Self-Guided Visit
Self-Guided Ranch Visit
Walk the grounds of a preserved open-range cattle ranch, with the visitor center, historic barns, ranch equipment, and trails. The National Park Service runs the site free of charge.
- Duration:
- 2 hr
Museum / Historical Site
Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site
A preserved 19th-century cattle ranch where rangers report a scent of lavender
266 Warren Ln, Deer Lodge, MT 59722
Wheelchair Accessible
Research-Backed · 3 sources
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Free admission; the site is operated by the National Park Service. Ranger-led tours of the historic ranch house are first-come, first-served.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Working historic ranch with a visitor center, ranch house, barns, and trails over open ground; some buildings have stairs
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1862 · Open-Range Cattle Era · Conrad Kohrs Cattle Operation · National Historic Site (authorized 1972)
The ranch began in 1862 when Canadian trader Johnny Grant settled in the Deer Lodge Valley and built a home and cattle herd. In August 1866, German-born Conrad Kohrs purchased the property for $19,200 and made it the headquarters of an open-range cattle empire. At its height the operation ran tens of thousands of head across grazing land spanning parts of several states and territories.
Kohrs, later called Montana's Cattle King, expanded the ranch house and weathered the catastrophic winter of 1886-1887 that wiped out many western herds. His wife, Augusta Kohrs, ran the household at the ranch for decades, and the home retains family furnishings tied to her time there. The family held the property well into the 20th century.
The ranch was authorized as Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site in 1972 to preserve the story of the open-range cattle era. The National Park Service operates it today as a living-history site, with original buildings, ranch equipment, and demonstrations of period ranch work. Admission is free.
Sources
- https://www.nps.gov/grko/index.htm
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant%E2%80%93Kohrs_Ranch_National_Historic_Site
- https://southwestmt.com/ghosts/ghost-stories/grant-kohrs-ranch/
Scent of lavenderSelf-triggering alarmDisembodied child's voiceHandprint on a mirror
The accounts at Grant-Kohrs come largely from the people who work the site. One frequently repeated story belongs to a longtime ranger who, after an exhausting stretch of shifts, sat on the stairs of the old ranch house feeling overwhelmed and noticed a strong scent of lavender, the same faint scent found in the drawers of Augusta Kohrs' dresser, which she described as calming.
Other reports gathered through regional storytelling include a security alarm that triggers with no cause, a child's voice heard in empty rooms, and an unexplained handprint that appeared on a mirror. A separate ranger account describes finding a normally padlocked door chained open one Halloween and hearing voices, like ranch hands, in a grain-storage area that turned out to be empty.
The ranch does not market itself as haunted; it is a National Park Service history site. The stories survive as staff and visitor anecdotes rather than promoted programming, which is part of why they are often retold without embellishment.
Notable Entities
Spirit associated with Augusta Kohrs
Plan Your Visit
2 ways to experience Guided Tour
Ranger-Led Ranch House Tour
A ranger-led tour of the historic Kohrs ranch house, which retains original family furnishings. Tours are first-come, first-served and limited in group size; check at the visitor center for the day's schedule.
- Duration:
- 45 min
Sources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
Similar Destinations
Museum / Historical Site
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
Charleston, SC
Magnolia Plantation was established in 1676 by Thomas and Ann Drayton, English settlers from Barbados, and remains under the control of the Drayton family after fifteen generations. The plantation's wealth derived from Carolina Gold rice cultivated by enslaved Africans. Magnolia opened its gardens to the public in 1871, making it one of the oldest public gardens in the United States.
$$ All Ages
Family: Moderate
.jpg)
Museum / Historical Site
Salem Tavern Museum
Winston-Salem, NC
The Salem Tavern was built in 1784 to serve travelers stopping in the Moravian settlement at Salem, North Carolina. The Moravian congregation built and operated the tavern — a common enterprise in Moravian settlements — as a source of revenue and a place of hospitality for outsiders. President George Washington lodged here in May 1791 during his Southern Tour, an event documented in his own diary.
$ All Ages
Family: High
Museum / Historical Site
Hotel Meade
Dillon, MT
Hotel Meade in Bannack, Montana was constructed in 1875 as the Beaverhead County Courthouse. After Bannack lost the county seat to Dillon in 1881, the building stood vacant until 1890, when it was remodeled into the Hotel Meade. The hotel operated intermittently into the 1940s. Bannack became a Montana state park on August 15, 1954, and the Hotel Meade is preserved as part of the larger ghost-town complex.
$ All Ages
Family: High
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site family-friendly?
A National Park Service living-history ranch with broad family appeal. The paranormal element is mild and atmospheric rather than frightening. Overall family fit: High.
How much does it cost to visit Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site?
Free admission; the site is operated by the National Park Service. Ranger-led tours of the historic ranch house are first-come, first-served. This location is free to visit.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site wheelchair accessible?
Yes, Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site is wheelchair accessible. Terrain: Working historic ranch with a visitor center, ranch house, barns, and trails over open ground; some buildings have stairs.