Ghostly railroad conductors. Phantom mail carriers. Displaced spirits said to roam the paths of Cheesman Park. Victorian mansions steeped in tragedy. If you're looking for a good scare, the Mile High City has plenty of spooky stories to tell. 

Many of those tales are rooted in Denver's rich past. Long before the city emerged as a booming Gold Rush settlement in 1858, the South Platte River Valley served as an important gathering place for Indigenous peoples. In the decades that followed, miners, railroad barons, socialites, politicians and other larger-than-life characters helped shape Denver into the city it is today. 

Their stories live on in historic hotels, grand mansions and other landmarks across the city. Even Denver International Airport has inspired decades of conspiracy theories and unexplained sightings. Whether you're drawn to haunted Denver for its ghost tours, cemetery lore, paranormal investigations or unsolved mysteries, these haunted attractions in Denver offer a fascinating glimpse into the city's darker side.

 

Cheesman Park: Denver’s First Cemetery

Cheesman Park is one of Denver's most beloved green spaces. Walkers and joggers loop around the park on tree-lined paths, families gather at the playground and visitors soak up sunshine and Front Range views on the lawns surrounding the classical white marble Cheesman Memorial Pavilion. But this peaceful setting belies a much darker past. 

Before Cheesman Park became a favorite spot for picnics and sunny walks, the land served as Denver’s first cemetery. When the city decided to turn the site (called Mount Prospect Cemetery at the time) into a park in the late 1800s, thousands of graves had to be moved. But as anyone who’s seen the classic horror film Poltergeist knows, disturbing an old cemetery rarely ends well…

Undertaker E.P. McGovern was hired to relocate the remains, but to say he did a lackluster job would be an understatement. Historical accounts describe coffins broken apart, remains mishandled and the job left unfinished. Rather than hire someone new to finish the job, the city built the park (along with nearby Denver Botanic Gardens) on top of the remaining graves. Meaning that, yes, there are bodies still buried here.  

That unsettling chapter helped give Cheesman Park its haunted reputation, with generations of ghost stories tied to the park’s ghoulish past. Local legends describe strange lights, unexplained sounds, erratic animal behavior, sudden cold spots and ghostly figures wandering the grounds after dark. Among the park's most enduring legends are the Woman in White, said to roam the pathways in search of her lost resting place, and "Slackjaw," a male apparition clothed in a hospital gown who allegedly approaches visitors for a cigarette before disappearing into the darkness. Whether you believe the stories or not, it's hard not to get a chill knowing what lies beneath the grass!

You can explore Cheesman Park on your own, especially around dusk when the atmosphere shifts and the crowds thin out. Or join a guided Cheesman Park Ghost Tour with Denver Local Tours to dive deeper into the park's history and legends.  
 

The Spooky Side of the Colorado State Capitol

By day, the Colorado State Capitol draws visitors with its gleaming gold dome, grand staircases and sweeping views from the steps. But after more than a century of political drama and historic events, it's no surprise that a few ghost stories have found a home here as well. 

One of the Capitol's most enduring legends is the tale of the "Bloody Espinosas," two brothers whose severed heads were allegedly displayed in the building for years after their deaths. According to local lore, strange sounds and phantom hoofbeats have echoed through the rotunda ever since. Visitors and employees also report unexplained footsteps in empty hallways, flickering lights and even encounters with a ghostly woman clad in black. 

Adding to the building's eerie mystique is the network of tunnels that run beneath the Capitol grounds. Originally used for utilities and maintenance, the passageways have inspired decades of rumors and ghost stories.

 

Denver’s Haunted Hotels

Denver's historic hotels have welcomed everyone from railroad tycoons and socialites to presidents and movie stars. And, according to local lore, a few former guests never really left. Whether you're hoping to sleep tight or sleep fright, these haunted hotels combine architectural grandeur with some of the city's most enduring ghost stories. 
 

The Brown Palace Hotel & Spa by Marriott

Opened in 1892, The Brown Palace Hotel has spent more than a century at the center of Denver history. With so much history, it’s no surprise that it’s also steeped in paranormal lore. Guests and employees have reported phantom footsteps, unexplained lights and apparitions drifting through the hotel's triangular atrium. One of the hotel's best-known legends centers on a railroad conductor who allegedly checked into the hotel in the late 1800s and never checked out. Guests and employees have claimed sightings of a uniformed figure roaming the upper floors, while others claim to have heard unexplained footsteps echoing through empty hallways. Stop in for afternoon tea beneath the stained-glass ceiling or spend the night in one of the historic guest rooms to see why the Brown Palace is often considered Denver's most haunted hotel.
 

The Crawford Hotel and Denver Union Station

Denver Union Station has served as the city's grand front door since 1881, and decades of travelers have left behind more than memories. Visitors and employees have spotted a well-dressed man in an old-fashioned suit gazing out the station's upper windows before suddenly disappearing, as well as unexplained figures crossing the Great Hall and other strange occurrences tied to the landmark's railroad past. Located within Denver Union Station, The Crawford Hotel adds another layer to the legends. Guests have reported echoing footsteps, flickering lights and unexplained activity in rooms that occupy former offices and attic spaces above the station. Some have even caught glimpses of figures moving through the hotel’s empty corridors after hours.
 

The Oxford Hotel

Just steps from Denver Union Station, The Oxford Hotel has welcomed travelers since 1891. Much of its haunted reputation centers on Room 320, where guests have reported hearing a woman crying, feeling an unseen presence and waking to inexplicable disturbances in the middle of the night. One frequently repeated tale links the room to a woman who took her own life in the late 1890s after learning of her lover's infidelity, and many believe her spirit still lingers there. Today, visitors can decide for themselves whether the Oxford's creaking corridors and historic charm are simply atmospheric — or something more.
 

Patterson Inn

Many paranormal enthusiasts consider the Patterson Inn Denver's spookiest place to spend the night. Originally built as the Croke-Patterson Mansion in 1891, the Capitol Hill landmark pairs turrets, stained glass and Gothic-inspired architecture with stories of apparitions, phantom voices and unexplained activity. The mansion's history includes family tragedies, untimely deaths and decades of rumors, and guests have experienced everything from flickering lights and doors that seem to open and close on their own to disembodied voices and shadowy figures that appear and then vanish in hallways and guest rooms.
 

The Lumber Baron Inn & Gardens

This striking Victorian mansion in northwest Denver is tied to one of the city's most infamous unsolved mysteries. In 1970, socialite Frances Brown and her daughter Linda were murdered inside the home in a case that remains unsolved to this day. Guests and staff have since reported unexplained footsteps, apparitions and other strange occurrences, helping cement the mansion's reputation as one of Denver's most haunted addresses. Today, the Lumber Baron Inn & Gardens operates as a boutique inn and event venue, drawing both history buffs and curious ghost hunters.
 

 

Denver’s Haunted Restaurants & Bars

Hungry for a side of local lore with your meal? These restaurants and bars pair memorable food and drinks with some of Denver's most intriguing ghost stories. From Western-style saloons and elegant hotel bars to a former mortuary turned restaurant, these eateries serve up equal parts history and mystery. Pull up a chair — just don't be surprised if it feels like someone is already sitting there.
 

Linger

Colorado's only death-themed restaurant occupies one of Denver's most unusual buildings: a former mortuary. Located in LoHi, Linger embraces its history with coffin-shaped happy hour menus, water bottles designed to resemble formaldehyde containers and plenty of tongue-in-cheek nods to the afterlife. The building once housed Olinger Mortuaries, where Buffalo Bill Cody's body reportedly rested for several months while Colorado and Wyoming argued over his final burial place. Paranormal investigators have explored the property over the years, and some believe a few former visitors may still linger.
 

Buckhorn Exchange

Denver's oldest restaurant has been serving hungry diners since 1893 and still holds Colorado Liquor License No. 1. The walls are lined with taxidermy, antique firearms and Old West memorabilia, creating an atmosphere that feels frozen in time. And according to local legend, some former patrons may still be hanging around. Diners and employees at Buckhorn Exchange have claimed to hear voices, footsteps and even music coming from empty rooms, while chairs have seemingly moved on their own. One of the most frequently spotted spirits is founder Henry "Shorty Scout" Zietz, who occasionally returns to check on the restaurant he built.
 

The Cruise Room

Hidden inside The Oxford Hotel, The Cruise Room has been serving cocktails since the day Prohibition ended in 1933. Its sleek Art Deco design and crimson lighting already feel delightfully eerie, but the ghost stories make it even more intriguing. According to hotel lore, a ghostly mail carrier occasionally appears at the bar before disappearing as suddenly as he arrived. The legend is thought to be tied to a postal worker who was reportedly traveling to Central City with holiday gifts for local children when he became stranded in a snowstorm and never completed his journey. Other stories involve apparitions appearing in mirrors and unexplained encounters in the now-bathroom that once housed the building's barbershop.
 

Churchill Bar, Ship Tavern and Palace Arms

The Brown Palace Hotel is famous for its hauntings, and several of its dining and drinking venues have developed ghost stories of their own. At Churchill Bar, located in hotel founder Henry C. Brown's former office, staff have reported electronics turning on without explanation and other unusual activity believed to be connected to the hotel's namesake. Over at Ship Tavern, patrons have claimed sightings of an old-fashioned railroad conductor wandering through the space before disappearing. Makes sense, considering the tavern stands in the space formerly occupied by a Rock Island Railroad ticket office. Palace Arms, known for its opulent décor and historic artifacts, is also connected to stories of unexplained apparitions and unsettling encounters. Some hotel guests have even heard phantom music drifting from the dining room long after the last (living) patrons have gone home.
 

12 Spirits Tavern

Located inside the Patterson Inn, 12 Spirits Tavern leans wholeheartedly into the property's haunted reputation. The name references the 12 spirits said to roam the mansion, including members of the Patterson family, several of whom died tragically before or while living there. Today, guests can sip specialty cocktails and sample an impressive bourbon selection in what was once Thomas Patterson's smoking lounge.
 

Bar Red

A Prohibition-era tunnel. A door that leads nowhere. A history as a former brothel. Bar Red has all the ingredients for a good ghost story. Housed in a 120-year-old building, the restaurant and bar has developed a reputation for strange noises, unexplained footsteps and sightings of a spectral red mist in the cellar. Fortunately, the spirits here seem more interested in keeping an eye on the place than bothering guests, leaving visitors free to enjoy Italian-inspired fare and cocktails in one of Denver's more unusual historic spaces.

 

Denver’s Haunted Mansions

Denver's Gold Rush wealth helped create an enclave of opulent mansions built by mining magnates, railroad barons and Denver's new social and political elite. Today, many of these historic homes still stand in Capitol Hill, their walls steeped in tales of tragedy, scandal and unexplained encounters. These storied mansions offer a fascinating glimpse into Denver's past — and perhaps the afterlife.
 

Molly Brown House Museum

The home of Titanic survivor and philanthropist Margaret "Molly" Brown is one of Denver's best-known haunted attractions. Staff and visitors of the Molly Brown House Museum have experienced cold spots, unexplained scents, moving objects and sightings believed to be connected to the Brown family and former household staff. One of the mansion's most beloved ghost stories involves a phantom cat that has appeared throughout the house over the years, darting through rooms before vanishing. Visitors can tour the beautifully restored house year-round, and around Halloween, the museum often hosts special events exploring its paranormal history, including ghost-themed tours and even occasional séances.
 

Grant-Humphreys Mansion

With its sweeping staircase, stained-glass windows and elegant ballrooms, the Grant-Humphreys Mansion even looks like the setting of a classic ghost story. The mansion was home to Colorado's third governor, James Benton Grant, and later Denver Mayor Albert Humphreys. Over the years, employees and visitors have reported hearing phantom music, spotting a woman in Victorian dress on the grand staircase and experiencing unexplained activity in the former nursery and upstairs rooms. While the mansion remains an active event venue, its long history and persisting preternatural legends have earned it a place among Denver's most talked-about haunted homes.
 

Peabody-Whitehead Mansion

If any Denver mansion embraces its haunted reputation, it's the Peabody-Whitehead Mansion. Built in 1889, this striking Capitol Hill landmark has become known for ghostly apparitions, disembodied voices, creeping shadows and objects that seem to move on their own. Visitors have described encounters with a young girl in a white dress, hearing children's laughter and eerie piano music echo through empty hallways, as well as spotting figures in Victorian-era clothing. Adding to the intrigue is a long-running legend that the mansion was cursed after original owner Charles Peabody lost his fortune in the Silver Crash of 1893. Today, the mansion frequently hosts paranormal investigations and ghost-hunting experiences, making it a favorite destination for those eager to test their nerve.

 

Denver International Airport Conspiracies

Not every spooky Denver attraction comes with a ghost story. Denver International Airport (DEN) has earned its reputation through something arguably stranger: decades of conspiracy theories, urban legends and unexplained phenomena. 

The airport's most famous resident is the towering blue horse sculpture outside the terminal. Though the artwork’s official name is “Blue Mustang,” it’s long borne the nickname “Blucifer” (a mashup of “blue” and “Lucifer”) for its blue hue, glowing red eyes, imposing stature and overall devilish appearance. And one other reason: During its construction in 2006, a section of the 9,000-pound fiberglass sculpture fell on artist Luis Jiménez, resulting in a fatal injury.  

Inside the airport, visitors have long speculated everything from secret underground tunnels and hidden bunkers to coded messages concealed within the airport's artwork and architecture. While DEN has repeatedly debunked many of these theories — and even poked fun at them in its own marketing campaigns — the rumors continue to fascinate travelers from around the world. 

The airport has also inspired its share of ghost stories. Some employees and visitors have reported hearing unexplained footsteps in quiet areas, spotting shadowy figures (or possibly scaled figures, since the airport is speculated to shelter a number of “lizard people”) in empty corridors and experiencing strange sensations in underground spaces.
 

Ghost Tours Through Denver's Haunted Past 

Not sure where to begin? Denver's spookiest stories become even more interesting when you're walking the very streets where they occurred, and a ghost tour is one of the easiest ways to experience several of Denver's most famous haunted locations in a single outing. Local guides bring the city's terrifying tales to life, blending local history, folklore and a healthy dose of suspense, taking you beyond the guidebook and into some of the Mile High City's most mysterious corners.

If you're visiting in September or October, keep an eye on seasonal offerings. Halloween brings an even bigger lineup of ghost tours, haunted pub crawls, paranormal investigations and other spine-tingling events throughout the Mile High City! 

  • Capitol Hill Ghost and History Tour & Twilight Ghost Tour (Best Tours of Denver): Stroll through one of Denver's oldest neighborhoods, where grand mansions, former brothels and historic hotels set the scene for tales of restless spirits and local legends. The family-friendly Capitol Hill Ghost and History Tour explores the neighborhood's past through a mix of history and hauntings, while the Twilight Ghost Tour leans further into the eerie side of Denver after sunset. 
  • Ghost Tour of Capitol Hill's Most Haunted Mansions (Discover Denver Tours): Wander past some of Capitol Hill's most storied homes as your guide shares accounts of unexplained sightings, tragic histories and the ghosts rumored to remain behind ornate facades and wrought-iron gates. 
  • Paranormal Exploration Tours (Discover Denver Tours): Ready to go beyond the tall tales and spooky stories? These small-group experiences turn you into real-life ghost hunters, introducing participants to paranormal investigation techniques and equipment while exploring some of Denver's most active and intriguing haunted locations.
  • Denver After Dark Ghost Tour (Ghost City Tours): Denver's only adults-only ghost tour (ages 16-plus) dives into the city's darker chapters, from violent crimes and notorious scandals to some of its most unsettling hauntings. Guides don't shy away from the grisly details, making this a good choice for visitors who prefer their ghost stories with a heavier dose of history and horror.
  • Ghosts of Denver Tour (Ghost City Tours): Families and younger ghost hunters can join this all-ages walk through downtown Denver, where historic landmarks and stories of the supernatural offer a fun introduction to the city's haunted past without venturing too far into nightmare territory.
  • Gaslights, Graves & Gold: Terrors of Denver Ghost Tour (Denver Terrors): Follow your guide through the streets of downtown Denver as Gold Rush history, notorious crimes and ghost stories collide. Along the way, you'll hear chilling tales of gamblers, outlaws, madams and other colorful characters who helped shape Denver's early days.
  • Denver Spooktacular All-Ages Ghost Walk (Nightly Spirits): Starting near Market Street and winding through Larimer Square to Denver Union Station, this family-friendly tour introduces guests to some of downtown Denver's most famous hauntings, historic buildings and ghostly legends.
     

Haunted Pub Crawls

Sometimes a ghost story goes down better with a beer or cocktail in hand. Denver's haunted pub crawls pair local history and paranormal lore with stops at some of the city's oldest bars, saloons and taverns. 

  • Denver Haunted Pub Crawl (Ghost City Tours): Visitors ages 21-plus can belly up to the bar at reportedly haunted watering holes while learning about the spirits — both supernatural and liquid — that have shaped Denver's nightlife over the years. 
  • Denver Booze and Boos (Nightly Spirits): This 21-plus pub crawl winds through Lower Downtown's former red-light district, sharing tales of Western justice, notorious characters and unexplained happenings. You'll stop at several historic bars along the way, though drinks are purchased separately. 
  • Denver Spirits & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl (Denver Terrors): Imbibe in some of downtown Denver's oldest drinking establishments while uncovering stories of mysterious apparitions, unsolved crimes and lingering legends from the city's frontier days. 
  • Denver Private Nightmares and Nightcaps Tour (Nightly Spirits): Designed for private groups, this 18-plus tour begins with a drink at an allegedly haunted bar before venturing through LoDo for an evening of ghost stories, historic buildings and local lore. Guests 21-plus may purchase alcoholic beverages during the tour. 

 

Day Trips to Haunted Places Near Denver

Take your ghost hunting beyond the city limits! These nearby mountain towns offer everything from haunted hotels and crumbling cemeteries to mining-town legends and mountain ghost stories.


Estes Park

Located about 90 minutes from Denver in the mountain town of Estes Park, The Stanley Hotel is arguably Colorado's most famous haunted destination. The grand white hotel inspired horror writer Stephen King's The Shining after he spent a night there in 1974, and it has been attracting paranormal enthusiasts ever since. Guests and staff have reported ominous piano music, children's laughter echoing through empty hallways and unexplained activity in several guest rooms. Even if you don't spend the night, the hotel offers ghost tours and supernatural experiences throughout the year.
 

Golden

Golden's haunted history is tied to the city’s Wild West past. As one of Colorado's earliest territorial capitals, Golden accumulated more than its share of frontier drama, including shootouts, vigilante justice and mining-boom scandals. Harrowing highlights include the Astor House Museum (one of Colorado's oldest surviving hotels), where visitors have reported phantom footsteps and sightings of a woman in period dress; the Buffalo Rose, a longtime saloon associated with tales of ghostly patrons and unexplained activity; and Lookout Mountain, where folklore and legends surround Buffalo Bill Cody's gravesite. Today, ghost tours and haunted pub crawls help bring Golden's colorful — and sometimes spine-chilling — past back to life.
 

Boulder

In nearby Boulder, the elegant Hotel Boulderado is known for sightings of a woman in white who glides across the upper floors, elevators that open and close on their own, and the sound of footsteps. On the University of Colorado campus, Macky Auditorium has inspired decades of stories involving a ghostly woman in blue (the spirit of a past performer?), phantom footsteps and strange backstage activity, while Old Main is associated with unexplained voices, apparitions in upper windows and other after-hours mysteries. For an extra dose of local lore, visit Columbia Cemetery, where many of Boulder's founders, miners and early residents are buried beneath the shadow of the Flatirons.
 

Central City & Black Hawk

In the former mining towns of Central City and Black Hawk many local legends date back to the Gold Rush, when fortunes were won and lost overnight. Central City’s legends surround landmarks like the historic Teller House and the Central City Opera House, where visitors have seen sudden apparitions and even heard the sound of applause from unseen audiences. Black Hawk contributes its own share of frontier frights, with sordid tales tied to former saloons, boarding houses and the boom-and-bust days of Colorado's mining era. Today, ghost tours share tales of miners, gamblers and other colorful characters said to still inhabit the hills.
 

Georgetown

Nestled in the mountains west of Denver, Georgetown looks much as it did during Colorado's silver-boom era. Ghost stories surround landmarks like the Hotel de Paris, where visitors have reported unexplained footsteps and sightings believed to be connected to the hotel's original owner, Louis Dupuy. The town's Victorian buildings, hillside cemetery and Georgetown Loop Railroad add to the atmosphere, with local legends tied to miners, railroad workers and the hardships of life in the Rockies. 

 

Photos of the Brown Palace Hotel & Spa courtesy of the Brown Palace