The Most Haunted Places in Wyoming (And the Stories Behind Them)
Just a short drive south from Cody, Wyoming, in the shadow of the Absaroka Mountains, stands the historic Irma Hotel. Built by Buffalo Bill Cody himself in 1902, this venerable lodging in downtown Cody offers more than Old West charm—it’s reputedly haunted by the spirit of Irma, Buffalo Bill’s daughter. Visitors can explore the hotel’s ornate lobby, filled with period antiques and Western memorabilia, or dine in the Irma Restaurant where the ambiance evokes the frontier days. Many guests report hearing disembodied footsteps or catching glimpses of a woman in turn-of-the-century attire roaming the upper floors. The hotel’s unique blend of living history and ghostly lore makes it an atmospheric stop, especially in the quieter evening hours when shadows lengthen and the echoes of the past feel almost tangible.
Heading west toward Yellowstone National Park, the town of Cody provides another eerie experience at the Cody Museum of Western History. Located just a few blocks from the Irma Hotel, this museum offers comprehensive exhibits on the lore and legends of the American West, including stories of Native American spirits and early settler hauntings. Visitors can delve into the artifacts and photographs that tell tales of mountain men, outlaws, and tragic events that still spark ghost stories today. The museum’s collection of old firearms, historic clothing, and personal items helps visitors connect with Wyoming’s haunted past, making it a perfect daytime stop that complements the spookier nighttime explorations nearby.
Farther south, near Casper, the historic Teal’s Old West Museum holds its own spectral reputation. This museum, about an hour’s drive from Casper’s city center, houses an extensive collection of Western artifacts, including guns, saddles, and Native American relics. The building itself is an old structure that has seen many uses over the years, and staff and visitors have reported encounters with unseen presences and unexplained noises. Exploring the museum’s exhibits during daylight hours provides a fascinating journey through Wyoming’s frontier history, but lingering after hours might reveal why it’s considered one of the state’s haunted hotspots.
In the heart of Wyoming’s capital, Cheyenne, the Wyoming State Capitol building offers more than political history. Constructed in the 1880s, the capitol has been the site of many significant events and, according to local lore, a few lingering spirits as well. Visitors touring the grand marble halls and ornate chambers during the day can appreciate the classical architecture and historical exhibits about Wyoming’s journey to statehood. The building’s rich history and role as a gathering place through turbulent times are said to have left behind ghostly traces, including sightings of shadowy figures and unexplained cold spots, especially around the old legislative rooms. Visiting during regular hours offers a blend of education and an eerie ambiance that invites the imagination to roam.
On the western edge of Wyoming near Jackson Hole, the historic Wort Hotel is another place brimming with ghost stories. Built in 1941, this hotel combines rustic elegance with tales of spectral hotel guests. Located just minutes from downtown Jackson, the Wort offers not only cozy accommodations and a classic western saloon but also reports of mysterious sounds and shadowy figures on upper floors. Guests can enjoy the hotel’s signature western hospitality and artwork during the day, but some say the building’s old-world charm comes alive with eerie happenings after dark. Wintertime, when the snow muffles the outside world, adds to the hotel’s uncanny atmosphere, making it a memorable stop for those intrigued by the paranormal.
Traveling north to the remote Bighorn Mountains, the small town of Buffalo offers an intriguing mix of history and haunted reputation centered around the historic Occidental Hotel. About an hour and a half north of Sheridan, this brick building dates back to the late 19th century and has served as a saloon, boarding house, and hotel. Visitors can wander the Old Town Buffalo district, enjoying preserved Western architecture and local shops. The Occidental is said to harbor spirits from its rough-and-tumble past, with guests reporting strange noises and sudden chills. The hotel’s old-time Western vibe and proximity to scenic hikes on trails like the Tensleep Preserve make Buffalo a compelling destination for those wanting to combine outdoor adventure with ghostly tales.
Near the Wyoming-Montana border, the Fort Fetterman State Historic Site, about 35 miles northeast of Douglas, offers a glimpse into the military frontier life and its darker side. This 19th-century Army outpost was built during the Indian Wars and witnessed both conflict and hardship. Exploring the well-preserved site, visitors can walk among the stone and wooden ruins, imagining the soldiers who once manned the post. Local legends tell of ghostly soldiers still patrolling the grounds, and the remote setting lends a haunting quality, particularly in the fading light of dusk. Fort Fetterman’s rugged history and isolated location make it a unique place to experience Wyoming’s frontier past and its lingering mysteries firsthand.
Just outside of Laramie, the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site stands as a chilling testament to law and order in the Old West. Located about 100 miles south of Cheyenne, the prison operated in the late 1800s and housed some of the region’s most notorious criminals. Today, visitors can tour the stone cell blocks, solitary confinement areas, and gallows, learning about the harsh realities of frontier justice. Many visitors claim to have felt eerie presences or heard unexplained noises during their tour. The prison’s authentic artifacts and preserved structures offer a sobering yet fascinating look at Wyoming’s past, especially powerful when experienced in the cold light of early spring or late fall when the air feels crisp and the shadows grow long.
Each of these places paints a vivid picture of Wyoming’s haunted heritage, where history’s echoes seem to linger beneath the wide-open skies and rugged landscapes. Whether wandering the halls of a frontier hotel, exploring a museum filled with Western relics, or walking the grounds of a military fort, visitors encounter not just the stories of the past, but the palpable sense that some spirits of the Old West have never truly moved on.