High Spirits: Haunted Tales of West Yellowstone

The air in West Yellowstone shifts in October—crisper nights, whispering pines, maybe some snow, and a chill that has nothing to do with the temperature. Around here, locals know that the world’s first national park has its share of ghost stories. As the long shadows stretch over the Madison River and storefront lights flicker, you can almost feel the past brushing close.

Whispers of the Headless Bride

Among Yellowstone’s most retold tales is the Headless Bride of Old Faithful Inn. Guests and staff have whispered about a ghostly bride drifting down from the Crow’s Nest, her story echoing through the decades. Whether you believe it or not, her legend is as much a part of Montana lore as the geysers themselves.

The Lost Little Boy of Old Faithful

Another of the haunted tales of West Yellowstone tells of a small boy wandering the mezzanine at Old Faithful Inn in the early 1900s—there one moment, gone the next. Travelers claim to see him searching, as if looking for someone he never found. Even hardened skeptics admit the Inn can feel a little… watched after dark.

Quake Lake: The Land Remembers

Just outside West Yellowstone, Quake Lake holds a different kind of haunting. Formed overnight by the devastating 1959 earthquake, the canyon swallowed cabins and lives. Locals say the land still holds its breath on quiet October nights, a solemn reminder of nature’s power and the stories it keeps.

Embrace the Season

Ghost stories or not, West Yellowstone in October is a place of big skies, wild history, and maybe a few lingering spirits.

Stop in at Northstar Dispensary—open daily from 9 AM to 8 PM—to warm up, swap spooky stories, or grab what you need for your fall adventures. In a town with this much history (and maybe a phantom or two), there’s always another tale waiting to be told.