Haunted Denver, Colorado – Mile High Ghosts

Nestled at the foot of the majestic Rocky Mountains, Denver, Colorado, stands as a beacon of urban beauty and historical significance. More than just a picturesque city, Denver is also considered one of Colorado’s most haunted locales. Its vibrant past, etched into the very fabric of its streets and buildings, has given rise to a tapestry of ghostly tales that continue to intrigue and captivate residents and visitors alike.

Founded in 1858 within the Kansas Territory, the initial settlement sprung up along the banks of the South Platte River. Fueled by the area’s abundant mining resources, Denver experienced rapid growth, with land parcels frequently exchanged for provisions and supplies. In 1861, Colorado achieved separate territorial status, and Denver was officially incorporated on November 7th of the same year.

Initially, Denver primarily catered to the needs of the burgeoning mining community, quickly becoming populated with gambling halls and saloons. However, it soon diversified its economy, incorporating livestock trading and serving as a crucial supply hub for destinations further west. By 1865, Denver had ascended to the position of capital of the Colorado Territory, solidifying its importance in the region.

By 1890, Denver had evolved into the second-largest city west of Omaha, Nebraska, surpassed only by the bustling metropolis of San Francisco. This rapid expansion cemented Denver’s place as a major urban center and a vital link in the westward expansion of the United States.

Denver’s rich history has not only shaped its physical landscape but has also left behind a legacy of spectral residents. Whispers of ghosts roaming the historic streets and buildings of Haunted Denver are commonplace, adding an eerie dimension to the city’s charm. The stories of these ethereal inhabitants, lingering remnants of the past, contribute to the city’s unique character. This article delves into some of the most well-known and spine-chilling tales of Haunted Denver, inviting you to explore the Mile High City’s spectral side.

Denver Hauntings:

The city’s documented and rumored hauntings offer a glimpse into the lives and experiences of those who came before, ensuring that their stories are not forgotten. Join us as we investigate the spectral residents that remain in Haunted Denver.

• Brown Palace Hotel: This iconic century-old luxury hotel is renowned for its opulent architecture and historical significance. However, it’s equally famous for the numerous spirits said to reside within its walls. The ghost of an old railroad ticket manager is often seen walking directly into a wall, a spectral manifestation that leaves witnesses baffled. The faint cries of a baby are sometimes heard emanating from the depths of the basement, a sound that chills the blood. An ethereal waiter is rumored to ride the service elevator, forever attending to unseen guests. Perhaps the most enchanting of the Brown Palace’s ghostly residents is a long-dead string quartet, occasionally heard practicing their music in the hotel’s empty halls. The Brown Palace Hotel is a prime example of the ghostly lore that surrounds Haunted Denver.

• Buckhorn Exchange: Established in 1893, Denver’s oldest restaurant began as a humble trading post. Today, the Buckhorn Exchange continues its century-old tradition of serving wild game and steaks in an atmosphere reminiscent of the Old West. According to local legends, many of the old traders, miners, scouts, and cowboys who frequented the establishment in its early days continue to linger within its walls. Ethereal voices and footsteps are often heard, and tables have been known to move seemingly of their own accord. These unexplained phenomena contribute to the Buckhorn Exchange’s reputation as one of the most haunted locations in Haunted Denver.

• Capitol Hill: Once the exclusive domain of Denver’s wealthiest citizens, Capitol Hill maintains its opulent image, seamlessly blending the past with the present. Ancient Victorian mansions stand alongside contemporary condos and apartment complexes, creating a unique architectural landscape. But Capitol Hill is also known for its ghostly inhabitants. Ghost tours of the area recount tales of numerous entities who continue to reside in this historic neighborhood. At the old Governor’s Mansion, ghosts are said to walk the halls, their presence felt by those who dare to enter. Within the State Capitol buildings, a phantom woman in a long dress is often seen, her ethereal form a fleeting glimpse into the past. The neighborhood has earned its place as a chilling example of Haunted Denver.

  A house that once stood in this area served as the inspiration for the 1980 horror film The Changeling. While the specific locations visited on Capitol Hill ghost tours may vary, they often include the State Capitol, Grant-Humphries Mansion, the Croke-Patterson Mansion, Cheesman Park, the Brown Palace Hotel, and the Molly Brown House.

• Cheesman Park: This verdant park boasts a dark history, having served as a cemetery for decades during the 19th century. Originally intended as a final resting place for the masses, the graveyard primarily housed outlaws, paupers, and those who succumbed to disease. Over time, the cemetery became overgrown and an eyesore, prompting the city to convert it into a park. However, it is estimated that as many as 2,000 bodies remain buried beneath the park’s surface. The restless spirits of those interred there are said to continue roaming the park and the surrounding neighborhood, adding to Cheesman Park’s reputation as a hotspot for paranormal activity in Haunted Denver.

• Croke Patterson Mansion: Constructed in 1890 by Thomas B. Croke, this sandstone residence was once one of the most elegant homes in the country. Today, it serves as an office building, but it is also widely considered to be one of the most haunted locations in Denver. According to legend, Thomas B. Croke only entered the palatial mansion once, so disturbed by what he encountered that he never returned. Two years later, the property was sold to Thomas M. Patterson, whose family owned the home for several decades. Over the years, the building served various purposes, including a dance studio, a radio station, and a boarding house, before being converted into an office building. During renovations in the 1970s, construction crews began experiencing strange occurrences. Tasks completed one day would be mysteriously undone by the next. Guard dogs were brought in to protect the property, but they were later found dead on the sidewalk, having apparently jumped from a third-story window. Once the office building was renovated, employees reported equipment operating on its own, including typewriters, copy machines, and telephones. A séance revealed the spirit of a little girl entombed in the cellar. However, excavation revealed a hidden chamber filled with sea sand, but no remains. A ghostly image has been seen gliding up and down the main floor stairway, and otherworldly voices have been heard. The former homeowner, Thomas Patterson, is said to have been sighted in the courtyard between the mansion and the carriage house. Occupants on the lower levels have reported wild parties on the third level, only to find silence upon investigation.

• Denver Children’s Home: Located at Albion Street and Colfax Avenue, the Denver Children’s Home continues to provide youth services today. In the late 1880s, it was known as the Denver Orphan’s Home. In 1888, a fire broke out in the building, resulting in the deaths of several children on the third floor. Despite numerous exorcisms conducted over the years, the sounds of children playing, whimpering, and crying are still frequently heard. In addition to the children, the spirit of a ghostly bride has been seen floating down the third-floor steps and across the second-floor hallway.

• Denver International Airport: The construction of Denver International Airport in 1995 was plagued by problems, including technical issues with the automated baggage system. The airport cost $4.8 billion, far exceeding its initial budget of $1.7 billion. These issues, along with reports of strange incidents experienced by employees and travelers, are attributed to the airport being built on Native American sacred ground.

• The Denver Press Club: Spirits have been seen here, one friendly and often visiting the neighboring Colorado Press Association. The other ghost lurks in the boiler room in the basement.

• Denver Public Library: Library staff report a restless spirit in the basement. Some have reported being shoved by this entity. A security guard quit after being frightened.

• Hotel Teatro: Occupying the old Denver Tramway Building, built in 1911, the site was also the first location of the Evans Mansion, home of John Evans, Colorado’s second territorial governor. The building was utilized as the University of Colorado’s downtown campus and later as the Denver Center for Performing Arts. In 1997, renovations began to turn the building into Denver’s premier luxury boutique hotel. Construction crews experienced voices and strange occurrences. A mechanic’s ghost is seen walking down the hallways with tools before disappearing. The "tool man" is thought to have been a mechanic who died in an accident and is "trapped" in time.

• Josephina’s Italian Restaurant: Located in Denver’s historic Larimer Square, Josephina’s is housed in a century-old building that once housed a speakeasy during Prohibition. The spirit, Amelia, was married to the shady character who owned the tavern. When their daughter, Ginger, began dating a boy that her father didn’t approve of, he used his underworld connections to kill him, also taking out Ginger. Amelia was sitting in the rear of the speakeasy when she heard the news. This area houses the women’s restroom, where the mirror has been broken many times. Liquor bottles turn over by themselves, chairs move, and many glimpse or feel her presence.

• Littleton Town Hall Arts Center: Built in the 1920s, this building once housed city offices, a jail, and the volunteer fire department. In the Denver suburb of Littleton, friendly spirits are heard laughing and playing music late at night. Objects are moved and desks rearranged by unseen hands.

• Lumber Baron Inn: Located in the historic Potter-Highlands neighborhood, this 1890 mansion was built by a Scottish immigrant who amassed a fortune as a lumberjack. The home fell into disrepair and was converted into apartments. In 1991, the building was saved by the current owner and serves as a bed and breakfast. A 17-year-old girl was raped and murdered in the building, as well as a friend who stumbled upon the murder. The mansion has hauntings and paranormal activities, including the frequent sighting of a ghostly woman.

• Molly Brown House Museum: This three-story Victorian house, built in 1894, was once home to Margaret Brown, who became known as "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" when she survived the Titanic’s sinking. Today, her home is haunted by her husband, J.J. Brown. Never allowed to smoke in the house during his lifetime, he smokes pipe tobacco in the attic and basement. In the dining room, chairs move independently, and a ghostly woman in Victorian garb has been seen. Molly’s cat has also been said to lurk. Some have seen an angry-looking butler peering at himself in the mirror near the first-floor staircase. Cold spots, doors that open and close, footsteps in the ballroom, and misty apparitions are spied.

• Oxford Hotel: Built in 1891, the five-story brick structure was designed by architect Frank Edbrooke, who would later design the Brown Palace Hotel. The hotel was remodeled in the Art Deco style in the 1930s. The oldest hotel in Denver caters to travelers and restless spirits. A bartender reported that in the Cruise Room, a man sat down wearing an old-fashioned post office uniform. After ordering a beer, he muttered about how expensive it was and made odd comments. When he left, the bartender went to pick up his bottle, only to find it full. The spirit is that of a postal worker delivering Christmas presents to Central City in the early 1900s. He never arrived, and his decomposed body was found with the gifts. Another tale alleges that a young woman was murdered by her husband in room 320. Visitors have seen the faint image of a woman standing in the room, as well as capturing a woman’s face on film.

• Red Rocks Amphitheater: Nestled in the Rocky Mountain Foothills, Red Rocks Amphitheater provides acoustic perfection. The spirit of a man from another Colorado era is seen standing on the "restricted" side of the railings. He is described as a grizzled-looking old man, thought to have been a miner, standing about 5’5" tall, with a beard, a dirty brownish hat, and a bottle in his hand. Another legend tells of a headless woman who brandishes a bloody hatchet and is often seen riding a horse. Galloping at night, she is intent on stopping mischief or illicit romance.

• The Sugar Building: Built in 1906 by the Great Western Sugar Company, it served as their offices until 1986. Years later, the building was sold and renovated, but some of its previous tenants allegedly still occupy it. Witnesses on the second floor have reported hovering, ghostly balls that float through the hallways. The basement is eerie and hints at evil spirits lurking.

• Tivoli Student Union: The union at the Auraria Campus combines services for the Community College of Denver, Metropolitan State College, and the University of Colorado. The Tivoli is a Denver landmark, initially serving as one of twelve buildings of the Tivoli Brewery in 1866. The building became the student union in 1994, but some brewing equipment remains. Voices and whispers are heard throughout the building, and an elegant ghostly party can be heard coming through the vents on the third floor.

• University of Denver: Mary Reed Hall is very active with paranormal phenomena. Though currently housing administrative offices, the building opened as the university’s library in 1932. Cold spots in warm rooms, doors getting stuck, light bulbs stopping working, and a ghostly woman have been seen. Some say the "Mary Reed Ghost" is Mary Reed herself, who contributed money to the university. Others say it is her daughter, Margery Reed, who died at a young age from an illness. The ghostly figure often spied on in the DuPont Room is thought to be Mrs. DuPont, whose husband contributed funds. Regardless of who she is, her translucent image is seen sitting and reading in the dark. A janitor was pushed behind when locking up the building. The custodian turned around, but no one was there. She was pushed again by unseen hands. At the Lamont School of Music, a student allegedly killed herself on the second floor of Dunklee Hall. A door quietly closes of its own accord after people have exited the room.

These are just a few of the many haunted locations in Denver. With its rich history and vibrant culture, the Mile High City is a city where the past is always present, and the spirits of those who came before continue to make their presence known.