OCTOBER 30, 2024|
Photo – The Virginian Hotel in Medicine Bow – Bigfoot99 file photo
It is the witching time of the year. As Halloween approaches, a friendly reminder is offered, guests of the Virginian Hotel are said to mingle with the spirits of the departed.
The Virginian Hotel in Medicine Bow draws its name from the classic novel by Owen Wister. Written in 1902, Wister’s novel tells the story of a cowboy working on a cattle ranch near Medicine Bow, Wyoming. The author is often credited with popularizing the Western genre.
Built between 1901 and 1911, the building features Victorian gold and burgundy medallion wallpaper, velvet draperies, and pressed tin ceilings. The hotel also contains antique brass beds, steam-heated radiators, and claw-foot bathtubs in the suites. Upon completion in 1911, the Virginian was the largest hotel between Denver, Colorado and Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Virginian has amassed its share of otherworldly stories in its 113 years of service. Aaron Mumford of Jet Hospitality is co-owner of the historic inn. While he doesn’t specifically market to ghost enthusiasts, Mumford said word of mouth still attracts paranormal tourists to the hotel.
Mumford said the Virginian is supposed to be haunted by two notable spirits. One, named Hank by hotel staff, is a chivalrous, but mischievous ghost. Described as a tall man wearing a cowboy hat, Hank is known to spill patrons’ beers and hold doors open for women.
The other famous spook at the Virginian Hotel is the Woman in Beige. Mumford said the jilted bride is said to have committed suicide by leaping from a third-floor window. The woman’s spirit is blamed for messing up recently made beds on the hotel’s upper floors.
Guests and employees of the Virginian Hotel have also reported hearing young children playing in the sitting room on the first floor. A call to the hotel revealed that the Owen Wister Suite, on the building’s second floor, is considered the most paranormally active and often booked by guests seeking an otherworldly encounter.
The Virginian will not be hosting a Halloween specific event this year. However, Mumford explained that he isn’t ruling out the possibility of opening the hotel to a county-wide trick or treating activity next year.
Instead, the hotel is hosting Murder at the Virginian this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Mumford said the company’s sales manager has created an immersive murder mystery event.
Jet Hospitality doesn’t market the Virginian as a “haunted hotel.” However, Mumford said in the future, he may consider focusing more heavily on the paranormal aspects of the historic inn. Meanwhile, Mumford encouraged visitors to explore the hotel and admire its preserved rooms and century-old antiques.
