There’s nothing like a good spooky story, especially when it went down in your own state. Urban legends are especially interesting because a lot of them contain a little bit of truth that has been widely exaggerated. Montana has a few of its own unique urban legends. How many of these stories are you familiar with? Here are some of our very favorite Montana urban legends:
1. Airport Road Ghost Jogger
Rumor has it that if you drive down airport road at night, you’ll see a spectral runner, or a "ghost jogger." Some say it’s the spirit of a man who was hit by a truck while on a run, others chalk it up to steam rising off the pavement.
2. The Moss Mansion Ghost
This Billings mansion is rumored to be haunted by Virginia Moss, the daughter of the original owner, P.B. Moss. Virginia died of diphtheria at age five.
3. The Flathead Lake Monster
The Flathead Lake Monster is an animal that allegedly lives in Flathead Lake, possibly the same kind as the Loch Ness Monster. The first documented sighting was in 1889, and there have been many since.
Legend has it that during a smallpox epidemic amongst the Crow tribe in the 19th century, two boys rode a white horse off a cliff to sacrifice themselves to save their tribe from the disease.
5. Hitchhiker of Black Horse Lake
If you drive on Highway 87 just above Great Falls on the way to Benton, beware. Drivers have reported a Native American man suddenly rolling onto their windshield as if he had just been hit by a car. When the drivers pull over and get out of the car, no one is there, and their cars are free from damage. Legend has it that it is the ghost of a hitchhiker who was hit by a car years ago.
6. The Ghosts of Little Bighorn Battlefield
The Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1875 was a complete massacre of the 7th U.S. Cavalry. Sometimes people hear strange sounds when the visit the Battlefield Memorial. There have been reports of visitors hearing screams, yelling, gunshots and the sounds of horses. One theory is that this is a "recording" that is played back to those lucky enough to witness. So much energy was expended during the violent battle that it made an "impression" on the land, much like a tape recorder. The tape is played back under the right conditions.
What other urban legends have you heard about Montana? Tell us your favorites in the comments!
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