Two Girls One Ghost – Episode 364 Summary

Episode Title: Ghost Town of South Pass City, Wyoming | Women’s Suffrage and a Female Serial Killer?
Release Date: March 15, 2026
Hosts: Corinne Vien & Sabrina Deana-Roga
Theme: The intersection of wild west history, women’s suffrage, true crime, and hauntings in South Pass City, Wyoming.

Episode Overview

In this richly textured episode, Corinne and Sabrina celebrate Women’s History Month by diving into the history and hauntings of South Pass City, Wyoming—a former gold rush town with a pivotal role in women’s suffrage and an alleged female serial killer. The hosts blend thorough research, tangents about women’s magic, and listener stories to explore how a rough mining settlement became ground zero for women’s voting rights—and possibly murder.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Personal Updates and Women’s History Month (01:19–09:16)

• Corinne reveals her pregnancy (a boy, due in July), describing the struggles she’s faced compared to her earlier pregnancy.
  • “My first pregnancy was so much easier with Noah...this time I couldn’t keep water or food down for weeks. I threw up 10 plus times a day. I still throw up five times a week.” — Corinne (06:13–06:41)
• Both hosts reflect on the magic and toughness of women, tying it to the broader theme of Women’s History Month.
  • “Women are magical and we love them and we want to honor them.” — Sabrina (08:52)

2. History of South Pass City: From Gateway to Ghost Town (09:45–18:55)

• Geographic significance: South Pass was a crucial, relatively gentle crossing in the Rockies for westbound travelers and gold-seekers.
• Gold rush origins:
  • Gold discovered in the 1860s sparked a temporary boom: population peaked around 4,000. Built-up with saloons, hotels, and mining operations, notably the Carissa Mine.
  • Harsh conditions, poor yields, and the lure of richer strikes elsewhere led to a sharp population decline.
  • “By 1872, the population had dropped to only a few hundred people.” — Corinne (18:01)

3. Political Progress: Birthplace of Women’s Suffrage (18:55–29:37)

• South Pass City as a landmark in women’s rights:
  • Wyoming (then a territory) granted women the vote and office-holding rights in December 1869, thanks to a suffrage bill introduced by local mine owner and saloon keeper William Bright.
  • The motivations are debated (e.g., drawing more women to the area), but the effect was groundbreaking.
  • “Wyoming became the first US territory to grant women the right to vote and hold office...Wyoming was called the first place on God’s green earth...to be the land of the free because of this.” — Corinne (22:07–23:14)
  • In 1890, Wyoming threatened not to join the Union unless women kept the vote.
• The legend of Esther Hobart Morris:
  • Appointed as the nation’s first female justice of the peace on February 14, 1870.
  • Faced immediate sexism—her predecessor refused to hand over the docket, so she jailed him.
    • “Esther did not argue with him. Instead, she locked him up in Sweetwater County Jail.” — Corinne (25:17)
  • Presided over 26–34 cases that year.
  • Remembered as “the terror of all rogues.”
  • Honored with a bronze statue at Wyoming’s Capitol.

4. Ghost Town Preservation and Modern Day (29:37–31:58)

• In 1966, South Pass was preserved as a state park, protecting 23 buildings and over 30,000 artifacts.
• Still open for visitors: restored structures, gold panning, and living history experiences.

5. Hauntings, True Crime, and Lore (31:58–46:59)

• The shadow of violence and death:
  • The unsolved 1875 murder of George McCombey in the Exchange Saloon; locals claim his spirit lingers.
  • Each year, murder mystery dinner parties reenact the crime in hopes (maybe humorously) of solving it.
• The chilling legend of Polly Bartlett, “The Murderess of Slaughterhouse Gulch”:
  • Possibly Wyoming’s first serial killer—allegedly poisoned 22 travelers for their gold and valuables with her father’s help.
  • Motif similar to Lavinia Fisher, another notorious female serial killer.
  • Eventually caught after the disappearance of a well-connected victim, then quickly killed in jail. Justice Esther Morris did not charge the avenger.
  • “Equality, equal rights, female rage.” — Sabrina, quipping about the presence of a female serial killer (37:15)
• Hauntings today:
  • Sparse but persistent claims: shadowy figures, feelings of being watched, and strange energies.
  • The town is mostly a tourist/historic site now, with limited opportunity for in-depth paranormal investigation.

6. Listener Story: Generational Women, Protection, and the Supernatural (56:03–63:34)

• Listener “Kay” shares several heartwarming and paranormal stories featuring the women in her family:
  • Great-grandmother’s ghost wakes a cousin to save him from a fire (59:01)
  • Multiple family members dream of a deceased aunt in a beautiful garden, providing comfort (59:29)
  • The spirit of her husband’s grandmother comforting Kay during a difficult night with her daughter (61:27)
• Both hosts are moved, emphasizing women’s strength as caretakers across generations.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Ghost Towns and Women’s Progress:

• “This is the town of South Pass City, Wyoming, in 1869...a place where the gold rush collided with politics and somehow sparked a movement that changed the country and women’s rights.” — Corinne (10:02)
• “She was known for not taking shit from any man. She was also 6ft tall, which I love, because that means, like, the majority of men...were literally looking up at her...” — Corinne (25:48)

Comedic Interlude on “Tits Out for the Girls”:

• “Take your tits out.” — Sabrina (10:51)
• “Your nipple...we’ll send you your best fitting lipstick. It’s a subscription box.” — Sabrina & Corinne (11:11)

On Hauntings:

• “Anything can become haunted...a town that has a lot of mining accidents, violence, illness, harsh conditions, and death...can certainly become haunted.” — Corinne (31:57)
• “Maybe a lot of the ghosts here abandoned the town as well, and...maybe it’s just spirits passing through.” — Corinne (46:36)

Listener Story (on afterlife caretaking):

• “I then heard a voice in my head, clear as day, say, you are such a good mom. Go back to sleep. Now I’ve got her. Instantly my daughter settled down and fell peacefully back to sleep.” — Kay (62:19)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Pregnancy Announcement & Women’s History Month: 03:06 – 09:16
• South Pass City Gold Rush & Decline: 12:06 – 18:55
• Wyoming Women’s Suffrage History: 21:54 – 29:37
• Esther Hobart Morris’s Legacy: 24:56 – 28:53
• Preservation as a Ghost Town: 29:37 – 31:58
• Saloon Murder & Murder Mystery Dinners: 31:57 – 34:28
• Polly Bartlett – Female Serial Killer: 37:04 – 44:42
• Discussion of Modern Hauntings: 45:00 – 46:59
• Listener Stories – Generational Women Watching Over Family: 56:03 – 63:34

Flow, Language, and Tone

The episode retains Two Girls One Ghost’s signature blend of humor, intimacy, empathy, and feminist spirit. Banter about bodies, pregnancy, and women’s friendship is interwoven with meticulously researched history and chilling tales. The hosts use irreverence and warmth to bring levity to darkness (“Tits out for the girls!”), but pivot seamlessly to respect and awe for women’s achievements both historic and personal.

Final Thoughts

Episode 364 is a perfect Two Girls One Ghost episode: an accessible entry into underappreciated women’s history, an exploration of the spooky and the tragic, and a celebration of women’s endurance, rage, and tenderness. Listeners come away with new heroes (Esther Hobart Morris), new ghosts to hunt, and heartfelt reminders of generational love.