Documented History. Enduring Legends.
Where the Record Ends, the Stories Begin
Historic hotels collect more than names in a guestbook. They collect memories, rumors, unexplained moments, and stories that grow with each retelling.
At Hotel LaBonte, one violent event from 1924 became part of the building’s permanent history. Over time, reports of strange sounds, unusual sightings, and unexplained activity added another layer to the hotel’s reputation.
Some guests are drawn to the mystery. Others simply enjoy staying somewhere with a past. Either way, Hotel LaBonte is not short on stories.
The Story That Still Echoes
A Deadly Confrontation at Hotel LaBonte
In 1924, a Casper businessman named Joe LeFors arrived in Douglas after killing his wife and son and fleeing Casper. Law enforcement traced him to Hotel LaBonte, where Converse County Sheriff Al Peyton confronted him.
The encounter ended in gunfire inside the hotel. LeFors was fatally wounded, and the event quickly became one of the most notorious chapters in the building’s history. Contemporary newspaper coverage described the killings and manhunt in dramatic detail, and the story has remained tied to Hotel LaBonte ever since.
What Guests and Staff Have Shared
Footsteps, Voices & Things That Move
Over the years, stories have circulated about unexplained activity throughout Hotel LaBonte.
Reported experiences have included:
These accounts belong to the hotel’s oral history and local folklore rather than the documented historical record. The current owners have also acknowledged the hotel’s reputation for ghostly happenings.
You Decide
Old Buildings Have a Way of Holding On
Historic hotels are full of settling wood, old plumbing, echoes, changing temperatures, and unfamiliar nighttime sounds.
They are also places where thousands of people have passed through, each leaving behind a small piece of the building’s story.
Are the strange moments at Hotel LaBonte simply part of staying in a century-old building, or something more?
That answer depends on who you ask.
Ready to Visit Douglas?
Stay Somewhere With A Story
Book a comfortable room in the heart of downtown Douglas and experience more than a century of local history, hospitality, food, drinks, and Wyoming character.
