Wyoming’s Ghostly Echoes: A Journey through Irma Hotel and Kirwin’s Shadows.
The allure of the Wild West thrives not just in the tales of gunslingers and gold rushes but also in the lingering whispers of spirits and abandoned settlements. As autumn winds brush through Wyoming, let us delve into two of its most captivating tales – the haunted Irma Hotel and the ghost town of Kirwin.
Established in 1902 by the legendary Buffalo Bill, the Irma Hotel stands majestically in Cody’s heart. Named in honour of his beloved daughter, this century-old establishment is a testament to Buffalo Bill’s legacy and home to some unexplained mysteries. What are these whispers in the hallway? Is that the sound of water from an untouched faucet, or perhaps the spectral jingle of spurs from a bygone era?
Irma Hotel—Cody—Park-County
The heart of these tales beats strongest in Room 35, the Paul Stock room. Among the first 15 rooms of the hotel, this chamber has an air of intrigue that has piqued the curiosity of paranormal enthusiasts worldwide. Guests have recounted eerie tales of disembodied voices, water faucets turning on mysteriously, and personal belongings being rearranged.
A few doors down, Room 16 holds its enigma. Visitors have claimed to see the ethereal presence of Irma Cody Garlow rocking gently in a chair, possibly reminiscing about her tragically short life. She succumbed to influenza and pneumonia only days after her husband and hotel manager, Fred Garlow, met a similar fate.
Hotel staff have also shared tales, from fleeting glimpses of Buffalo Bill wandering the corridors to mysterious sounds echoing through the closed bar. The only way to truly experience these tales? Perhaps a night’s stay in Room 35.
Irma Hotel Rooms 47 thru 66.
Away from the confines of Irma Hotel lies Kirwin, an abandoned marvel near Meeteetse, nestled on U.S. Forest Service land. This once-thriving settlement from the 1890s boasted 38 structures and was home to 200 souls during the gold and silver rush era. However, nature’s fury in the winter of 1907 brought an avalanche that tragically altered Kirwin’s destiny.
Decades later, the town would resurface in history when famed aviator Amelia Earhart and her husband, George Putnam, began constructing a cabin. However, her mysterious disappearance in 1937 halted this project forever. Now, adventurers can traverse this forsaken town, witnessing the remnants of Earhart’s cabin, an old hotel, rustic log structures, and silent mining machinery, marking Kirwin’s spot in the annals of Western history.
For those daring souls seeking a brush with the paranormal or a dip into history’s mysteries, a journey through Wyoming’s Irma Hotel and the lost town of Kirwin awaits.
Written by: Jason Smith
