Colorado could have been the setting for Stranger Things with its abundance of hauntings and ties to the paranormal. While we may not have a gate to the Upside Down, Colorado definitely has a connection to the other side.
From hearing faint whispers in the hall to lights turning themselves on and off or even having your luggage being packed for you, you don’t have to go far in Colorado to find a haunted hotel.
While most visitors come to Colorado to hike in our gorgeous mountains, go whitewater rafting, or sample our great craft beer, we also have a lot to offer paranormal investigators and ghost hunters. Colorado is home to some sinister spirits that have taken up residence in some amazing hotels around the state with thrills around every corner and in every room.
If you’re not afraid of the dark and like all things spooky and creepy, be sure to plan to stay at one of these haunted hotels in Colorado and try to sleep tight!
7 of Colorado’s most haunted hotels
1. The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park
Let’s start with our most famous haunted hotel in Colorado: The Stanley Hotel near Rocky Mountain National Park.
While most know this hotel as the inspiration for The Shining by Stephen King, none of the ghosts here are going to pop into your bathroom screaming, “Here’s Johnny!” In fact, most, but not all, of the spirits here are friendly, especially those of the hotel’s founders, F.O. and Flora Stanley. Flora likes to play her piano in the ballroom, F.O. is known to help lost guests, and there are some playful children who like to hang out on the fourth floor.
The most haunted room in the hotel is room 217 where the head housekeeper, Elizabeth Wilson, was involved in an accident. These days, guests staying in this room have reported having their things unpacked and put away or finding their room tidied up without housekeeping stopping by yet.
Other popular paranormal hotspots in this haunted hotel include room 418, where King stayed when he got the idea for his scary novel, and room 407 where a ghost likes to mess with visitors by appearing in the window or playing with the lights.
I’ve stayed at the Stanley a few times and haven’t experienced anything in the main hotel, but on a trip with some girlfriends a few years back we stayed in the Lodge – and apparently we weren’t alone. We went on the ghost tour where one of my friends, who is not a believer, suddenly grasped onto my hand and whispered, “It’s not you.” Her zipper on her sweatshirt had been pulled up and down and she thought I was just playing a prank on her.
Then, we got back to our room and as I’m turning off the light in the main room, it turns back on behind me. The light goes out again and I ran toward the bedroom where we fell asleep watching The Shining as the hotel plays it on a loop.
The Stanley Hotel embraces the horror and has nightly ghost tours, special ghost tour hotel packages, and even has several parties and Halloween balls in October to celebrate its spooky side. If you’re looking for a cool experience in Estes Park, definitely consider staying at the haunted Stanley Hotel!
2. The Brown Palace Hotel, Denver
This historic hotel in downtown Denver is one of the oldest still in operation hotels in the city, so it comes with the territory that it’s had a haunting or two. Even if you don’t go for the ghosts, you should go check out the hotel as its beautiful and it feels like you’ve stepped into another time.
Fun fact: There’s a tunnel that connected the Brown Palace with the brothel across the street so the madame could send the drunk politicians and businessmen back to the hotel in a discreet fashion.
The Brown Palace Hotel opened in 1892 and has been open every day since then and has played the part of a triangular anchor of the historic financial district of Denver, as well as the home to ghosts who couldn’t leave the luxurious space behind.
The hotel has spent part of its life as apartments for high society members and one former resident of room 904 did not appreciate tours of the hotel taking place and began making phone calls to the front desk, even though her room was vacant and no longer had a phone.
My sister and I stopped outside her room on a ghost tour of Denver to hear her story and see if she would be active for us but didn’t hear anything.
The restaurant, Ellyngton’s, is also known for paranormal activity with lights turning on and off by themselves, shadowy figures appearing throughout the room and in the elevator, disembodied voices, and even a string quartet practicing their music and calmly telling the employee who saw them that it was okay as, “We live here.”
3. The Oxford Hotel, Denver
Another Denver icon, this time near Union Station, dating back to the 1890s is the Oxford Hotel. Interestingly enough, it was designed by the same man who designed the Brown Palace Hotel… makes you wonder if he has something to do with all these hauntings.
While the Oxford underwent an Art Deco makeover in the 1930s, it still retains its historic elegance and it seems a few spirits wanted to stay behind too. One of the most frequently spotted ghosts is that of a male postal worker who likes to take up residence at the Cruise Room bar and order a beer. He’s been heard saying he needs to get the gifts to the children and drink his beer, but when the bartender takes the bottle, it’s still full.
Another lively spirit is that of a young woman in room 320 who is said to have murdered her lover and then commit suicide herself. Men tend to report the most paranormal activity happening to them, like someone grabbing their arm or ripping the sheets off them.
4. Patterson Historic Inn (formerly the Croke-Patterson Mansion), Denver
My sister and I had the opportunity to step inside this haunted mansion after hearing about it on virtually every ghost tour of Denver. Built in the late 1800s for Thomas B. Croke, legend has it that he stepped inside once and then promised he’d never return. He never spoke of what scared him of the mansion so but he never went back into the beautiful home.
The Patterson family bought the mansion next and lived there for many years. The creepiest story includes when the mansion was under renovation and each day the workers would arrive to find their tools strewn about or missing, as well as their work undone. The construction company brought two guard dogs to watch the property at night and one was either thrown or leapt to its death from the third floor.
People have reported seeing Thomas Patterson roaming the halls, hearing footsteps, babies crying, and knocks on the wall, as well as strong, foul odors coming from nowhere. One of our tour guides saw a dark figure watching them from the window and refused to go inside. The cellar is said to be a haunted location as well and it’s definitely creepy, but my sister and I didn’t see any strange activity when we were in the inn.
5. Hotel Colorado, Glenwood Springs
At twilight, you can easily see why this grand hotel makes the list of haunted hotels in Colorado with its eerie shadows and towering height. Most go to Glenwood Springs for relaxation and rejuvenation in the thermal pools, I go for the ghosts at Hotel Colorado – and trips to the hot springs!
In the wee hours of the morning, the elevators like to move on their own and you’ll often pick up the scent of cigar smoke though no one is smoking. Others have reported seeing a young girl playing with her toys in the dining room or worse is the screaming from the third floor, supposedly from the maid who was murdered here.
Hotel Colorado is in a gorgeous location and well worth the visit if checking out the hot springs or nearby hiking trails.
6. Hotel Jerome, Aspen
Aspen is the winter playground for the rich with world-class skiing and mountain views, but a few others continue to call Aspen home long after being able to strap on some skis.
Room 310 is a hotbed of activity and is said to be haunted by a young boy who drowned in the hotel’s pool. He’ll appear wet and cold and leave behind wet footprints as he searches for his parents.
Another apparition is that of Katie Kerrigan, the maid who fell into the frozen lake but later died of pneumonia, and she’s known to continue her housekeeping duties. Finally, there’s Henry O’Callister who is said to have died of a broken heart and is seen wandering the halls lamenting his lost love.
7. Hand Hotel Bed & Breakfast, Fairplay
This hotel is touted to be one of the most haunted hotels in Colorado, with a ghost in every single room and scary stories to go with the hauntings. The hotel is small with only 11 rooms but that’s a lot of hauntings in not a lot of space.
Sightings include twin girls in the kitchen, faces in the mirror, shadowy figures, a demonic dog in the basement, and a gentle ghost, Grandma Hand, who likes to sit in her rocking chair.
Many ghost hunters and paranormal investigators stay at the Hand Hotel Bed & Breakfast as its teeming with activity. Most investigations result in sightings, EMF meter readings, and even investigators feeling like they were being watched, touched, and even burned in some cases.
For a small town in Colorado, Fairplay seems to be the destination of choice for local ghosts.
Have you spent a night at any of these haunted hotels? Tell us if you have a ghost story to share or had a paranormal experience in the comments below!
