Are Ghosts Real? Explore the Most Haunted Colorado Mountain Towns
- Molly Sandwell
- Apr 17
- 5 min read
Ask yourself…. Are ghosts real?
Well, all across the Centennial State, shadows and spirits cling to their old haunts. From its elevated alpine regions to the Eastern plains, Colorado holds a goldmine of ghosts within its eerie canyons and historic corners. Gunslingers of the Wild West mingle with the specters of miners and gamblers, all tethered to the Old West towns of Colorado where they once sought their fortunes.
Read about it here, then explore for yourself.
Cripple Creek
A harrowing history as a volatile gold rush town left Cripple Creek riddled with ghosts. Spirits of the Wild West refuse to relinquish their hold, lingering in the places they once passed through with high hopes, like the Railroad Depot, or which ended in broken dreams, as many did within the old Teller County Jail.
Spooky legends swirl around places like the Imperial Hotel in this rugged town, now known as the Christmas Casino & Inn. Haunted by its former owner — a man who locked his daughter away in one of the rooms before falling to his death on the stairs — it continues to bear the echoes of both their ghosts.
The Colorado Grande Casino is another phantom hangout for high rollers. One of Cripple Creek’s most haunted buildings, it appears to be the eternal home of a high-heeled specter named Maggie, who smells of rose perfume. Legends say she can be heard singing and dancing in the former ballroom or sometimes seen playing the slot machines after hours.
Are ghosts real? Make sure to join a local Cripple Creek ghost tour and decide for yourself.
Breckenridge
Breckenridge’s reputation as a snowy resort destination may overshadow its haunted history by leaps and bounds, but hiding behind the bustling bars and ski slopes lurks a stranger side. Unbeknownst to many, one of the largest historic districts in all of Colorado can be found within Breckenridge, along with a treasury of ghost stories tied to its former saloons and brothels.
For those searching for spirits in this former boomtown, the Gold Pan Saloon is often their first stop. Still under the rule of its former madame, this female phantom causes lights to flicker, doors to close, and may even touch patrons on the cheek with an icy brush.
The Country Boy Mine stands as another blood-curdling draw. Within this restored mine, visitors have reported being pushed, receiving unearthly phone calls, and capturing strange apparitions in photos in this eerie, underground space.
Still asking yourself, “Are ghosts real?” The historic Blue River dredge boat holds many hair-raising tales as well. The site of many documented deaths in the dangerous business of dredging, the restaurants that have occupied this space often report unnerving presences and chilling manifestations on site.
Crested Butte
Ghost stories abound in the cozy town of Crested Butte. Silver booms and coal mines in the late 1800s lured many fortune seekers to this Colorado town to find wealth and happiness. Yet many folks only found death. The Jokerville Mine Explosion of 1884 took around 60 lives alone, leaving a slew of spirits to aimlessly wander these grounds.
The ghosts of such workers continue to frequent their old haunts, like the Dogwood Cocktail Cabin. A dwelling where miners used to spend their nonworking hours, it seems many have returned home in the afterlife, popping up in the occasional photo within this cabin-turned-cocktail lounge.
Still, tourists should be wary when driving past the Crested Butte Cemetery in this rustic town if they see a shabby-looking man seeking a lift. This phantom hitchhiker is known to appear late at night, asking for a ride. Although he bears no ill intent, he is definitely a ghost, and reportedly the smell he emits while he rides with you is all too real.
Are Ghosts Real in Estes Park
Nestled in the majestic mountains near Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park continues to be a destination that is just as beautiful as it is haunting. Home to the world-renowned Stanley Hotel, ghost seekers far and wide flock to this Colorado town for this single reason.
If you still don’t have an answer to, “Are ghosts real?” In Estes Park, the very hotel that inspired Stephen King to pen The Shining, the Stanley Hotel held a haunted reputation long before the horror writer arrived. Upstairs, a ghostly maid continues to turn down beds in room 217, despite having shed her mortal coil long ago.
Meanwhile, the spirit of Flora Stanley is known to play the piano in the concert hall. Children's laughter permeates the fourth floor, and owner Freelan Oscar Stanley hits up the bar and billiards room in search of a whiskey, undeterred by his death in 1940.
Durango
A powder keg of Wild West tempers left this railroad hub and mining town overrun with restless souls. Shootouts and tragic accidents scarred Durango with an unearthly bruise, infesting locations like the Rochester Hotel, where a Victorian call girl is known to haunt room 204, now just a phantom of Colorado’s sinister past.
While Durango’s Main Avenue may boast romantic restaurants and charming shops today, it once witnessed all manner of vices, from gambling and gunfights to brothels and opium dens. But many believe the ghostly Stockton Gang patrols the streets still, along with other ghosts of this rowdy era.
But the spirits of law and justice remain as well in places like El Moro Tavern. The otherworldly dwelling of the first sheriff of La Plata County, this lingering specter makes himself known through crashing glasses or shadows that flit in the corner of your eye, as reported by several employees. All this – and more – can be discovered by joining a Durango ghost tour.
Telluride
A deadly mining heritage peppered with accidents and tragedies has rendered Telluride another hotspot for ghosts. The Smuggler-Union fire of 1901 took 28 souls in its deadly clutches to be buried in Lone Tree Cemetery, well known by locals as a spectral stomping ground.
The Telluride Historical Museum holds just as many spine-tingling tales. Once the sight of a miners’ hospital that saw many workers succumb to diseases caused by rocks and dust irritating the lungs, it’s home to more than artifacts of this brutal era. Several miners' spirits seem tied to the modern-day museum, bound here by their traumatic lives and deaths.
Haunted Colorado
So, do you have your answer to, “Are ghosts real?”
It goes without saying that the past bleeds through in unusual ways within the Centennial State.
Souls long buried rise up from their underground tombs, drifting up from the mine shafts into the familiar places they once sought respite. The ghosts of the gold rush linger there still in many Colorado towns…
… just waiting for an unsuspecting soul to pay them a visit.
Guest Blog by Molly Sandwell for US Ghost Adventures
Molly Sandwell is a writer for US Ghost Adventures, crafting spirited copy that reflects the haunted heritage of some of America’s most spine-tingling cities.
US Ghost Adventures is a premier ghost tour operator, offering a variety of chilling tours and spooky stays across the United States to send shivers down your spine. Haunted tours by US Ghost Adventures seamlessly blend history and horror, exploring how ghosts and legends tie into a city’s historic legacy. Whether you're a die-hard believer or a stone-cold skeptic, everyone will leave with a newfound appreciation for the city they’re in and its many phantoms after spending a night with US Ghost Adventures.
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