The old Penitentiary of New Mexico in Santa Fe is considered one of the most haunted places in the state, with a dark and oppressive atmosphere attributed to the violent 1980 prison riot that resulted in torture and murder. Visitors and paranormal investigators report numerous unsettling experiences inside the old main prison. The most frightening and persistent hauntings are connected to the notorious riot that took place on February 2, 1980. This event, one of the most violent prison riots in U.S. history, is the source of many paranormal claims. During the 36-hour rampage, 33 inmates were killed and eight prison guards were brutally assaulted. The violence included systematic torture, murders, dismemberment, and inmates being burned alive. Cell Block 4: This area saw the worst of the carnage, as inmates in protective custody were targeted and massacred by other convicts. It is the most frequent site of reported paranormal activity. Despite attempts to clean and remove them, physical reminders of the riot remain visible, including ax slashes and burn marks, which are said to enhance the eerie feeling of the facility. Visitors and former staff report hearing unexplained sounds, including phantom footsteps, cell doors slamming, loud banging, and eerie moans, wails, and screams echoing through the hallways. On one tour, a person captured what they believe was a whispered voice saying "shut the door" on their camcorder. Fleeting figures and shadowy apparitions have been seen in the cell blocks, with some sightings of a body or figure crossing a corridor multiple times, only to disappear before a search can be conducted. People describe a foreboding presence and the feeling of being watched in the empty cell blocks. Some have reported feeling an ominous presence moving with them down a hallway or suddenly feeling overpowered by an unseen force. Claims of unexplainable video interference and audio recorder batteries dying, even when fully charged, have also been reported. Items such as a gurney have been reported to mysteriously roll around on their own.