Denver’s sunlit streets and mountain views hide more than just beauty – they hide stories. From grand Victorian mansions to eerie cemeteries-turned-parks, the Mile High City’s haunted past is woven through every cobblestone and alleyway. Founded as a rough-and-tumble mining town, Denver’s early days were filled with fortune seekers, lawmen, and outlaws, many of whom met untimely ends. Over the years, tragedy, opulence, and superstition have intertwined, creating a city where history and the supernatural are never far apart.
Today, Denver’s ghostly side draws curious visitors and paranormal enthusiasts from around the country. Its historic hotels, museums, and landmarks come alive each October, as tales of restless spirits and mysterious happenings echo through their halls. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, these legends reveal a haunting truth: Denver’s past refuses to stay buried. From haunted hotels and cursed roads to phantom musicians and forgotten graves, here are eight of the city’s spookiest legends and landmarks.
1. The Brown Palace Hotel & Spa
Where? 321 17th St
Opened in 1892, The Brown Palace isn’t just Denver’s most elegant hotel – it’s also one of its most haunted. This opulent red sandstone landmark has hosted presidents, celebrities, and socialites for more than a century, but it’s the unseen guests that make it truly legendary. The hotel’s long corridors and vintage décor set the stage for ghostly tales that have been passed down for generations. Visitors and staff alike report strange happenings: flickering lights, phantom footsteps echoing through empty hallways, and doors that seem to open and close on their own.
One of the most well-known spirits said to haunt the hotel is that of a railroad conductor, seen in full uniform before vanishing into a wall that once housed the Rock Island Railroad ticket office. Guests also whisper about a phantom string quartet that sometimes plays faintly in the background, its eerie melodies drifting through the lobby late at night. Whether it’s residual energy from Denver’s Gilded Age or something more supernatural, The Brown Palace continues to blur the line between luxury and the afterlife.
PRO Tip: Book an afternoon tea in the hotel’s grand atrium or a night in one of its historic suites. The staff often shares chilling ghost stories with curious guests – and who knows, you might experience a paranormal encounter of your own.
2. The Molly Brown House Museum
Where? 1340 Pennsylvania St
The “Unsinkable” Margaret Brown’s home has become one of Denver’s most fascinating museums and one of its most haunted. Built in 1894, this stately Victorian mansion tells the story of Molly Brown, a socialite, philanthropist, and Titanic survivor who became a symbol of courage and independence. Yet, even decades after her death, it seems her presence hasn’t completely faded. Visitors and staff have reported flickering lights, cold drafts, and the distinct feeling of being watched while walking through the restored rooms filled with period furniture and family artifacts.
Some of the eeriest accounts involve unexplained smells of pipe smoke lingering in areas where Molly’s husband, J.J. Brown, was never allowed to smoke during his lifetime. Chairs have reportedly moved on their own, doors open and close without cause, and shadowy figures appear briefly before vanishing. Many believe Molly’s strong spirit remains tied to her beloved home, perhaps still overseeing the property she worked so hard to preserve, or simply keeping an eye on the visitors curious enough to step into her world.
PRO Tip: Take one of their many Halloween-themed tours offered in October for a spookier experience. Guides may share firsthand ghost stories and chilling details.
3. Cheesman Park
Where? 1599 E 8th Ave
Few Denver landmarks are as deceptively peaceful as Cheesman Park. Beneath its lush lawns and winding trails lies the site of Mount Prospect Cemetery, one of the city’s earliest burial grounds. In the late 1800s, the cemetery was cleared to make way for the park, but the process was rushed, and hundreds of bodies were left behind or improperly moved. When construction crews began uncovering bones and coffins, the city’s dark secret became impossible to ignore. Even today, it’s said that the restless spirits of those forgotten souls still wander the grounds, seeking the recognition they never received in life.
Visitors often report eerie sensations: sudden chills, whispers carried by the wind, and an overwhelming sense of being watched. Some have even seen ghostly figures drifting among the trees at twilight, or felt unseen hands brushing against them near the park’s pavilion. Whether it’s haunted by history or by human imagination, Cheesman Park remains one of Denver’s eeriest and most beautiful reminders that the past is never truly buried.
PRO Tip: Visit at dusk for the full spine-tingling effect.
4. Croke-Patterson Mansion / The Patterson Inn
Where? 420 E 11th Ave
Standing like a red sandstone fortress in Capitol Hill, the Croke-Patterson Mansion is one of Denver’s most imposing and most haunted buildings. Constructed in 1890 by Thomas Croke, the mansion’s Gothic architecture and eerie atmosphere have inspired ghost stories for more than a century. According to legend, Croke only spent one night in the home before fleeing, terrified by something he could not explain. Later, the Patterson family moved in, and their years in the mansion were marked by strange occurrences – footsteps echoing through empty corridors, doors slamming on their own, and cold drafts that chilled visitors to the bone.
Over time, the mansion became a boarding house, a radio station, and eventually a bed and breakfast. Each era brought new ghostly tales, including reports of a spectral child seen sliding down the grand staircase and phantom dogs barking in the night. Today, the building operates as the luxurious Patterson Inn, where guests can stay in themed rooms – some are said to still harbor lingering spirits from the mansion’s storied past. Whether you’re drawn by curiosity or courage, spending a night here means sharing the halls with Denver’s restless history.
PRO Tip: Ask about the Biltmore Suite, one of the inn’s most famously haunted rooms. Guests have reported flickering lights, cold spots, and even mysterious laughter echoing through the night.
5. The Oxford Hotel
Where? 1600 17th St
As Denver’s oldest boutique hotel, The Oxford has seen more than a century of luxury, romance, and tragedy. Opened in 1891, this stately property once served travelers arriving by train at Union Station and has since hosted countless notable guests. But it’s not just the living who’ve checked in. Room 320 holds one of Denver’s darkest tales: in 1898, a woman named Florence Montague allegedly shot her lover before turning the gun on herself. Since then, male guests have reported their sheets being tugged off in the night, phantom touches on their arms, and the unmistakable feeling of being watched.
Beyond Room 320, the hotel hums with other unexplained activity. Visitors have seen ghostly figures wandering the hallways, bathroom stalls that lock on their own, and sinks that turn on and off without warning. Even the Cruise Room – the hotel’s sleek Art Deco bar – has its own spirit: a lost, old-time postman who drinks a glass before fading away. The Oxford’s elegance may shine, but beneath the polished brass and marble lies a lingering melancholy that refuses to be forgotten.
PRO Tip: Stop by the Cruise Room for a cocktail before exploring. Ask the bartender about the ghostly postman – they might just share one of Denver’s most chilling firsthand accounts.
6. The Lumber Baron Inn
Where? 2555 W 37th Ave
Built in 1890 by Scottish immigrant and lumber magnate John Mouat, the Lumber Baron Inn stands as one of the Highlands neighborhood’s most striking Victorian mansions – and one of its most haunted. The home’s intricate woodwork and stained-glass windows conceal a tragic history. In the 1970s, two young women were murdered in the building under mysterious circumstances, and many believe their spirits never left. Guests and staff have reported whispers echoing through the halls, phantom footsteps on the grand staircase, and cold spots that appear without warning. Even skeptics admit the mansion carries an undeniable energy, especially after dark.
Over the years, the inn has transformed from a private residence into a charming bed and breakfast, hosting weddings, dinners, and paranormal investigations. Some visitors claim to have seen a woman’s silhouette in the upstairs windows or felt a gentle, watchful presence. Despite its chilling backstory, the Lumber Baron Inn exudes warmth and grace, offering guests a rare chance to sleep in the heart of Denver’s haunted history.
PRO Tip: Book a stay in the Valentine Suite, where guests have reported seeing an apparition.
7. Denver International Airport & “Blucifer”
Where? 8500 Peña Blvd
Few places in Denver stir up as many eerie rumors as Denver International Airport (DIA). Since its opening in 1995, the sprawling, art-filled airport has been the subject of conspiracy theories and ghost stories alike. Beneath its sleek, modern exterior, people whisper about secret underground bunkers, hidden Freemason symbols, and even connections to the apocalypse. Adding to the unsettling atmosphere is the airport’s most infamous resident – “Blucifer,” the 32-foot-tall blue Mustang statue that greets travelers at the entrance. With glowing red eyes and a menacing stance, this towering artwork gained a chilling reputation after its sculptor, Luis Jiménez, was tragically killed when a piece of the statue fell on him during construction.
Inside the airport, strange occurrences keep the legends alive. Travelers report odd humming noises, sudden temperature drops, and unsettling feelings in the long, echoing tunnels beneath the terminals. Some claim to see shadowy figures darting just out of sight or sense an inexplicable presence near the artwork scattered throughout the facility. Whether you see it as a hub of art and architecture or a hotbed of paranormal mystery, Denver International Airport continues to capture imaginations and spook even the most seasoned travelers.
PRO Tip: On your next trip through DIA, take a few minutes to explore the public art displays. From Blucifer to Leo Tanguma’s massive murals, you’ll find plenty of strange symbolism that keeps the airport’s haunted reputation flying high.
8. University of Denver’s Mary Reed Hall
Where? 2199 S University Blvd
At the heart of the University of Denver’s picturesque campus stands Mary Reed Hall, an elegant Collegiate Gothic building with ivy-draped walls and an uncanny reputation for being haunted. Built in 1932 and named after philanthropist Mary D. Reed, the hall has long been a place of learning and administration. But when the students and staff have gone home, strange things are said to stir within its quiet corridors. Security guards and custodians have reported hearing typewriters clicking in empty offices, footsteps pacing the upper floors, and faint whispers that seem to vanish when investigated.
The spirit most often linked to these occurrences is said to be Mary Reed herself, who generously donated to the university throughout her life. Witnesses claim to have seen her ghostly figure, dressed in early 20th-century attire, drifting through the building’s dimly lit halls. Some even report books flying from shelves or lights flickering in the tower after midnight. Though her intentions seem more watchful than wicked, Mary Reed’s lingering presence adds an unmistakable aura to the building’s academic grandeur.
PRO Tip: Visit Mary Reed Hall during the day to admire not just its haunted history, but its stunning architecture and intricate woodwork.
Final Rest Stops: Where Denver’s Ghosts Refuse to Fade Away
From haunted hotels and eerie mansions to mysterious artworks and restless parks, Denver’s haunted history is woven deep into the fabric of the city. Each ghost story reveals another layer of the Mile High City’s complex past, where Victorian elegance meets Wild West grit, and where the boundary between the living and the dead sometimes seems paper-thin. These legends remind us that behind every restored landmark and modern skyline lies a story of loss, mystery, or unexplainable wonder. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, it’s hard not to feel the chill of history whispering through the city’s oldest walls.
So, the next time you wander through Denver after dark, take a moment to listen – the creak of a floorboard, the flicker of a streetlight, or the echo of a voice that doesn’t quite belong. From Mary Reed Hall’s watchful spirit to the glowing red eyes of Blucifer, Denver invites you to explore its haunted heritage with both curiosity and respect. Just remember: ghosts may be shy, but in this city, they’re never far away.