Bannack State Park, Bannack, Montana

When gold was discovered in the frigid creeks of Montana, it didn't take long for a town to take shape around it. Men of all sorts found their way to this overly lawless town.

Among the chaos, the hotel Meade stood proudly as the center of the town’s social scene. The hotel offered new arrivals a warm place to stay before they set off to make their fortunes in the mines of Bannack. For residents of Bannack it was a comfortable place to stop in and gossip.

Due to the hotel's size it was often used as a utilitarian building. At one time a courthouse, at another it was a makeshift hospital when smallpox ravaged the town taking the lives of several children.

The hotel was not able to last forever as the stream of new arrivals looking for a quick fortune were replaced by professional mining operations.  The hotel dimmed its lights and closed its doors in the 1940's. While the hotel may not welcome new guests, old guests remain throughout its rooms.

Among the ghosts that Hotel Meade harbors is the young soul of Dorothy Dunn. The Dunn family made their way to Bannack in 1915, among them was sixteen year old Dorothy. She had come with her mother and her aunt’s family; her father had died the previous year. In Bannack Dorothy's mother found work managing the Hotel Meade, where they also took up residence.

On a hot summer day in August, Dorothy, her cousin Fern and best friend Bertie Mathews made their way to the dredge pond off of Grasshopper Creek. Slipping into the cool waters they began daring each other to travel further into the pond. None of the girls knew how to swim, so they held hands for safety. They had made their way into the center of the pond. Dorothy, believing that the pond was completely shallow, took one last fateful step further into the pond. Dorothy had stepped off of a shelf and into deep water. As Dorothy sunk she drug Fern under with her. Bertie desperately clutched onto Fern's hand. As Bertie struggled to stay above water she did the only thing she could, scream.

Twelve year old Smith Paddock heard Bertie's frantic screams and rushed into the water. Fern had freed herself from Dorothy's clutch and made her way back to the surface. Smith swept Fern and Bertie back to the shore. Bertie told Smith that Dorothy was still in the water. Smith rushed back to the center of the pond and could not find her.

Dorothy's body later surfaced and was found near the shore.

A year after Dorothy's death, Bertie joined Dorothy's grieving mother at the Hotel Meade in housekeeping duties. While in a room on the second floor, Bertie saw the ghost of Dorothy appear before her. Dorothy was wearing the long blue dress that she had been buried in, and appeared to be speaking. Bertie stated that she could see Dorothy's mouth moving as if she was talking, but Bertie could not hear any words. Dorothy's ghost repeatedly appeared to Bertie in the hotel, until Bertie finally left Bannack.

Today, the town of Bannack is a ghost town and preserved as a national park. Bannack has become a popular place for ghost hunts, especially the Hotel Meade.

Many people have explained an uneasy feeling come over them as soon as they step into the abandoned hotel. Others have stated that the hotel is filled with cold and warm spots that travel through the hotel.

Many people have claimed to see the ghost of Dorothy Dunn. Often she is seen peering out one of the second floor windows. Others have said they have seen her floating through walls on the second floor. The ghost of Dorothy seems to appear most often to children. Children have stated that Dorothy is trying to speak to them, just like with Bertie, but they too can hear no sounds. Children that have encountered Dorothy have also stated that she's playful. She will try to entice them into a game, or make silly faces at them.

In addition to Dorothy Dunn's ghost, people have stated that they have distinctly heard the sounds of children crying. Many believe that the crying comes from the ghosts of children who lost their lives in the hotel when it was used as a hospital during a smallpox outbreak.

Many people often hear disembodied footsteps echoing throughout the building, often in the same room.

Others have stated that the hotel has more sinister ghosts haunting it. Poltergeist activity is often witnessed in the hotel. The activity includes, doors slamming, objects being thrown, and sounds like someone is banging against the walls.

Tags: Bannack - Montana