Ghost Stories & Haunted Places
Discover the haunted places and unexplained sightings in Sweetwater County
There’s nothing like a good ghost story. The story gets even better when you can visit the location of the mysterious or tragic occurrence. Imagine a place in the high-desert plains, surrounded by shadowy rock formations, ancient fossils and remnants of the old west. It’s the ideal setting for a scary tale or two. Don’t be afraid to peek into our intriguing past. Discover the haunted places and unexplained sightings in Sweetwater County.
Green River
The site of the Sweetwater County Library in Green River is brimming with spooky history. It was even featured in a book called “Ghosts on the Range: Eerie True Tales of Wyoming.” The library’s story begins in 1892, when Green River established its first cemetery. During the 1920s, the Civil Works Administration relocated the cemetery outside of the blooming township to Riverview Cemetery in a mass exhumation. Years later, a veterans’ housing unit was built on the site as soldiers were returning from World War II. In the following years, construction, landscaping and pipeline work unearthed forgotten human remains from the former cemetery site. The Sweetwater County Library is located at 300 N 1st East— the very same location. Since the early 1980s, abnormal occurrences have been reported. So many in fact, that a Ghost Log was created to record the unexplained happenings. The log is still available at the Circulation Desk and new chronicles are still being added to its pages.
See the Ghost Log and learn about the library’s mysteries on an eerie tour. The Sweetwater County Library is partnering with the Rock Springs Independent Paranormal group to present Ghost Walks.
Superior
Located about 20 minutes outside of Rock Springs and touted as a “living ghost town,” Superior has a violent and dangerous outlaw past. Nestled next to the Continental Divide and Horse Thief Canyon, the town was once a booming melting pot. War, coal mining collapse and flu took most of the residents by the 1950s. Superior’s original site is mostly rubble and abandoned mines, but there are still some unique sites you can visit in "new" Superior like Union Hall, once the largest union building west of the Mississippi, and the Superior Museum, which offers exhibits and artifacts from the town’s history.
Stansbury
Another mining camp turned flourishing town, Stansbury has a brief, but captivating past. Located 9 miles north of Rock Springs, Stansbury was established by Captain Howard Stansbury in 1944. Soon after, the town was producing enough coal to employ 1,000 miners and numerous businesses, modern housing, and community buildings. 11 years after the town’s founding, tragedy struck when a mine collapsed and killed many miners, leading to the mine’s closing in 1957. By the late 1950s, Stansbury was completely abandoned, leaving only the souls of tormented miners and foundations of the once thriving town.
Winton
Winton, Wyoming was established in 1910 by the Megeath Mining Company. In the 1920s, the town experienced the peak of its population at around 700 residents. Flu, pneumonia and mining deaths caused a swift reduction in the community’s residents over the next decade. After the blizzard of 1949, the mines were shut down and the town was deserted. The spookiest story surrounding Winton is the light that appears to follow investigators and hikers throughout the site.
Point of Rocks
Point of Rocks Stage Station was built in 1862 just outside of Superior, WY and connects to the Overland Trail. It stood for several years as a terminal for freight and stagecoach operations for the Union Pacific Railroad, travelers headed to South Pass City, and miners seeking gold in Sweetwater’s hills. Since the area was dominated by quarrels with Native inhabitants, the site served as a safe haven for traveling pioneers and others using the trail. Over the years, the vulnerable station managed to survive attacks, attempted arson, robberies, as well as battles with murderous outlaws and gunslingers like Jack Slade. In 1970, the station was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, you can visit the ruins just off I-80 and marvel at one of the only remaining intact stations on the Overland Trail.
Disclaimer: This is a true “off the grid experience” cell service is limited! Make sure you have extra water, and a high-clearance, 4 wheel-drive vehicle with thick tires (and a spare tire) to traverse the dirt roads. Let someone know where you are headed and when you plan to return.
Exploring Sweetwater’s spooky sites and stories can be a trip of its own. But why stop there? You can get in touch with the Old West while enjoying modern amenities throughout the county. After you learn about our ghostly tales, round out your trip by visiting our museums, taking a scenic drive or trying one of our many adventures. Exciting performances and events are continually updated, so make sure to check out our events calendar as well to plan your perfect stay.