Rawlins' 1903 Queen Anne mansion and the longtime Wyoming bed and breakfast
607 West Maple Street, Rawlins, WY 82301
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Drive-by viewing only; building previously operated as a B&B but is currently not open to the public.
Access
Limited Access
Residential streetscape view
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1903 · National Register of Historic Places (1982) · Most significant Queen Anne residence in Wyoming · Tied to Rudefeha / Ferris-Haggarty copper-mining history · Long-running Wyoming bed and breakfast
The George Ferris Mansion at 607 West Maple Street in Rawlins, Wyoming is widely regarded as the most significant Queen Anne style residence in the state. The house was designed by the Knoxville, Tennessee architectural firm of Barber and Klutz and was first published in an architectural pattern book by that firm. Construction began in 1899 for George and Julia Ferris, with George's wealth derived from the Rudefeha Mine in the Grand Encampment copper-mining district. The mine was later renamed the Ferris-Haggarty Mine and was one of the most productive copper operations in Wyoming.
George Ferris was killed in 1900 when he was thrown from a runaway carriage near his mine, before the house was completed. Julia Ferris took over the project and completed the mansion in 1903. She lived in the house until her death at age seventy-six in 1931. The house has subsequently passed through several owners.
The George Ferris Mansion was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 1, 1982. From 1986 the property operated for many years as the Ferris Mansion Bed and Breakfast under various owners, including a multi-decade run as one of Wyoming's most highly rated B&Bs. As of recent press coverage (Cowboy State Daily, 2023; The Old House Life, 2021), the property has been the subject of preservation and ownership discussions, and recent listings indicate the B&B is currently closed.
Sources
Local tradition holds that the mansion experienced mild poltergeist-style activity dating back to its earliest period. The family-history accounts referenced in long-running ghost-tour materials state that two men were killed in construction accidents during the house's long build, and that the youngest son of the Ferris family, Cecil, was accidentally shot and killed by an older brother who was playing with a gun in the late 1800s. The lore reports apparitions of Cecil and of a woman in a long flowing nightgown in the kitchen area; unexplained sounds and electrical malfunctions are also frequently reported. The accounts are repeated in multiple regional sources but are best understood as folk tradition extending the documented family tragedy.
During the property's long run as the Ferris Mansion Bed and Breakfast, guests across multiple ownership changes reported recurring sightings and unexplained noises. As the B&B is currently closed, visitors should view the property from the public sidewalk only and should not attempt to enter the grounds.
Notable Entities
View the Queen Anne exterior of the George Ferris Mansion from the public sidewalk. The 1899-1903 home is one of the most significant Queen Anne residences in Wyoming and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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