The Pollard Hotel is in the heart of downtown Red Lodge, Montana. The historic building still operates as a bed and breakfast today, and the ambience of the place makes it easy to imagine what it was like for guests who stayed here over a century ago. The Pollard was constructed in 1893 and was Red Lodge’s first brick building. It was originally named the Spofford Hotel, and the expansive building is said to have cost $20,000 to build. In 1902, the hotel was purchased by Thomas Pollard, who renamed it and expanded the hotel’s offerings, which included sleeping rooms, a dining room, a bar lounge, and even a bowling alley and barbershop. The accommodations made it the perfect stopping point for a variety of characters from the wild west, including Buffalo Bill Cody and Calamity Jane, who were known to frequent the location.
The Haunted Third Floor
Most of the reported hauntings that occur at the Pollard circulate around the third floor, especially rooms 309-312. People have reported feeling unusual, odd, dizzy, and lightheaded on this upper floor, and the light in room 310 is known to mysteriously turn itself on repeatedly. The basement is also notorious for making people feel particularly unwelcome.
The Woman in the Yellow Dress
One of the most common reports from the Pollard center on a spectral woman who is often seen wandering the hallways. She is usually reported to be wearing a yellow dress, and people who claim to have seen her also report being able to smell the lingering scent of her perfume.
The Prankster and the Ghost Monkey
Both guests and employees have reported other ghosts in residence at the Pollard, both male and female. There are many reports of a prankster spirit who enjoys playing tricks on people. This spirit is usually spotted in the bar and is reported to be dressed in 1920s style clothing. There are even stories about a ghostly monkey who may have been a pet of the Pollard children that escaped during the renovation and wound up stuck in the wall. Supposedly he left little handprints on the front door glass that a housekeeper had to continuously clean, and there were no children around to blame for it.
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