Haunted Hotels in Denver: 6 Spooky Places to Stay

Looking for a haunted hotel in Denver? Start with the Brown Palace and the Oxford Hotel, the city's two grand dames, each with more than a century of ghost stories. Then dig deeper into Victorian mansions turned inns, where the stories get darker.

Denver boomed fast in the late 1800s. Silver money, railroad money and a lot of hard living built this city, and some of the buildings from that era are still taking overnight guests. Here are the haunted places to stay in Denver, and what people say happens after the lights go out.

The Brown Palace Hotel: Denver's most famous haunted hotel

The Brown Palace opened on August 12, 1892, built by Henry C. Brown on an unusual triangular lot downtown. It has hosted Denver high society for well over a century, and Dwight D. Eisenhower once used it as a campaign headquarters, and it has collected a long list of ghost stories along the way.

The most repeated ones:

• The string quartet. Staff have reported hearing music in the dining room now home to Ellyngton's. One popular story says an employee found a quartet practicing after hours and told them to leave, only to be told they lived there.
• The train conductor. A figure dressed like an old railroad conductor has been reported near the spot where a railroad ticket office once stood, before vanishing into the wall.
• Suite 904. This was once home to Louise Crawford Hill, the famous queen of Denver society. During renovations, staff reported strange calls coming from the empty room.

The Brown Palace leans into its history, and has offered its own historical and haunted tours. Check the hotel directly for what's running when you visit.

The Oxford Hotel and the legend of Room 320

The Oxford, built in 1891 near Union Station and designed by architect Frank Edbrooke, is Denver's oldest hotel. It's a few steps from the bars and restaurants of LoDo, which makes it an easy pick for a haunted weekend.

Its best-known story centers on Room 320. The legend says that in 1898 a woman named Florence Montague shot her lover and then herself in the room. Versions of the tale differ on the details. Ever since, single men staying in 320 have reported faucets and lights turning on and off and the covers being pulled back in the night.

Downstairs, the Art Deco Cruise Room is a classic Denver bar. Bartenders tell of an old-fashioned mail carrier who orders a beer and talks about delivering Christmas presents to children in the mountains. The story goes that he was a postal worker who never made it to Central City with his gifts. When the bartender checks back, the beer is untouched and the man is gone.

Victorian inns with darker stories

The Lumber Baron Inn & Gardens

Built in 1890 by lumber magnate John Mouat, this Queen Anne mansion in the Highland neighborhood has one of the saddest histories on this list. In October 1970, two young women were killed in the building, which held apartments at the time. The case was never solved.

The mansion was later restored and has operated as a bed and breakfast and event venue. Guests and staff have reported footsteps, voices, cold spots and sightings of a young woman. The property was listed for sale in 2025, so confirm it's taking overnight guests before you plan around it.

The Patterson Inn

This red sandstone chateau in Capitol Hill, built around 1890 by Thomas Croke and later home to Thomas M. Patterson, is better known locally as the Croke-Patterson Mansion. Its most famous legend comes from a 1970s renovation, when crews said their work was undone overnight and two guard dogs posted inside were later found dead on the sidewalk below a third-floor window. It has since operated as a bed and breakfast. Check current availability before booking.

More haunted hotels near Denver

• The Crawford Hotel at Union Station. The hotel itself opened in 2014, but it sits inside the 1914 Beaux-Arts station. Visitors have reported shadowy, old-fashioned travelers in the Great Hall.
• Hotel Boulderado, Boulder. About 40 minutes away, this early-1900s landmark has its own stories of voices and a woman in white on the upper floors.
• The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park. The big one. It's a day trip from Denver, and it's the hotel that inspired The Shining. Read our full guide to Stanley Hotel ghost stories.

Planning your haunted Denver stay

• Ask for the room. If you want Room 320 at the Oxford or a specific suite at the Brown Palace, call the hotel directly. Not every room can be guaranteed online.
• Go in October, but book early. Haunted hotels fill up fast around Halloween.
• Stay central. The Brown Palace and the Oxford are both walkable to downtown and LoDo, so you can explore the city's history on foot.
• Be respectful. These are working hotels and inns. Ghost hunting gear is fine in your room, but don't wander into private areas.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most haunted hotel in Denver?

The Brown Palace is usually named Denver's most haunted hotel, thanks to stories like the phantom string quartet and the ghostly train conductor. The Oxford Hotel, with its Room 320 legend, is a close second.

Can you stay in Room 320 at the Oxford Hotel?

Room 320 is a regular guest room. If you want it, call the hotel and ask. Availability isn't guaranteed.

Is the Stanley Hotel in Denver?

No. The Stanley is in Estes Park, roughly an hour and a half northwest of Denver, at the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Are there haunted bed and breakfasts in Denver?

Yes. The Lumber Baron Inn and the Patterson Inn are both historic mansions with ghost stories that have operated as B&Bs. Ownership and operations can change, so confirm before booking.

Checked in and want more? Spend an evening with us on one of our Denver ghost tours, where the city's wild history, haunted legends and a few good drinks come together. It's the perfect way to start a night before heading back to your haunted hotel room.