Hotel Colorado sits majestically in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, but its beauty hides a darker side.
Since opening in 1893, this historic landmark has witnessed tragedy, death, and unexplained occurrences that continue to haunt guests today.
From ghostly nurses to mysterious perfumes and disembodied voices, the hotel’s eerie atmosphere has earned it a reputation as one of the most haunted places in Colorado.
1. The WWII Hospital History
During World War II, the U.S. Navy leased this elegant hotel and transformed it into a convalescent hospital. From 1943 to 1946, over 6,500 injured sailors and Marines recovered within these walls.
Many patients suffered from severe injuries and trauma. Some never made it home, dying in the very rooms where guests now sleep peacefully.
The energy of pain and suffering seems to linger in the hallways. Staff and visitors often report feeling overwhelming sadness in certain areas. This heavy history created the foundation for the hotel’s haunted reputation that persists today.
2. The Basement Morgue Rumors
Beneath the hotel’s glamorous lobby lies a chilling secret. The deepest basement level once housed the naval brig, where troubled servicemen were confined during the hospital years.
Rumors persist that this same area served as a temporary morgue for deceased patients. Bodies awaiting transport home may have rested in these cold, dark spaces.
Visitors who venture down report intense feelings of dread and despair. Cold spots appear without explanation, and some claim to hear moaning sounds. The basement remains one of the most paranormally active locations in the entire building.
3. The Murder of Nurse Bobbie
Tragedy struck when a young nurse named Bobbie (sometimes called Florence) was allegedly murdered by a jealous lover during the hospital era. Her violent death left an imprint that refuses to fade.
Guests frequently report seeing a woman in a vintage nurse’s uniform wandering the main floor. She appears most often in the Devereux Dining Room, sometimes looking confused or distressed.
Bobbie’s presence feels protective rather than threatening to most witnesses. Some believe she continues caring for guests even in death, unable to leave her post or find peace after her untimely end.
4. The Phantom Perfume
An unmistakable scent of gardenia perfume suddenly fills the Devereux Dining Room without warning. The fragrance was wildly popular during the 1930s and 1940s, particularly among young women.
Staff members have searched for the source countless times but find nothing. No flowers, no perfume bottles, no logical explanation exists for the powerful aroma.
Most believe this is Nurse Bobbie’s signature scent, announcing her presence to the living. The perfume appears and vanishes within moments, leaving witnesses stunned. Many guests specifically request to dine in the room hoping to experience this phenomenon themselves.
5. The Cigar-Smoking Walter
A masculine presence nicknamed Walter roams the hotel’s public spaces. Named after Walter Devereux, one of the hotel’s founders, this spirit makes his presence known through smell rather than sight.
Guests and employees regularly encounter the rich aroma of cigar smoke in the lobby and hallways. The hotel has been smoke-free for decades, making the scent impossible to explain.
The smell is so strong that people instinctively look around for the smoker. Walter seems friendly, perhaps checking on his beloved establishment. His invisible patrols suggest he remains the eternal caretaker of this grand building.
6. The Unquiet Children
Laughter and running footsteps echo through the upper floors when no children are present. These playful sounds often occur late at night, disturbing guests trying to sleep.
Legend tells of a little girl who tragically fell from a balcony while playing with her ball. She may be among the spirits still enjoying childhood games in the afterlife.
Some visitors find the sounds comforting, while others feel unsettled by invisible children. The giggles sound genuine and joyful, not menacing. Staff have learned to accept these phantom playmates as permanent residents of the historic hotel.
7. Haunted Room 661
Room 661, also known as the Molly Brown Suite, tops the list of paranormally active locations. This tower suite experiences so much activity that some guests refuse to stay there twice.
A spectral woman appears standing over sleeping guests, watching them protectively. Windows open and close by themselves, supposedly to prevent drafts from harming sick occupants.
The spirit seems to be a caretaker from the hospital days, still tending to patients. Lights flicker without electrical issues, and the temperature drops suddenly. Despite the activity, most describe the presence as concerned rather than hostile or frightening.
8. The Unpacking Housekeeper
Imagine arriving at your room to find your carefully packed luggage completely unpacked and arranged. This playful spirit, believed to be a former chambermaid, takes her duties seriously even after death.
Guests have reported returning to their rooms to discover clothes hanging in closets they never touched. Sometimes belongings are even repacked before checkout, as if preparing for departure.
While helpful, this violation of personal space feels deeply unsettling to many visitors. The spirit means well, continuing her hospitality work from beyond the grave. Her dedication to service apparently transcends the boundary between life and death itself.
9. The Ute Curse Legend
Before the hotel existed, the land belonged to the Ute Indian Nation. The sacred hot springs held deep spiritual significance for the tribe for countless generations.
When the Utes were forcibly displaced in 1880, legend claims they cursed the land. The hotel was built just a few years later directly on this supposedly cursed ground.
Local storytellers believe this curse explains why so much tragedy and supernatural activity occurs here. Whether true or folklore, the displacement represents real historical trauma. The land itself may remember the injustice, creating an atmosphere of unrest that permeates the entire property today.
10. The Bell Tower Suites
The hotel’s two distinctive bell towers house luxurious suites that guests describe as beautiful yet unsettling. These secluded rooms sit apart from the main building, creating isolation that amplifies paranormal experiences.
Cold spots appear without drafts, and lights flicker despite new electrical systems. Objects move on their own, and guests report feeling constantly watched by unseen eyes.
The poltergeist activity ranges from minor annoyances to frightening encounters. Some visitors cut their stays short after spending just one night in these towers. The combination of beauty and terror makes these suites unforgettable for all who dare to stay.
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