexington Opera House, one of the oldest continuously operating theaters in America, stands as both a cultural landmark and one of Kentucky's most haunted venues. Built in 1886 after fire destroyed its predecessor, this grand theater on Short Street has hosted over a century of legendary performances—and accumulated ghost stories to match.

The morning of January 15, 1886, brought devastation when fire took less than an hour to level the original theater, along with nearby stables, hotels, and restaurants. The loss struck deep in Lexington's heart, both emotionally and economically. Yet within five months, construction began on the magnificent replacement. Chicago architect Oscar Cobb designed a grand vision: cushioned seats upholstered in morocco leather and velvet, walls adorned with frescoes, and over two hundred gaslights illuminating the ornate interior.

The new Opera House officially opened on July 19, 1887, with a concert by the Cincinnati Symphony. The stage would go on to host the greatest performers of the golden age of theater: all the Barrymores, Sarah Bernhardt, W.C. Fields, Houdini, Al Jolson, Will Rogers, Helen Hayes, Sophie Tucker, Eddie Cantor, and Fanny Brice. The John Philip Sousa Band and Victor Herbert Orchestra were regular performers. Productions grew increasingly spectacular—the 1890 "Henley Regatta" flooded the stage for performances in rowboats, and "Ben Hur" required significant remodeling to accommodate an on-stage chariot race with real horses.

Among this rich theatrical history lurks the Opera House's most famous ghost: the "Man in Gray." This mysterious spectral figure reportedly appears in the balcony during rehearsals, observing performances just as he presumably did in life. Theater staff and performers have reported seeing this apparition dressed in period clothing, watching silently from the upper seats. When approached or noticed, he simply vanishes.

The identity of the Man in Gray remains unknown. Some speculate he was a devoted theatergoer from the Victorian era who simply cannot leave his favorite entertainment venue. Others suggest he may have been connected to the original theater that burned, perhaps dying in that devastating 1886 fire. The fact that he appears during rehearsals rather than performances suggests he may have been a performer himself, or perhaps a critic who preferred watching actors prepare rather than present.

Beyond the Man in Gray, visitors and staff report other unexplained phenomena throughout the historic building. Phantom applause has been heard echoing through the empty theater—the sound of enthusiastic clapping when no audience is present. Some have reported cold spots in certain areas and the sensation of being watched, particularly in the balcony and backstage areas.

Ghost tours, especially popular around Halloween, allow visitors to explore the shadowed corners where the supernatural and theatrical history blend together. As one of only fourteen theaters in America built before 1900 with fewer than 1,000 seats still operating as a live performance venue, the Lexington Opera House continues to honor its past while making room for spirits who refuse to leave the show.