Gearing Up for Spooky Season in Central City
2023 Season
“What is your favorite ghost story or Central City legend?” It’s a question you could ask anyone in Central City, and you’ll hear some wild stories! Our city is known for its well-preserved (haunted?) historical buildings and cemeteries. But we’re also known for the history that comes alive within them! With so many residents swearing they’ve seen a ghost lurking around the streets, it’s no surprise that we take ‘spooky season’ very seriously here. Halloween isn’t until October 31, but we’ve got Creepy Crawls and Cemetery Crawls starting as early as August!
Central City Creepy Crawl
This annual walking tour brings the curious and the brave on a 60-minute journey through historic buildings in Central City. Many of these buildings are off-limits the rest of the year, so you get an exclusive experience! Guides from the Gilpin Historical Society lead the tours, where you’ll see live reenactments of murders, ghost stories, and other creepy and gruesome tales from Central City’s past.
Tours depart every 20 minutes, starting at 7 p.m. until 9 p.m., from the lower level of Century Casino. The 2023 dates for the Creepy Crawl are October 20, 21, 27, and 28. We recommend the crawl for anyone over ten years old. Ticketing information can be found at gilpinhistory.org/creepy-crawl.
Cemetery Crawl
The 34th Annual Cemetery Crawl is a long-standing tradition in Central City that honors and preserves the legacy of influential characters of the past. As the Gilpin Historical Society’s website says, “Step back in time and hear the stories of those who lived and died in Gilpin County where the dead once again come alive.” Local history buffs portray ten people that now rest in the historic cemetery.
The crawl rotates through different cemeteries each year. This year’s location is at the Knights of Pythias Cemetery above Central City. The crawl is at 11 a.m. on August 26, 2023. We recommend this event for anyone, but please be aware that it sometimes involves walking over rough terrain. Purchase your tickets for just $15.
Haunted Hiking
If you’re looking for a self-paced spooky outing this fall, you might explore the trails between our many cemeteries. Legend has it that a beautiful woman in a black satin dress appears at the grave of John Edward Cameron in the Central City Masonic Cemetery. There have been several reports of paranormal activity in the Freemason section of the cemetery, once called one of the most haunted places in Colorado. However, it’s also a beautiful location to spend time in nature, enjoying the lovely fall colors of the aspen trees.
Other Stories and Interesting History
Even if you can’t attend one of the events this year, Central City has a lot of colorful history, creepy and otherwise, so it’s a great place to explore! Legend has it that in 1861 alone, 217 fist fights, 97 revolver fights, 11 Bowie knife fights, and one dog fight happened in Central City.
However, the city continued to evolve. The promise of gold brought investors, miners, and other businesses. Most buildings, built in 1874 after a fire destroyed the rest, still stand today. The events that happened within those walls are truly worth hearing about! Explore the three-story Gilpin History Museum, the Opera House, still-active mines, the Teller House (home of the infamous painting Face on the Barroom Floor), Thomas House, and so many more. Find information about tours and hours on the historical society’s website.