Looking for a spine-tingling adventure this fall? Whether you're into ghost stories or just love a good thrill, Colorado has no shortage of haunted locations perfect for exploring. Here are five haunted destinations that will send shivers down your spine—just in time for Halloween!
Stanley Hotel (Estes Park, CO)
Distance from Denver: 1.5 hours
Backstory: Famous for inspiring Stephen King's The Shining, the Stanley Hotel is known for its eerie encounters with the supernatural. Guests have reported hearing mysterious piano music, footsteps echoing through empty hallways, and even spotting apparitions like that of F.O. Stanley himself.
Best times to visit: Fall is prime ghost-hunting season and the hotel offers regular ghost tours! Fall is also the best time to view the changing aspen leaves throughout the state and October is especially popular, so book early!
Tips for visiting: Check out the Stanley’s night tours for an added spooky experience, and consider staying overnight if you dare!
Spooky fact: Room 217, where Stephen King stayed, is said to have the most ghostly activity!
Patterson Inn (Capitol Hill, Denver, CO)
Distance from Denver: Located in central Denver
Backstory: Built in 1891, this French-style chateau in Capitol Hill has earned a reputation as one of the most haunted places in Denver. The Patterson Inn was once home to a series of mysterious and tragic events, with some guests reporting ghostly apparitions, strange noises, and lights flickering on and off without reason.
Best times to visit: Stay overnight in the fall when the air is crisp, and the ghosts are restless! October is perfect for an eerie experience.
Tips for visiting: Book a room in advance, especially during the Halloween season, when the haunted history makes it a hotspot.
Spooky fact: Guests have claimed to see shadowy figures on the stairs and many have claimed to encounter apparitions of some of the Patterson family, many of whom met untimely deaths in the house after it was built.
Cheesman Park (Denver, CO)
Photo: 303 Magazine
Distance from Denver: Located in central Denver
Backstory: Once a cemetery, Cheesman Park has a dark history. When the land was converted into a park in the late 1800s, the moving of over 5,000 graves failed due to gross mismanagement of the project by the local undertaker. Many bodies were left behind in their original graves, and are still buried beneath the park grounds. Visitors often report strange sensations, such as feeling watched or hearing whispers carried by the wind.
Best times to visit: Dusk adds to the eerie atmosphere year-round. October nights are particularly chilling.
Tips for visiting: It’s free to enter, but be respectful of the park’s historical significance. You can also join a haunted tour for a small fee, check local listings.
Spooky fact: There are still believed to be over 2,000 bodies buried beneath the park!
The Oxford Hotel (Denver, CO)
Distance from Denver: Located in lower downtown, Denver
Backstory: One of Denver’s oldest hotels, The Oxford is notorious for its haunted rooms, especially Room 320, where a tragic murder-suicide occurred. Guests staying in that room have reported bizarre occurrences, like flickering lights, an old-timey scent of perfume, and ghostly apparitions.
Best times to visit: October is the prime time for ghost tours in LoDo, and the hotel’s spooky atmosphere really comes to life during the Halloween season.
Tips for visiting: Book a room at the Oxford to experience its haunted charm firsthand.
Spooky fact: In addition to Room 320, the Cruise Room bar, located in the hotel, is the longest-operating bar in the city and is said to be haunted by a postal worker who still hasn’t completed his last delivery!
Hotel Colorado (Glenwood Springs, CO)
Distance from Denver: 2.5 hours
Backstory: Built in 1893, Hotel Colorado has a long history of paranormal activity. It served as a hospital during World War II, and guests have reported seeing ghosts of nurses and soldiers roaming the halls. Other ghostly encounters include the spirits of children playing in the hallways and a woman in Victorian clothing.
Best times to visit: Fall and winter are prime times to visit this historic hotel for its ghostly ambiance.
Tips for visiting: Book a stay or a guided ghost tour to fully experience the hauntings.
Spooky fact: A ghostly figure of a little girl has been spotted near the hotel's main lobby, often giggling or running around corners before disappearing.
Whether you believe in spirits or not, Halloween is the best time to get into the spirit and check out these spooky destinations. I can even vouch for the eeriness of the Hotel Colorado, where I stayed in the Molly Brown Suite. The constant feeling of being watched caused me to check out early and head back home. Give me a call if you want to compare haunted experiences - and if you're in the market for a new (non-haunted) home, reach out!