10 Utah Historical Sites With a Terrifying Haunted Twist

The great state of Utah is known for its natural beauty, but there is also a great deal of history to be found.

The region has been inhabited by American Indians for about 10,000 years, and was only colonized by American settlers in 1847.

Since then, Utah has been an important center for the Church of Latter Day Saints (the Mormons).

Updated 2/11/2020 – In that relatively short time since modern settlement, the state has seen two wars, the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad, conflicts with the American Indian population, and more.

From the standpoint of the paranormal enthusiast, what this means is that while many of the sites and buildings haven’t been around for all that long in the grand scheme of things, they have had a very eventful time.

And as we all know, ghosts and spirits are attracted to… “events”.

Although many of the historical sites and buildings in Utah may only be 150 years old or less, the proportion of haunted locations is quite high.

Delving into the history of Utah can be very rewarding for those who seek a touch of the unknown.

Here are ten historical sites set in the splendor of Utah’s famously varied terrain.

They’re all haunted.

10 Haunted Historical Sites In Utah That Will Terrify You

Seven Wives Inn, St. George

Dating back to the 19^th century, what is now a quaint bed and breakfast was once a hiding spot for polygamists to avoid persecution from the law.

The Inn takes its name from that piece of history, and it also inherited a number of ghosts.

The rooms at the Seven Wives are each named after one of the eponymous wives of the original owner, and it seems they may still be lingering.

Guests at the Inn have often reported feelings of unease or “creepiness”, and objects have been known to move around on their own.

Lion House, Salt Lake City

As the residence of Brigham Young himself and the site of his death, it’s no surprise that Lion House is more than a bit haunted.

The home is a historical site, often used as a venue for weddings or other events, and stays quite active to this day.

Visitors, staff, and construction workers renovating the site have reported feelings of being watched, as well as inexplicable footsteps and other sounds.

All agree, though, that the home was always a happy one.

It is thought that those who once lived there are benign, and simply can’t bear to leave.

Peery Hotel, Salt Lake City

The beautiful Peery Hotel is located in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, and was built in 1910 to house miners working the nearby hills.

The establishment has been in near-continuous operation since its construction, and old hotels are always attractive to paranormal entities.

One of the elevators sometimes acts up a bit, moving from floor to floor by itself.

There’s nothing wrong with it, though.

It just sometimes acts like someone has pushed the call button, even when nobody is around.

The scent of perfume sometimes lingers in the air, and a strange tall man has been occasionally spotted.

He vanishes without a trace if approached.

A couple decided to get the best possible psychic reading they could after staying here, to see if they could get answers.

The psychic told them the spirit is stuck between worlds and longs to return home.

Alta Club, Salt Lake City

Established as an upscale gentlemen’s club in 1883, the Alta is home to several spirits.

Many, many years ago, a member of the club fell asleep with a lit cigar in his mouth.

The entire upper floor was set ablaze, and he met his untimely end.

His ghost wanders the lounge, perhaps a bit embarrassed.

Another entity inhabits the basement.

This one is also harmless, but has been known to tap visitors on the shoulder.

This particular ghost can be identified by the smell of lilac perfume, leading some to wonder if in life it was a woman.

Old Bountiful Museum, Bountiful

This very old building has served many purposes over the years.

It’s been everything from a mink farm to a mortuary, and is now a museum.

That’s perfect for a haunting, and haunted it is.

The spirits are very strong in the Old Bountiful Museum, and make themselves visible often.

Multiple visitors have spotted shadowy figures moving about the property, who do not respond to calls and vanish when approached.

Old Tooele Hospital, Tooele

Originally a private residence built in 1873, the Old Tooele Hospital has quite the collection of ghosts.

Strange shadows and mists, glowing orbs, and even a “spiritual portal” have been reported over the years.

Samuel F. Lee, the first owner of the property, leads the group.

He visibly appears on occasion, sometimes accompanied by his son Thomas.

The ghost of a former patient known only as Wes is also thought to be quite active here, and influences the structure in a number of ways.

Dove Creek Camp, Golden Spike

Formerly a camp for Chinese laborers working on the Transcontinental Railroad, Dove Creek Camp is now a historical site.

The workers were infamously mistreated, and all that suffering in such close proximity encourages a ghostly presence.

Visitors to the site have heard everything from footsteps, to voices speaking in Chinese, to a steam locomotive.

There hasn’t been a running train in the area in many, many years.

And certainly not a steam powered one.

Ben Lomond Suites, Ogden

A gruesome story surrounds rooms 1101 and 1102 in this swanky hotel, and it has a ghostly component.

During Prohibition in the early part of the 20^th century, a woman drowned in the tub in room 1102 on her wedding night.

Soon after, the poor bride’s son came to collect her things.

He stayed next door in room 1101, and took his own life.

Today, voices can be heard, the water runs by itself, and objects and even people have been poked and prodded by invisible forces.

Something dark lies in those rooms.

This writer’s feeling is that it predates the bride’s death, and was in fact the cause of it.

Cove Fort, Millard County

This army fort dating back to 1867 is home to several spirits.

Scenes of battle and violence are always attractive to those on the Other Side, and Cove Fort saw action on multiple occasions.

Voices and footsteps, as well as a clear sense of being watched, plague some visitors to the site.

It’s no mystery who these spirits may have been.

Soldiers who fell in battle, people who died of disease, people who lived and died within the fort’s walls.

The uncertainty of that time meant that many people passed on unexpectedly or with unfinished business, and those are the people most likely to linger on.

Compounding the issue is the museum now kept in the fort.

Many of the relics were brought from across the state, and have their own spirits attached.

McCune Mansion, Brigham Young University

The beautiful and enormous McCune house was built in 1901 and was donated to the University in 1920.

Until 1953, the structure was home to BYU’s School of Music, and according to a psychic, upon his visit, this is the era that left a strong psychic mark.

Visitors have reported hearing organ music coming from nowhere, as well as singing and laughter.

Cold spots are commonplace in McCune Mansion, and a ghostly man in a black cape appears around Christmastime each year.

It’s unknown who this man may be.

Perhaps he just wants to join in the seasonal cheer.

Final Thoughts

Every place has its skeletons in the closet, so to speak, and delving into the history of any land will yield ghostly fruit.

Utah, though, seems to have more than its share of stories.

There was a great deal of emotion and strife that came before and after the region’s entry into the Union.

From the construction of the railroad to the struggles of the Mormon Church, it seems that the spirits have a lot to tell us in the Beehive State.