Old Montana Prison – Haunted Prison in Deer Lodge, Montana

The Old Montana Prison stands as a towering fortress of stone in the quiet town of Deer Lodge. This maximum-security penitentiary housed some of Montana’s most violent criminals for over a century.

Thick sandstone walls rise three stories high along Main Street. The prison’s Gothic architecture creates an imposing silhouette against the Montana sky.

Visitors report feeling watched by unseen eyes as they walk through cell blocks. Strange voices echo through empty corridors where guards once patrolled.

The facility closed its doors in 1979 after 108 years of operation. Now it operates as a museum where the dead refuse to leave.

Paranormal investigators rank it among America’s most haunted prisons. Shadow figures roam the same paths they walked in life.

Historical Background

Construction on the Territorial Prison at Deer Lodge began in 1870. The first inmates arrived in 1871 to complete building their own cells.

Montana was still a territory when this fortress opened its gates. The prison was designed to hold the worst criminals from across the region.

Prisoners worked 14-hour days quarrying sandstone blocks from nearby mountains. They hauled these massive stones by hand to construct their prison home.

The original facility could house 100 inmates in primitive conditions. By 1912, overcrowding pushed the population to over 400 men.

Warden Frank Conley oversaw one of the darkest periods from 1890 to 1921. His brutal methods of discipline left permanent scars on both prisoners and guards.

The prison executed seven men by hanging between 1872 and 1909. These executions took place in a small courtyard visible from cell windows.

In 1959, a deadly riot erupted in the maximum-security wing. Deputy Warden Ted Rothe died during the violent uprising that lasted three days.

Poor ventilation and inadequate heating claimed countless lives over the decades. Winter temperatures inside cells regularly dropped below freezing.

Tuberculosis swept through the prison multiple times between 1880 and 1920. The disease killed at least 47 inmates in cramped, unsanitary conditions.

Solitary confinement cells measured only five feet by eight feet. Men spent months or years in these dark holes with minimal food.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Disembodied footsteps echo through Cell Block 1 almost daily. Security guards hear heavy boots walking when no one is there.

Cell doors slam shut with tremendous force throughout the night. Modern locks engage on their own despite having no power source.

Visitors frequently report sudden temperature drops of 20 to 30 degrees. These cold spots appear without warning in specific cells and hallways.

Shadow figures dart between cells in the maximum-security wing. Multiple witnesses describe seeing tall, dark shapes that move with purpose.

The shower room fills with unexplained steam and the smell of soap. This phenomenon occurs even when water has been shut off for decades.

Phantom screams pierce the silence during late evening hours. The cries sound like men in terrible pain or fear.

Objects move across tables and desks in the old administration building. Pens roll uphill and papers scatter without wind.

Full-body apparitions appear in the turret guard towers. Guards in old-style uniforms stand watch over empty yards.

Recording devices capture voices speaking in period slang and terminology. Electronic voice phenomena occurs in nearly every part of the facility.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The spirit of Lee Smart remains the most active presence. Smart was executed by hanging on April 21, 1916 for murder.

His apparition appears near the old gallows site wearing prison stripes. Witnesses describe a young man in his twenties with dark hair.

Smart allegedly speaks to visitors who stand where he died. He asks for his mother and claims his innocence.

Many believe Smart was wrongly convicted based on circumstantial evidence. His ghost seems desperate to clear his name after over a century.

Deputy Warden Ted Rothe’s spirit walks the corridors he died defending. Staff members report seeing a man in 1950s-era clothing inspecting cells.

This apparition carries keys that jingle with each step. The sound stops abruptly when witnesses turn to look directly at him.

Rothe died on September 24, 1959 from injuries during the riot. Inmates overpowered him while he attempted to restore order.

His presence feels protective rather than threatening according to most reports. He seems to be continuing his duties from beyond death.

Cell 9 in Block 1 houses the spirit of an unnamed tubercular patient. Visitors hear wet, rattling coughs coming from the empty cell.

A cold spot permanently occupies the lower bunk area. The temperature reads 15 degrees colder than surrounding cells.

Some visitors report seeing a gaunt figure lying on the bunk. The apparition appears skeletal and struggles to breathe.

Guards who worked at the prison before closure remembered this cell. They said inmates refused to sleep there after repeated mysterious illnesses.

The spirit of an unknown child haunts the old warden’s residence. Staff hear a young girl laughing and running through empty rooms.

No records indicate any child dying on the property. The identity of this playful spirit remains a complete mystery.

Toys appear moved in the residence museum displays. A porcelain doll repeatedly turns to face the doorway overnight.

Multiple wardens’ families lived in the residence during the prison’s operation. Perhaps a daughter or granddaughter left an imprint on the building.

Solitary confinement cells in the basement produce overwhelming feelings of despair. Visitors become anxious and desperate to escape within minutes.

Men’s voices beg to be released from these dark holes. The pleas sound muffled as if coming through thick stone walls.

Scratching sounds emerge from inside the cells when they’re locked. Deep gouges in the walls show where inmates clawed at stone.

These cells held men for months in total darkness. Psychological torture drove many to madness and suicide.

Most Haunted Spot

The Maximum Security Building stands as the most paranormally active location. This separate structure housed the prison’s most dangerous inmates from 1912 until closure.

Cell 12 on the second tier generates the most intense supernatural activity. Visitors report physical contact including pushes and grabs in this specific cell.

A violent inmate named Paul Reynolds occupied this cell in the 1930s. He killed another prisoner with a homemade weapon during recreation time.

Reynolds was beaten to death by guards in retaliation on May 3, 1934. His bloodstains reportedly appeared on the floor for years afterward.

The cell maintains an aggressive energy that affects most visitors. People report feeling unwelcome and experience sudden anger or fear.

Cameras malfunction specifically when pointed into Cell 12. Fresh batteries drain completely within seconds of entering the space.

The shower room adjacent to Maximum Security rivals Cell 12 for activity. Multiple inmates died here in fights and alleged suicides.

Water drips from showerheads that have been disconnected for over 40 years. The floor becomes wet despite no water source.

Investigators captured Class A electronic voice phenomena here in 2007. The recording clearly states “Get out now” in a threatening tone.

Can You Visit?

The Old Montana Prison operates as a public museum year-round. It opens daily from May through September with limited winter hours.

General admission costs $12 for adults and $8 for children ages 10-17. Children under 10 enter free with paying adults.

Self-guided tours allow visitors to explore at their own pace. Audio guides provide historical context and paranormal stories for each area.

Special overnight paranormal investigations occur monthly from April through October. These events cost $75 per person and run from 8 PM to 4 AM.

Photography is permitted and actively encouraged throughout the facility. Many visitors capture unexplained anomalies in their photos.

Standard museum hours run from 9 AM to 5 PM during peak season. Winter hours operate Friday through Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM.

The facility offers guided historical tours at 11 AM and 2 PM daily. These 90-minute tours include areas not accessible during self-guided visits.

Private paranormal investigation bookings are available for groups of 10 or more. These require advance reservation and special arrangements with museum staff.

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity intensifies dramatically during late evening and overnight hours. Most significant encounters occur between 10 PM and 3 AM.

The anniversary of the 1959 riot on September 22-24 produces heightened activity. Staff report increased phenomena during these specific dates each year.

Winter months from November through February generate more supernatural reports. Cold weather seems to amplify the already-present spirit energy.

Full moon periods correspond with increases in shadow figure sightings. Multiple investigation teams have documented this pattern over the years.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Museum director Ellen Baumler documented her experience in Cell 12 in 2003. She felt invisible hands grip her shoulders and push her toward the door.

Baumler is a trained historian who initially skeptical of paranormal claims. Her personal encounter changed her perspective on the prison’s supernatural reputation.

Deer Lodge resident Margaret Thompson worked as a guard from 1975 to 1978. She refuses to enter the Maximum Security Building after her experiences there.

Thompson reported seeing a full-body apparition three separate times during night shifts. The figure appeared as a prisoner in outdated striped clothing.

Paranormal investigator Dave Schrader visited in 2015 for his podcast. He recorded over 40 distinct electronic voice phenomena during one four-hour session.

Schrader’s team captured intelligent responses to direct questions on multiple devices. The spirits seemed aware of the investigators and responded appropriately.

Tourist Jennifer Walsh photographed a shadow figure in 2018. Her image clearly shows a dark human shape in a cell behind her.

Walsh submitted the unedited photo to multiple experts for analysis. None could explain the figure that appeared in her vacation snapshot.

Former prison guard Robert Martinez shared his story before passing in 2012. He witnessed cell doors opening and closing on their own multiple times.

Martinez also heard his name called by disembodied voices throughout his career. He believed the spirits recognized guards who treated inmates fairly.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

Ghost Adventures filmed an episode at the prison in October 2012. The crew experienced equipment malfunctions and aggressive paranormal encounters throughout filming.

Lead investigator Zak Bagans was physically scratched in the Maximum Security Building. The three parallel marks appeared on camera in real time.

The team captured compelling video evidence of shadow figures. Their thermal imaging showed human-shaped cold spots moving independently through cells.

The Dead Files featured the prison in a 2014 episode. Psychic medium Amy Allan sensed over 200 spirit presences throughout the facility.

Allan identified specific cells where violent deaths occurred without prior knowledge. Her descriptions matched historical records of inmate deaths and executions.

She described an oppressive male entity in the punishment cells. This spirit allegedly feeds on the fear and despair of visitors.

Montana Paranormal Research Society conducts quarterly investigations at the prison. They’ve accumulated hundreds of hours of audio and video evidence since 2005.

The group documented a repeating pattern of footsteps in Cell Block 1. The sounds occur every night at approximately 11:47 PM.

Their electromagnetic field readings spike dramatically in execution areas. Equipment registers readings three times higher than baseline throughout the facility.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

Visitors must stay on designated paths and avoid climbing on railings. The aging structure contains areas of deterioration that pose falling hazards.

Some cell blocks have uneven floors and low doorways requiring caution. Visitors should wear appropriate footwear and watch their step.

The museum strictly prohibits entry to structurally unsound areas. Yellow caution tape marks all restricted zones throughout the facility.

Overnight investigators must sign liability waivers before participation. The museum accepts no responsibility for injuries during paranormal events.

Visitors prone to anxiety or claustrophobia should avoid solitary confinement areas. The tight spaces and oppressive atmosphere can trigger panic attacks.

Children under 12 are discouraged from overnight paranormal investigations. The intense supernatural activity may be too frightening for young visitors.