Ghosts of the West: Deadwood’s Haunted Hotel
Deadwood’s Bullock Hotel Is A Hotbed of Paranormal Activity
Gold Rush
When Seth Bullock arrived in Deadwood, South Dakota, in August 1876, the Black Hills Gold Rush was already in full swing. It had begun in the summer of 1874 when gold was discovered in nearby French Creek, and really kicked into gear when a small group of prospectors discovered gold in the “Deadwood Gulch” in the fall of 1875. By spring 1876, there were already seven mining camps operating in Deadwood Gulch.
However, Bullock had not come to Deadwood to prospect for gold; rather, he and his business partner, Sol Star, were relocating their hardware business from Montana to the newly formed Deadwood mining camp. Seizing an opportunity to expand their business within the rapidly growing camp, the pair soon opened a thriving hardware store on Main Street.
The store was successful, and fortunately for Bullock and Star, it managed to survive the 1879 fire that ripped through Deadwood. Bullock continued to operate the business while simultaneously serving as the Sheriff of Lawrence County as well as the Sheriff of the provincial government that would come to be known as South Dakota.
Likely due in part to his tall stature and no-nonsense demeanor, he was feared and respected by the local criminal element and never had to kill a man while serving as Sheriff.
Captain Bullock
Once law and order had been established in Deadwood, Bullock sent for his wife and daughter to join him in the camp. The couple became pillars of the community. In 1884, Bullock met future U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, who at the time was a Deputy Sheriff from North Dakota.
The two would become lifelong friends, and Bullock would volunteer in Roosevelt’s Rough Riders outfit when the Spanish-American War broke out. Bullock would earn the rank of Captain; however, the war would end before Bullock’s unit saw combat.
In 1894, a second fire would devastate Deadwood, destroying all of Bullock’s hardware store except for the brick warehouse at the rear of the building. Rather than rebuild the store, Bullock and Star decided instead to build a first-class hotel on the site of the store and warehouse.
Haunted Hotel
When the hotel was completed in 1896, it featured such amenities as a restaurant capable of seating 100 people, a large lobby with red velvet carpeting, a Steinway grand piano, oak trim, and a large upstairs with 63 guest rooms. It was the finest hotel in the area, with each room furnished with oak dressers, brass bed frames, and a bathroom on each floor.
Seth Bullock died on September 23, 1919, and was buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery along with former Deadwood residents Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane.
The Bullock Hotel is still in operation today, and many claim that the ghost of Seth Bullock still resides there. From employees to guests, numerous people have claimed to see the apparition of a tall man with a mustache dressed in Western gear and a cowboy hat.
One of the most frequent claims is that the ghost will make its presence felt if an employee seems to be idling or taking a break. There is also a story of Bullock’s ghost helping a lost child find his way back to his parents’ room.
Numerous guests have reported seeing and hearing paranormal activity. From hearing voices, whispers, and whistling, to seeing barstools move by themselves and plates and glasses thrown from the counter by an unseen force.
There have also been many reports of people seeing the spirit of a young girl roaming the halls of the hotel. The paranormal activity is so pronounced that there is a scrapbook on the front desk for guests to record any strange experiences they may have seen or heard.
Several ghost hunters and paranormal investigation groups have visited the hotel, and they have all picked up or recorded some activity. From EVP to audio recordings, many ghost hunters have found what they were looking for at the Bullock Hotel.
Sources:
“Historic Preservation Office.” City of Deadwood, https://www.cityofdeadwood.com/historic-preservation/page/national-historic-landmark
Carr, Julie. “Deadwood, South Dakota Bullock Hotel.” Haunted Houses, http://hauntedhouses.com/south-dakota/bullock-hotel/
Alexander, Kathy. “Haunted Bullock Hotel in Deadwood.” Legends of America, December 2021, https://www.legendsofamerica.com/sd-bullockhotel/
Alexander, Kathy. “Seth Bullock - Finest Type of Frontiersman.” Legends of America, November 2022, https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-sethbullock/
Kaus, Austin. “Haunted Deadwood: A Wilder West Experience.” Travel South Dakota, https://www.travelsouthdakota.com/trip-ideas/haunted-deadwood-wilder-west-experience