Denver’s ghosts come with receipts.

This Dark Side of Denver Ghost Tours outing threads haunting stories through Union Station and the LoDo buildings that shaped the city, with a guide who keeps both the spooky and the factual moving. I like that it’s built around real places you can point to on a map, not just vague folklore. I also like the low-pressure pace for a night activity that still feels fun and specific.

I love the way the tour balances Denver history and ghost lore, especially at the stops that include time inside. Guides like Rachel and John/Jonathan are praised for telling stories with energy while keeping the historical context clear, which makes the haunting bits land better. One possible drawback: the route can change and indoor access is not guaranteed if events or access limits show up downtown, so you’re going in with curiosity, not a promise.

Key things to know before you go

• Union Station is an indoor anchor with an included admission ticket
• Oxford Hotel is another indoor highlight, also with an included admission ticket
• Most stops are short and outside (LoDo street-level stories, tunnel talk, building history)
• Paranormal tools get demonstrated and you can use them if you want
• Small group size max 20 keeps the feel personal
• Route may vary based on building access and events downtown

Price and time: is this $25 Denver ghost tour a good deal?

At $25 per person, this tour sits in the “pay once, get a guided night” category. The value is that you get a professional guide plus the chance to go inside some key locations rather than only standing on sidewalks. On top of that, the tour includes paranormal investigative tools for demonstration, which adds a hands-on angle without turning it into a gadget show.

The tour runs about 1 to 2 hours. That matters, because you’re not committing to a half-day excursion in an area where downtown weather and schedules can change fast. If you want a focused Denver ghost story walk that still feels like a real experience, this time frame is a sweet spot.

It’s also year-round, so you’re not locked into a summer schedule to catch the LoDo atmosphere. The tour language is English, and it uses a mobile ticket, which is convenient when you’re bouncing between stops with your phone already in hand.

Meeting at Union Station: the start that sets the tone

You’ll meet at 1701 Wynkoop St, Denver, CO 80202, in front of Union Station underneath the flagpole. They ask you to arrive 15 minutes early, and that’s not just for formality. Downtown timing can get messy, and arriving early keeps your night from starting with stress.

Bring comfortable shoes. You’re not walking miles, but you do move between stops and the pace is part of the storytelling. Also, dress for Denver weather because the tour goes out in rain. You’ll want an umbrella, and if severe weather hits, the tour may cancel.

If you drive, plan for parking time. Meters only last two hours, and the tour’s check-in plus start time can push you past that window. The practical takeaway: use nearby garages or lots if you can.

Union Station: included entry, Denver tunnels, and the city’s first big mood shift

Union Station is stop one, and it’s a strong choice because it’s both famous and story-friendly. The tour frames it as where Denver history and hauntings meet, then moves into the idea of restless spirits in some of Denver’s oldest buildings. You’re not just hearing names and dates. You’re getting a guided look at a landmark that already has plenty of gravity even before the ghost talk.

You also get the LoDo connection: the surrounding area is described as a place of bars, brothels, and seedy characters from earlier days. That matters because the tour doesn’t treat hauntings like random thrills. It treats them like part of how downtown communities formed, changed, and sometimes hid their darker chapters.

A big theme here is the presence of tunnels beneath the city. The tour talks about their dark paths and history, and that’s a good mental hook for the rest of the night. Even if you’re skeptical about the paranormal, tunnels and behind-the-scenes infrastructure are the kind of real-world detail that makes ghost stories feel more grounded.

Time on the stop: about 20 minutes, with an admission ticket included.

What to expect: a guided indoor visit at Union Station, then you’re back outside to keep the night moving.

Tattered Cover, A5 Steakhouse, and the LoDo street stories you normally miss

Not every stop is an indoor ticket stop, and that’s where you should set expectations. After Union Station, you mainly get short outside walks where the guide points out building history and what might still linger in the lore.

Tattered Cover Book Store (outside stop)

This is the former location of Tattered Cover before it closed. The tour includes a quick look at the building’s role in local story, plus the idea that some things feel like they hang around even after the business changes. It’s a brief stop, but it’s the kind that makes you notice your surroundings differently afterward.

Time on the stop: about 10 minutes.

Admission: not included.

A5 Steakhouse and the Wazzee Supper Club connection (outside stop)

A5 Steakhouse sits in the building that used to be the Wazzee Supper Club. The tour highlights it as part of why LoDo grew into a popular area, and it also calls out tunnel connections associated with the building.

This is one of those details that makes the walking feel purposeful. You’re not only hearing about famous places. You’re connecting one location’s past to the city’s underground and the way downtown life shifted.

Time on the stop: about 10 minutes.

Admission: not included.

The Sugar Building (outside stop)

The Sugar Building gets a short stop, but the framing is big: it was described as instrumental in the formation of Denver and surrounding cities. That’s a reminder that “haunted” in this context isn’t only about ghosts. It’s also about how structures become part of the city’s identity.

If you like history that’s tied to the physical skyline, this short stop works. If you want nonstop indoor time, it may feel like filler, but it keeps the narrative thread from stop to stop.

Time on the stop: about 10 minutes.

Admission: not included.

Oxford Hotel: the indoor highlight with included admission and luxury gone quiet

If you want one place on this tour that clearly matches the best ratings, it’s the Oxford Hotel. The tour notes it as a favorite stop where you go inside one of Denver’s early luxury hotels and learn its haunted history.

That combination is powerful. Luxury buildings usually have layers: old renovations, big public spaces, and long guest lists across decades. The tour leverages that by pairing the building’s past with the ghost stories tied to it, so the atmosphere feels built-in rather than tacked on.

Time on the stop: about 20 minutes.

Admission: included.

Also, the tour does aim to take you inside locations when access allows. That’s important because some night tours claim entry but don’t always manage it when a building’s schedule changes. Here, they’re clear that access isn’t guaranteed every time, but the Oxford Hotel is one of the core indoor stops.

Lincolns Denver speakeasy peek: a short extra if time permits

There’s also an optional stop if timing allows: Lincolns Denver, described as a hidden speakeasy in the Ice House building. The tour says you’ll poke your heads in to see what you can find, which keeps it light and doesn’t turn the night into a bar crawl.

Time on the stop: about 10 minutes (if time permits).

Admission: not included.

If you’re coming for a spooky walking tour, it’s a bonus. If you’re not into speakeasy vibes, you’ll likely still get plenty of story content from the earlier stops.

Guides and storytelling: where the night really earns its five stars

This tour lives or dies on the guide. Based on the feedback, the guides are the big reason people rate it so highly.

I like the way the strongest guides handle two tasks at once:

• explain the history tied to the building
• make the ghost narrative feel connected instead of random

One review praised John for deep knowledge of building and area history, plus a very visual style that calls out details on the walls, including burn marks and art pieces the guide recognized. Another response talks about Jonathan as an amazing story teller who helps you understand how incredible events happened in the same spaces you’re standing in.

And Rachel is mentioned for being above and beyond, especially for first-timers. The theme is comfort and excitement: making a first ghost tour feel safe, confident, and genuinely fun rather than awkward. If you’re nervous about a scary-movie vibe, this focus on storytelling energy is a good sign.

Paranormal tools: hands-on curiosity without pressure

One of the tour’s listed features is that the guide brings paranormal investigative tools and demonstrates them. You can use them if you choose, which is the right kind of optional.

Here’s how to think about it: you’re not being forced into a seance. You’re being offered a chance to participate in the fun of investigation in a way that matches the tour’s “stories + places” style. That’s also why the small group size helps. It’s easier for the guide to manage questions and keep the tools experience from becoming chaotic.

If you’re skeptical, you can still enjoy the tools as props and prompts that add texture to the night. If you’re a believer, you’ll probably like that you get at least some interaction rather than only watching someone else do the work.

How much walking is it, and what kind of night is it?

This isn’t a long-distance hike. The schedule is built around multiple short stops plus two indoor visits. You spend a good chunk of the tour indoors at key points, then you reconnect the story by walking through LoDo’s building frontages.

That makes it a good choice on a night when you want:

• an easy plan
• a guided sense of place
• a few indoor moments to break the cold or rain

The only real drawback to plan around is weather. They go out in rain, and they cancel only for severe weather. So if you hate umbrellas and slippery sidewalks, you’ll want to pack accordingly.

Also, the route can vary. They mention that the exact locations can change due to access limits and events downtown. That’s normal for a city-center tour, and it’s honestly better than pretending you’ll always get the same perfect lineup every night.

Who should book this Denver Dark Side ghost tour?

This tour is a great match if you:

• want a Denver history + haunted stories combo, especially around LoDo
• like indoor stops, not only outdoor legends
• want a small-group experience up to 20 people
• are new to ghost tours and want a guide who keeps things comfortable

It’s also a good fit for couples and small friend groups because the walk isn’t too long and the indoor pauses give you time to reset. If you’re traveling solo, the guided structure does the heavy lifting and keeps the night from turning into awkward wandering.

If you’re the type who expects a nonstop paranormal investigation where you control every minute, you might find it more story-driven than investigation-driven. The tools are there, but the experience is clearly built around history and atmosphere.

Should you book Dark Side of Denver Ghost Tours?

Yes, if you want a short, guided Denver ghost tour that treats hauntings like an extension of place history instead of cheap scares. The inclusion of Union Station and Oxford Hotel with admission tickets is the standout value piece, and the consistently praised storytelling from guides like Rachel, John, and Jonathan suggests you’ll be in good hands.

I’d skip it only if you’re hoping for a very long walking tour, guaranteed indoor access at every location no matter what, or a fully hardcore paranormal session. For most people looking for a memorable night downtown that doesn’t eat your whole evening, this one is a solid bet.

FAQ

Where is the meeting point for Dark Side of Denver Ghost Tours?

You meet at 1701 Wynkoop St, Denver, CO 80202, in front of Union Station underneath the flagpole. They ask you to arrive 15 minutes before the tour start time.

How long does the tour take?

The tour runs about 1 to 2 hours.

What is included in the $25 price?

The price includes a professional guide. You also get paranormal investigative tools that the guide demonstrates, and you can use them if you choose.

Are admission tickets included for the stops?

Admission tickets are included for Union Station and The Oxford Hotel. The other stops described on the route (Tattered Cover former building, A5 Steakhouse/Wazzee Supper Club, Sugar Building, and Lincolns Denver) are listed as stops without admission.

Will we go inside buildings on the tour?

You may go inside certain locations, including Union Station and The Oxford Hotel, but they note that indoor access is not always guaranteed due to building access or events downtown.

Is the tour mostly outdoors?

Most of the route includes outside stops with walking and street-level storytelling. There are also indoor visits at the included-ticket locations.

What should I wear or bring?

Wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. The tour goes out in rain, so bringing an umbrella can help.

Does the tour run year-round and what happens with bad weather?

The tour is offered year-round. If severe weather cancels the tour due to poor conditions, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

How many people are on a tour?

There is a maximum of 20 travelers per tour.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed.