Haunted Places in Johnson County, WY You Can Actually Visit
Every year, as fall draws near, haunted places around Buffalo and Kaycee, WY get a surge in travel and interest. It’s no surprise – With so much Western history that has taken place in Johnson County, WY, there’s no end of ghostly stories and legendary tales that include spirits, and just as many places to visit where you can learn about their haunted past.
Back in the Wild West, it wasn’t uncommon for violent histories, tragic fatalities from illnesses such as cholera, and so much more that could lead many to believe there are ghosts with unfinished business still roaming Johnson County. And you wouldn’t be wrong.
Buffalo boasts one of Wyoming’s most haunted hotels, and there are said to be spirits roaming around both known and obscure historic locations.
Why Johnson County is One of the Most Haunted Places in Wyoming
Buffalo’s history and connection to the heart of the Wild West is what makes Johnson County one of the most haunted places in Wyoming. After all, Johnson County is where Native Americans and the U.S. military clashed as far back as the 1860s. The county is also where travelers seeking gold had to make it out West via the Bloody Bozeman Trail.
Johnson County also saw a deadly period of conflict between cattle barons and homesteaders or rustlers that came to be known as the Johnson County War. And, in those early days of the county’s development, there were outlaws and Wild West characters, some of whom may still be present in spirit at least. All of these factors make Buffalo one of the most haunted places in Wyoming.
Buffalo, WY’s Famous Haunted Hotel
It may seem unusual, but more of Johnson County’s haunted places are outdoors than in buildings. However, one of the best-known haunted locations in the West is in Buffalo: The Occidental Hotel, known as the most haunted hotel in Wyoming.
Occidental Hotel: Buffalo, WY
Many visitors to Buffalo, Wyoming, know of the ghost of Emily at the Occidental Hotel & Saloon. Some may have even met her.
The Occidental’s history dates back to 1880, before Buffalo was even named or incorporated. The business remains at the same location along Clear Creek in the heart of downtown Buffalo. Its visitors over the years have included Teddy Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, Butch Cassidy, Tom Horn, Calamity Jane, and many more famous western characters. Roosevelt’s ghost reportedly has been seen in the hotel’s library, getting ready for a fishing trip.
Legend says that as an early Western establishment, the Occidental would have had an area for encounters with prostitutes. A wing of the current hotel features a back stairway that was said to be the way cowboys would gain access to their favorite escorts. That staircase has been a location where guests have reported feeling the presence of ghosts. Various paranormal teams have done investigations and even hosted events at the Occidental.
Emily, the Famous Spirit of the Occidental
The Bordello Suite, which can be reserved for overnight stays, is another haunted location in the hotel. And the area supposedly inhabited by Emily. She was said to be the daughter of one of the prostitutes in the hotel, and she died of cholera at a young age in the early 20th century.
Emily’s spirit is said to be a bit mischievous, but all in fun. Witnesses have said a small hand tapped their shoulder or pulled at the bottom of their shirts when no one else was there. Emily, a thin girl wearing a white dress, has also been seen standing at the foot of beds throughout the hotel.
In a small room next to the Bordello Suite, drawings and letters sent to Emily are on display.
Address: 10 N Main St, Buffalo, WY 82834
Phone: (307) 684-0451
Haunted Natural Places to Explore in Johnson County
Many of the haunted locations around Buffalo, Wyoming, are outdoors, so ghost hunting in the region is perfect for those who enjoy hiking and other outdoor recreation as well. With historic forts, a haunted lake, and the Bloody Bozeman Trail, spirits still enjoy the outdoors at haunted places in Wyoming.
Lake DeSmet Wyoming
Located a few miles north of Buffalo along Interstate 90, Lake DeSmet has many mysterious tales. Named for the Jesuit priest who was perhaps the first white man to see it in 1851, Lake DeSmet has been a place for ghost stories and monster stories, with stories of a spirit who wanders the lake dating back to a Crow story.
Famous Haunting: The Ghost of Little Moon
According to the legend, a warrior named Little Moon was to meet his beloved Star Dust at the lake one night while the others in the tribe were asleep. Little Moon arrived early and watched as a bank of mist hovered and then formed the face of a beautiful woman. Little Moon did not notice when Star Dust arrived at their meeting place, as the vision was luring Little Moon toward the mist. When Star Dust tried to put her arms around Little Moon in a greeting, he shoved her away and turned back to the lake, but the spirit was gone. The next morning, Star Dust’s drowned body was found on the beach.
In the tale, it isn’t clear whether Star Dust took her own life because of Little Moon’s rejection or whether he killed her, but Star Dust’s father held Little Moon responsible. Little Moon was chained to a rock and left to die.
The haunting sounds supposedly heard at the lake at night are those of Little Moon calling out to the maiden in the mist.
Sea Serpents in Lake DeSmet?
Sea serpent tales related to the lake date back to the early 20th century, when the area was being surveyed on behalf of railroad companies. Some of the reports are included in Edward Gillette’s 1925 book “Locating the Iron Trail.”
The serpents reportedly pulled some people to their deaths in the lake, making this a must-visit for any haunted tour in Buffalo, WY.
Address: Lake De Smet, Wyoming 82834
Phone: (307) 684-2262
Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site
Fort Phil Kearny was built in the summer of 1866 about 15 miles north of where Buffalo now stands. It stood for two years as a remote outpost and the largest stockade fort in the West, meant to protect travel along the Bozeman Trail to Montana’s gold fields.
Native American tribes already had battles with travelers along the trail, and the fort became a center point for the conflicts of Red Cloud’s War.
Some early casualties required the creation of the post cemetery. In December of 1866, the Fetterman Fight just north of the fort resulted in the death of 79 soldiers and two civilians, who were buried at the fort.
Those bodies were eventually removed to Custer National Cemetery at Little Bighorn Battlefield in Montana.
The cemetery is still at the state historic site, marked by a white fence, and two homesteaders are still buried there.
Famous Haunts: Ghostly Soldiers
Given the amount of violence and death that took place around the fort and at the Fetterman and Wagon Box battlefield sites associated with the fort, it’s no surprise that paranormal activity has been reported. Apparitions of soldiers have been seen by witnesses, and employees have said that books in the gift shop have moved and been damaged by ghosts.
Bloody Bozeman Trail
Although it was only in existence for a few years in the 1860s, the Bozeman Trail made it possible for about 3,500 people to travel the 400-mile shortcut from the Oregon Trail to Montana mining towns.
A Bloody History Leading to a Ghostly Present
About 40 to 50 of those travelers lost their lives to Native American warriors. Mountain fever, caused by ticks, also resulted in fatalities. Two of the more famous deadly conflicts on the Bloody Bozeman took place in what is now Johnson County.
At the Powder River crossing east of Kaycee, the Townsend Wagon Train – more than 400 people, mostly from Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa on 150 wagons – was attacked by Lakota and Northern Cheyenne in July of 1864. Four men from the wagon train reportedly died, according to the diary of Benjamin Ryan and perhaps a dozen warriors.
Frank Hudlemyer of Canada and A. Warren from Missouri were buried at the camp. The other two men from the wagon train had gone out hunting or to secure livestock. The scalp from one of those men was found along with his horse and a cow by the next wagon train, according to legend.
The Attack at Crazy Woman Crossing
Two years later, in July of 1866, a group of 30 settlers – men and women – were attacked at Crazy Woman Crossing on their way to the newly established Fort Phil Kearny. The group included military escorts, and Lieutenant Napolean Daniels and Lance Corporal Terrence Callary were killed during the skirmish.
The spirits of all those killed along the Bloody Bozeman may still be wandering without reaching their final destinations.
Tisdale Divide
The Johnson County War of the late 19th century was marked by random deaths of suspected cattle rustlers and those sympathetic to them. In response, cattle barons hired stock detectives to protect their interests and their livestock.
Among the deaths related to the war were Nate Champion and Nick Ray at the KC Ranch in 1892, and Orley Jones at Muddy Creek.
But perhaps the most tragic and haunting death was the assassination of John A. Tisdale, whose spirit would have good reason to haunt the draw that bears his name, Tisdale Divide.
Famous Haunt: The Spirit of John A. Tisdale
In late November of 1891, the 36-year-old Tisdale was in Buffalo, loading his wagon with items, including Christmas gifts for his family. The gifts even a puppy, according to some tellings of the tale. Tisdale had been made aware that his life was in danger, and he hoped to find company for his return to Powder River country from any neighbors who might also happen to be in Buffalo. But he had to venture back alone, armed with a new double-barreled gun.
A Hauntingly Unsolved Mystery
At what was then known as Haywood Gulch, Tisdale was murdered by a hidden assassin. The murderer killed the horses, and eventually the dog, which reportedly followed the assassin some distance. Famed stock detective and former Johnson County sheriff Frank Canton was accused of the crime, but many of his friends in Buffalo provided an alibi, and the crime went unsolved.
Tisdale’s blood-smeared wagon was returned to Buffalo. Newspapers in Chicago even reported on the whole affair, noting “On top of his load of provisions and in plain view of every sight-seer were piled the toys he had purchased for ‘the little ones at home,’ whose lives have been darkened by a deed that makes the strong man turn from a thought of it with a soul-sickening shudder.”
Address: Tisdale Divide, Wyoming 82834
Spirits in the Bighorns
The Bighorn Mountains provide a formidable and mysterious northwest border for Johnson County, with few roads into the forested mountains. The inability of everyone to access the high peaks enhances their mysterious nature. Considered a sacred area to the Crow, the Bighorns hold mysteries we may never know.
SOLDIER PARK
There are, however, a few known gravesites in the Bighorn Mountains.
One of those locations – Soldier Park – does not have hauntings associated with it, but it would be understandable if the spirit of Peter Garde did not rest until the mystery of his grave was solved. Garde died in 1877 and was buried in the area that became known as Soldier Park because some believed the grave had to have been a soldier.
A wooden grave marker was placed, and some reports say there was a canteen on it when it was discovered years later. The are was said to be frequented by soldiers from Fort McKinney, which was more than 10 miles to the east, near where Buffalo stands now.
In the 1890s, forest ranger August Hettinger came upon the crude cross and began his research. There was no soldier with that name.
Garde was a Frenchman and a civil engineer, and he may have been working with the Army on a reconnaissance survey in the 1870s. He was cleaning his own rifle when he shot himself. He was believed to be 27 or 28 years of age.
A second body was buried in the same area in May of 1922. Carl Johnson, a Swedish tie hack, reportedly died during that winter after going to nearby Seven Brothers Lakes and not returning.
OTHER Haunted LEGENDS in the Bighorn Mountains
More than one hunter in the Bighorn Mountains has reported being led back to safety by a 17-year-old hunter who went missing in 1932. That teen, Dillon McKinnon, got lost on October 30 and was found two weeks later under 6 inches of snow.
Haunted Trails Around Buffalo, WY
Some trails in and around Buffalo aren’t just known for scenic views. Other trails are known for spine-tingling encounters. From shadowy figures to chilling whispers, these haunted paths are perfect for thrill-seekers who like a dose of the paranormal with their nature walks. Ask locals or guides for firsthand stories.
Ready to Experience the Paranormal Side of Buffalo?
From haunted hotels to ghost-filled trails and legendary Wyoming folklore, Johnson County is the perfect destination for thrill-seekers and history buffs alike. Whether you’re chasing scary facts about Wyoming or just looking for a unique fall getaway, it’s time to plan your haunted adventure.
