Colorado’s known for a number of things—ski resorts, craft beer, the Rocky Mountains, legal pot. But the Centennial State has a rich haunted past, one embraced not only by the reality of its mile high haunts, but also by the highly commercialized and always terrifying world of haunted houses.
Whether you’re a paranormal enthusiast or curious adventurer, these real-life sites will send shivers down your spine. As for those pay-to-be-scared haunted venues, they’re perfect if you’re not one to mess around with the real ghouls, as they are just actors…right?
10 Popular Commercial Haunted Houses in Colorado
Colorado isn’t shy when it comes to cranking up the fright factor, and these haunted houses are sure to entertain and definitely scare.
1. 13th Floor Haunted House Denver (Denver)
Known for delivering a gut-wrenching horror experience, 13th Floor brings your darkest fears to life with terrifying actors, sets, special effects, and scares. The end result; an immersive and terrifying atmosphere. While themes change from year to year, it generally centers around exploring a haunted location with monsters, creepy characters, disturbing scenes, and of course, jump scares.
Learn more about 13th Floor Haunted House Denver here.
2. Fright Fest (Denver)
Fright Fest isn’t just one haunted house. It’s an entire event held at Elitch Gardens amusement park. There are multiple haunted houses with different themes, and many rides and activities for a wonderfully scary experience.
Learn more about Fright Fest here.
3. The Frightmare Compound (Westminster)
One of the oldest haunted attractions in Denver, The Frightmare Compound is known to deliver intense scares. The founder is supposedly buried on the premise which only adds to the creepy allure. Not only does this compound have a main haunted house, but there is also a monster museum with props, masks, and other memorabilia from the compound’s history, as well as other attractions depending on the year, like escape rooms.
Learn more about The Frightmare Compound here.
4. Reinke Bros. Haunted Mansion (Littleton)
Not only is Reinke Bros. a fantastic Halloween store, but they’ve taken advantage of the scare business with their own haunted mansion. With monsters and spine-chilling fun, they take pride in being a family tradition for over five decades.
Learn more about Reinke Bros. Haunted Mansion here.
5. Haunted Field of Screams (Thornton)
Haunted Field of Screams is known for being the state’s largest haunted experience. Why? Because it’s in a 40-acre cornfield. (Do we really need to remind people about Children of the Corn?)
To add to the commercialized haunting experience, there’s a real chance of actual paranormal activity given its location along what is considered to be the most haunted road in Colorado—Riverdale Road. The site of killings and accidents, lost souls and malevolent creatures, you get all the fright of what you pay for with the real chance of supernatural happenings.
Learn more about the Haunted Field of Screams here.
6. The Ritual Haunted House (Englewood)
This haunted experience has you wander through chilling locations like an old shack, to a cursed swamp, to a cannibal’s lair. Not exactly for the faint of heart, this is a real nightmare of an experience that doesn’t hold back the haunts.
Learn more about The Ritual Haunted House here.
7. Hellscream Haunted House (Colorado Springs)
This multi-story haunted house has been offering scares for over 15 years and is recognized as being one of the scariest in Colorado. Not only do actors deliver creepy and intense performances, but special effects give you a horror movie vibe—only you’re living it. With different themes and interactive experiences, it truly is a unique haunted house experience.
Learn more about Hellscream Haunted House here.
8. Haunted Stage Shop (Rollinsville)
This immersive experience takes place in a haunted historic building in an actual former ghost town built in 1868. Not only do you experience manufactured scares but the chance for real paranormal activity may be much higher than most other venues. All we have to say is, bless those people who work there late at night.
Learn more about Haunted Stage Shop here.
9. The Fear Complex (Colorado Springs)
The Fear Complex offers an immersive experience with multiple sections like The Sanitarium, Haunted Mines, and Sinister Manor. The variety gives you the chance to explore different themes—or avoid certain themes—based on your preference and fright level.
Learn more about The Fear Complex here.
10. Terror in the Corn (Erie)
Terror in the Corn offers a different take on haunted houses with its mile-long experience. Not only do you get a scare but you get a little exercise as well. The immersive experience includes a winding path through a creepy cornfield leading you to an abandoned town full of scary surprises.
Learn more about Terror in the Corn here.
Haunted Houses in Denver, Colorado
If the manufactured scares aren’t enough for you and you feel inclined to test your luck with the real spirits, these haunted house locations in Denver may just be for you.
Molly Brown House
Molly Brown was an American human rights activist and philanthropist who resided in Denver. Oh, and she survived the Titanic. But her beautiful home is rumored to be haunted by not just her, but several other spirits. Some people have claimed to see Brown turning corners and have also felt cold spots when in her room. People have also smelled tobacco pipe smoke which is suspected to be her husband, J.J. Brown, a known smoker.
Molly’s daughter may haunt her own room, most notably suspected of raising and lowering blinds, and reflections of servants have appeared in a certain mirror near the first-floor stairs. As her house is now a museum, employees have experienced things like light bulbs unscrewing themselves, furniture being rearranged, and the apparition of a woman in Victorian clothing. Could this be Brown, or another past resident?
Interested in visiting Molly Brown’s house? You can tour the museum on your own by reserving tickets here.
Denver Children’s Home
Although not your typical single family home, the Denver Children’s Home, originally known as the Denver Orphans’ Home, is rumored to have some pretty creepy paranormal activity.
The most consistent apparition reported is what people call “the bride.” A woman in white is seen on the third floor at night, sometimes floating down the stairs and disappearing through a wall. While her story is unknown, some people believe she’s an original member of the Ladies Relief Society—the group who founded the home—while others think she’s connected to a tragic fire that occurred in the building.
One troubling story is that of a fire in the late 1880s that supposedly began on the third floor, trapping and killing children. While there’s little evidence to support this specific story, it aligns with some paranormal reports of a smoky smell and children crying or running in the hallway.
Byers-Evans House
Despite some reports of paranormal activity, the museum wants to keep history at the forefront of its mission, not the hauntings. The house was first built by Rocky Mountain News publisher William Byers in 1883. He then sold it to the family of William Gray Evans in 1889. Today, the house acts as the Center for Colorado Women’s History. But regardless of the storied history, the house has long standing rumors of strange supernatural happenings.
Museum staff and visitors have reported events like disembodied voices, furniture moving on its own, doors opening and closing by themselves, and sightings of full-bodied ghosts in old-fashioned clothing. These shadowy figures are believed to be the spirits of the Evans family lingering in the house.
A medium recently concluded that a portal to another world may have been opened in the house as well, allowing other spirits to enter. These spirits are described as mischievous and even malevolent, but the museum continues to take charge and do their best to keep these spirits at bay.
Haunted Houses in Black Forest, Colorado
If you’re heading to Black Forest for a scare, turn around—there are no public haunted houses in Black Forest. There’s a much scarier haunted house, one privately owned but famous nonetheless. And since you’re here for a good story, we’ll tell you about it.
In 1991, the Lee family purchased what they thought was their dream home in Black Forest. But soon after their purchase, they began experiencing strange and haunting occurrences. Unexplained noises like chains and footsteps came out of nowhere, foul odors filled rooms, and flickering lights forced them to equip the home with a security system.
When that failed, the Lee’s contacted a show called Sightings which only reaffirmed what they’d experienced. Not only did crew members experience numbness and violent episodes of crying, but it was revealed that multiple spirits occupied the house.
Despite the hauntings and fact it is private property, it’s believed that the Lee family still lives in the house.
Haunted Houses in Castle Rock, Colorado
Castle Rock has a few haunted sites enthusiasts may find interesting.
The Cantril School which was built in 1898 is now a preschool and office space where people have reported feeling chills, seeing ghosts on the stairs, and hearing unexplained footsteps. The Old Stone Church Restaurant which was originally built as a church in 1888, is now known for its haunted history as employees and customers have reported seeing a woman lighting candles, figures in the confessional, and a little girl with an axe in her head.
But when it comes to haunted houses, a site known as Victoria’s House has a reputation for being haunted by its former resident. Built in 1896, Victoria Anderson grew up in the house and later returned after her parents’ died, eventually passing away in the house herself.
The building is now home to the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce and employees have voiced their experiences with what they believe is the spirit of Victoria. They’ve reported strange noises like bumps, snoring, and buzzing sounds, as well as one account that claimed a cabinet door opened on its own.