Philmont Scout Ranch is the subject of many popular ghost stories told by staff and campers, who report encounters with spectral figures, poltergeist activity, and supernatural forces. Many of these stories are tied to specific locations on the ranch, with a documented history or rumors of tragedy. Urraca Mesa is one of the most famous haunted sites at Philmont, with a long history of paranormal associations dating back to local indigenous tribes. Some Native American legends suggest the mesa was a portal to the underworld. More recent legends mention seeing murderous monks, horsemen dressed in black, and a lost scout. The mesa is known for odd geological features and weather that contribute to its mystique. The area contains lodestone, which can disorient compasses, and has a high number of lightning strikes. Although stories are dismissed by some as campfire tales, staff and campers have often been advised to avoid camping on the mesa, and some staff are known to avoid crossing it at night. The ghost of the infamous train robber Thomas "Black Jack" Ketchum is a frequent character in Philmont ghost stories. Ketchum was the only person ever hanged in New Mexico for train robbery. The law was later found unconstitutional. Campers claim to have seen Ketchum's ghost, dressed in all black, as a spectral cowboy wandering the ranch. Several mines on the property are the site of haunting tales, including French Henry Mine. One staff member claimed to have felt a ghostly hand on her shoulder while hiding in the mine for a prank. A Catholic priest reportedly performed an exorcism in the mine after staff reported hearing voices and experiencing supernatural activity. The staff cabins and dishes at Miranda are said to be haunted by a ghost, with strange things happening in the cabins. Staff reported seeing things like dishes falling off shelves without explanation. One version of the story claims a staff member was physically thrown against a wall after bringing a Ouija board into the cabin. At Cyphers Mine, campers have reported ghostly activity and unsettling presences. Some have described a ghost walking across a cabin, passing through campers, and closing the door behind it. A summer staffer at Pueblano reported waking to a ghostly presence in their tent. They described a spectral logger with empty, bleeding eye sockets and bloody stumps for arms. A crew advisor saw thousands of green eyes at Indian Writings, and photos taken at the campsite allegedly failed to develop.