12 Most Haunted Places in Wyoming: Real Ghost Stories You Can Visit

Wyoming is a land of wide plains, old mining camps, and frontier towns that grew up fast and buried their dead quietly. Behind the cowboy charm sits a long history of violence.

Gold rushes brought fortune and sudden death. Prisons held killers who met the gallows and the gas chamber. Army forts saw the bloody years of the Indian Wars.

All of that leaves a mark. Many of these buildings still stand today, and visitors keep reporting cold spots, footsteps, and figures that should not be there. You can browse all haunted places in Wyoming on our directory.

This guide ranks 12 of the most haunted places in the state. We start with the most famous and work down.

Each entry covers the real history, the documented tragedy, and the specific ghosts people claim to meet. Names, rooms, and phenomena are drawn from firsthand reports.

If you plan to hunt for spirits yourself, pack the right gear first. Our ghost hunting equipment guide covers EMF meters, recorders, and the tools that catch what your eyes miss.

1. Wyoming Frontier Prison (Rawlins)

The Wyoming Frontier Prison in Rawlins is the darkest address in the state. It opened in 1901 as the state penitentiary.

Over the decades it saw more than a dozen executions by hanging and gas chamber. Riots, suicides, and brutal attacks were common. One inmate set himself on fire in his cell.

Staff and visitors report footsteps in empty halls, slamming doors, and sudden cold. The ghost of Andrew Pixley, executed for murdering two young girls, is said to linger near the old death house.

Guides speak of “Outlaw Jack,” a spirit who laughs during tours and opens cell doors on his own. The gas chamber is the most feared room, where people smell strange odors and hear gas hissing.

The prison has appeared on Ghost Adventures and Destination Fear. It is open for guided historical and paranormal tours, with night ghost tours running in October for about $12.

2. The Occidental Hotel (Buffalo)

The Occidental Hotel in Buffalo opened in 1880 and hosted the roughest names of the Wild West. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid both stayed here.

A young woman is said to have died in one of the upper rooms under mysterious circumstances. Her story became the hotel’s most enduring legend.

Guests know her as Emily, a spirit tied to Room 13. Some say she was a saloon girl who took her own life after a married man left her. Others believe she was murdered.

Visitors report her reflection in mirrors, the scent of lavender, and a shadowy figure at the foot of the bed. A cowboy spirit is also seen leaning at the bar, vanishing when approached.

Investigators have recorded EVPs in Room 13 and the saloon, including a whispered “leave.” The lobby and saloon are free to enter, with ghost tours on fall weekends.

3. Old Faithful Inn (Yellowstone National Park)

The Old Faithful Inn is one of the most iconic log lodges in America. It was built in 1904 beside the famous geyser.

A powerful earthquake shook the area in 1959, causing panic and damage. Over the years several guests died here, some under mysterious circumstances.

The most famous tale is of a bride who died shortly after her wedding. Her groom vanished on a hiking trip and was never found, and heartbroken, she is said to have died by suicide in her room.

Staff spot her floating across the upper balcony in a white dress. The upper levels near the Crow’s Nest are the most active, with flickering lights and echoing footsteps.

Independent ghost hunters report EMF spikes and cold zones on the upper floors. The lobby is free to enter during park hours, and overnight stays require a booking.

4. Sheridan Inn (Sheridan)

The Sheridan Inn opened in 1893 as a stop for railroad travelers and Wild West performers. Buffalo Bill Cody managed it and hosted his Wild West Show here.

The most famous spirit is Miss Kate Arnold, who worked and lived at the hotel for nearly 70 years. She died in 1968 but many believe she never left.

Staff say she still tends her beloved hotel, tidying rooms and watching over guests. Her presence is gentle but unmistakable.

Room 306, her former quarters, is now a tribute suite and the most haunted spot. One guest heard a soft knock and a woman’s voice say “Housekeeping” with no one there.

Paranormal groups have captured EVPs during overnight investigations, including a voice that seemed to say “Welcome.” The inn offers lodging year round and seasonal ghost tours.

5. The Irma Hotel (Cody)

The Irma Hotel was built by Buffalo Bill himself in 1902. He named it after his daughter, Irma.

The hotel became a social hub for travelers, soldiers, and locals. Over the years several deaths occurred here, some from illness and old age, and a few that people call sudden and unexplained.

One spirit is believed to be a former housekeeper who still tidies rooms. Guests return to find drawers closed and beds made. A young girl is heard giggling in the halls though no children are staying.

The saloon is haunted by a cowboy who died in a nearby gunfight, seen leaning at the bar. Room 16 is the most talked about, with lights that turn on and off and a pale woman at the foot of the bed.

Regional groups have caught unexplained whispers and EMF spikes near Room 16. The lobby and restaurant are open to non guests, with occasional ghost tours in fall.

6. Fort Laramie (Fort Laramie)

Fort Laramie began as a fur trading post in 1834 and grew into a major Army fort. It was a crucial stop for pioneers on the Oregon Trail.

The fort was used heavily during the Indian Wars and saw several violent conflicts and military deaths. A young officer is said to have died tragically while stationed here.

People report a lone cavalryman pacing the parade grounds at night, said to be searching for his missing patrol. A Lady in White appears in one of the old officers’ homes.

The old cavalry barracks is the most haunted spot, where visitors hear boots marching. Others have heard phantom military drums beating in the dead of night.

One paranormal group caught audio of boots on wooden floors and a faint voice saying “present.” The site is open daily with self guided tours and candlelight tours in October for about $10.

7. Atlas Theatre (Cheyenne)

The Atlas Theatre in downtown Cheyenne opened in 1908 as a vaudeville house. Over the years it became a movie house and even held offices.

Legend says a worker fell from the balcony during construction. Another story claims a woman took her own life backstage.

The most talked about spirit is a former actress in period costume, seen watching from the balcony or drifting backstage. A child’s laughter is heard on the upper levels, tied to a boy said to have died during the silent movie era.

Crew members describe a grumpy spirit who dislikes modern shows and shoves people during rehearsals. The balcony is the most active area, with cold breezes and sudden dread.

Local ghost hunting groups have captured unexplained audio and video of faint figures behind the curtains. The theater still hosts events, with occasional ghost tours in fall.

8. Trail End Mansion (Sheridan)

Trail End, also known as the Kendrick Mansion, is a grand Flemish Revival home in Sheridan. Senator John B. Kendrick built it in 1913.

Kendrick died in the mansion in 1933. The home sat empty for stretches over the decades, which locals say may have stirred unrest.

The most talked about spirit is Kendrick himself, seen standing near windows or roaming upstairs as if still watching over his home. Some hear piano music in the drawing room though the piano sits untouched.

Children have reported a woman in white who vanishes when approached. The second floor hallway is where most activity happens, with shadow figures and flickering lights.

Local paranormal groups have logged EMF spikes and EVP recordings inside. The mansion offers self guided tours for about $5, with special guided tours in October.

9. Heart Mountain Relocation Center (Powell)

The Heart Mountain Relocation Center was one of ten camps used to imprison Japanese Americans during World War II. It opened in 1942 and held more than 10,000 people.

Detainees lived in harsh conditions, and several died there from illness and poor care. The trauma of displacement and loss still hangs over the grounds.

Visitors report whispers in Japanese and sudden drops in temperature near the old hospital. An old woman in traditional Japanese dress has been seen near the water tower, fading before anyone can reach her.

One tale tells of a young boy who died in the camp, his cries still heard where the children’s barracks once stood. The hospital remains are the most active spot, with soft moaning and clinking metal.

One ghost hunting group caught an EVP that sounded like “Don’t leave me.” The site is free and open dawn to dusk with self guided tours.

10. South Pass City (South Pass City)

South Pass City was a booming gold rush town founded in 1867. Today it is a quiet historic site.

The gold boom brought a rush of people, but harsh winters and violent deaths made life dangerous. Several murders went unsolved, and many miners died in cave ins or froze in the snow.

The most famous ghost is “Black-Eyed Joe,” a miner buried alive after a cave in, seen near the old Carissa Mine. Others hear a woman weeping in the Smith-Sherlock Company Store.

Children’s laughter is reported at the schoolhouse though none have attended in a century. The Carissa Mine is the hotspot, with swinging lanterns seen deep in the sealed shafts.

Paranormal groups have captured a male voice saying “Get out” near the mine entrance. The town is free to roam, with guided tours in summer and paranormal tours in October.

11. The Historic Virginian Hotel (Medicine Bow)

The Historic Virginian Hotel in Medicine Bow opened in 1911 for railroad travelers. It welcomed rough characters in its early years.

Stories tell of saloon fights that turned deadly and guests who checked in but never left. A woman reportedly died mysteriously in one room, and a man was found dead on the staircase with no clear cause.

The most talked about ghost is a young woman who died tragically in her room. Some say she was a maid pushed down the stairs after a fight with a guest.

Guests see her reflection in mirrors and feel someone sit on the bed. Room 12 is where most sightings happen, and many guests ask to change rooms after a single night.

Amateur ghost hunters have recorded whispers and knocks, and one caught a shadow moving across the wall in Room 12. The lobby is open by day, and overnight stays are available.

12. Miner’s Delight (Fremont County)

Miner’s Delight is an eerie ghost town tucked into the hills of Fremont County. It rose as a gold mining camp in 1868.

Several miners died in cave ins and accidents. A woman was allegedly murdered by a jealous lover near the saloon, and a deadly fire swept through the town in the 1890s.

The best known ghost is “Eliza,” the murdered woman, whose weeping echoes near the saloon at night. She is seen walking through the woods before she vanishes.

A headless miner is also spotted near an old shaft, said to have died in a dynamite mishap. The crumbling saloon is the most haunted building, with cold spots and disembodied laughter.

Ghost hunting groups have logged EMF spikes and strange EVPs in the saloon and near the mine. The site is free and open sunrise to sunset, though some buildings are unsafe to enter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most haunted place in Wyoming?

The Wyoming Frontier Prison in Rawlins is widely considered the most haunted. Its history of executions and violence has drawn Ghost Adventures and Destination Fear.

Which haunted places in Wyoming can you stay overnight?

The Occidental Hotel, Sheridan Inn, Irma Hotel, Old Faithful Inn, and Historic Virginian Hotel all offer overnight stays. Several have rooms known for activity, like Room 13 and Room 306.

Who is Miss Kate at the Sheridan Inn?

Miss Kate Arnold worked and lived at the Sheridan Inn for nearly 70 years before dying in 1968. Guests believe her spirit still tidies rooms and watches over her old quarters in Room 306.

When is the best time to visit haunted places in Wyoming?

Fall is the peak season, especially around Halloween when many sites run special ghost tours. Locals say activity ramps up at dusk as the weather cools.

Are Wyoming’s haunted places free to visit?

Several are free, including Heart Mountain, Miner’s Delight, and roaming South Pass City. Others charge modest fees, such as the Frontier Prison at about $12 and Fort Laramie at about $10.

Wyoming’s ghosts range from executed outlaws to grieving brides and loyal hotel staff. Every one of these sites is real and open to the curious.

Ready to plan your own frontier ghost hunt? Explore the full Wyoming directory for more haunted stops across the state.