The Top 5 Most Haunted Places in Denver, Colorado
Where the Mile High City Meets the Afterlife
Denver’s rich history is filled with boomtown fortunes, Wild West legends, and just enough mystery to make it one of the most haunted cities in the West. From historic hotels to old theaters, the echoes of Denver’s past can still be heard — and sometimes, seen — in its most infamous haunts. Whether you’re a believer or a skeptic, these five locations have enough ghost stories to chill even the bravest Coloradan.
1. The Oxford Hotel – Denver’s Most Elegant Haunting
Built in 1891, The Oxford Hotel is the city’s oldest operating hotel — and easily one of its most haunted. Guests have reported flickering lights, mysterious cold spots, and even ghostly apparitions. Room 320 is said to be the most active, where a woman who took her own life after being abandoned by her lover is said to still linger. Bartenders at the hotel’s Cruise Room have also claimed to see a well-dressed ghost ordering champagne… only to vanish before taking a sip.
2. Cheesman Park – From Cemetery to City Park
What was once Mount Prospect Cemetery became one of Denver’s most popular parks — but not all of the bodies were moved when construction began in the late 1800s. Today, locals report eerie sensations while walking through the park at night, from whispers in the trees to shadowy figures wandering near the pavilion. Paranormal investigators call Cheesman one of Colorado’s most spiritually active areas — and it’s not hard to see why.
3. The Molly Brown House – A Titanic Spirit Still Afloat
The home of the “Unsinkable” Molly Brown, famed survivor of the Titanic, remains one of Denver’s most iconic landmarks — and one of its most haunted. Visitors and staff have reported flickering lights, doors opening on their own, and the faint scent of roses (Molly’s favorite flower) drifting through empty rooms. Some believe Molly herself never truly left, keeping a watchful eye over the historic home she loved.
4. The Buckhorn Exchange – Spirits of the Wild West
Established in 1893, The Buckhorn Exchange is Denver’s oldest restaurant — and it’s packed with both history and hauntings. Once a favorite of cowboys, miners, and even Theodore Roosevelt, the restaurant is rumored to be home to the spirits of past patrons who just couldn’t stay away. Staff have reported seeing ghostly figures near the upstairs bar and hearing phantom footsteps when the restaurant is closed. Maybe the ghosts just want one more steak dinner.
5. Fairmount Cemetery – Beauty with a Dark Whisper
Stretching over 280 acres, Fairmount Cemetery is one of Denver’s most historic and eerily beautiful resting places. Established in 1890, it’s the final home of many of Colorado’s most notable figures — but some visitors say not everyone here rests easy. Mourners have reported strange mists, phantom lights among the tombstones, and an unshakable feeling of being watched. At night, even the bravest ghost hunters tread lightly.
The Final Word
From the marble halls of The Oxford to the open lawns of Cheesman Park, Denver’s haunted history runs deep. Whether you’re ghost hunting or just love a good scare, these five places are a reminder that in the Mile High City, the past is never truly gone — it’s just waiting for the right moment to say hello.
