These 6 Urban Legends In Wyoming Will Keep You Awake At Night (2024)

The Shoshone Indians believed that "little people," who were between 20 inches and three feet tall, existed and that they attacked the Native Americans with miniature bows and poisonous arrows. This is mostly believed to be a legend but a 14-inch mummy was discovered in the San Pedro Mountains in 1932 by two gold prospectors. When dynamite was used to blast the mountainside, a cave was discovered with a 6.5-inch mummy. Anthropologists determined that the mummy was a 65-year-old adult. Is this legend or reality? What do you think of this Wyoming myth?

Legend has it that a "Ship of Death" appears from a thick mist and sails upon the Platte River. Apparently, the ship and crew are covered with frost. The ship is said to foreshadow the death of someone on the same day the ship is seen. In fact, the person's corpse is apparently seen on the deck of the ship. You can read more about the Wyoming folklore of The Death Ship...if you dare!

The Jackalope is said to be a rabbit with antlers. Allegedly, there are occasional sightings of this extinct animal in Wyoming that is extremely fast, can mimic human sounds, and can be very vicious. While these creatures may be just Wyoming folklore, enough people certainly believe they are real.

George Parrot was an outlaw, known for his big nose. He was a robber, a horse thief, and a murderer. All of that soon caught up with him and resulted in him being jailed and later hanged. Big Nose George's skin, according to Wyoming urban legend, was used to make a pair of shoes. He is the only man to become a pair of shoes after his death. Creepy!

Legend has it that some girls were out playing and several giant bears started chasing them. The girls climbed a rock and began to pray for help. The Great Spirit then made the rock grow towards the heavens so the bears could not get to the girls. The bears clawed at the rock leaving claw marks along the sides causing the cracks you see today on the monument. You can read more about the fascinating Wyoming urban legend of the Devils Tower.

Wyoming urban legend has it that when Fort Laramie was a trading post, the person in charge brought his daughter along with him. While at the post, the daughter slipped away on her horse while her father wasn't looking. The horse and its young rider completely vanished. Years later, the legend grew among the Native Americans and traders that her ghost appears every seven years to ride along the old trail at Fort Laramie.