3 Best Haunted Gold Mines in Colorado

Colorado’s most haunted gold mines include the Phoenix Gold Mine, where Tommyknockers and Eleanor Mills’ screams echo through generations-old tunnels; the Capital Prize Gold Mine, featuring documented EVPs and unexplained laughter 1,000 feet underground; and the Cripple Creek Mining District, home to 500+ mines with spirits of miners who died during its violent past. These historic sites offer both educational tours and encounters with phenomena that defy rational explanation.

Table of Contents hide

1 Key Takeaways

2 Phoenix Gold Mine: Voices From the Depths

3 Capital Prize Gold Mine: Active Hauntings in an Active Mine

4 Cripple Creek Mining District: Colorado’s Ghost-Filled Gold Country

5 Frequently Asked Questions

5.1 Are Children Allowed on Haunted Mine Tours?

5.2 What Should I Bring When Visiting Haunted Gold Mines?

5.3 Can Visitors Take Photographs Inside the Haunted Mines?

5.4 Do Paranormal Activities Intensify During Specific Seasons or Months?

5.5 Have Mining Operations Resumed in Any of These Haunted Locations?

6 References

Key Takeaways

Phoenix Gold Mine features the Tommyknocker spirit and Eleanor Mills’ ghostly screams, with tours available daily from 10 AM-4 PM.
Capital Prize Gold Mine offers $30 tours where visitors explore 1,000 feet underground with documented EVPs and unexplained paranormal activity.

Cripple Creek Mining District contains over 500 haunted mines with spirits from mining accidents and the area’s violent past.
Paranormal investigations have captured thermal anomalies, EVPs commanding “Get Out,” and spectral figures of murder victims in tunnels.
All three locations combine active mining history with preservation efforts, providing both historical education and authentic ghost encounters.

Phoenix Gold Mine: Voices From the Depths

Nestled among the rugged mountains just 30 miles west of Denver, the Phoenix Gold Mine stands as a haunting reminder of Colorado’s gilded past. This fourth-generation family-owned operation isn’t just rich in precious metals—it’s steeped in haunted legends stretching back to the 1870s.

You’ll explore well-lit passages where the malevolent Tommyknocker spirit reportedly knocks on walls, signaling either gold veins or impending doom. The mine offers public tours available for those brave enough to venture inside its haunted tunnels. Tours run on the hour from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM for visitors seeking paranormal encounters.

Listen carefully for Eleanor Mills’ screams echoing from the shaft where she allegedly fell to her death. The mine harbors darker secrets too—two bodies buried within its tunnels, including a rumored witch.

Listen for Eleanor’s tormented screams as you pass her final resting place—just one of several souls forever entombed within these haunted walls.

Ghostly encounters documented by paranormal investigators include thermal anomalies, EVPs commanding visitors to “Get Out,” and spectral figures of two murder victims from 1959 still wandering the tunnels, seeking justice from beyond.

Capital Prize Gold Mine: Active Hauntings in an Active Mine

While the Phoenix Gold Mine whispers its ghostly tales through the corridors of time, the Capital Prize Gold Mine in Georgetown roars with paranormal activity amid its still-functioning operations. Founded in 1859 by the Griffith brothers, this historic mine has never been abandoned, preserving both its physical structures and, apparently, its spirits.

When you venture 1,000 feet underground, you’ll walk the same tunnels where miners reported historical hauntings since the 1860s. The first official paranormal investigation in 2010 documented EVPs and unexplained laughter echoing from the shafts. Tour guides passionate about Colorado gold rush history lead visitors through several miles of tunnels, sharing both historical facts and ghostly encounters.

These phenomena occur alongside active mining operations with modern equipment. Investigators have reported equipment failures during paranormal investigations, with batteries draining rapidly and devices malfunctioning inexplicably. For $30, you can experience both the mine’s rich history and potentially encounter its playful spirits who’ve called the Aetna Vein—the mine’s “mother lode”—home for over a century.

Cripple Creek Mining District: Colorado’s Ghost-Filled Gold Country

Deep within the heart of Colorado’s gold country lies the Cripple Creek Mining District, perhaps the most haunted and historically significant mining region in America.

You’ll find over 500 mines that collectively produced more gold than both the California and Alaska gold rushes combined—over 21 million ounces.

When you explore this National Historic Landmark, you’ll encounter abundant ghost stories linked to its violent past.

Mining accidents, labor wars, and daily homicides during the boom years have left spiritual imprints throughout the town. At its peak, the town experienced one homicide per day, creating an atmosphere of lawlessness that still haunts the area. Local historic preservation efforts have maintained miners’ cabins, brothels, and the imposing 1901 Teller County Jail where apparitions still linger.

Today, you can join ghost tours through abandoned mine shafts where the spirits of those who perished in explosions and cave-ins are said to wander eternally. The majority of the historic business district was rebuilt after devastating fires in 1896, adding another layer to the area’s tumultuous past.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Children Allowed on Haunted Mine Tours?

Yes, children five and older can join haunted mine tours. Age restrictions are strictly enforced underground for safety. Look for family tours that offer above-ground options for younger kids.

What Should I Bring When Visiting Haunted Gold Mines?

The darkness swallows your courage instantly without proper preparation. You’ll need sturdy footwear for treacherous terrain, flashlights with extra batteries, layered clothing, water, first aid kit, and ghost-hunting equipment if you’re seeking spirits.

Can Visitors Take Photographs Inside the Haunted Mines?

Yes, you can take personal photos inside most haunted mines. Photography policies allow casual shots, but commercial photography requires permits. Visitor guidelines prohibit drones, climbing on displays, and disruptive behavior while capturing your paranormal evidence.

Do Paranormal Activities Intensify During Specific Seasons or Months?

Yes, you’ll experience more intense paranormal activity during autumn, especially October. Your ghost hunting excursions will yield better results as seasonal hauntings peak during fall’s longer, cooler nights.

Have Mining Operations Resumed in Any of These Haunted Locations?

You’ll find active picks striking gold at Capital Prize and Dunham mines, where ghostly sightings continue amid the rumbling machinery. Mining history lives on, while Mary Murphy and Alta Gold King remain dormant.