Yellowstone Wyoming
Lake Hotel
Spirits of former guests ar
still in vacation mode – even the drowning victims.
Former employees still care for guests with their service.
DESCRIPTION
Lake Yellowstone Hotel is an immense, sprawling structure of yellow clapboard, with stunning white colonial classical columns. Various levels of accommodations are offered within the main building, the East and West Wings, as well as less expensive options in its annex (former employee housing), and in many cabins.
Tom and I were impressed with the hotel’s massive buildings, and the main building’s beautiful sunroom and lounge that have big windows to view the lake.
The very large sun room is very inviting, with its comfortable sofas and chairs, places to read, a lovely stone fireplace, free lemon water, and to top it off, a live piano player providing music for all to experience. There is also an outside porch where guests can sit and enjoy the sun and the lake.
The Lake Yellowstone Hotel opens yearly on May 15th and closes on October 4th. Xanterra Parks & Resorts is the organization that runs all the hotels and lodges in Yellowstone Park. When Lake Yellowstone Hotel is closed for the season, they are the ones who restore, renovate, and make repairs to the hotel.
As the upkeep and need to periodically restore an old building makes imperative to have a hearty cash fund. Because there is no competition inside the park, and demand to stay within the park is high, top dollar is charged. People yearn to stay within the Yellowstone Park, and reservations have to be made at least a year in advance.
For 2025, the top price is charged for a night in the Presidential Suite, and the least expensive is for a Frontier Cabin. Superior rooms and Standard rooms are in the second and third top price categories. A Standard Lodge room, located in the old employee annex, is more than renting a Frontier Cabin.
Each kind of guest accommodation is plainly explained on their website, and what exactly is offered at each price point. On social media, many people complain about what is offered for the money, but if they did their homework, they could see the facts before booking a room here, and know that they won’t have the amenities of a Hilton or a fancy resort, but will experience a pleasant stay. The guests we saw were enjoying themselves, and were very happy indeed with the Lake Yellowstone Hotel.
HISTORY
This elegant hotel was built in 1889-1891, right on the edge of Yellowstone Lake, in a truly glorious spot. It started out as a rather plain, inelegant, clapboard, three story structure with “projecting bays at each end.”
It was originally designed by R.R. Cummins for the Northern Pacific Railway, at a time when it was building two other hotels in the Yellowstone Park. It opened to guests in 1891. No one had planned for the number of people who would love to visit Yellowstone Park.
As more and more people of wealth wanted to visit Yellowstone Park and stay in more elegant facilities, major upgrades were made and an elegant newcomer, The Lake Colonial Hotel, came into existence.
After the success that architect Robert Reamer had with The Old Faithful Inn, he was hired to redesign and greatly expand The Lake Hotel, giving this plain Jane sister of The Old Faithful Inn new beauty, such as changing the projecting bays into Ionic porticoes. He also added an eastern extension with its own ionic portico.
Many prominent people came to stay and enjoy not only the spectacular view from all the up-graded first floor elegant common rooms, and outside sitting areas, but from their hotel rooms as well. In 1922-1933, another extension was added to the East Wing, and a flat roof was constructed. In 1928, more expansion was needed, so a two-story West Wing was built. The dining room was expanded, and a solarium was added to the front of the hotel.
By the 1980S, The Lake Hotel needed some TLC, so it was “extensively renovated,” from 1984 to 1990.
A new multi-million dollar project was started in 2012, with renovation/restoration plans that would include all guest rooms, the dining room, bar and public spaces and a redesigned deli. During the winter and spring of 2012, the West Wing rooms were renovated/restored, as well as the formal dining room and the beautiful sun room/lounge. The East Wing was renovated during the fall and winter of 2013-2014, and finished in late June of 2014.
More work will probably be done to improve and update the annex rooms in the near future, as they have been reported to be in need of some TLC by guests who have stayed there in 2015. The spirit people who reside and/or visit here, seem to love it and have continued their holiday or job duties in their afterlives.
HISTORY OF MANIFESTATIONS
People who have loved a place in this world while alive, especially vacation and party spots, like to visit them after they pass and become spirits. They have great memories of all the good times they had while alive.
Jekyll Island Resort Club, GA (The spirits of resort guests reside in their favorite holiday spot).
Menger Hotel, TX (The spirits of past hotel guests and spirits killed in the Alamo slaughter, are residing in this beautiful, peaceful place).
National Pastime Theatre, IL (The spirits of people who used to come to the speakeasy located here during Prohibition, still want to party on!).
Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins, WY (President Coolidge enjoyed staying at this hotel, and apparently still likes to visit, as well as the other spirits of past guests).
Children or adults who die from accidents or illness sometimes like to stay where they were comfortable and enjoyed being in while alive in this world.
Stranahan House, FL (The spirit of a young Native American girl who died in the doorway of her beloved teacher’s home, has chosen to stay there where she felt loved).
Robert E. Lee Mansion, VA (The spirit of a four-year-old boy loves to run around the living, giggling).
Cuppa Coffee and More, CA (After her sudden death, the spirit of a young girl who had lived on the second floor of her family’s store on Main Street, decided to stay in the building where her family had lived).
Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins, WY (Unfortunately, a lot of people of all ages have drowned in boating and swimming accidents in Yellowstone Lake. Possibly, drownings may be the cause of some of the hotel’s hauntings, including that of a young woman who probably stayed here during the 1920s, and a young boy who came with his family on a holiday long ago).
Sometimes employees love their jobs so much, and have such a strong pride and identity to their place of employment, that they don’t stop working there, even when in spirit form, not letting the fact that they are dead stand in the way.
Bee Bennett House, CA (The spirits of former employees step in to help the living, and even discipline rude guests at the events).
Anne Starrett Mansion Bed and Breakfast, WA (The most interactive spirit here is the Starrett’s nanny, who has given herself the job of keeping an eye on the guests who stay here, especially unmarried ones).
Brumder Mansion, WI (The spirits of former employees of the Brumder family and the speakeasy have given themselves jobs, and work for the current owners).
Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins, WY (Though no longer on the payroll, a spectral past head porter apparently is still working in a profession he loved. Plus, a professional group of spectral musicians have volunteered for a new gig where they play for the living late at night. While alive, they used to play music in the evenings for the guests. As the day shift employees got off work, they would join this small ensemble with their instruments and the group became an orchestra).
MANIFESTATIONS
Most of the spirit people like to haunt the oldest sections of the hotel. There are at least six spirit people checked into the hotel, and a few who like to visit as well. Some of the spirit people become active at or after midnight. Others like to be seen when the hotel is open with guests.
The Spirit of a Young Boy
He has blondish, brown hair, and wears a dress shirt.
He is active all the time, just as he was when alive.
Being full of joy and mischief, the hotel is his playground.
Personal Appearances
An employee saw him looking out of the attic window. The attic was locked at the time.
He is a happy, full-of-fun little boy who has surprised men in the downstairs public bathroom in a playful way.
The Female Spirit of Matilda
She is in her twenties, dressed as a flapper, complete with tight headband or hat. The staff named her Matilda.
She likes to stay on the second floor of the older section of the hotel.
She has a favorite room on this floor, located on the backside of the hotel that has a wonderful view of the forest.
Her Personal Appearances
She interacts with the hotel’s staff more often than she does with guests.
Matilda enjoys appearing for a second, to get their reaction for chuckles.
Employees walking to work have seen Matilda looking out the window of her favorite room at the forest view.
She has been seen walking the second floor hallway, still in a jovial mood, ready for fun.
“I’m Here but You can’t See Me.”
A woman staying in Matilda’s room felt a strong unseen presence, and that she was being watched.
A housekeeper and others on the staff were cleaning the rooms for the coming summer season.
When everyone went home, this housekeeper jogged up and down the hallways for exercise.
As she jogged by an open room on the second floor, she felt a strong unseen presence. She told this presence, that she wasn’t going to intrude, and the strong feeling dissipated.
Sometimes she likes to touch people to enjoy their reactions.
The Love of Music is Eternal
A group of spirits who were former living musicians still love to meet together.
Long after people have gone to bed and the hotel is quiet, they like to visit and enjoy playing together in the lounge, providing music once again to any night-owl guests and staff.
The Spirit of President Coolidge
His unseen presence likes to sit in an old rocker in the lounge and rock in it.
To the living, they see that the rocker is rocking by itself.
Staff just shrug, and are glad that whomever is rocking there is enjoying him or herself.
The Male Spirit of a Former Head Porter
He always dresses in his early 20th Century attire.
Has been known to appear in solid form and help people who are struggling with their luggage, especially those going to the second floor.
He picks up their luggage, and talks in a kind, soothing manner, giving tips on trails to take in Yellowstone.
To read the full story, buy S.E. Schlosser’s book, Spooky Yellowstone.
PARANORMAL FINDINGS
The Spirit of Little Boy
Ghost hunter/sensitive Al Brindza and his family stayed at The Lake Hotel while on a road trip. He told about his paranormal experience on his blog, Lake Hotel in Yellowstone, which is posted on his group’s website, Allegheny Ghost Hunters: http://www.amghosthunters.com. He went into the empty men’s public bathroom on the first floor lobby, and got his usual slight headache before he experiences something paranormal.
“Next I heard some footsteps and a little boy giggling and laughing and was surprised to see him peeking under the stall door. I believe I said “Hey” and then he was gone. Total silence, I heard no more footsteps or the opening or closing of the door. Now I’m thinking OK, what just happened? I didn’t see much of the little boy just his face and his kind of light brown or blondish hair, wearing a white dress up kind of shirt. ”
Yes Indeed, he saw this little apparition with his physical eyes just for a second or two.
Over the years, many guests and staff have experienced the above manifestations.
No paranormal scientific investigations have been published on-line. As this is a classy, somewhat upscale hotel for the area, they don’t want ghost hunter types invading their property, scaring their guests and spirit residents as well.
STILL HAUNTED?
Most Probably so! This upscale hotel is so beautiful, pleasant and relaxing with its comfy, large lobby, live piano music, and beautiful views of the Yellowstone Lake, how can former guests and employees resist its charms?
Though there is no published hard evidence, so many people over the years have experienced the same manifestations, which points to the probable conclusion that the Lake Yellowstone Hotel has a group of spirit people guests and residents, as well as being a very popular place to vacation for the living who want to stay at Yellowstone Park, and are willing to wait a year to do so.
LOCATION
1 Grand Loop Road
Yellowstone Park, Wyoming 82190
Sitting right on the shore of Yellowstone Lake, Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins are 2.3 miles from Fishing Bridge and 38.1 miles from Old Faithful.
SOURCES INCLUDE
- Yellowstone Ghost Stories:Spooky tales from the world’s first national park, by Shellie Larios, Riverbend Publishing, 2006.
- Spooky Yellowstone; Tales of Hauntings, Strange Happenings and Other Local Lore Yellowstone National Park Ghost Stories, by S.E. Schlosser, Globe Pequot Press, 2013
- http://americanfolklore.net/folklore/2012/10/the_phantom_bellman.html
- http://sftrails.blogspot.com/2013/10/haunted-yellowstone-part-1.html
- http://www.amghosthunters.com/yellowstone.html
- http://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/lodging/summer-lodges/lake-yellowstone-hotel-cabins/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Hotel
- http://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/lodging/
- http://www.historichotels.org/hotels-resorts/lake-yellowstone-hotel-and-cabins/history.php
Our Haunted Paranormal Stories are Written by Julie Carr
Our Photos are copyrighted by Tom Carr
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