Central City May Be the Most Haunted Place in Colorado

Central City was founded in 1859 after John Gregory discovered gold in the area. The Gregory's Gulch discovery is among the first important gold strikes in Colorado. As a result, the small mountain town began filling with miners and their families, all searching for riches in the region. During the Pikes Peak Gold Rush, Central City was even dubbed as “the richest square mile on earth.”

However, despite the prosperous fortunate found in the mines, this period in Western America was also full of tragedy and misfortune. Many prospectors and their families, as well as other innocent townsfolk, died of disease, accidents, violence, or succumbed to Colorado's harsh conditions.

Central City was Colorado's largest city for many years. The 1900 census documented more than 3,100 people living in Central City. Nowadays, that number has dropped to approximately 779 — but that's not counting the former residents who refuse to leave. In addition to the nickname above, this Gilpin County city could also very well be considered the "most haunted square mile on earth."

Over the years, Central City has preserved its quaint, old-fashioned feel, with classic architecture and historic buildings. In fact, the former mining community was named a National Historic Landmark in 1961, and the vintage buildings are protected by city ordinance. Step inside one of these businesses and most of the locals are eager to share tales of the restless souls that still linger around town.

Like the Visitor Center, for example.

Plenty of people pass through the building at 103 Eureka Street - both living and dead. Paranormal investigators have confirmed the presence of spirits in this downtown structure. According to an employee, there have been numerous occasions where loud footsteps have been heard stomping around on the second floor, even though no one is upstairs. A ghost hunter validated an energy coming from the second story. Another encounter with the paranormal occurred one morning as an employee arrived to open the Visitor Center, and reportedly heard a strange growling noise. Thinking it was a mountain lion or bobcat, the employee checked the doors but was surprised to see nothing.

Just up the road from the Visitor Center is the famous Teller House. Built in 1872, the location now serves as a restaurant but was once a bustling casino and hotel. The Teller House is one of the few structures that survived the 1874 Central City fire.

During its days as a grand hotel, President Ulysses S. Grant visited the Teller House in 1873 and again in 1876. But what really gained this establishment notoriety, is the painting of The Face on the Barroom Floor. The woman's face was painted on the wooden floor by a miner named Herndon Davis, who is said to have died next to the portrait after drinking himself into a stupor. Legend has it that the couple can be heard talking tenderly to each other through her image on the floor. The famous face is kept well-maintained

The Opera House is another haunted site in Central City.

This iconic building was constructed by Welsh and Cornish miners in 1878. With 146 years of history, including serving as a filming location for the movie The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox starring Goldie Hawn, there are plenty of stories to be told about the historic Opera House. However, it's the tales of non-living souls that are most discussed when it comes to this prominent landmark.

The Central City Opera House is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a miner-turned-stage performer, Mike Dougherty, who drank himself to death in the mid-1800s. Since his passing, people report smelling the odor of alcohol backstage and sometimes feeling a nudge from behind. Fortunately, Dougherty is said to be a friendly spirit. Other eerie encounters have included flickering orbs floating across the stage, hearing footsteps in the balcony, and feeling random cold spots inside the theater. Most of these occurrences have been reported when the theater is dark and not being used for performances.

On the outskirts of town is where many paranormal encounters occur. At 8,495 feet, this is where the historic Central City Cemetery sits.

The Central City Cemetery is spread out along a mountainside, overgrown with aspen trees, and in a state of obvious neglect. The cemetery was used from 1884 to 1913 and is the final resting spot for some of the area's earliest residents.

One of the most commonly told ghost stories from the Central City Cemetery is The Lady in Black. According to legend, a woman in a dark satin, Victorian-style dress appears every April 5 and November 1 to lay flowers on the grave of John Edward Cameron, who died on November 1, 1887. She then disappears into thin air. Sightings of the phantom woman date back to the late 1880s and it's suspected that she planted the rose bushes near Cameron's grave.

The Freemason section of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery (within the Central City Cemetery) has been called one of the most haunted places in Colorado. Visitors have seen shadowy figures and flying orbs in this part of the cemetery, and strange sounds are frequently heard here.

In another area of the cemetery, an eerie green mist has been observed hovering over the grave of a woman who was believed to have been a witch.

Behind the metal Knights of Pythias gates are more gravestones...and more ghost stories.

The Knights of Pythias were one of the earliest Fraternal organizations in the country. Many of the men were buried with their swords by their side. In this section of the cemetery, the ghost of a woman from the '80s or early '90s has been observed often. She wears a bright red and teal tracksuit and has short, curly brown hair. What's especially creepy is that she has no face. The woman usually appears to the right of someone and then disappears before they can say anything to her.

Other sightings of the paranormal within the cemetery include children peeking out from behind trees, figures standing in the distance watching before vanishing, and various unexplained lights and smells.

An abandoned mining ruin can be found on the edge of the property. Visitors frequently leave small gifts on top of the headstones, and don't be surprised to see the occasional Wiccan potion either. Respect the historic cemetery and leave things as they are.

The cemetery contains 26 smaller grave sites that house 17 groups. Strolling the historic site is both peaceful and interesting, but you might want to leave before the sun goes down.