FORT BENTON — Opened in 1882, the The Grand Union Hotel in Fort Benton is one of Montana’s longest continuously operating hotels. It is also believed to be one of the most haunted buildings in the state.

“I believe all my guests and employees when they tell me about their experiences,” says College Longin, owner of the Grand Union Hotel.

The “Haunted” Grand Union Hotel shines during Halloween

Perhaps the most famous ghost is the “Staircase Shooter”, the ghost of a drunken old cowboy who dared to climb the stairs on horseback. Before reaching the halfway point, he was shot by an armed guard.

Guests say they can hear the sound of hooves going up and down the stairs, as well as the sound of lively music coming from the nearby lounge.

“Right outside was the bloodiest block in the West. So I think sometimes we’re in our sleepy little town and we forget that this was a hub of a lot of activity,” says Longin.

In its early days, Fort Benton was one of the last bastions of civilization before the great western frontier. Thousands of people traveled through the city by boat on the Missouri River, and many of them would have stayed at the Grand Union. The neighboring main street has also been the scene of many documented fights.

Some guests report strange orb-like lights waking them from sleep and the presence of a female spirit in room 202.

Housekeepers have reported making beds only to return to find the shape of an imprint of a figure carved into the mattress.

Longin tells the story of one guest, saying, “(The guest) said he was up on the third floor walking down the hall and he felt something against his leg and he looked down and it was a little girl too. approached him and she was laughing. Then he ran down the hall and ran into the wall.”

The guest went on to explain that he never drinks or does drugs and was clear as day.

The hotel says the rumors have been good for business, with many guests specifically requesting rooms where the alleged sightings took place.

They plan to offer haunted room tours and hand out candy to trick-or-treaters.

If you’ve passed by the hotel this Halloween season, you’ve probably seen ghosts peering out the windows. These are tongue-in-cheek mannequins that the owner has placed to put them in the spirit.