Posted in Montana
July 25, 2016
These 8 Haunted Hotels In Montana Will Make Your Stay A Nightmare
Montana is an old state with a lot of history. Naturally, we’ve got all kinds of historic buildings that some say are haunted. There’s something especially eerie about a haunted hotel, perhaps because of the idea of someone (or something) sneaking up on you when you’re sleeping is so terrifying. The ghosts that are said to roam these eight hotels are harmless, so don’t hesitate to book a room at any of them. Just don’t be surprised if you end up with uninvited guests.
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
Sacajawea Hotel is one beautiful building. Constructed in 1910, it used to be a stopover for railroad passengers and crew members. John Q. Adams, the former builder, and the spirit of a female housekeeper seem to have overstayed their welcome. Guests have reported seeing both of them. The housekeeper will appear out of nowhere only to disappear into a closet that is no longer there. The police department has even been called to the hotel to investigate “disturbances” only to find nothing out of the ordinary.
Fort Benton’s Grand Union Hotel was built in 1882, and it’s allegedly home to several ghosts. According to local legend, a cowhand drunkenly rode his horse into the hotel and up the main staircase before the bar manager shot and killed him. To this day, phantom hoofbeats can be heard on the staircase, and a male ghost in a long coat has been spotted across the hotel. If you stay in Room 202, you may see mysterious blue lights dance across the room.
You’d never guess that the fun, touristy town of Virginia City had a dark past, but it was once the sight of murders, hangings and other debauchery. The Bonanza Inn is an old hotel, and before that, it was an infirmary run by nuns. Guests have reported being pinched and poked during their visits, and anyone who slept in the notorious Room 1 had a good chance of seeing a ghost. Some people even saw nuns and heard the voices of children in the middle of the night.
Chico Hot Springs offers a relaxing getaway to Montanans… and it also happens to be haunted by the Lady in White. She’s been making appearances and scaring guests and staff for many years, with one of the most famous sightings happening in 1986 when two security guards stumbled upon her ghostly form near the piano in the third floor lounge. She’s also been spotted quite a few times in Room 349.
Stanton Creek Lodge was established in 1932 as a tourist stop selling huckleberries and other provisions. Today you’ll find modern cabins, an RV park… and possible ghosts. Many guests have witnessed the turning of the doorknob and the opening of the door to the upstairs living quarters in the main lodge. And on some quiet summer nights, some swear they hear an argument followed by gunshots. This could very well be the ghost of Stanton Creek John, the previous owner who was notorious for firing gunshots to scare non-customers who tried to use the bathroom.
The Jordan Inn was once a hot spot for the mining population in the area, and it’s supposedly haunted by the ghost of a woman and her child.
This hotel is a historic landmark that still retains plenty of original charm despite its many renovations. The ghost who lives here is a prostitute named Simone who was killed by a mining executive. She’s been spotted by many guests and employees, and strange male voices have also been heard on the property.
The Pollard Hotel has quite a past, attracting many well known historical figures like Buffalo Bill Cody and Calamity Jane. In 1897, hotel guests witnessed the Sundance Kid rob a bank on the corner of the building. There have been numerous ghost sightings here, the most common being a woman in a yellow dress often seen on the third floor. Some hotel guests also smell French perfume on the second floor, and the light in Room 310 seems to turn itself on quite often. There have also been reports of strange unexplained noises in the basement.
Have you stayed at any of these haunted hotels in Montana? This list includes a few more haunted places in the Treasure State.
