You’ll find Kane, Wyoming beneath the waters of Bighorn Lake, submerged since the 1960s Yellowtail Dam project. This once-bustling railroad hub served as a crucial shipping center for lumber and livestock along the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy line. The town featured schools, banks, and hotels before Congress authorized its flooding in 1944. Today, during drought periods, you can spot Kane’s ghostly foundations and the legendary Blue Lady Cemetery emerging from the depths.
Key Takeaways
- Kane was a thriving Wyoming railroad town that served as a major shipping hub for lumber, cattle, and sheep transportation.
- The town was submerged when the Yellowtail Dam project created Bighorn Lake in the 1960s.
- Remnants of Kane become visible during drought periods when water levels in Bighorn Lake are low.
- The Kane/Iona Cemetery remains as a preserved monument and is associated with the Blue Lady ghost legend.
- The town featured schools, banks, hotels, and a general store before its forced abandonment due to dam construction.
The Rise of a Western Railroad Hub
As railroad expansion swept across Wyoming in the early 20th century, Kane emerged as an essential shipping hub at the strategic junction of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad line near the Shoshone and Bighorn Rivers.
You’d find Kane’s economic impact growing through its crucial role in transporting lumber, cattle, and sheep across the northern region. Located just two miles south of the rivers’ confluence, the town established itself as the region’s premier logistics center, complete with tracks, sidings, and specialized loading facilities. Due to potential confusion with other locations named Kane, historical records often include the place name disambiguation to specify this Wyoming ghost town. The railway struggled with daily derailments that impacted the town’s operations throughout the late 1920s.
The Kane Ferry, the only Bighorn River crossing north of Greybull, strengthened the town’s position by connecting eastern and western livestock routes.
Every Saturday night, you could join the bustling community as farmers and ranchers gathered for trading, socializing, and commerce, making Kane the heartbeat of regional transportation.
Life in Kane Before the Waters
While Kane began as a modest railroad stop, it quickly blossomed into a vibrant community complete with schools, banks, and two hotels serving the region’s ranchers and travelers.
You’d find the town’s general store staying open late on Saturday nights, when folks would gather for the famous dances featuring local fiddler D.E. Bassett’s music.
The town’s economic interactions centered around the Kane Ferry, which you’d need to cross the Bighorn River with your cattle or lumber loads.
Ranchers and farmers from surrounding towns like Cowley, Byron, and Garland would converge here, making Kane a bustling hub of commerce.
The community events weren’t just about dancing – they created lasting bonds between residents and visitors, fostering a spirit of independence that defined this Western town.
Much like the fate of ghost town Marquette, Kane’s thriving days came to an end when the Yellowtail Dam construction forced residents to sell their land to the government and relocate.
The Blue Lady and Kane Cemetery Tales
Though Kane’s physical structures now lie beneath the Yellowtail Reservoir, the town’s most enduring legend centers on the mysterious Blue Lady of Kane Cemetery. Known in folklore as Matilda Waters, she’s said to be the ghost of a grieving mother whose children were drowned by her husband, leading to her suicide.
The federal government flooded the original townsite in the 1960s, forcing residents to sell their homes and relocate. Originally established as a lumber shipping hub in 1912, Kane served as a critical point for transporting goods by rail. You’ll find that ghost sightings often describe her as a beautiful blue-glowing figure from afar, but witnesses claim her appearance becomes horrifying as you get closer. Local legend warns she may drag visitors into the reservoir’s depths, eternally searching for children to replace her own.
When water levels drop, revealing the cemetery where early Mormon settlers rest, paranormal enthusiasts flock to the site hoping to document her presence. The Blue Lady legend has become intertwined with Kane’s cultural memory, preserving the town’s identity despite its watery fate.
Final Days: The Yellowtail Dam Project
When Congress authorized the Yellowtail Dam through the Flood Control Act in December 1944, they set in motion a project that would ultimately seal Kane’s fate.
After decades of studies and planning, dam construction finally began in May 1961, forever changing the landscape of the Bighorn River region.
In May 1961, bulldozers and concrete mixers arrived to reshape the Bighorn River valley, marking the beginning of irreversible change.
The massive concrete arch-gravity structure, rising 525 feet and spanning 1,480 feet across the river, took six years and nearly 20 million man-hours to complete. Construction was carried out by Morrison-Knudsen Company, one of the era’s leading contractors.
As Bighorn Lake filled behind the dam, it stretched 70 miles upstream, leading to widespread community displacement.
Though the project brought temporary economic benefits through construction jobs, it effectively ended Kane’s existence as a free-standing town.
You’d have witnessed the slow disappearance of Kane beneath the rising waters, along with thousands of acres of surrounding land, including sacred Crow tribal territories.
Recently completed in late 2023, a $5 million spillway renovation project has helped maintain the dam’s crucial infrastructure.
Modern Glimpses of a Submerged Past
As water levels fluctuate in Yellowtail Reservoir, Kane’s ghostly remains emerge from their watery tomb, revealing foundations, bridge pillars, and railroad markers that tell the story of this once-thriving community.
You’ll find the most visible remnants during drought periods when the reservoir runs low. While submerged artifacts continue to erode beneath Bighorn Lake, the Kane/Iona Cemetery stands as a preserved monument to the town’s legacy, about a mile north of the river confluence.
Historical preservation efforts now focus primarily on the cemetery and museum curation rather than underwater structures. Early Mormon settlers were among the first residents to be buried in the cemetery, which remains intact today. Local residents report sightings of mysterious blue lights near the grounds at night.
When you visit today, you can explore the site through educational tours, where local museum curators share oral histories and cultural narratives.
The ghost town’s unique serenity, untouched by formal relocation, offers a rare glimpse into Wyoming’s pioneering past.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Deep Underwater Is Kane During Normal Reservoir Levels?
You’ll find this site of underwater exploration and historical significance submerged between 50 to 150 feet beneath Bighorn Lake’s surface during normal reservoir conditions, varying with seasonal changes.
What Native American Tribes Originally Inhabited the Kane Area?
You’ll find the Shoshone were first to inhabit the area, followed by Arapaho, Crow, and Cheyenne tribes in the 1700s. The Lakota Sioux later joined through tribal alliances.
Were Any Valuable Artifacts Recovered Before the Town’s Flooding?
Among 50,000 recovered artifacts, you’ll find some of North America’s oldest red ochre mines and unique projectile points that’ll intrigue you, challenging traditional views of hunter-gatherer societies through their historical significance.
How Many People Were Buried in Kane Cemetery Before Submersion?
You won’t find exact numbers in Kane history or cemetery records for pre-submersion burials. While the cemetery served the town until flooding in the 1960s, no detailed burial counts were documented.
Can Scuba Divers Legally Explore the Underwater Ruins of Kane?
You’ll need to check with Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area for specific scuba regulations, as underwater exploration is generally allowed but may require permits for protected archaeological sites within federal boundaries.
References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kane
- https://travelwyoming.com/blog/stories/post/5-wyoming-ghost-towns-you-need-to-explore/
- https://www.ghosttowns.com/states/wy/kane.html
- https://cowboystatedaily.com/2024/10/30/haunted-wyoming-kanes-blue-lady-searches-cemetery-for-the-children-she-murdered/
- https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/experiences/wyoming/lovell-haunted-stories-wy
- https://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/wyoming-north-and-south-railroad-1923-1935
- https://www.nps.gov/bica/learn/historyculture/kane-town-history.htm
- https://www.bnsf.com/bnsf-resources/pdf/about-bnsf/History_and_Legacy.pdf
- https://kingfm.com/wyoming-ghost-town-is-100-feet-under-water-video/
- https://sites.rootsweb.com/~wytttp/ghosttowns.htm
