Farragut State Park lies over four thousand acres in the north west United States.  Founded in 1964 in northern Idaho, it is a common tourist stop on the southern tip of Lake Pend Oreille in the Couer d’Alene mountains.  Thousands of people flock to the area to camp, picnic, hike, mountain bike, cycle, fish, boat, swim, and horseback ride.  Other more creative visitors have taken advantage of the wide expanses for orienteering, disc golf, archery, and model aircraft flying.

(images:chrischampion/flickr) Farragut Brig

The area was first put on the map for housing the Farragut Naval Training Station.  Farragut Naval Training Station was a United States Navy base during World War II.  It was named after David Farragut who was the first admiral of the United States Navy and the leading Naval officer of the Civil War.  It was the second largest Naval training center in the world during its time.

Although part of a proud history, Farragut was also home to a prisoner of war camp in 1945 by the United States Army.  An estimated nine hundred Germans were housed in the camp.  Used for only a short time, Farragut was soon transformed in 1946 to the Farragut College and Technical Institute.  The short lived school lasted for only three years due to ongoing financial issues.

Currently, Farragut State Park houses the Museum at the Brig.  Visitors from all over the world stop to view artifacts from the war, the Navy, and boot camp memorabilia.  The museum offers an interesting insight into the camp’s history as it is housed in the confinement facility of the Farragut Naval Training Station.  Visitors are able to explore prison cells and try to imagine how their days would have been spent as prisoners of war in dark times past.

Memorabilia and artifacts are not the only thing on display at the Farragut State Park Museum at the Brig.  It is rare to find a single visitor who has not had an experience that can only be described as paranormal or some kind of odd occurrence.  Visitors and tour guides alike are convinced that the brig is haunted.  Reports include full body apparitions of men in uniforms from decades past, objects appearing to move on their own, problems with equipment, flashlights turning on and off without being touched, odd tapping, heavy metal prison cell doors rattling, lights or orbs floating around the cells and areas of the brig, and some have even reported having rocks thrown at them while they explored.

(images:rosshero/flickr)

One particularly gruesome story is shared with guests relating to Farragut’s past.  One high ranking German prisoner was captured and aggressively questioned by Farragut staff.  Unfortunately, the man eventually succumbed to the techniques used to garner information and he died.  The guards left the man’s body locked in a lower level cell and tried to forget about the incident.  They mostly had until a short time later when reports were made by guards and prisoners alike that noises came from the cell and others reported hearing sounds and seeing lights.

Museum visitors have reported seeing faces peering through the bars and windows of the brig.  They report seeing orbs and odd images appearing in photos without explanation.  Many have heard yelling and had items relocated while touring Farragut.  Nearby, people have reported seeing a man in an old style uniform walking along the shore.  A large stone statue of a sailor is said to move and change expressions.

Farragut stories are not limited just to the brig.  A nearby camp site has had common complaints of yelling, hearing old method gun shots, seeing flickering lights and hearing other untraceable human sounds.  Many say the trails leading to the water are hot spots for paranormal activity, often sending a terrified camper quickly on their way back to their own beds and safety of home.