Dillon Montana

Klondike Bar, Restaurant and Casino

Old brothel tragedies and pain have caused spirit activity.

A rejection of a marriage proposal led to murder.

DESCRIPTION

The Klondike Inn Bar Restaurant and Casino is a quaint, nicely renovated, yellow brick building. This handsome, two-story 1887 structure comes with a finished basement. Its top floor has two Victorian-style windows. It shares a wall on either side with two other businesses, as this row of buildings was built at the same time, as they have matching roof dentils, and other architectural similarities.

The Klondike Inn Bar Restaurant and Casino was on the real estate market in 2012, and was sold to new owners in 2013. According to the listing on guardian-re.com, the 1,875 sq. ft, first floor is home to the restaurant, with seating for forty people, and a bar and lounge area with the casino in the back of the building, seating fifteen comfortably. The kitchen is modern, and up to code, with all the bells and whistles needed to serve meals all day; definitely a serious working kitchen.

The second floor was inhabitable in 2012, but may have been renovated for the manager, employee or owner living quarters.

The 1,500 sq. ft. finished basement has several rooms, used as office space, storage area, walk-in cooler and a wine cellar.

The inside of this establishment is nicely decorated, very inviting to its patrons, with modern touches but still staying true to its historical past. If you visit, be sure to see the mural celebrating the 100 year centennial of the city of Dillon.

The Klondike Inn Restaurant Bar and Casino serves breakfast, lunch and dinner to rave reviews, offers drinks and conversation in its bar and lounge, and the opportunity to try to beat the thirteen electronic gaming machines, commonly known as “one-arm bandits” in other circles.

HISTORY

In 1880, the Union Pacific Railroad wanted to run their rail line right through Richard Deacon’s ranch land. When Mr. Deacon refused them permission, another solution was put into action. Businessmen got together and offered him a deal he couldn’t refuse: $10,500 for his entire ranch land of 480 acres, which was quite a chunk of change in those days.

This enterprising group of entrepreneurs formed a land company, established a village there, and gave the Union Railroad permission to build their rails. The newly formed village, Dillon, was named after Sidney Dillon, who was the president of the Union Pacific Railroad. The next step was to sell parcels of city land at auction, bringing in more founding citizens for the city of Dillon.

klondike-paranormal The buildings, that are today home to The Klondike Inn Bar Restaurant and Casino and its neighboring structures, were built in 1887, part of the new extension of the Dillon business district on Bannack St., as the town was growing and flourishing economically at this time. Besides the wealth and business generated by the presence of a railroad stop in Dillon, much economic growth came also when the county seat was moved from the city of Bannack to Dillon, in the early 1880s.

The Fair Hotel opened up for business in 1887, with lodging for guests on the second floor, and dining and drinking in its bar on the first floor. Prostitutes were added as a possible amenity for guests, which was common in those years.

Its not surprising then, that sometime in the building’s early history, the 2nd floor hotel area became a full-time brothel, which brought in more money from love-starved railroad workers, cowboys, and other lonely citizens of Dillon. Brothels in Montana and other parts of the west were often given a pass by city officials who looked the other way, until the outbreak of World War 2, when the government ordered their shutdown to preserve “the morale of the troops.” Other brothels were closed or went undercover when the authorities cracked down on them.

At some point, the second floor was abandoned, for unknown reasons, probably when it stopped offering guest rooms and the establishment at the time became a full-time restaurant, bar and later also a casino. But observers can still see where the second floor small prostitute cribs were located; places for paid sexual intimacy for men from many walks of life.

Throughout the years of its existence, many owners ran their commercial restaurant and bar in this historic space, making improvements, at least keeping up the first floor and basement to spur their business success. The structure has been in continuous use since 1887.

HISTORY OF MANIFESTATIONS

The unfortunate tragedies and pain that occurred in this building because of the existence of the brothel have been the catalysts for the spirit activity experienced by staff on the first floor and basement area in this building.

The prostitution industry has a long history of causing the death of women who either chose or were forced into this long-scorned, risky profession. Some died from diseases, or from a broken heart.

Copper Queen Hotel, AZ (Miss Julia Lowell “serviced” men during the 1920s and ’30s. She fell in love, hook, line and sinker, at the age of thirty, with a gentleman who enjoyed her body, but rejected her as marriage material. In despair, she killed herself).

Dumas Brothel, MT (Madame Elenore Knott fell in love with a married businessman, in 1955. They planned to run away together. The morning that they were supposed to run away, he lost his nerve, changed his mind, and never came to pick her up. Elenore was devastated, lost hope of ever leaving her situation, and killed herself. Another prostitute was murdered by a crazy client).

The Birdcage Theatre, AZ (If prostitutes reached the age of thirty, and hadn’t found a man to marry, they often killed themselves.

Klondike Inn Bar and Restaurant and Casino, MT (In this case, it was the broken heart of the boyfriend that caused his suicide, suffering from unrequited love and rejection).

Others died because of the occupational hazard of pregnancy. Because they weren’t living a healthy lifestyle, some pregnant prostitutes died in childbirth, along with their stilborn or preemie babies. To this day, some of their spirits don’t want to accept their deaths or mourn the loss of their lives or babies. Others died from the popular opium-based medication used for abortions. No one knew how dangerous this medication was to the human body.

Dumas Brothel, MT (A prostitute died from an overdose of the opium-based abortion medication).

Palace Hotel, WA (Many pregnant prostitutes gave birth to stillborn babies, and sometimes died too along with their children).

Old Homestead, CO (From 1896-1917, some women could have died from botched abortions or illness).

Klondike Inn Bar Restaurant and Casino, MT (A young female prostitute is thought to have died alone in what is now the wine cellar area of the basement. Some report that it was a self-inflicted abortion. Others say she simply killed herself there, knowing she was pregnant, with no way out of her situation).

Other women in this profession were murdered at the hands of a nasty customer, an unforgiving pimp, or a jealous suitor. The deaths of women who died in these ways happened quickly and were often emotional, painful, and sometimes brutal.

The White Eagle Pub and Hotel, OR (Rose was a young prostitute who fell in love with one of her customers. Fearing the wrath of the owner of the bar, she refused the marriage proposal of her boyfriend who killed her in a rage).

Dumas Brothel, MT (A prostitute who worked in the basement was savagely murdered by a client with anger issues).

O’Henry’s Roadhouse Building, IL (A gangster with temper and jealousy issues killed his girl in a brutal rage, and the bartender who dared to be friendly with her).

Palace Restaurant and Saloon, AZ (In 1884, a prostitute, Jennie Clark (aka Nellie Coyle) was stomped to death in the middle of the saloon by her gambling, opium-addicted lover, Fred Glove. No one stopped him).

Klondike Inn Bar Restaurant and Casino, MT (The anguished cowboy who suffered from unrequited love, came by and shot both the young prostitute he loved and the man she was servicing at the time, before killing himself).

Sometimes when a person kills another out of rage and hurt, he or she can’t let go of these emotions in this world, and is stuck, is perhaps a little scared to leave, or is afraid that the evil deed will be found out.

Old Faithful Inn, WY (A dastardly husband violently killed his new wife because she tried to leave him on their honeymoon. His spirit looks for her distressed spirit to try to apologize to her, trying to make amends, perhaps worried about receiving punishment in the next life).

The Bissman Building, OH (According to EVPs, the spirit of nine-year-old Ruthie is afraid of an evil spirit that visits the building. He may have been the person who brutally murdered her. He may be checking to see if she told on him).

Ashley’s of Rockledge, FL (Ethel Allen, perhaps related to Jack Allen, was brutally murdered. Her mutilated and burned remains were found. Her spirit is still there, along with her killer who is afraid that she will tell who killed her).

Klondike Inn Bar Restaurant and Casino, MT (The murderous, heart-broken cowboy is stuck at the bar perhaps making sure she doesn’t tell on him, and perhaps is afraid about what will happen to him in the spirit world).

Victims of deadly crimes also sometimes have strong feelings that they can’t let go of enough to pass over and be at peace. They want some sort of justice, or aren’t ready to leave just yet. They sometimes express their feelings to the living, or try to continue to enjoy being in this world because they felt cheated from having a full life.

The Plains Hotel, WY (A bride on her honeymoon found her groom in bed with a prostitute. She shot both of them, and then herself. The spirit of the prostitute complains to the living that the bride should not have shot her as she didn’t know he was married).

Lumber Baron Inn, CO (The spirits of two female murder victims still stay here, wanting to get justice for their cruel demise).

Klondike Inn Bar and Restaurant and Casino, MT (A prostitute and her client were in the throes of sex, when they were killed very suddenly, without warning. Both are upset about their murders).

Electrical items like calculators, TVs, radios, lights and casino machines can act as trigger objects that encourage spirits to be active in this world.

Colorado Grand Casino, CO (The spirit of a female entertainer and her spectral male friend enjoy playing the electric gambling machines for fun).

General Wayne Inn, PA (The spirits of the Hessian soldiers who enjoyed residing in the bar area, liked to play with the office adding machine).

Provincial Hotel, LA (Spirits enjoy listening to music playing on the radio. They turn the radio on to the station they want).

Klondike Inn Bar and Restaurant and Casino, MT (The Casino’s one-armed bandits are favorite toys for the spirits who reside here. Lights are fascinating too!)

MANIFESTATIONS

Two female entities and possibly two male entities are thought to be active here; all restless souls.

The two young female prostitutes, victims of their profession, are present and unable to rest.

One or two male entities have made their presence known in overt actions; Possibly, the man being serviced at the time of his death, and/or his killer.

The Spirit of the Murdered Female

A female form, dressed in a white gown, likes to float around the first floor.

She finds things to do that entertain her.

The Spirit of the Cowboy

He is dressed in cowboy attire.

A pair of cowboy boots was clearly seen walking down the stairs which lead to the first floor.

Second Male Spirit

A dark, shadowy, male figure walks around the bar area.

Signs of Unseen Presences

Items are moved around the bar and lounge area by unseen presences.

The kitchen is a favorite place to show feelings, especially angry ones.

Experiences of the Manager

While making pancake batter for the morning patrons, the manager saw the bowl, which was full of batter, slide by itself along the counter top, twice. It was stopped by the manager both times.

However, during the third time, the bowl was propelled by an unseen force down the counter top, such that it escaped the hands of the manager and was smashed into the wall.

A restless spirit was blowing off steam, perhaps sharing its anger at what happened to him or her.

Casino Fun!

Some spirits like to play with the casino machines.

Sometimes the machines even print out tickets for the unseen players.

Their unseen presences can be heard and sometimes felt by the staff, who simply remind them to put money into the machines, if they want to play.

It appears that one doesn’t have to have a body to play!

The Spirit of a Young Woman

The spirit of a young, female prostitute mainly stays in the basement rooms and wine cellar.

She seems to be stuck in the area of her death.

Her unseen presence sometimes prevents staff from entering the wine cellar, becoming possessive of this space.

Having Fun Anyway

The lights seem to have a mind of their own, and go on and off at will.

Staff have reported feeling the hair on the back of the neck “crawl.”

A strong, unseen presence is felt, and the feeling of being watched and escorted around the area is also reported.

PARANORMAL FINDINGS

A lot of paranormal experiences have been reported by owners, staff and ex-staff about the spirits who become active mostly after the restaurant and bar are closed, with the familiar people that they know and feel safe with.

I couldn’t find any hard evidence that backs up the reported experiences, because The Klondike Inn Bar Restaurant and Casino either hasn’t been investigated, or a private investigation was held, and nothing was made public. Perhaps, the owners don’t want their spirits to be disturbed, as their spirit residents have their own issues to work through in this world.

However, the owners did allow Karen Stevens, a well-known Montana paranormal investigator to publish the experiences in her book, MORE HAUNTED MONTANA. It remains to be seen if the new owners would be open to any further investigations.

When they renovate the second floor, paranormal activity may jump to higher levels as renovation efforts usually act as an environmental trigger, pulling spirits back into this world.

STILL HAUNTED?

Probably so.

There are plenty of personal experiences that have been reported throughout the years of existence of this structure which point to some spirit people in residence, perhaps stuck there, who feel comfortable enough to let the owners and their staff know that they are there as well.