What Haunts Our Town at Night?
With Halloween on the way and the wind rising over the plains, Laramie’s ghost stories seem to get a bit louder. From the scent of cigars in old prison cells to playful spirits in historic buildings, the city’s haunted tales are as lasting as its Old West roots. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, these stories give a peek into Laramie’s spooky past and the spirits that might still be around.
Wyoming Territorial Prison: Echoes of the Incarcerated
Built in 1872, the Wyoming Territorial Prison is one of Laramie’s best-known haunted places. It once held famous outlaws like Butch Cassidy. Today, it is a museum that draws in both visitors and ghost hunters.
One of the ghosts people talk about is Julius Greenwelch, a cigar maker who was once an inmate. Some visitors say they smell cigar smoke in the north wing, even though no one smokes there. Others say they have seen Greenwelch’s ghost near his old cell, wearing old-fashioned clothes and quietly watching.
With its long and sometimes dark history, the prison is the perfect place for ghost stories. Every October, guests can join lantern-lit tours through the cell blocks, where creaking doors and sudden cold spots make things even spookier.
Laramie Plains Civic Center: A Child’s Spirit Lingers
The Laramie Plains Civic Center started as a school in the 1870s, and people have whispered about a child’s ghost there for years. Staff say they’ve found children’s books moved around, heard footsteps in empty halls, and felt cold drafts in rooms that should be warm.
“My mom worked in one of the offices and would find books laid out like someone had been reading them,” wrote one commenter on HauntedPlaces.org. “She always said it felt like a kid was just hanging out.”
The building’s age and its layered history as a schoolhouse, civic center and performance venue make it a prime candidate for ghostly activity. Paranormal investigators have visited the site, noting unusual electromagnetic readings and unexplained sounds.
Despite the spooky reputation, most who encounter the Civic Center’s ghost describe it as more curious than threatening.
Buckhorn Bar: Spirits of the Old West
A ghost tour in Laramie isn’t complete without visiting the Buckhorn Bar, a downtown favorite since 1900. The Buckhorn is famous for its taxidermy, a bullet hole in the mirror, and its Wild West feel. Some say it’s also home to a few ghosts.
Bartenders have reported glasses moving on their own, jukeboxes playing without being turned on and the occasional shadowy figure appearing in the mirror. Some locals say the ghost is a former cowboy who died in a bar fight, while others believe it is the spirit of a loyal regular who never stopped showing up to the bar.
The Buckhorn’s haunted status is something locals are proud of, especially at Halloween. People share ghost stories over drinks, and visitors always ask about the bullet hole in the mirror; a reminder of an old fight that may have left more than just broken glass behind.
Ghosts as Community Tradition
Ghost stories in Laramie are more than just spooky tales; they are part of what makes the town unique. With its mix of frontier history, college life, and wild scenery, Laramie is the perfect place for stories about the supernatural.
Every October, crowds come to the Territorial Prison for ghost tours and stories about its spirits. The Civic Center puts on special shows that sometimes mention its haunted past. The Buckhorn is still a top spot for anyone hoping to experience something spooky.
For University of Wyoming students, these ghost stories are more than just fun, they help connect campus life to the town’s rich history and show that Laramie’s past is still with us.
Whether outside chasing shadows or just enjoying the season, Laramie’s ghosts are here to stay. And if something happens to smell like cigar smoke in the Territorial Prison or if a book moves in the Civic Center, do not worry, it is just another chapter in the town’s haunted history.
