There’s nothing like a good spooky story, especially when it went down in your own state. Urban legends are especially interesting because a lot of them contain a little bit of truth that has been widely exaggerated. Montana has a few of its own unique urban legends. How many of these stories are you familiar with? Here are some of our very favorite Montana urban legends:
- Airport Road Ghost Jogger
Paul Rosemeyer/Flickr Rumor has it that if you drive down airport road at night, you’ll see a spectral runner, or a “ghost jogger.” Some say it’s the spirit of a man who was hit by a truck while on a run, others chalk it up to steam rising off the pavement.
- The Moss Mansion Ghost
Carol M. Highsmith/Wikimedia This Billings mansion is rumored to be haunted by Virginia Moss, the daughter of the original owner, P.B. Moss. Virginia died of diphtheria at age five.
- The Flathead Lake Monster
Jocelyn Catterson/Flickr The Flathead Lake Monster is an animal that allegedly lives in Flathead Lake, possibly the same kind as the Loch Ness Monster. The first documented sighting was in 1889, and there have been many since.
- Sacrifice Cliff
edwardhblakeFlickr Legend has it that during a smallpox epidemic amongst the Crow tribe in the 19th century, two boys rode a white horse off a cliff to sacrifice themselves to save their tribe from the disease.
- Hitchhiker of Black Horse Lake
Kevin Dooley/Flickr If you drive on Highway 87 just above Great Falls on the way to Benton, beware. Drivers have reported a Native American man suddenly rolling onto their windshield as if he had just been hit by a car. When the drivers pull over and get out of the car, no one is there, and their cars are free from damage. Legend has it that it is the ghost of a hitchhiker who was hit by a car years ago.
- The Ghosts of Little Bighorn Battlefield
Jeff Myers/Flickr The Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1875 was a complete massacre of the 7th U.S. Cavalry. Sometimes people hear strange sounds when the visit the Battlefield Memorial. There have been reports of visitors hearing screams, yelling, gunshots and the sounds of horses. One theory is that this is a “recording” that is played back to those lucky enough to witness. So much energy was expended during the violent battle that it made an “impression” on the land, much like a tape recorder. The tape is played back under the right conditions.
What other urban legends have you heard about Montana? Tell us your favorites in the comments!
Paul Rosemeyer/Flickr
Rumor has it that if you drive down airport road at night, you’ll see a spectral runner, or a “ghost jogger.” Some say it’s the spirit of a man who was hit by a truck while on a run, others chalk it up to steam rising off the pavement.
Carol M. Highsmith/Wikimedia
This Billings mansion is rumored to be haunted by Virginia Moss, the daughter of the original owner, P.B. Moss. Virginia died of diphtheria at age five.
Jocelyn Catterson/Flickr
The Flathead Lake Monster is an animal that allegedly lives in Flathead Lake, possibly the same kind as the Loch Ness Monster. The first documented sighting was in 1889, and there have been many since.
edwardhblakeFlickr
Legend has it that during a smallpox epidemic amongst the Crow tribe in the 19th century, two boys rode a white horse off a cliff to sacrifice themselves to save their tribe from the disease.
Kevin Dooley/Flickr
If you drive on Highway 87 just above Great Falls on the way to Benton, beware. Drivers have reported a Native American man suddenly rolling onto their windshield as if he had just been hit by a car. When the drivers pull over and get out of the car, no one is there, and their cars are free from damage. Legend has it that it is the ghost of a hitchhiker who was hit by a car years ago.
Jeff Myers/Flickr
The Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1875 was a complete massacre of the 7th U.S. Cavalry. Sometimes people hear strange sounds when the visit the Battlefield Memorial. There have been reports of visitors hearing screams, yelling, gunshots and the sounds of horses. One theory is that this is a “recording” that is played back to those lucky enough to witness. So much energy was expended during the violent battle that it made an “impression” on the land, much like a tape recorder. The tape is played back under the right conditions.
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Montana Urban Legends June 03, 2022 Tori Jane What are some common stories in Montana folklore? There are LOTS of interesting, spooky, or otherwise fascinating stories in Montana folklore going back centuries. Long before European colonizers bled into the region in 1849, Montana was already populated with Native tribes who had plenty of cultural tales and lore, many of which tied directly into the land itself. One of our favorites is an age-old story from Montana is that of the Star People – people who arrived from the sky – and there are many ancient petroglyphs detailing the story. Modern ufologists would argue that this is proof that alien civilizations visited earth before – namely, Montana. What kind of interesting old Montana legends exist? Now, outside the Star People, there are lots of other interesting Montana legends that are fun to tell and listen to. Head to Little Big Horn and try to catch a glimpse of General George Custer’s ghost roaming the area. It’s said that he – and his regiment – were all killed in battle here thanks to a miscalculation on Custer’s part. They were buried on the battlefield, right there, as well as the remains of more than 5,000 soldiers and civilians. It’s no surprise that it’s said to be haunted. Then, there’s the tale of Sacrifice Cliff, where two young Crow men are said to have committed suicide after returning home to discover their entire tribe had been wiped out by smallpox. They say their spirits linger there today, and they are commonly spotted riding horses in the area. Are there any reports of mythical creatures in Montana? But of course! Ask any local about the monster of Flathead Lake, which is a gigantic body of water that’s up to 400 feet deep in some places, and they’ll tell you of the spooky, Nessie-like creature spotted intermittently in the lake since the first sightings in 1889. In 1993 alone, there were more than a dozen reports of monster sightings. Interestingly, even the earliest reports reflected a creature similar to the “lake monsters” reported all over the world – even despite not knowing about other cultures’ names or descriptions of their own lake creatures. Things that make you go hmmm…
The OIYS Visitor Center
Montana Urban Legends
June 03, 2022
Tori Jane
What are some common stories in Montana folklore? There are LOTS of interesting, spooky, or otherwise fascinating stories in Montana folklore going back centuries. Long before European colonizers bled into the region in 1849, Montana was already populated with Native tribes who had plenty of cultural tales and lore, many of which tied directly into the land itself. One of our favorites is an age-old story from Montana is that of the Star People – people who arrived from the sky – and there are many ancient petroglyphs detailing the story. Modern ufologists would argue that this is proof that alien civilizations visited earth before – namely, Montana. What kind of interesting old Montana legends exist? Now, outside the Star People, there are lots of other interesting Montana legends that are fun to tell and listen to. Head to Little Big Horn and try to catch a glimpse of General George Custer’s ghost roaming the area. It’s said that he – and his regiment – were all killed in battle here thanks to a miscalculation on Custer’s part. They were buried on the battlefield, right there, as well as the remains of more than 5,000 soldiers and civilians. It’s no surprise that it’s said to be haunted. Then, there’s the tale of Sacrifice Cliff, where two young Crow men are said to have committed suicide after returning home to discover their entire tribe had been wiped out by smallpox. They say their spirits linger there today, and they are commonly spotted riding horses in the area. Are there any reports of mythical creatures in Montana? But of course! Ask any local about the monster of Flathead Lake, which is a gigantic body of water that’s up to 400 feet deep in some places, and they’ll tell you of the spooky, Nessie-like creature spotted intermittently in the lake since the first sightings in 1889. In 1993 alone, there were more than a dozen reports of monster sightings. Interestingly, even the earliest reports reflected a creature similar to the “lake monsters” reported all over the world – even despite not knowing about other cultures’ names or descriptions of their own lake creatures. Things that make you go hmmm…
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
There are LOTS of interesting, spooky, or otherwise fascinating stories in Montana folklore going back centuries. Long before European colonizers bled into the region in 1849, Montana was already populated with Native tribes who had plenty of cultural tales and lore, many of which tied directly into the land itself. One of our favorites is an age-old story from Montana is that of the Star People – people who arrived from the sky – and there are many ancient petroglyphs detailing the story. Modern ufologists would argue that this is proof that alien civilizations visited earth before – namely, Montana.
What kind of interesting old Montana legends exist?
Now, outside the Star People, there are lots of other interesting Montana legends that are fun to tell and listen to. Head to Little Big Horn and try to catch a glimpse of General George Custer’s ghost roaming the area. It’s said that he – and his regiment – were all killed in battle here thanks to a miscalculation on Custer’s part. They were buried on the battlefield, right there, as well as the remains of more than 5,000 soldiers and civilians. It’s no surprise that it’s said to be haunted. Then, there’s the tale of Sacrifice Cliff, where two young Crow men are said to have committed suicide after returning home to discover their entire tribe had been wiped out by smallpox. They say their spirits linger there today, and they are commonly spotted riding horses in the area.
Are there any reports of mythical creatures in Montana?
But of course! Ask any local about the monster of Flathead Lake, which is a gigantic body of water that’s up to 400 feet deep in some places, and they’ll tell you of the spooky, Nessie-like creature spotted intermittently in the lake since the first sightings in 1889. In 1993 alone, there were more than a dozen reports of monster sightings. Interestingly, even the earliest reports reflected a creature similar to the “lake monsters” reported all over the world – even despite not knowing about other cultures’ names or descriptions of their own lake creatures. Things that make you go hmmm…
