Spooky Tales from Montana’s Yellowstone Country
Chico Hot Springs Resort, Pray, Montana
We must admit, we're fascinated by a good ghost story. Fortunately, Montana’s Yellowstone Country is full of them, and researching these tales always proves to be interesting. Montana was at the heart of the Wild West, and many of its historic buildings still stand today. And, according to numerous sources, they are not only occupied by those in the present, but also by many from the past.
The Grand Hotel in Big Timber is rumored to have footsteps coming from empty rooms, voices whispering when nobody was there, and mysterious puddles appearing without a source.
Grand Hotel, Big Timber
In Red Lodge, the Pollard Hotel is said to have sightings of a woman in a yellow gown who leaves the faint smell of French perfume behind, “George,” a pot-bellied middle-aged man dressed in baggy tweed knickers favored for golfing in the 1930s, who has been seen lounging in the lobby and who leaves behind the smell of coffee and popcorn, and who likes to play pranks. And a monkey — reported to be a pet during one of the renovations. People say they have found tiny handprints on the mirrors when no children are staying at the hotel.
Legend says the Sacajawea Hotel in Three Forks is rumored to be haunted by a vanishing maid and the original owner, John. Q. Adams. In Bozeman, at the Ellen Theatre, employees have reported the apparition of a man in a black suit on the balcony, possibly one of the first owners, who were the sons of Nelson Story.
Sacajawea Hotel, Three Forks
The historic Gallatin Gateway Inn, a beautiful hotel built in the 1920s to serve travelers was once a popular wedding venue. Brides describe descending the staircase and feeling the pressure of an arm around their waist and a hand resting on their hip, as if to steady them. (The hotel is no longer open to the public.)
In Fromberg, the Little Cowboy Bar and Museum (now closed) was said to be home to the original owner, who people often saw moving around long after the establishment closed, and the doors were locked. Patrons and employees also reported seeing him in broad daylight at the end of the bar.
Nearby in the Pryor Mountains, the Crow Indians have a legend of the Little People, a race of two-feet-tall troublemakers with mystical powers who lived in the nearby caves.
And at Chico Hot Springs Resort, Percie, the wife of the original owner, is said to grace the historic hotel often. Guests have seen a chair rocking on its own, including a security guard who smelled perfume and opened the door to see a chair rocking. When he switched on the light, the chair stopped, and the smell disappeared. Two other security guards have seen a woman standing near a piano in the lobby, who then disappeared.
If you happen to be in our neck of the woods this Halloween, keep your eyes and ears open, and be sure to share any stories of spooky encounters you have!
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