The Irma Hotel – Haunted Hotel in Cody, Wyoming

The Irma Hotel is not just a charming old inn. It is a place where the Old West feels very much alive, and where some guests say it never left.

Built by the legendary Buffalo Bill Cody, the hotel anchors the small town of Cody, Wyoming, near the eastern gate of Yellowstone.

Travelers come for its frontier history and its famous cherrywood bar. Many leave with a story about a guest who never checked out.

For more than a century, staff and visitors have reported the same quiet hauntings inside its historic walls.

Historical Background

• Year Built: 1902
• Original Purpose: Hotel
• Founder: William “Buffalo Bill” Cody

Buffalo Bill built the hotel in 1902 and named it after his youngest daughter, Irma. He called it “just the sweetest hotel that ever was.”

The hotel quickly became the social heart of the new frontier town. Cody kept private suites here and entertained ranchers, soldiers, and traveling dignitaries.

The centerpiece was a hand-carved French cherrywood bar, a gift to Cody from Queen Victoria. It still stands in the hotel today.

Over the decades, several deaths occurred inside the hotel. Most were tied to illness and old age, but a few are whispered to have been sudden and unexplained.

Paranormal Activity Summary

• Doors that slam shut on their own, and cold spots that appear in the middle of summer.
• Lights that flicker without reason, and faucets that turn on by themselves.
• A woman in white seen drifting through the upstairs halls.
• A shadowy cowboy spotted standing at the bar long after closing time.

The activity tends to be gentle rather than frightening. Most guests describe a sense of company more than menace.

Ghost Stories & Reports

One well-known spirit is believed to be a former housekeeper who still tidies the rooms. Guests have returned to find drawers closed and beds remade in their absence.

Another story tells of a young girl who giggles in the hallways, even when no children are staying at the hotel.

The saloon is said to be haunted by a cowboy who died in a gunfight in the street outside. He is most often seen leaning against the cherrywood bar or sitting alone at a corner table.

Some staff believe Buffalo Bill himself still visits, with the scent of cigar smoke drifting through his old suite when the room is empty.

Many guests report a light tap on the shoulder, only to turn and find no one there.

Most Haunted Spot Inside

Room 16 is the most talked-about room in the hotel.

Guests report lights turning on and off by themselves and waking to the feeling of being watched. Some say they have seen a pale woman standing at the foot of the bed.

The saloon and Buffalo Bill’s original suite are the other two hot spots for reported activity.

Can You Visit?

• Open to the Public? Yes, as a working hotel and restaurant
• Entry Fee: No general fee, though room bookings apply
• Tour Availability: Occasional ghost tours during the Halloween season
• Photography Allowed? Yes
• Visiting Hours: 24/7 for guests; the lobby, bar, and restaurant are open to non-guests during business hours

You can experience the Irma without booking a room. Many visitors stop in for the historic gunfight reenactment held outside in summer, then stay for a meal at the famous bar.

Best Time to Visit

Fall is the prime season for reported sightings, especially around Halloween as the nights grow long and cold.

Summer brings the Yellowstone crowds and the daily gunfight show, so book Room 16 well ahead if that is your goal.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

A night clerk reported watching a heavy door swing slowly shut while she stood alone in the empty lobby.

Guests in Room 16 have described waking to find the bathroom light on and the faucet running, with the door still locked from the inside.

Bar staff closing up late have spoken of a cowboy figure at the end of the bar who fades the moment they look directly at him.

Local Legends & Myths

Local lore says Buffalo Bill loved the hotel so much in life that his spirit never strayed far from it. The cigar smoke in his suite is offered as proof.

Another legend claims the cowboy at the bar is a gambler shot in a dispute outside, still waiting to finish his last drink.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The Irma has appeared in regional ghost documentaries and has been investigated by Wyoming paranormal groups.

Recordings have captured unexplained whispers, and EMF readings reportedly spiked near Room 16.

If you stay overnight and want to investigate, packing the right ghost hunting equipment will help you catch what the cameras alone might miss.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

The Irma is a working hotel, so respect other guests and staff at all times.

Do not enter rooms you have not booked, and keep any after-hours exploring to the public areas during business hours.

Final Thoughts

Few haunted stays come with this much real history. The Irma Hotel is a standout among haunted places in Wyoming.

Book Room 16, order a drink at Buffalo Bill’s bar, and see whether the Old West decides to keep you company.