It's always fun being the weirdo Halloween blogger in the group, and nowhere is that truer than over at Thrive.
All October posts are part of the Countdown to Halloween!
I’ve not only had the opportunity to attend the Thrive conference three times – I’m also a moderator in the Facebook group, I’ve been a guest on the Thrive podcast and, most importantly, I’ve made some amazing blogger friends. Today I’m inviting Sarah from The Keys to Travel to the blog to share some spooky fun. As a Colorado resident, she has the inside dish on haunted hot spots across the state…and today she’s sharing her favorites with you!
Then be sure to head over to Sarah’s blog, The Keys to Travel, where I’m sharing five perfect places for a Halloween vacation!
Favorite Haunted Hot Spots in Colorado
By Sarah Key, thekeystotravel.com
October is a great time to be in Colorado. The temperatures start dropping below 90 degrees, the aspen tree leaves are changing to their bright yellow, and Halloween fun comes to town. There are plenty of truly (if you believe) haunted spots all over Colorado, including Cheesman Park in Denver, Stanley Hotel in Estes Park and abandoned towns like the one in St. Elmo, but Halloween makes them extra spooky and fun.
Below are some of the best haunted and not so haunted hot spots in Colorado. Some are family-friendly (great for little kids), and some you should definitely leave the kids at home.

Not-So-Scary
Pumpkin Nights
Not “officially” haunted, Pumpkin Nights is a fun Halloween activity to check out with little kids. Pumpkin Nights came to Denver for the first time in fall 2018. It was such a hit, they decided to return in 2019. I hope they continue to come back to Denver, because it was such a fun evening, for kids and adults!
Pumpkin Nights is a half a mile walk around seven different pumpkin-themed “lands”, like a pirate’s cove. The lands are designed by local artists and are very detailed and beautiful. Pumpkin Nights is great for a family outing, a date night, or a group hangout. I went with some friends, and we were able to enjoy some beer and local snacks along the walk.
Currently, Pumpkin Nights takes place in Dallas, Texas, Denver, Colorado, Los Angeles, California, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Santa Rosa, California. LEARN MORE
Pumpkin Festival at Chatfield Botanic Gardens
Another family-friendly, not haunted Halloween activity to do is the Pumpkin Festival at Chatfield Botanic Gardens. Included in admission is access to a pumpkin patch (you have to pay for pumpkins you take), hayrides, local craft booths, food trucks, beer vendors, pony rides, a photo booth, and so many more fun family-friendly activities. LEARN MORE

Slightly Scary
Stanley Hotel
Now onto some truly haunted Colorado hot spots with the first one being the famous Stanley Hotel. If you have ever seen or heard about the book (or movie) The Shining, you know about the Stanley Hotel. Stephen King and his wife spent a night here in 1974 and during that visit, he had the inspiration for The Shining with the Stanley Hotel being the inspiration for the Overlook Hotel in the book.
Supposedly, there hasn’t been too much horrific history at the Stanley Hotel, but there are plenty of reports of ghosts and hauntings ever since The Shining was written. You can take a Stanley Night Tour to learn more about all the hauntings. LEARN MORE
Molly Brown House
The Molly Brown House Museum is right in the heart of Denver. This was the home to the Titanic survivor, Margaret Tobin Brown. There is a lot of history with this home that has been greatly preserved throughout time. Along with history comes ghost stories, whether or not you believe. I took a tour of the museum, but didn’t see or feel any ghost presence… but I could definitely see where the stories come from! Rumor has it that lightbulbs unscrew themselves and the door between the dining room and kitchen open and closes itself. LEARN MORE
Cheesman Park
There is absolutely no way Cheesman Park is NOT haunted. The huge park used to be a graveyard. When the rich wanted to turn the area surrounding their mansions into a park in the 1980s, the graveyard workers were hired to transport all the bodies to another location. To make more money and save time, they put multiple bodies and body parts into single coffins to transport them. A good amount of body parts were left behind with an estimated number of 2000 bodies still buried beneath Cheesman Park. There are still body parts found when construction occurs.
There are rumors that when you run or walk around the park, you can feel patches of freezing cold air, which is where spirits are located. I have personally felt these cold patches. The movie The Changeling was inspired by paranormal activity at a nearby mansion.
With the history of this park, there is no reason not to believe it is 100% haunted by its previous residents. LEARN MORE

Terrifying
13th Floor Haunted House
I have never been to the 13th Floor Haunted House, but it is rated one of the top five scariest haunted houses in the country. That is probably why I haven’t been there… I’m not one for being terrified. But if you like a good haunted house, definitely check out the 13th Floor Haunted House in Denver. I would recommend leaving the kids at home. LEARN MORE
Whether you like to be slightly spooked for Halloween or full-out terrified, there are plenty of ways to get your haunted fix in Colorado!
Sarah Key is a travel agent and travel blogger helping couples travel more and stress less. She enjoys traveling the world with her husband and bringing back all she has learned to share with others. Sarah believes travel and exploring new destinations can change peoples’ outlook on the world for the better. We all have something unique to share and getting outside of your comfort zone improves us as individuals as well as a global community. As a travel agent, Sarah is able to provide a unique travel experience for her clients from her insider knowledge, connections to lodging and tour guides, and personal experiences. Follow her travels on Instagram and Facebook @TheKeysToTravel and on her blog www.thekeystotravel.com.


