Wyoming & Montana Vacation - Haunted Hotels, Cowboy Bar, Cemetery, and Ghost Town
I wanted to share some of the "haunted hot spots" I encountered on my vacation to Wyoming and Montana this past September. Although I wasn't able to fit in an investigation of these incredible places, I was able to visit them, gather some history, and take some photo's to share my experiences with everyone! One of the first places I want to take you is a ghost town known as Kirwin, WY…
In 1885, William Kirwin discovered gold in the valley. By 1891, the Wood River Mining District had been formed. The center of the mining district was the town of Kirwin 33 miles to the southest of Meeteetse and at 9,500 feet in elevation. In February 1907, Kirwin was beseiged by blizzards. In one eight-day period the town was hit by over 50 feet of snow. From the slopes above, an avalanche, the "White Death" of the Rockies, roared down on the Tewksbury Store. The store's three occupants were killed. With the spring thaw, the remaining occupants of the town left. In the early 1930's, Carl M. Dunrud (1891-1976) and his wife Vera (1902-2002), made an effort to revive Kirwin and opened the Double D Dude Ranch at Kirwin. Dunrud served as a guide in Yellowstone. There he met George P. Putnam who later became the husband of Amelia Earhart. Among the visitors to the dude ranch were Earhart and Putnam. Earhart directed that a cabin be built for her future use following her around-the-world flight. The Earhart cabin, located about 1/2 mile from Kirwin, remains unfinished awaiting Earhart's return.
Now from Kirwin, lets go 33 miles southeast to the nearest town of Meeteetse and visit the Cowboy Bar & Cafe…
The front and back bars were constructed in 1893 and brought in by freighter. The bar has 56 bullet holes in it as well as one shot gun blast. Meeteetse was also the residence of Robert Leroy Parker, a/k/a "Butch Cassidy". Some paranormal experiences people have encountered here are footsteps when no one in there, glasses falling full from the bar not spilling a drop, seeing and hearing someone order a steak, and bottles flying off the shelves.
From Meeteetse next we're headed straight for north Yellowstone National Park and the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel…
Yellowstone's Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel is the hotel nearest to the main north entrance into the Park, and was the original tourist stop, back in the days when visitors took a train to Gardiner, Montana, and then journeyed by stagecoach into Yellowstone. Mammoth Hot Springs has its share of history, and was, for example, home to the US Army when it was called in to protect the park. There are stories of the hotel being haunted, but I wasn't able to pin down anything specific.
Now our next stop is a different story…the Old Faithful Inn, right in the heart of Yellowstone does have quite a history of being haunted…
The Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park is the largest log structure in the world – a giant log cabin, of sorts – and features an 85-foot tall lobby, huge rough-stone fireplace, overhanging balconies and railings made of spectacular twisted gnarled logs. The inn’s architect was a 29-year-old Ohio designer named Robert C. Reamer, who took immense pride in his creation. He must have, because his spirit may very well remain at the inn. Visitors have reported a short, ghostly man walking the hallways during the evening. He has a worried look on his face, and seems to be walking with a purpose. Also after the Old Faithful Inn opened in Yellowstone, a newlywed couple booked a night in the hotel. They checked in and had the perfect day: touring the geyser basins, dining at the Inn, and simply enjoying nature. Everything seemed perfect – but when the housekeeping staff entered their room the next morning, the headless body of the bride was laid out on the bed. The park conducted a thorough investigation, lasting for weeks, but neither the husband nor the wife's head could be found. Life slowly got back to normal at the Old Faithful Inn, but the management started to receive reports of a headless apparition on the balconies of the lobby. Both guests and employees have seen the ghost, even though the Inn tries to dispel the stories.
Outside of Yellowstone, we travel next to Cody, WY where the Irma Hotel is located…
Buffalo Bill helped found Cody, Wyoming in 1895, and established his TE Ranch in the area. In 1902, he built the Irma Hotel, which he called –"just the sweetest hotel that ever was." Buffalo Bill maintained two suites and an office at the hotel for his personal use. The paranormal history includes guests reporting footsteps in the hallways when no one is there, knockings on the wall in the middle of the night, and other mysterious sounds. There has also been sightings of a soldier dressed in an 1800's style uniform in the main dining hall near the cherry wood bar. Also seen, Irma (Buffalo Bill Cody's daughter)- “The Lady in White” roams the halls of the second floor where the suites and rooms are, as well as an aggressive presence in the kitchen.
Now from Wyoming lets go up to Bearcreek, Montana and the location of the Smith Mine Disaster, the worst underground coal mine disaster in Montana's history. 74 men died on February 27, 1943 when the mine exploded. In the Bearcreek Cemetery is a beautiful headstone memorial for those who lost their lives…
Our last stop is in Red Lodge, Montana and The Pollard Hotel…
Located in the former Montana mining town of Red Lodge, the Pollard Hotel once attracted many of the well known including Buffalo Bill Cody, General Miles, Frederic Remington and Calamity Jane. Built in 1893, this building was the first to be made of brick in the town. Dubbed the Spofford Hotel, it sat between the train depot and the residential portion of Red Lodge. In 1897, a hotel full of guests witnessed the Sundance Kid, Harry Longbaugh, rob the bank on the corner of the building with gun in hand. He was caught but later escaped. Ever since then, guns have been banned from the property. Many guests visit for the ambiance, history and perhaps to witness resident ghosts. A woman in a yellow dress is often seen on the third floor. Some believe this part of the building contains the bulk of the activity. Witnesses have reported smelling French perfume on the second floor. Those who enter Room 310 often find the light turned on. You can turn it off and leave for a number of minutes but will often return to it being on again. Staff members have reported feeling dizzy and uneasy in Room 312. Some have heard unexplained noises in the basement (there are stories of the Pollard children having a monkey as a pet which allegedly found itself entombed somewhere in this room).
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