M.A. Kleen

The ghost of famed Western lawman Seth Bullock is believed to wander the halls of this historic hotel.

• The Bullock Hotel was originally built by Seth Bullock between 1894 and 1896.
• A mysterious “tall man” matching Bullock’s description has been seen strolling down the hall on several occasions.
• Seth’s Cellar Restaurant, located in the basement of the Bullock Hotel, is supposed to be one of the most haunted areas of the hotel.

The historic Bullock Hotel, located at 633 Main Street in Deadwood, South Dakota, is considered one of the most famous haunted hotels in the United States. In 1992, it was featured on the television program Unsolved Mysteries. The hotel is said to be haunted by none other than its namesake, Seth Bullock, Deadwood’s first sheriff, along with several other lingering spirits.

A friend and I recently stayed at the Bullock Hotel during a trip through South Dakota. Although we did not experience anything unusual, we learned a great deal about the history of this remarkable place.

Driving into Deadwood at night, past brick streets and softly glowing lamps, it is easy to feel transported back in time. Seth Bullock originally built the hotel between 1894 and 1896, and it featured 60 luxury rooms. In 1976, the Ayres family purchased the building and converted it into a hardware store.

Unfortunately, they auctioned off the hotel’s antique furnishings. Fifteen years later, Bullock Properties purchased the building, began converting it back into a hotel, and attempted to restore its former glory.

Seth Bullock is the most famous spirit said to haunt the hotel. According to legend, Bullock died in Room 211 in 1919, but in fact, he died at his home at 28 Van Buren Street in Deadwood. Perhaps he returned to watch over his beloved hotel and make sure the indignity of 1976 is never repeated.

Whether it is the scent of his cigar, the sound of his boots in the hallway, or his image glimpsed in a mirror, many hotel guests have reported feeling his presence. A mysterious “tall man” matching Bullock’s description has been seen strolling down the hall on several occasions.

Some encounters are frightening. A woman staying in Room 313 reportedly awoke during the night to find a cowboy standing at the foot of her bed. She fled the room and was so shaken that hotel staff had to retrieve her belongings.

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Hey, Sleuthhounds!

Recreate foods, drinks, or music from 1890s Deadwood while discussing frontier life, gambling halls, mining culture, and the Bullock Hotel’s history.

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Other encounters are more helpful. In one story, a child became lost in the hotel and was returned to his room by a mysterious stranger. When he and his family later passed Seth Bullock’s portrait, he exclaimed, “That’s the man who helped me find my way back to our room!”

Seth’s Cellar Restaurant, located in the basement of the Bullock Hotel, is said to be one of its most haunted areas. According to authors Chad Lewis and Terry Fisk, restaurant staff have heard the piano play an old ragtime tune without the aid of human hands. Glasses, dishes, and other items reportedly fall or are tossed through the air without explanation.

On one occasion, a decoration on a wedding cake repeatedly fell off despite being carefully placed back in position each time. As this was happening, guests reportedly heard the laughter of a young girl.

Next to Tombstone, Arizona, Deadwood remains one of the most legendary boom towns of the Old West. Because fire devastated the town in 1894 and destroyed most of its original buildings, the Bullock Hotel is about as close as one can come to standing in the same space once occupied by legendary figures like the hard-nosed lawman Seth Bullock.

If you are lucky, some say you might catch a glimpse of him late at night as you return to your room. At the very least, you may detect the lingering scent of his cigar.

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