A Menacing Presence at Bonito Lake

Bonito Lake (Reservoir)

“It was a robbery that went sour . . .”

Bonito Lake is located at 7300 feet in Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico. Beautiful scenery surrounds this man-made reservoir, near Ruidoso.

The ghost story connected to this lake has its roots in 1855.

Most people today do not realize that the remains of a ghost town lie at the bottom of Bonito Lake.

Bonito City sprang up as a mining camp during the Gold Rush. In 1882, this city was just a cluster of tents, it residents a group of starry-eyed miners from states as far away as Virginia.

At its peak, in the mid-1800s, Bonito City had a schoolhouse, three general stores, a saloon, a post office, a boarding house, one blacksmith, and one lawyer.

For a brief period, Lincoln County was able to boast that it was the most populated area in New Mexico.

Bonito City Post Office

But Bonito City was about to become the site of a gruesome mass-murder.

Martin Nelson, aged 24, with dreams of becoming rich overnight, arrived in Bonito City, claiming to be a miner. But locals noted this particular young man never seemed to do any work.

A newspaper clipping
about Murders.

Nelson boarded with a local family for several weeks and then moved to the bustling Mayberry Family boarding house that was the town’s official hotel.

There had been a string of recent robberies in town, but no one had a clue as to who was doing them.

At 3 a.m. on Tuesday morning, May 5, 1885, Martin Nelson’s luck was about to run out. He entered the room of Dr. R. E. Flynn at the Mayberry. The doctor had recently arrived from Boston.

Nelson’s intent was to steal this man’s watch. But Dr. Flynn woke up and struggled with the thief. Nelson shot and killed him.

Hearing the commotion, the Mayberrys descended upon the room. Nelson, now panicked, began shooting at the Maybury family members.

John Mayberry Sr. and his two sons, John Jr., and Eddie (Robert) died instantly. Mrs. Mayberry wounded, ran down the stairs, attempting to escape, with her 14-year-old daughter, Nellie.

Nellie Mayberry after
murders was sent back
east to live with relatives.

Nelson shot Mrs. Mayberry a second time, killing her. This bullet also struck Nellie.

Nellie then pleaded for her life, and Nelson agreed not to kill her on the condition that she promised to attend his hanging. She did, and he spared her life.

Meanwhile, Pete Nelson, a neighbor (no relation to Martin), hearing the shots as he closed his saloon for the night, entered the Maybury house. Martin Nelson also shot and killed him.

By this time, a large number of people had gathered outside the boarding house. Nelson trapped, stayed hidden until 7 a.m. He then tried to escape out the back door.

The town grocer, Herman Beck, was waiting for him. Beck was killed by a single shot from Nelson’s rifle.

Nelson managed to leave town, and then a posse chased and caught up to him in Littleton Canyon and killed him.

Nelson’s victims were then buried in the town cemetery on a hilltop overlooking Bonito City. His body was placed near, but not in this cemetery.

The gold boom played out within a few short years, and eventually, Bonito City became a ghost town. The post office closed in 1911, and by 1920 all that remained was a store and eight houses.

In the late 1920s, the Southern Pacific Railroad gained permission to dam the Bonito Creek to create a reservoir that would fuel its steam engines. Workers removed what was left of the town.

By 1933 the lake was so high the water level was approaching the graves of Nelson and his victims.

Angus City Cemetery

The remains of the Mayberry family were relocated to a common grave in the Angus Cemetery—not far from the lake. Nelson’s body was reburied east of this cemetery. Today Nelson's plot is overgrown, but a gravestone still stands as a marker.

Mass grave marker for the victims.

When Nelson’s body was exhumed, it was noted he was thrown face down in a rough pine box. His green felt hat was intact, and several bullet holes were found in it.

He was buried with his body pointing west. Some feel this is why he does not rest in peace. The belief of that era was to place the dead facing up and pointing to the east. This assured the deceased could rise up to meet Christ.

People point to this fact as the reason Martin Nelson’s menacing ghost still wanders the area where he lived and died. And then there is the fact his body was disturbed.

When the Southern Pacific stopped using steam trains, they no longer needed the reservoir. Today Bonito Lake is the main water supply for several surrounding communities, including Ruidoso, New Mexico.

This is the reason swimming, wading, and boats are not allowed on the lake. The area is open for fishing but only from the shoreline.

Bonito Reservoir with the dam to the right.

Campers, mountain bikers, and rock hounds also frequent the area. Others still pan for gold along the Rio Bonito.

But some of these visitors have become so frightened they have left never to return.

It appears Nelson’s ghost has frightened many a tourist and some locals. His scary presence is felt along the shoreline. Some even say he appears to be at the bottom of the lake.

A strange circle of lights has been seen floating on the surface of the water. Eerie sounds are heard including gunshots.

Others have picked up some intriguing EVP’s at Nelson's gravesite.

Local residents warn paranormal enthusiasts that it is not a good idea to awaken this murderer, especially since his presence is felt in such a remote area.

Wildland: Rock Video Ghost

When the Australia Band, Wildland, filmed a music video for their title song Wildland, something unnerving and creepy was discovered, while the video was being edited.

In 1990, the band had spent the day filming this video in the remote ghost town of Glen Davis, in New South Wales.

Glen Davis in the Capertee Valley

From 1939 to 1952, the National Oil Proprietary Limited extracted oil in this area. The facility was not the safest. Long work hours led to fatigue, and faulty equipment that was salvaged caused many workmen’s deaths.

The day of the shoot the weather was rainy and bleak, all the members of the band and camera crew, all stated that the atmosphere at this location had an otherworldly or eerie feel to it.

On the day of filming, this ghost town was deserted, except for the band and their film crew. But the group discovered later, while watching what they shot, that a ghostly figure appears leaning against a concrete pillar.

It is faceless, wears a dark overcoat, and a hat, and at one point on the video, it seems as if its head is detached from the rest of its body.

After this strange sight was discovered, the band and crew, meticulously accounted for the whereabouts of everyone while this scene was shot. After viewing the video--no one could identify this mysterious figure.

None of them saw this figure during the shoot.

Still shot with a closeup.

The town’s historian, who lived there as a child, thinks this ghost may be a miner who was killed. His body was washed downstream, to the spot where the figure appears in the film.

Another possibility is the figure is the spirit of a priest who committed suicide near the deserted machine shop, where the video was filmed. Could the dark clothes seen on this figure be the dark robes of a priest?

Bannack: A Ghost Town with Ghosts

Bannack

Bannack, Montana was established in 1862 when gold was found along Grasshopper Creek.

Like other gold rushes, miners flooded into this settlement in search of their fortunes. It was not long before the hills surrounding the community were filled with as many as 10,000 miners.

With this large population came violence.

In 1883, a fast-talking, handsome, well-dressed newcomer, by the name of Henry Plummer, impressed several leading community members. It wasn’t long before he was elected sheriff.

Henry Plummer

But what the unsuspecting citizens of Bannack did not know is Plummer was actually the head of a secret band of road agents called the “innocents.”

They began to terrorize travelers between Bannack and Virginia City, robbing and killing more than 100 men within a few short months.

In December of 1883 the miners formed the Montana Vigilantes and during the next 42 days they hanged 24 gang members, including Henry Plummer.

Later, the authenticity of this story was questioned by historians—some believed it was just a cover the vigilantes used to mask their own nefarious activities in the area.

Today the ghost town of Bannack is a state park. Many people believe that the ghost of Henry Plummer—wrongly hanged—haunts the area. His motivation is said to be the need to clear his name.

Hotel Meade

Another ghost that resides in Bannack is seen on the second floor of the Hotel Meade.

This structure built in 1875 was originally used as a courthouse. In 1881 when Bannack lost its county seat status to nearby Dillon the building was abandoned until 1890.

It then was remodeled and reopened as a plush hotel. It remained a hotel for many years—in its final reincarnation it was used as a hospital.

Today visitors experience cold spots and see the apparition of a teen-age girl on its second floor. Others report hearing the sounds of children crying. One investigator caught these sounds during an EVP session.

The first sighting of this ghostly girl happened over 100 years ago. It is said she is Dorothy Dunn a 16-year old resident of Bannack who drowned while swimming in a dredge pond along Grasshopper Creek.

Shortly after her death, Dorothy’s ghost first appeared to her best friend who was with her at the time of her death.

Since this initial encounter numerous witnesses have reported seeing a teen-age girl wearing a long blue dress on the second floor of the old Hotel Meade.

Children most often see her. One 7-year old saw Dorothy and she states this ghost tried to talk to her. She saw Dorothy’s mouth moving but heard no sound.

Others have seen Dorothy’s ghost standing at an upstairs window as they stood in the street below.

Yet other witnesses have seen ghostly women dressed in their best finery in various places around the old town.

When the mines played out in Bannack it quickly was abandoned. By the 1940s it was a ghost town.

The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks stepped in to save the town from the elements and vandalism by making it a state park in August of 1954.

Today, over 60 structures remain and the staff gives tours—as well as allowing individuals to explore this historic site on their own.

The following photograph was taken at Bannack’s General Store. Two photos were taken one right after the other. In the second photo this mist appears—it is believed to be paranormal in nature.

Would You Volunteer in a Ghost Town?

This summer a unique opportunity is being offered--at least that is how it is advertised.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is seeking volunteers to stay and work in a historic frontier-mining ghost town in Montana.

Garnet

The volunteers would help out with the care and upkeep of Garnet Ghost Town. Garnet at one time was a booming mining community but has been abandoned for 100 years.

Garnet is located 6,000 feet up at the head of First Chance Creek in the forested mountains east of Missoula. It is named after the semi-precious stone that was originally mined here.

Garnet 1890s

In 1865, gold was discovered at First Chance Gulch. At its peak Garnet had a population of 1,200 residents. The town had 4 stores, 4 hotels, a barbershop, a doctor’s office and laundry facilities. The town had 13 saloons.

Garnet unlike many other mining towns also had a school and a stage line.

The buildings in Garnet like most built in frontier mining towns were not meant to last but many remain standing even without foundations. Today 30 buildings remain.

Volunteers are provided with a furnished cabin complete with propane refrigerator and range--there is no electricity or running water in the town. Volunteers are provided a stipend and food allotment.

Volunteer Cabin

Duties include--helping with tours and setting up exhibits. Help is also needed in the gift shop. Volunteers also help with general upkeep--I imagine this means general custodial work.

Volunteers typically stay one month--several couples from back east have been doing this for years--this summer the months of August and September are still unfilled.

So what is the payoff for giving up all modern conveniences?

Garnet is haunted. Volunteer’s shifts end at 5:00 p.m. and after this they are allowed to explore this interesting ghost town.

Creepy sounds, laughter and phantom music are heard coming from Kelly’s Saloon--one of the most active spots in town. When people approach the sounds stop.

Many volunteers and staff have observed doors opening and closing on their own when no one is present and footsteps are heard running through the old Wells Hotel--even in the dead of winter.

If you are interested in a rustic lifestyle with little pay and a few ghosts the contact information is here.