Glacier Park ghost stories collected in new book

Montana author and paranormal investigator Karen Stevens has put together a collection of spooky stories from Glacier National Park in her new book, “Glacier Ghost Stories.”

Stevens has collected ghost stories for 30 years. Some of them appeared in her two books “Haunted Montana” (2007) and “More Haunted Montana” (2010). She said she withheld stories from Glacier Park for a later book.

Her new book covers ghosts and poltergeists at Sperry Chalet, Marias Pass, Chief Mountain, the Belly River, Waterton and Lake McDonald Lodge.

Sometimes the smell of a wet dog is from a bear, sometimes from a poltergeist. And at least one ghostly image is said to be that of Louis Hill, son of Great Northern Railway founder James J. Hill.

Stevens traveled from her home in Billings to the Apgar Village Inn to see firsthand Rooms 66 and 67, which were reportedly haunted. While no historical records of anyone dying in those rooms could be found, maintenance workers and housekeeping staff had some stories to tell.

At Lake McDonald Lodge, an apparition spooked a security man and a night auditor during the summer of 2008. There were also reports of loud arguments from empty balconies. Tools went missing, and a night clerk felt fingers running through her hair.

Stevens also writes about the “many” ghosts at the Many Glacier Hotel. Built in 1915, the hotel suffers from a lot of creaks and groans despite the millions recently spent upgrading the building. But there have been reports of a ghostly woman in a red dress and noisy parties in Room 308 when the room was vacant.

Locals will recognize a few people in Stevens’ book, including former Hungry Horse News saleswoman Noreen Hanson. She recalled a guest at the Belton Chalet claiming to see a young girl mysteriously appear in the shower. The man and his wife quickly checked out.

“Glacier Ghost Stories” is published by Riverbend Publishing. The softcover book retails for $9.95 and is available at local bookstores and online at www.riverbendpublishing.com.