Montana’s Haunted History: Visit Montana’s Fall 2022 Guide

Visit Montana recently shared a press release about discovering Montana’s haunted history, which it’s rich in. After all, in addition to its spectacular beauty, Montana abounds in ghost towns and historical sites. And many of them boast tales of lingering souls and spooky spirits.

In fact, I’d even venture to say Montana became a bit of a paranormal TV media darling this year. Two new series premiered on Travel Channel that were set in the state. First there was The Ghost Town Terror, which investigated the haunted happenings at Gunslinger Gulch in Anaconda, MT. And more recently, Ghosts of Devil’s Perch has been investigating Butte’s paranormal activity.

Anaconda and Butte were among the places Visit Montana suggests visiting to explore Montana’s haunted history. But so were Bannack and Garnet. Visit Montana believes visitors are guaranteed to have an unforgettable and thrilling experience road-trip across the state to these haunted spots. Let’s explore their suggestions for what to see and do.

Montana’s Haunted History: Bannack and Garnet

Centuries ago, Montana earned the name “Treasure State” when it beckoned treasure seekers to travel west. Booming mining communities, such as Bannack and Garnet, were founded by those hoping to strike gold in Big Sky Country.

Over the years, they were left abandoned as their inhabitants moved on to bigger cities and new opportunities. Today, the weathered structures of these ghost towns stand preserved, serving as architectural skeletons of Montana’s rugged past. A visit to towns like Bannack and Virginia City may give you a glimpse of a long-forgotten miner clutching a cache of gold.

Travelers seeking spine-chilling thrills this fall should experience one of these spooky haunts, starting with the Bannack Ghost Walks. These live reenactments highlight significant events throughout the history of Bannack, an old mining town once bustling with life—now the afterlife. Those willing can meet the ghosts of Henry Plummer, Joe Pizanthia, Cyrus Skinner, Doctor Glick, Mattie Silks and many more rogues from Bannack’s colorful past.

From Bannack, outdoor enthusiasts interested in learning about Montana’s mining past can head north to Garnet. There’s a self-guided tour of the 30 buildings in this historic mining town, including the J.R. Wells Hotel, F.A. Davey’s Store, and two old western saloons. It’ll give you a glimpse of what life was like during the gold mining boom of the 1800s. You can also hike the surrounding trails ranging from 1-3 miles.

Montana’s Haunted History: Butte and Anaconda

A little over an hour north of Bannack are the towns of Butte and Anaconda.

Butte, like so many of Southwest Montana’s communities, was born on the boom and bust. Initially, miners flocked to the area for gold, then silver, and eventually copper –which would become king in the area. The success of the mines drew a diverse population to Butte that would shape the culture of the city. Butte is home to 38 certified hauntings featured on Butte’s Spooks & Spirits Tour. New to the tour this fall, visitors can explore the haunts of Discovery’s Ghosts of Devil’s Perch.

Nearby in Anaconda, there are a number of ghost town sites, but the Granite Ghost Town State Park located near the town is a must-visit. The Granite ghost town is the remnants of the Granite Mine and the small town that grew up around the mine. The town was established around 1875 and was once a thriving community. The Granite Mine was once the richest silver mine in the world, but that didn’t stop it from closing; the town became deserted in 1893. Today, the ghost town has the remnants of a few of the town buildings and a good portion of the mine is still intact.

For something more frightening, the Old Montana Prison in Deer Lodge won’t disappoint. Just a short drive from Anaconda, visitors can take a guided or self-guided tour through the intimidating cell house and into the chilling slide bar cells and black box of maximum security. If that doesn’t sound creepy enough for you, there are Ghost Tour options that allow entry after hours into locations not normally open to the public. There you will experience the hot spots where reports have cited paranormal activity.

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Courtney Mroch

Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.

Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.