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~Haunted Montana Island~

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If you would like to see a gridmap of locations, Click Here For pop-up window. The Montana Island Lodge (Formally known as The Center At Salmon Lake) is located SouthEast of Missoula on Highway 83 (7 miles south of Seeley Lake) It's purpose is for corporate meetings, organization retreats, weddings, family reunions or Large gatherings. It is owned by the Unversity of Montana and privately operated through MU employees.

The Montana Island Lodge The Lodge For Illistration Purpose Only -©MU

In posting, I have gathered some legends and facts to give all of you a view of a "Haunt" most don't know about or ever heard of. Because my Sister is the Main Cook at the Lodge and most of my nieces and nephews from that area, also work there... We were able to secure the facility for a family reunion. For Now -My Meager story is interesting and can justify a haunting! A brief "Past to Present" History was that there was an old prospector who lived in the Cabin (Still Standing, but not the original) behind the Lodge who used the lake and island for mining. In the latter years, Dr. Bruce Voyhauer, whose last name is actually Vorhauer -A scientist, entrepreneur, and U.S. Senate candidate from Montana in 1989, best known as the inventor of the popular birth control device, The Today Sponge. bought the island and built this Large home for himself. Only access to the island is by helicoper or boat from the launch where the office is. Because of financial troubles, Dr. Voyhauer committed suicide on the hill over looking his home, (See last Picture below) on October 1, 1992 at age 50. He had left the Island and Home to a "Denny Washington" to whom it was rumored -Dr. Vorhauer owed money. For reasons unknown, Mr. Washington in turn, donated it to the University of Montana, Missoula for the purpose it's serving today. However... Back in the 1800's, Some Infamous figures such as Butch Cassidy and Sitting Bull (Who was a "Montana Flathead" Indian) -used Montana as Hide-outs. When things got a little hot for them, they traveled futher North for a reprieve from the law. With few people to bother them and easy access to Canada, this Northern State was an ideal place to hide. In the Early 1900's, SO DID Al Capone! His bootleg operation during American Prohibition, (1920-1933) took him out of his home base of Chicago and often he headed to a town in Saskatchewan called Moose Jaw. Easily connected to Chicago by rail, Capone would run imported and locally distilled booze through Minneapolis to his home base, and would allegedly come up by train himself to check on the operations. The majority of activity occurred underground in a series of secret tunnels that were only recently acknowledged by the city. When rumor of his dealings and presence became known, he would head to a "Small Island" in Montana. Yes... This is One of the unknown Hide-outs of the Infamous Al Capone and his mobsters!

Now here is where my Story comes in. During my visit in Late September 2002, I was able to do alot of relaxing and thinking. This is a beautiful location and very peaceful and quiet! (No wonder Capone hid here) Supper was over and dishes were done.

For Illistration Purpose Only -©MU

At the southwest Corner of the Lodge is a Hot Tub for it's visitors. What a way to end the day. I wandered away to be alone and Listen to the night. Climbing into my large relaxation, I sat. I could hear the "Chill" of the autumn night, the owls and the sounds of the lake. Have you ever got that feeling that you were being watched? Okay, I'd been discovered, the others found me. I looked up to the balcony of the Suite just to my right. There he was... A man staring right at me -hanging from a length of rope with a noose around his neck. The rope was slightly swaying and the look in those eyes was almost evil. I have to be honest about a couple of things, first... I didn't really pay much attention to his clothing because I was focused so much on the eyes and he was wearing what seemed to be a Cowboy Hat. Second, Although I love Seeing a ghost, I don't think anyone likes "seeing" a ghost. I think I set a record for fastest out of a Hot Tub!

Could there have been a tree in that spot where a Capone Betrayal" took place? Maybe the Old prospector was killed for his Gold! Although there has never been a Reported Murder or Suicide on the island... With Capone using this as a hideout, the likelyhood of this taking place was probable. There are many other legends of Capone's Island Hide-out that without "Fact" -I cannot disclose at this time... I now live at this location and this fall -will be doing some more investigating with hopefully some more interesting Photos... So will keep you updated! THIS COULD GET INTERESTING!

The top of this Hill Behind the Lodge in this Photo is where Dr. Vorhauer committed Suicide in his Car. The Hot Tub is the large reddish object to the left of the picture. The Tub and The Lodge are beautifully Lite at night. My Lynched Man is placed exactly where I saw him. Graphic for Illistration Only -©MU

If you have any questions or comments, please Let me Know!
If you wish to visit this Lodge, you may use the contact information on the Lodge's Main Page!

UPDATE...9/9/04
My Husband is Head of Maintanance for the Lodge. During a recent afternoon of "Making the Rounds" he wasn't alone... Even though he was the only LIVE Person on the island!! If you'll notice the large windows over my "Hanging Man" in the picture above, that is the Main Suite of the Lodge. It is almost like a master bed room but equiped like a small apartment with 2 bathrooms. He had just made sure all the lights were off in that room, closed the drapes -securing that room. When he went out to check the hot tub below, a sound caught his attention coming from the room he had just secured. When he looked up, he saw that not only were the drapes wide open, but the sliding door was open and the lights back on!
He went back up to the room... Told our Local haunt to knock it off for the day... SECURED THE ROOM AGAIN... and left the Island!! This wasn't the first time for our prankster... Whose Ghost was it??

UPDATE...7/15/05
Because of weather and Visiting Groups, I have not been able to visit the lodge for another "Ghost Hunt"
but when I do, I will post it here.
Here is a current pic of me on Memorial Day, 2005 cruising the lake by the Lodge!
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