Legends are folklore that has been passed down, usually orally, through many generations. The stories are fun and intriguing but at the same time, they leave you wondering if there could be just a little bit of truth to them. Some of these legends in Wyoming will keep you awake at night wondering this very thing. Here are five Wyoming urban legends that will keep you awake at night.

  1. San Pedro Mountain Mummy And The “Little People”

By Unknown(Life time: 1936) - Original publication: 1936Immediate source: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ARvWQv9MHSM/TynRXorPVaI/AAAAAAAAA_c/A9DFi0NKvaY/s1600/untitledfg.bmp, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25449683 The Shoshone Indians believed that “little people,” who were between 20 inches and three feet tall, existed and that they attacked the Native Americans with miniature bows and poisonous arrows. This is mostly believed to be a legend but a 14-inch mummy was discovered in the San Pedro Mountains in 1932 by two gold prospectors. When dynamite was used to blast the mountainside, a cave was discovered with a 6.5-inch mummy. Anthropologists determined that the mummy was a 65-year-old adult. Is this legend or reality? What do you think of this Wyoming myth?

  1. The Death Ship of the Platte River

Flickr/UnShuttered Soul~ Good to be busy! Legend has it that a “Ship of Death” appears from a thick mist and sails upon the Platte River. Apparently, the ship and crew are covered with frost. The ship is said to foreshadow the death of someone on the same day the ship is seen. In fact, the person’s corpse is apparently seen on the deck of the ship. You can read more about the Wyoming folklore of The Death Ship…if you dare!

  1. Jackalopes

Flickr/Alan Levine The Jackalope is said to be a rabbit with antlers. Allegedly, there are occasional sightings of this extinct animal in Wyoming that is extremely fast, can mimic human sounds, and can be very vicious. While these creatures may be just Wyoming folklore, enough people certainly believe they are real.

  1. Big Nose George Becomes A Pair Of Shoes

By Unknown - This is a retouched picture, which means that it has been digitally altered from its original version. Modifications: Some edits. The original can be found here.File:Bignosegeorgey.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8826434 George Parrot was an outlaw, known for his big nose. He was a robber, a horse thief, and a murderer. All of that soon caught up with him and resulted in him being jailed and later hanged. Big Nose George’s skin, according to Wyoming urban legend, was used to make a pair of shoes. He is the only man to become a pair of shoes after his death. Creepy!

  1. The Legend of Devils Tower

Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=615805 Legend has it that some girls were out playing and several giant bears started chasing them. The girls climbed a rock and began to pray for help. The Great Spirit then made the rock grow towards the heavens so the bears could not get to the girls. The bears clawed at the rock leaving claw marks along the sides causing the cracks you see today on the monument. You can read more about the fascinating Wyoming urban legend of the Devils Tower. Devils Tower, WY 82714, USA

  1. The Lady In Green

Flickr/Ken Lund Wyoming urban legend has it that when Fort Laramie was a trading post, the person in charge brought his daughter along with him. While at the post, the daughter slipped away on her horse while her father wasn’t looking. The horse and its young rider completely vanished. Years later, the legend grew among the Native Americans and traders that her ghost appears every seven years to ride along the old trail at Fort Laramie.

Do you know of any other Wyoming urban legends? Have you heard of these urban legends before? Let us know in the comments! And if you love creepy places, check out these creepy ghost towns in Wyoming.

By Unknown(Life time: 1936) - Original publication: 1936Immediate source: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ARvWQv9MHSM/TynRXorPVaI/AAAAAAAAA_c/A9DFi0NKvaY/s1600/untitledfg.bmp, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25449683

The Shoshone Indians believed that “little people,” who were between 20 inches and three feet tall, existed and that they attacked the Native Americans with miniature bows and poisonous arrows. This is mostly believed to be a legend but a 14-inch mummy was discovered in the San Pedro Mountains in 1932 by two gold prospectors. When dynamite was used to blast the mountainside, a cave was discovered with a 6.5-inch mummy. Anthropologists determined that the mummy was a 65-year-old adult. Is this legend or reality? What do you think of this Wyoming myth?

Flickr/UnShuttered Soul~ Good to be busy!

Legend has it that a “Ship of Death” appears from a thick mist and sails upon the Platte River. Apparently, the ship and crew are covered with frost. The ship is said to foreshadow the death of someone on the same day the ship is seen. In fact, the person’s corpse is apparently seen on the deck of the ship. You can read more about the Wyoming folklore of The Death Ship…if you dare!

Flickr/Alan Levine

The Jackalope is said to be a rabbit with antlers. Allegedly, there are occasional sightings of this extinct animal in Wyoming that is extremely fast, can mimic human sounds, and can be very vicious. While these creatures may be just Wyoming folklore, enough people certainly believe they are real.

By Unknown - This is a retouched picture, which means that it has been digitally altered from its original version. Modifications: Some edits. The original can be found here.File:Bignosegeorgey.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8826434

George Parrot was an outlaw, known for his big nose. He was a robber, a horse thief, and a murderer. All of that soon caught up with him and resulted in him being jailed and later hanged. Big Nose George’s skin, according to Wyoming urban legend, was used to make a pair of shoes. He is the only man to become a pair of shoes after his death. Creepy!

Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=615805

Legend has it that some girls were out playing and several giant bears started chasing them. The girls climbed a rock and began to pray for help. The Great Spirit then made the rock grow towards the heavens so the bears could not get to the girls. The bears clawed at the rock leaving claw marks along the sides causing the cracks you see today on the monument. You can read more about the fascinating Wyoming urban legend of the Devils Tower.

Devils Tower, WY 82714, USA

Flickr/Ken Lund

Wyoming urban legend has it that when Fort Laramie was a trading post, the person in charge brought his daughter along with him. While at the post, the daughter slipped away on her horse while her father wasn’t looking. The horse and its young rider completely vanished. Years later, the legend grew among the Native Americans and traders that her ghost appears every seven years to ride along the old trail at Fort Laramie.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Wyoming Urban Legends June 29, 2022 Melissa M. Are there any ghost towns in Wyoming? Some towns were once occupied and thriving with activity. Due to certain circumstances, residents left and the towns were left abandoned. You can visit several ghost towns around Wyoming like South Pass City, which was once a gold-mining town. Some of the original buildings are still standing and there are just a few residents now, but for the most part, it is considered a ghost town. Piedmont was once a town that was a stop along the railroad tracks. However, when a tunnel was built and the trains stopped coming through town, it eventually became abandoned.  What are some of the most haunted places in Wyoming? There are plenty of spooky, haunted hotels in Wyoming that are steeped in history and folklore. Would you stay at a haunted hotel in Wyoming? You may also experience some paranormal activity in these cemeteries around the state. Are there any haunted road trips I can take in Wyoming? Yes! We have some haunted and scary road trips that will take you on a spooky adventure through the state. Take our Haunted Road Trip To The Scariest Places In Wyoming, starting at the historic Occidental Hotel and ending at the Wonder Bar which is closed. You may also want to take our Ghost Towns In Wyoming Road Trip as well. 

The OIYS Visitor Center

Wyoming Urban Legends

June 29, 2022

Melissa M.

Are there any ghost towns in Wyoming? Some towns were once occupied and thriving with activity. Due to certain circumstances, residents left and the towns were left abandoned. You can visit several ghost towns around Wyoming like South Pass City, which was once a gold-mining town. Some of the original buildings are still standing and there are just a few residents now, but for the most part, it is considered a ghost town. Piedmont was once a town that was a stop along the railroad tracks. However, when a tunnel was built and the trains stopped coming through town, it eventually became abandoned.  What are some of the most haunted places in Wyoming? There are plenty of spooky, haunted hotels in Wyoming that are steeped in history and folklore. Would you stay at a haunted hotel in Wyoming? You may also experience some paranormal activity in these cemeteries around the state. Are there any haunted road trips I can take in Wyoming? Yes! We have some haunted and scary road trips that will take you on a spooky adventure through the state. Take our Haunted Road Trip To The Scariest Places In Wyoming, starting at the historic Occidental Hotel and ending at the Wonder Bar which is closed. You may also want to take our Ghost Towns In Wyoming Road Trip as well. 

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

Some towns were once occupied and thriving with activity. Due to certain circumstances, residents left and the towns were left abandoned. You can visit several ghost towns around Wyoming like South Pass City, which was once a gold-mining town. Some of the original buildings are still standing and there are just a few residents now, but for the most part, it is considered a ghost town. Piedmont was once a town that was a stop along the railroad tracks. However, when a tunnel was built and the trains stopped coming through town, it eventually became abandoned. 

What are some of the most haunted places in Wyoming?

There are plenty of spooky, haunted hotels in Wyoming that are steeped in history and folklore. Would you stay at a haunted hotel in Wyoming? You may also experience some paranormal activity in these cemeteries around the state.

Are there any haunted road trips I can take in Wyoming?

Yes! We have some haunted and scary road trips that will take you on a spooky adventure through the state. Take our Haunted Road Trip To The Scariest Places In Wyoming, starting at the historic Occidental Hotel and ending at the Wonder Bar which is closed. You may also want to take our Ghost Towns In Wyoming Road Trip as well.