Ghosts of Cripple Creek, Colorado
Nestled high in the Colorado Rockies, beyond the majestic silhouette of Pike’s Peak, lies the historic Cripple Creek, Colorado Mining District. A landscape punctuated by weathered mine shafts, skeletal headframes, and the crumbling remnants of miners’ cabins, Cripple Creek offers visitors more than just a glimpse into the gold rush era. It whispers tales of a tumultuous past, a past so potent that many believe the very air is thick with spectral residents. Here, amidst the echoes of fortunes made and lost, whispers of ghosts linger, promising a chilling brush with the other side.
Like many boomtowns that blossomed and faded in the Old West, Cripple Creek, Colorado, is steeped in tales of the supernatural. Its history is a tapestry woven with threads of ambition, tragedy, and violence. Mining accidents claimed countless lives, devastating floods ravaged the town, and devastating fires consumed entire blocks. Lawlessness reigned, and bitter conflicts erupted between mine owners and labor unions, painting the streets with bloodshed. It is little wonder that the ghosts of Cripple Creek, souls tethered to this dramatic past, are said to roam freely through the historic town.
Indeed, so pervasive are the stories of spectral activity in Cripple Creek that it has earned a reputation as one of the most haunted cities in the United States. At one point, the town was said to experience an average of one homicide per day, a testament to the raw and often brutal nature of life during its heyday. This violent energy, some believe, has imprinted itself upon the very fabric of the town, creating a fertile ground for paranormal phenomena.
Let’s delve into some of the most well-known haunted locations in this captivating, albeit chilling, corner of Colorado.
Colorado Grande Casino
Standing proudly at 300 East Bennett Avenue, the Fairley Brothers and Lampman Building is a testament to Cripple Creek’s architectural heritage. Today, it houses the Colorado Grande Casino and Maggie’s Restaurant, offering visitors a chance to test their luck and satisfy their appetites. But beneath the clatter of slot machines and the aroma of hearty meals lies another layer, a spectral presence that has reportedly haunted the building for decades.
Built at the turn of the century, this three-story brick commercial building was once a bustling hub of activity. Over the years, the building housed a diverse array of businesses, including a drug store, a millinery, an engineer’s office, a lawyer’s practice, and more. Its rock-faced cornerstones, recessed center entryway, and decorative molding made it one of the most elegant and desirable locations in town for retailers and service providers. The building also served as medical offices, a Masonic Lodge ballroom, and even a mortuary, further adding to its rich and layered history.
Now, in addition to the lively sounds of the casino, many have reported hearing the "ghost" of Maggie. She is said to frequent the upper floors of the building, her presence often heralded by the distinct sound of high-heeled shoes echoing through the halls.
Maggie is described as a young woman, approximately 25 years old, dressed in clothing reminiscent of the turn of the century. She favors a white shirtwaist, a long cotton skirt, and high-heeled boots. Her hair is typically styled in an elaborate updo. Many who have encountered her also report a lingering scent of rose perfume, a fragrant calling card that announces her presence even when she remains unseen.
Some have reported hearing singing and dancing emanating from the old ballroom, perhaps echoes of lively celebrations from a bygone era. Others claim to have heard Maggie’s lilting soprano voice singing an Irish-accented concertina.
Security guards at the casino have reported seeing Maggie, often accompanied by a gentleman friend, playing the slot machines after hours. She has even been caught on security cameras, only for the tapes to mysteriously vanish after being viewed and stored away.
Hotel St. Nicholas
Perched atop a hill overlooking Cripple Creek, the Hotel St. Nicholas commands a panoramic view of the town. Its history is as fascinating as its location. Originally built as a hospital in 1898 by the Sisters of Mercy to serve the influx of people flooding the region during the gold rush, the St. Nicholas Hospital also provided lodging for the Sisters and served as a school for students.
In 1901, a second hospital was opened by Teller County, now the Hospitality House, another historic inn. To remain competitive, the Sisters promoted their facility as "thoroughly equipped with all modern improvements, beautifully located with the best physicians in the district in attendance."
Over the years, the hospital served the prospectors and families of the area, eventually expanding to include a ward for the mentally ill. However, as Cripple Creek’s mining industry declined, the hospital closed its doors in the mid-1970s.
For the next two decades, the building remained vacant, subject to a series of unsuccessful business ventures. However, in recent years, this historic building, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, found its niche when it was restored and refurbished by innkeepers, transforming it into the Hotel St. Nicholas.
Today, the Hotel St. Nicholas boasts 15 guest rooms, each elegantly appointed with antiques, fine linens, and the charm of a bygone era. The hotel’s Boiler Room Tavern, popular with both locals and guests, features a barback crafted from the front plate of the inn’s original coal boiler. Here, guests can enjoy a beverage, a variety of Mexican dishes, and live music on some weekends.
But the Hotel St. Nicholas offers more than just opulence and hospitality; it is also said to be haunted by a number of spirits, including nuns, children, and former patients of the mental ward. The most frequently "seen" ghostly resident is known as "Stinky," who lurks at the back staircase, making his presence known with a distinctive sewage-like smell. The apparition of an old miner with no upper body has also been spotted.
Another ghost, a little boy affectionately called "Petey," has been seen throughout the hotel, most often blamed for stealing cigarettes and moving items around in the tavern.
Buffalo Billy’s Casino
Long before Buffalo Billy’s became the casino it is today, it was known as the Turf Club. Carved letters spelling out "Turf Club Room 1896" can still be seen at the top of this historic building. During Cripple Creek’s mining days, several exclusive "men’s clubs," including the Turf, lined the streets of the burgeoning city.
It was during this time that the spirit of a young girl, known as Lilly, took up residence in the building. The friendly six-year-old has been seen sitting on the stairs, cradling a rag doll. On one occasion, an employee asked her if she was lost, to which Lilly replied, "No, I’m not lost, I live here." When the employee returned with a security guard, Lilly had vanished.
Another time, a tourist lost track of her daughter while playing the slot machines. She found her perched on the staircase, explaining that she was playing with Lilly.
Lilly is also said to have an artistic side, as drawings, numbers, and letters often appear in the hallway at the top of the staircase. Despite being scrubbed away, the drawings always reappear.
According to local tales, Lilly also has preferences for balloons. If a blue balloon is left for her, it will pop. However, a purple balloon will wander around the building on its own.
Others have seen Lilly peering from an upstairs window down to the street below.
Imperial Hotel
Following the disastrous fire that razed most of the city in 1896, the Imperial Hotel was built to accommodate the miners and visitors to the area. Opened as the Collins Hotel, it lured guests with modern amenities such as electric lights and steam heat.
In the early 20th century, the hotel was run by George Long, an Englishman. He married his first cousin in Denver. The couple focused on service, comfort, and fine dining.
They had two daughters and a son. Their oldest daughter, Alice, suffered from a severe mental disorder. As she grew older, her parents were forced to keep her locked in their apartment next to the lobby, now the site of the Red Rooster bar.
George Long later fell to his death going down the narrow stairs to the basement. Although it could have been an accident, rumors circulated that Alice had killed him by striking him in the head with a cast-iron skillet.
In 1948, the hotel introduced the Gold Bar Theater and the Imperial Players, who entertained guests for nearly five decades. In 1992, the hotel added limited stakes gaming and began operating as the Imperial Casino Hotel.
The historic hotel is said to be haunted by its former owner, George Long, who allegedly likes to flirt with the ladies and play the slot machines.
Nighttime security guards have reported hearing the sounds of slot machines and coins late at night after the casino has closed. However, when they check the casino floor, no one is there. The machines are later checked for malfunctions, but none are found.
Guests, especially women, have reported feeling touched by an unseen presence during the night. A chambermaid reported having her bottom pinched by an unseen hand.
In the Gold Bar Theatre, actors tell of feeling a presence or being touched on their back.
The "crazed" Alice also leaves her "imprint" on the historic hotel. Staff members who leave the door to the Red Rooster Bar closed hear scratching sounds on the other side.
The Palace Hotel/Womack’s Casino
Cripple Creek’s Palace Hotel began as the Palace Drug Store. In 1892, it was transformed into a hotel. As one of only two hotels during Cripple Creek’s early days, it was often so crowded that chairs were rented for $1 per night.
The building was destroyed in the 1896 fire but rebuilt. With its lavish décor, it became a major attraction for wealthy gold barons and high-rollers.
By the turn of the century, the hotel was owned by Dr. Chambers and his wife, Kitty, known as Miss Kitty, who ran the hotel and prided herself on service. She offered amenities to her guests, including placing lighted candles and turning down the beds at night.
Miss Kitty died in 1908 in Room #3 and is said to continue to reside there. Guests have reported that she continues to provide service by lighting candles and turning down beds. Others have reported seeing her dressed in an old-fashioned white nightgown with her long hair down over her shoulders. Yet other people have reported seeing the same figure in the window of Room #3.
Miss Kitty is not the only ghost said to lurk within these historic confines. Reports include feelings of being watched, gentle nudges, crashing noises, footsteps, and strange anomalies appearing in photographs.
The Victor Hotel
The first Victor Hotel was built in 1894 but burned down in 1899.
It was rebuilt with brick and stone and housed the Victor Hotel, the Woods Brothers Investment Company, and the First National Bank.
During the winters, the fourth floor was used to store bodies until the ground thawed enough to bury them. It is these long-dead Victor residents that haunt the hotel today. People have witnessed disembodied apparitions on the fourth floor.
Other haunted areas include the basement, the elevator, the third floor, and the kitchen.
Throughout the hotel, guests have reported seeing misty forms and hearing footsteps. In the kitchen, employees tell of utensils that are thrown about the room.
The most prevalent ghost is that of a man named "Eddie" who allegedly fell down the elevator shaft years ago. He has been seen in Room 301, in the hallways, and in the elevator. The elevator often activates itself, going up and down the shaft when no one is near it. It always stops on the third floor.