In past years, we've covered a few of the low-hanging fruit when it comes to Jackson Hole's haunted past—the Wort hotel, for instance, rumored to be haunted by the handyman Bob Tomingas (fun story!) or the murdered McAuliffe sisters (not-so-fun story!). And while a good haunted house is always good for a scare or two, we're just dying to explore another ghostly setting: the many cemeteries of Jackson Hole.
Aspen Hill Cemetery
Nestled on the lower slopes of Snow King Mountain, Aspen Hill Cemetery is Jackson’s historic public cemetery. Burials occurred here before the town formally established the cemetery in 1920, and some of Jackson Hole’s notable early residents rest here, such as Stephen Leek, an early settler and photographer. There are no documented sightings of his ghost, but if you see him, be sure to thank him for us. After all, he contributed to the conservation movement that led to the National Elk Refuge.
South Park Cemetery
South Park Cemetery began after two children of early settlers Sylvester and Mary Wilson died during a diphtheria outbreak in 1891. (Diphtheria—not to be confused with everyone's favorite Oregon Trail malady, dysentery—is a bacterial infection that can close off the airways, causing major breathing difficulties. These days, regular childhood vaccines keep it at bay.) Today, more than 230 people are buried here, including generations of the Wilson family, all enjoying a spectacular view of the Tetons. Honestly, there are worse places to spend eternity.
Elliott Cemetery
Near Wilson is Elliott Cemetery, where several of the next diphtheria outbreak's victims are buried. In 1902, homesteader John Elliott lost his two young sons, Clark and James, to diphtheria and buried them behind the family homestead. (But hey, he got the cemetery named after him, so—you know—glass half full.) Local historical accounts suggest Pony Express riders and outlaws may also have been buried nearby, but in this case the "may" does a lot of work, since the first thing you think of when someone says "Old West" probably isn't the period's meticulous record-keeping.
Kelly Cemetery
The tiny community of Kelly provides another tragic historical story. In 1925, a massive landslide dammed the Gros Ventre River. This natural dam soon failed, sending floodwaters through Kelly, destroying every structure except for the school and the church and killing six people. (This was practically half the town, so it never really recovered. These days, Kelly has a population of about 130.) Several of the flood's victims were buried in Kelly Cemetery. The cemetery requires permission to access because the route crosses private property, so if you're ghost-hunting, you might want to go through the Jackson Hole Historical Society instead.
Granite Ridge Cemetery
Near Teton Village is the little-known Granite Ridge Cemetery, which also seems connected to the 1902 diphtheria outbreak. As many as three dozen people may be buried there, but it's hard to tell because some graves have stones, others were marked with wood, and some no longer have visible markers. Granite Ridge is private with restricted access, so don’t turn your ghost hunt into a trespassing charge.
Allen Cemetery
Near the old Moran townsite, this cemetery originated when Charles and Maria Allen, who settled here in 1896, buried friends and family on a small portion of their ranch. Even after they sold the surrounding property, they kept the cemetery, probably because they didn't want to go through the trouble of digging everybody up and moving them to their new place.
The Graves Jackson Hole Forgot
Perhaps the eeriest part isn’t a ghost story at all. Historians have documented small family cemeteries and individual graves scattered across old Jackson Hole homesteads and ranches. Over the decades, wooden markers disappeared, properties changed hands, and some burial locations faded from memory.
Today, visitors often drive through one of America’s most photographed landscapes without realizing how much history lies beneath it. So whether you're wandering historic buildings with an EMF detector, quietly seeking glimpses of Jackson's past through its cemeteries, or visiting town for a totally non-ghostly reason, you'll need a home base. Make sure to stay with us at Flat Creek Inn. Book your stay today.
Photo of South Park Cemetery from the Jackson Hole Historical Society, by Samantha Ford
