The Pollard Hotel
Located in the former Montana mining town of Red Lodge, the Pollard Hotel once attracted many of the well known including Buffalo Bill Cody, General Miles, Frederic Remington and Calamity Jane. Built in 1893, this building was the first to be made of brick in the town. Dubbed the Spofford Hotel, it sat between the train depot and the residential portion of Red Lodge. In 1897, a hotel full of guests witnessed the Sundance Kid, Harry Longbaugh, rob the bank on the corner of the building with gun in hand. He was caught but later escaped. Ever since then, guns have been banned from the property.
The Pollard family bought the 35-room hotel in 1902 renaming it the Pollard Hotel and built an additional 25 rooms. There was a spacious lobby, dining room, bar room with card and billiard tables, well-equipped kitchen and a laundry room, with bowling alley and barbershop in the basement. A year after Thomas Pollard purchased the building, the hotel acquired a telephone. Their number was "1" given to them after someone high up was arrested and bailed out discreetly. In 1946, the Pollard was sold. Like so many other hotels, the business went through several name changes until 1991 when the Hotel Company of Red Lodge purchased it. The building went through extensive renovations, transforming it in to the warm beauty it is today.
Many guests visit for the ambiance, history and perhaps to witness resident ghosts. A woman in a yellow dress is often seen on the third floor. Some believe this part of the building contains the bulk of the activity. Witnesses have reported smelling French perfume on the second floor. Those who enter Room 310 often find the light turned on. You can turn it off and leave for a number of minutes but will often return to it being on again. Staff members have reported feeling dizzy and uneasy in Room 312. Some have heard unexplained noises in the basement (there are stories of the Pollard children having a monkey as a pet which allegedly found itself entombed somewhere in this room).
The Pollard family bought the 35-room hotel in 1902 renaming it the Pollard Hotel and built an additional 25 rooms. There was a spacious lobby, dining room, bar room with card and billiard tables, well-equipped kitchen and a laundry room, with bowling alley and barbershop in the basement. A year after Thomas Pollard purchased the building, the hotel acquired a telephone. Their number was "1" given to them after someone high up was arrested and bailed out discreetly. In 1946, the Pollard was sold. Like so many other hotels, the business went through several name changes until 1991 when the Hotel Company of Red Lodge purchased it. The building went through extensive renovations, transforming it in to the warm beauty it is today.
Many guests visit for the ambiance, history and perhaps to witness resident ghosts. A woman in a yellow dress is often seen on the third floor. Some believe this part of the building contains the bulk of the activity. Witnesses have reported smelling French perfume on the second floor. Those who enter Room 310 often find the light turned on. You can turn it off and leave for a number of minutes but will often return to it being on again. Staff members have reported feeling dizzy and uneasy in Room 312. Some have heard unexplained noises in the basement (there are stories of the Pollard children having a monkey as a pet which allegedly found itself entombed somewhere in this room).
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Today's guest blogger is Rose Cooper!