Historic Central City Casino Parkway
4/3/2022
Central City
'The Richest $quare Mile on Earth'
Central City 1890's. Funeral procession ~ (photo from www.photoswest.org)
A long funeral procession led by a band walks down Main Street in Central City, Colorado, probably during the 1890s, possibly for
down the dirt road. A series of horse-drawn carriages follows behind the men.
Central City History:
Central City is located in the Rocky Mountains, 35 miles west of Denver. It is at the southern end of Gilpin County at an elevation of 8,
of the mining district. Thus Central City was born and was soon the leading mining center in Colorado. It came to be known as 'The
In 1874 most of the buildings in Central City were destroyed by fire. The town was rebuilt, this time of brick and stone; most of these
www.centralcitycolorado.com
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***VALENTINE'S DAY 2010 GHOSTLY EVENT! ***
STAR-CROSSED LOVERS OF GILPIN COUNTY!
Sunday, February 14th, 2010
1:30pm
Hosted by Psychic Dori Spence of SPOOKS!
Above heart image from: www.personalisedgreetingcards.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/small-heart-valentine-card-135x135mm1.jpg
......Spend some time getting to know about the history of Gilpin County’s Kindred Spirits!
Some Gone, but not Forgotten. Some Forgotten, but not Gone.......?
Join us for tours of some of Central City’s Historical & Haunted Buildings: The Thomas House, Masonic Lodge, and the original 1865
Gilpin County
Advanced reservations required
$25.00 per person
Call 303-582-5182 for reservations and information.
dorispence@gmail.com
Ticket cost includes: Tours, Appetizers and Presentations
A portion of each ticket will be donated to the Gilpin County Historical Society and the Newspaper Print Shop Preservation Fund.
Historical Ghost Tours are sponsored by SPOOKS, Inc. (Society for the Prevention of the Ostracization or Obliteration of Kindred
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Graveyard Horseback Rides in Central City!
Photo from: www.denvertours.net
Enjoy Horseback Riding in Colorado!
Come to the Magnificent Colorado Rocky Mountains and enjoy a unique horseback! Ride to some of Central City's oldest cemeteries.
infants.....vivid proof of the sorrow, new hope and then renewed grief mining families experienced. Tour can be 90 minutes or 2 hours;
A&A Historical Trails is a Colorado Horse back riding stable different and unique among many Colorado stables. Don't be limited by the
No age limit: Under 5 years old: Ride double!
Learn to ride a horse and you can have one of the most thrilling experiences of your life!
The best in Colorado Trail rides, pony rides, horse rental, horseback rides, pack trips, hunting horses, pack horses.
We offer Rocky Mountain trail horse riding with a number of unique guided and un-guided trail rides ... to old 1800's cemeteries, gold
For reservations: Please call us at: 303-567-4808 or E-mail us at:aastables@aastables.com
A&A Historical Trails Stables - 188 Alpes Hill Road
www.aastables.com
PO BOX 374 Idaho Springs, CO 80452
303-567-4808
www.rockymountaintours.net/?event=offer.detail&offerId=4522
Length: 90 Minutes
Times:
10:00 am, 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm & 4:00 pm
-Daily
-May through November
*weather permitting
Prices - including tax
Our Internet Rate ~ 90 Minute Tour ~ (per person): $54.95
Our Internet Rate ~ 2 Hour Tour ~ (per person): $69.95
Summary:
Tour does not include hotel pick up or transportation to Central City CO. Please reserve online, or call us toll-free at 888-478-1481.
is a service charge per ticket. This charge will be reflected on your summary before you checkout. The total shown includes any and
Cancellation Policy: There are no refunds. All sales are final.
Change Fee Policy: If changes are allowed on a tour or activity, a $20.00 per reservation change fee will be applied for any change to
availability on the new date. While we cannot guarantee any changes can be made, all change requests must be submitted a minimum
Important Notes:
~ Central City is located approximately a one hour drive from Boulder or Denver.
~ There is a minimum age requirement of 6 years old to ride.
~ You will be required to sign a Liability Waiver before the ride.
~ You must provide each rider's weight and level of riding experience on the Order Form.
Tour does not include hotel pick up or transportation to Central City CO.
Please reserve online, or call us toll-free at 888-478-1481.
Some of the other rides offered:
The Halloween Ride:
To the Graveyards... on HALLOWEEN!
Limited riders so sign up ASAP!
(No minimum number of riders)
(Reservations Required)
Full Moon Rides:
A $120, 6 hour round trip.
Start in daylight as we ride to the Central City casinos where you can wine, dine, and gamble. Ride back home by the light of the moon.
(5 person minimum)
(Reservations Required)
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Cemetery Tours
The Gilpin Historical Society & Museum annually holds cemetery crawls ------ Call 303-582-5364 for more info.
www.gilpinhistory.org
The Cemeteries
One mile west of Central City (taking Eureka Street) lie three cemeteries with hundreds of ornate stone markers and intricate grill work,
Cemetery. Please feel free to visit and wander among the headstones marking early day Central City residents grave sites. Please
www.centralcitycolorado.us/tourism/cemeteries
I.0.0.F. Lodge Cemetery
Located in Central City following out Eureka Street just past the Boodle Mine.
Bald Mountain Cemetery
The Town Board of Nevadaville founded the Bald Mountain Cemetery in the summer of 1877. The oldest tombstone predates the
number of caskets were transferred here from other burial grounds. Cemetery records are now housed at the county courthouse.
Catholic Cemetery
Central City Cemetery
The first City of Central cemetery was located on East 4 th High Street in Central City. It was in the way of the mining activity and
Dory Hill Cemetery
The first burial in Dory Hill was in 1859. However, the oldest tombstone inscription found by Mrs. Blanchard was Stephen T. Tibbits,
Foresters Cemetery
Knights of Pythias Cemetery
Masonic Cemetery
Red Men Cemetery
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GHOSTS OF GILPIN GETAWAY -- REST IN PEACE AT THE *Haunted* HOOPER HOMESTEAD!
Stay with us and enjoy spirit walks and guided ghost tours during the month of October. Delight your soul in a self guided spirit walk
Historic Downtown Central City will be available most weekends.
Go on the 'Up The Gulch' walking tour around 'The Richest Square Mile on Earth' or just visit and shop along Main Street Central.
Homestead Guest Quarters, enjoy a deluxe continental breakfast, two Geomancy Life Readings with Pat, Ghost Walks and a soak in
double occupancy; tax not included.)
Hooper Homestead Guest Quarters (Christine Pollock & Pat Ballantyne)
Address: 2555 W. 37th Ave., Central City, CO 80427
URL: www.hooperhomestead.com
E-mail: christine@hooperhomestead.com
Local: 303-582-5828
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Hauntings
Chateau L'Acadienne Bed & Breakfast
325 Spring Street
Central City CO 80427
303-582-5209
www.bedandbreakfast.com/colorado/chateau-lacadienne.html
Innkeepers: James & Shirley Voorhies
Chateau L'Acadienne (Big House of the Cajun) was built in the late 1870's during the height of the gold mining era. The house was
decorative moldings and fine antique chandeliers. Each guest room is uniquely decorated in either Victorian English or Louisiana
areas outside the chateau. Guests will also enjoy 'Lagniappe' (lan-yap), the Cajun French tradition of the host providing 'a little extra'
The couple bought a 120-year-old home in Central City and opened it as the Chateau L'Acadienne bed-and-breakfast. Less than a
Since then, several other guests have reported that their jewelry or keys had been moved from one side of the room to another during
Source: Denver Post- March 26, 1996 Section: Living Page: E-01 Michelle Mahoney Denver Post Staff Writer
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The Child Ghost of Missouri Flats
Missouri Flats Cemetery
According to Jeff Casey, several county sheriffs have reported seeing a small child in the area of the new C and D parking lots south
On a separate occasion, a Central City gambling shuttle driver was driving past the grave and heard three distinct knocks on the
Source: The Denver Post- March 26, 1996
Section: Living Page: E-01
Michelle Mahoney Denver Post Staff Writer
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The Columbine Lady
The ghost of Masonic Cemetery
According to legend, every April 5th and November 1st a beautiful woman in a black satin dress appears and places columbine
If creepy is, indeed, what you clamor for, mark your calendar for Nov. 1 and head on up to Central City, where, like clockwork, the Lady
SOURCES: www.rootsweb.com
&
(Rocky Mountain News- Sat. Oct. 18th, 2003)
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Teller House
120 Eureka
Teller House - 2006 ~ (photo taken by HauntedColorado.net. All rights reserved, please.
Teller House interior - 1872 ~ (photo from www.photoswest.org)
TELLER HOUSE
Eureka St.
National Register 1/18/1973, 5GL.9
The Teller House was built by brothers Henry M. and Willard Teller during 1871-72. The four-story brick building was reported to be
visiting elite, including U.S. President Grant who visited in 1873. Double hung windows are found on the three floors that contained
a museum, and the first floor bar with its well known 'Face on the Barroom Floor' remains an attraction.
www.coloradohistory-oahp.org/programareas/register/1503/cty/gl.htm
The Teller House houses the famous and mysterious 'Face on the Barroom Floor' painting, done by Herndon Davis in 1934. This
miner drank himself into a stupor and then proceeded to paint his wife’s portrait on the floor. Speaking tenderly of her, he painted long
witnesses say that on the anniversary of his death, the couple can be heard talking tenderly to each other through her portrait on the
her in the late 1890s after seeing her talking to another man.
Dolores Spellman, a Teller House tour guide, says she doesn't believe in ghosts herself, but 'friendly spirits' are another story.
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The Teller House is now.......... Rouge at the Teller House!
A Kevin Taylor Restaurant
Welcome to Rouge and The Face Restaurant in Central City, Colorado - Two Kevin Taylor restaurants in one beautiful, historic
Teller House in Central City. Reservations are accepted at Rouge, an upscale, fine dining experience, serving on nights with evening
The Face Bar Restaurant: Located on the main level of the Teller House -- Casual American Cuisine. Open for appetizers, lunch,
Rouge Fine American Cuisine; Located upstairs in the Teller House. Closed for lunch. Open for dinner service only on dates with
History of Central City Opera's Teller House
The Teller House was built as a hotel by lawyer turned statesman, Henry Moore Teller, in 1872 to serve the gold mining town then
The Teller House became known as the finest hotel (outside of Denver) west of the Mississippi and houses the famous and mysterious
The hotel was rented for dining and housing of Central City Opera House patrons beginning with the first festival in 1932, and was
entertainment and gathering venue for opera patrons and for special events throughout the season.
Rouge at the Teller House
120 Eureka Street, Central City, CO 80427
303-582-0600
www.tellerhouserouge.com
tim@ktrg.net
The Face on the Barroom Floor
Photo from: www.tellerhouserouge.com
Face on the Barroom Floor ~ Photo taken in 1936 - View of the face on the hardwood bar room floor of the Teller House,
painted by Colorado artist Herndon Davis (1901-1962). Photo by: www.photoswest.org
Visit the historic Face Bar in the Teller House and see the legendary painting of the beautiful Madeline on the barroom floor.
In 1872 the Teller House Hotel was built and was said to be the finest hotel west of the Mississippi River. In 1873 President Ulysses S.
President Chester Arthur) and his new hotel.
To impress the president, mine owners decided to lay 26 ingots of solid silver to make a path to the entrance to the Teller House so
saw the silver bars and walked up the boardwalk instead. At that time, Congress was debating whether gold or silver should back the
SOURCES:
www.coloradomuseums.org
www.legendsofamerica.com
The Denver Post- Spirited Times Gilpin County gambling boom brings out new, old ghost stories- March 26, 1996 Section: Living
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Past article from 2005
Teller House slots shut down amid boom in Central City
Location may have played a role
By Joanne Kelley, Rocky Mountain News
July 13, 2005
A casino that opened just a few months ago in Central City's Teller House shut down its slot machines early Monday, marking the
Added Central City Mayor Buddy Schmalz: 'It's not like Central City's business is leveling out. Business is booming.'
The Teller House bar and food service remain open for operagoers and tourists, and the casino's operator maintains its lease,
House.
Some gaming executives speculated the casino likely suffered from its location, a short walk up a hill from parking lots located closer to
The casino had 200 slot machines and was operated by 3C Gaming Inc., which also opened Scarlet's Casino in February at the site of
Eddie Lynn, 3C Gaming's chief executive was one of the investors in the first casino to set up shop in the Teller House in the 1990s, a
reinforced flooring required for slot machines.
Without lots of traffic, fees charged by the city also can add up. Central City casinos pay $1,265 a year in fees on each gaming device
When Teller House Casino opened in February, Lynn had ambitious plans to open Madeline's, a fine dining restaurant aimed in part at
The opera, whose season runs through the summer, had welcomed the addition of an upscale restaurant for opera patrons, who have
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Central City Opera House
120 Eureka Street
303-292-6700
www.centralcityopera.org
www.photoswest.org
Central City Opera House - 1933 ~ (www.photoswest.org)
CENTRAL CITY OPERA HOUSE
Eureka St.
National Register 1/18/1973, 5GL.8
Opened in March of 1878, the two-story Renaissance Revival style stone building is the oldest surviving and first permanent opera
County Opera House Association. Between 1910 and 1927, the building functioned as a motion picture theater. Donated to the
ongoing summer opera program.
www.coloradohistory-oahp.org/programareas/register/1503/cty/gl.htm
The Central City Opera House spreads a famous tale of Billy Hamilton, an Irish doorman and caretaker who lived there in the 1930s
Among the remaining troupes of the Opera House was s a miner turned stage performer by the name of Mike Dougherty, who was a
Apparently, Mike's love of the stage has caused him to linger.
Over the years, numerous back-stage visitors have reported being nearly overwhelmed with the strong (but fleeting) odor of alcohol,
are alone in the darkened corridor.
Other reported occurrences have included strange flickering orbs of light that seem to float across a darkened stage and then vanish
spots have been felt which move from one corner to the next backstage. Nearly all of these occurrences have been reported when the
SOURCE: www.legendsofamerica.com
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Central City: gold, gambling, ... ghosts?
Source of the following article: www.thefencepost.com Story by Becky Talley
His name is Billy. He is a resident of Central City, Colo., and has been the caretaker of the Opera House in this one-time mining village,
come through the town. He enjoys a good chew, and is, in fact, never without his can of dip. Billy always likes to meet new people, in
about Billy that sets him apart from other men: when you introduce yourself his handshake may be a bit cold and clammy, that is if you
Web site (http://www. coloradomuseums. com/gilpin.htm), in “1859, John Gregory discovered ‘The Gregory Lode’ in a gulch near
played out many dramas within its city walls with a cast of players from miners to soiled doves and even famous outlaws who strolled
themselves within the quiet buildings and deserted streets. Or was it only the memories that were alive in the town? It appears that this
drowning their sorrows after going bust, gambling and carousing since the mining days, though very few of them have been living for
Halloween issue. The mysterious and eerie have always held a fascination for me, so, of course, I jumped at the chance to scare
Penndragon Investigations and The Sweet Shop.
The tour began in the Central City Opera House, a grand building that has hosted the likes of Mae West and Christopher Reeves.
the Opera House.
As mentioned before, Billy was the caretaker of the Opera House. The young man, who was known to always carry Copenhagen chew,
stickler for introductions and doesn’t appear to take kindly to those who do not comply. The guide related that a man once adamantly
resulted in a broken nose for this brazen soul. When the investigation into the accident occurred, nothing was found to explain the
around is the builder of the house who has mysteriously shown up once to make repairs to the roof. The other entity apparently
smell of cigar smoke that would waft through the air whenever he appeared. The family came to the Opera House and decided to try to
didn’t pay a second thought to the occurrences until they began to smell the pungent odor of cigar smoke in their home. John has not
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The Belvidere Theatre
139 Nevada Street
Above photo from: The Opera Houses of Old Colorado website
www.operapronto.home.comcast.net/houses.html
The following story is from: www.thefencepost.com By Becky Talley
The Belvidere was the first opera house built in Central City in hopes of drawing acting troupes from New York to its stage. It was built
President Chester Arthur. (Teller also now reportedly spends his days haunting the building.) The Belvidere was built in 1874 after a
was found to be too small.
The tour was seated in the audience section of the theatre, looking to the stage, as many done for over a century, as we listened to
woman named Kate, a woman who was facially disfigured in a bar fight.
Her ghost is reported to still haunt the establishment, though it has been a long time since it has served its last drink. In fact, a psychic
woman reported to have contacted as many as 45 spirits, according to the tour guides, one of which was a large woman with a
temperature was no surprise. However, the chills that were sweeping over me were not of the cold weather kind. The hair on the back
is, in fact, downright eerie, and I was soon given a possible explanation for my sudden case of the heebie-jeebies.
The tour guide directed our attention to a section of a balcony about 10 feet to my right and just above my head. Apparently, I was
soiled doves who worked the rooms off the stage. Previously, a tour guide was able to make contact with her with the aid of dowsing
theatre. Possibly in an attempt to right her horrible death, she continues to this day to ask people for help from beyond the grave.
Another spirit is found in a back corner of the building (further away from my seat, thank goodness), and, according to communications
building. The Belvidere was used for a movie theatre for a short time and the projector was put in the general area the ghost chooses
projector. Did the machine have a little extra “help” from a projectionist from beyond the grave?
At this point in the tour, all of us ghost hunters were able to walk around the theatre and see what we could scare up. I steeled my
calmly told me it may be time to rethink this whole ghost thing and leave while I still could. I felt like there was someone behind me on
me, so I decided leave that area and take my chances with Flora instead.
When I got to her favorite spot, I met a group of people standing in a circle. All had their hands in the center of the group and informed
feel colder, but what really creeped us all out was that the air felt like it was vibrating. Now, this building is drafty and we could have
of Dodge. I stopped just short of plowing people over on my way to the door.
Others had the same experience. Tour participants Tricia Bergeron of Littleton and Barbara Padilla of Lakewood reported that they
few who did smell it! Barbara also reported to feel someone on the stairs, just like I did.
Once outside of the Belvidere and back into autumn air at the end of the tour, the hair on the back of my neck began to stand down.
eternity, and was joltingly reminded that there was one exception. John, the Opera House ghost, reportedly decided to give up his
ghostly passengers. Was I bringing anything home that I didn’t take with me to Central City? Was Flora riding shotgun in hopes that I
overactive imagination? I guess that may remain a secret that the ghosts of Central City will take to their graves, literally!
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Past news articles:
City of Black Hawk
Nov. 19th, 2003
www.cityofblackhawk.org
CENTRAL CITY, CO
The City of Black Hawk and Central City town fathers joined forces today in a first step to develop Central City’s Belvidere Theatre into
doors in 1878. Today, the City of Black Hawk purchased the tax lien on the Belvidere Theatre and Concert Hall along with the adjacent
of Black Hawk. 'Central City and Black Hawk will always be individual cities with individual histories but restoring and preserving the
a great deal to keep the culture of the area community alive.' He said the City of Black Hawk plans to preserve this historic site to its
between Central City and Black Hawk,” said Bob Harvey, Board Member for Belvidere Theatre. It is a step in the right direction.'
Several spoke out in favor of the plan to bring the Belvidere back to life as a community hub:
'The Belvidere is one of the jewels of Central City, said Patricia Holcomb of Colorado Preservation, Inc. “Colorado Preservation, Inc. is
part of many to revitalize and diversify the Central City economy.'
Mayor of Central City Buddy Schmalz said Central City is enthusiastic about the possibilities of working to restore the Belvidere and
1800s. In 1878, the Central City Opera House replaced the Belvidere Theatre as the opera hot spot with greater seating capacity for
the Central City Opera House. It was built by Colorado’s first Senator Henry Teller and Judge Silas B. Hahn for use as a meeting hall
Colorado militia, the Central City Garage and dealership, and a basketball court and recreation center. In 1972, a restored theatre was
Hawn and George Segal.
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Old theater to ring in a new year Gala will echo off 124-year-old walls and rafters
By George Lane
Denver Post Staff Writer
December 29, 1999
The Belvidere Theatre and Concert Hall is actually located in two buildings on Nevada Street just around the corner from Main Street
Upstairs or in back of the Shoo Fly were a few rooms where the women associated with the establishment were known to entertain, and
the town.
Bat Masterson, who had a bar down in Creede, is said to have gotten in trouble with one of the Shoo Fly girls.
Anyway, because it was one of the few buildings made of brick, Wisebart Hall was the only building on the south end of town to survive
While entertainment went on on the second floor, the first was devoted to retail shops.
The 450-seat theater was such a success that in 1878 it was replaced by the Central City opera house, down the street and around
Old theater to ring in a new year Gala will echo off 124-year-old walls and rafters
Author: George Lane - Denver Post Staff Writer
Back to home page
'The Richest $quare Mile on Earth'
Central City 1890's. Funeral procession ~ (photo from www.photoswest.org)
A long funeral procession led by a band walks down Main Street in Central City, Colorado, probably during the 1890s, possibly for
down the dirt road. A series of horse-drawn carriages follows behind the men.
Central City History:
Central City is located in the Rocky Mountains, 35 miles west of Denver. It is at the southern end of Gilpin County at an elevation of 8,
of the mining district. Thus Central City was born and was soon the leading mining center in Colorado. It came to be known as 'The
In 1874 most of the buildings in Central City were destroyed by fire. The town was rebuilt, this time of brick and stone; most of these
www.centralcitycolorado.com
``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
***VALENTINE'S DAY 2010 GHOSTLY EVENT! ***
STAR-CROSSED LOVERS OF GILPIN COUNTY!
Sunday, February 14th, 2010
1:30pm
Hosted by Psychic Dori Spence of SPOOKS!
Above heart image from: www.personalisedgreetingcards.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/small-heart-valentine-card-135x135mm1.jpg
......Spend some time getting to know about the history of Gilpin County’s Kindred Spirits!
Some Gone, but not Forgotten. Some Forgotten, but not Gone.......?
Join us for tours of some of Central City’s Historical & Haunted Buildings: The Thomas House, Masonic Lodge, and the original 1865
Gilpin County
Advanced reservations required
$25.00 per person
Call 303-582-5182 for reservations and information.
dorispence@gmail.com
Ticket cost includes: Tours, Appetizers and Presentations
A portion of each ticket will be donated to the Gilpin County Historical Society and the Newspaper Print Shop Preservation Fund.
Historical Ghost Tours are sponsored by SPOOKS, Inc. (Society for the Prevention of the Ostracization or Obliteration of Kindred
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Graveyard Horseback Rides in Central City!
Photo from: www.denvertours.net
Enjoy Horseback Riding in Colorado!
Come to the Magnificent Colorado Rocky Mountains and enjoy a unique horseback! Ride to some of Central City's oldest cemeteries.
infants.....vivid proof of the sorrow, new hope and then renewed grief mining families experienced. Tour can be 90 minutes or 2 hours;
A&A Historical Trails is a Colorado Horse back riding stable different and unique among many Colorado stables. Don't be limited by the
No age limit: Under 5 years old: Ride double!
Learn to ride a horse and you can have one of the most thrilling experiences of your life!
The best in Colorado Trail rides, pony rides, horse rental, horseback rides, pack trips, hunting horses, pack horses.
We offer Rocky Mountain trail horse riding with a number of unique guided and un-guided trail rides ... to old 1800's cemeteries, gold
For reservations: Please call us at: 303-567-4808 or E-mail us at:aastables@aastables.com
A&A Historical Trails Stables - 188 Alpes Hill Road
www.aastables.com
PO BOX 374 Idaho Springs, CO 80452
303-567-4808
www.rockymountaintours.net/?event=offer.detail&offerId=4522
Length: 90 Minutes
Times:
10:00 am, 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm & 4:00 pm
-Daily
-May through November
*weather permitting
Prices - including tax
Our Internet Rate ~ 90 Minute Tour ~ (per person): $54.95
Our Internet Rate ~ 2 Hour Tour ~ (per person): $69.95
Summary:
Tour does not include hotel pick up or transportation to Central City CO. Please reserve online, or call us toll-free at 888-478-1481.
is a service charge per ticket. This charge will be reflected on your summary before you checkout. The total shown includes any and
Cancellation Policy: There are no refunds. All sales are final.
Change Fee Policy: If changes are allowed on a tour or activity, a $20.00 per reservation change fee will be applied for any change to
availability on the new date. While we cannot guarantee any changes can be made, all change requests must be submitted a minimum
Important Notes:
~ Central City is located approximately a one hour drive from Boulder or Denver.
~ There is a minimum age requirement of 6 years old to ride.
~ You will be required to sign a Liability Waiver before the ride.
~ You must provide each rider's weight and level of riding experience on the Order Form.
Tour does not include hotel pick up or transportation to Central City CO.
Please reserve online, or call us toll-free at 888-478-1481.
Some of the other rides offered:
The Halloween Ride:
To the Graveyards... on HALLOWEEN!
Limited riders so sign up ASAP!
(No minimum number of riders)
(Reservations Required)
Full Moon Rides:
A $120, 6 hour round trip.
Start in daylight as we ride to the Central City casinos where you can wine, dine, and gamble. Ride back home by the light of the moon.
(5 person minimum)
(Reservations Required)
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Cemetery Tours
The Gilpin Historical Society & Museum annually holds cemetery crawls ------ Call 303-582-5364 for more info.
www.gilpinhistory.org
The Cemeteries
One mile west of Central City (taking Eureka Street) lie three cemeteries with hundreds of ornate stone markers and intricate grill work,
Cemetery. Please feel free to visit and wander among the headstones marking early day Central City residents grave sites. Please
www.centralcitycolorado.us/tourism/cemeteries
I.0.0.F. Lodge Cemetery
Located in Central City following out Eureka Street just past the Boodle Mine.
Bald Mountain Cemetery
The Town Board of Nevadaville founded the Bald Mountain Cemetery in the summer of 1877. The oldest tombstone predates the
number of caskets were transferred here from other burial grounds. Cemetery records are now housed at the county courthouse.
Catholic Cemetery
Central City Cemetery
The first City of Central cemetery was located on East 4 th High Street in Central City. It was in the way of the mining activity and
Dory Hill Cemetery
The first burial in Dory Hill was in 1859. However, the oldest tombstone inscription found by Mrs. Blanchard was Stephen T. Tibbits,
Foresters Cemetery
Knights of Pythias Cemetery
Masonic Cemetery
Red Men Cemetery
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GHOSTS OF GILPIN GETAWAY -- REST IN PEACE AT THE *Haunted* HOOPER HOMESTEAD!
Stay with us and enjoy spirit walks and guided ghost tours during the month of October. Delight your soul in a self guided spirit walk
Historic Downtown Central City will be available most weekends.
Go on the 'Up The Gulch' walking tour around 'The Richest Square Mile on Earth' or just visit and shop along Main Street Central.
Homestead Guest Quarters, enjoy a deluxe continental breakfast, two Geomancy Life Readings with Pat, Ghost Walks and a soak in
double occupancy; tax not included.)
Hooper Homestead Guest Quarters (Christine Pollock & Pat Ballantyne)
Address: 2555 W. 37th Ave., Central City, CO 80427
URL: www.hooperhomestead.com
E-mail: christine@hooperhomestead.com
Local: 303-582-5828
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Hauntings
Chateau L'Acadienne Bed & Breakfast
325 Spring Street
Central City CO 80427
303-582-5209
www.bedandbreakfast.com/colorado/chateau-lacadienne.html
Innkeepers: James & Shirley Voorhies
Chateau L'Acadienne (Big House of the Cajun) was built in the late 1870's during the height of the gold mining era. The house was
decorative moldings and fine antique chandeliers. Each guest room is uniquely decorated in either Victorian English or Louisiana
areas outside the chateau. Guests will also enjoy 'Lagniappe' (lan-yap), the Cajun French tradition of the host providing 'a little extra'
The couple bought a 120-year-old home in Central City and opened it as the Chateau L'Acadienne bed-and-breakfast. Less than a
Since then, several other guests have reported that their jewelry or keys had been moved from one side of the room to another during
Source: Denver Post- March 26, 1996 Section: Living Page: E-01 Michelle Mahoney Denver Post Staff Writer
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The Child Ghost of Missouri Flats
Missouri Flats Cemetery
According to Jeff Casey, several county sheriffs have reported seeing a small child in the area of the new C and D parking lots south
On a separate occasion, a Central City gambling shuttle driver was driving past the grave and heard three distinct knocks on the
Source: The Denver Post- March 26, 1996
Section: Living Page: E-01
Michelle Mahoney Denver Post Staff Writer
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The Columbine Lady
The ghost of Masonic Cemetery
According to legend, every April 5th and November 1st a beautiful woman in a black satin dress appears and places columbine
If creepy is, indeed, what you clamor for, mark your calendar for Nov. 1 and head on up to Central City, where, like clockwork, the Lady
SOURCES: www.rootsweb.com
&
(Rocky Mountain News- Sat. Oct. 18th, 2003)
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Teller House
120 Eureka
Teller House - 2006 ~ (photo taken by HauntedColorado.net. All rights reserved, please.
Teller House interior - 1872 ~ (photo from www.photoswest.org)
TELLER HOUSE
Eureka St.
National Register 1/18/1973, 5GL.9
The Teller House was built by brothers Henry M. and Willard Teller during 1871-72. The four-story brick building was reported to be
visiting elite, including U.S. President Grant who visited in 1873. Double hung windows are found on the three floors that contained
a museum, and the first floor bar with its well known 'Face on the Barroom Floor' remains an attraction.
www.coloradohistory-oahp.org/programareas/register/1503/cty/gl.htm
The Teller House houses the famous and mysterious 'Face on the Barroom Floor' painting, done by Herndon Davis in 1934. This
miner drank himself into a stupor and then proceeded to paint his wife’s portrait on the floor. Speaking tenderly of her, he painted long
witnesses say that on the anniversary of his death, the couple can be heard talking tenderly to each other through her portrait on the
her in the late 1890s after seeing her talking to another man.
Dolores Spellman, a Teller House tour guide, says she doesn't believe in ghosts herself, but 'friendly spirits' are another story.
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
The Teller House is now.......... Rouge at the Teller House!
A Kevin Taylor Restaurant
Welcome to Rouge and The Face Restaurant in Central City, Colorado - Two Kevin Taylor restaurants in one beautiful, historic
Teller House in Central City. Reservations are accepted at Rouge, an upscale, fine dining experience, serving on nights with evening
The Face Bar Restaurant: Located on the main level of the Teller House -- Casual American Cuisine. Open for appetizers, lunch,
Rouge Fine American Cuisine; Located upstairs in the Teller House. Closed for lunch. Open for dinner service only on dates with
History of Central City Opera's Teller House
The Teller House was built as a hotel by lawyer turned statesman, Henry Moore Teller, in 1872 to serve the gold mining town then
The Teller House became known as the finest hotel (outside of Denver) west of the Mississippi and houses the famous and mysterious
The hotel was rented for dining and housing of Central City Opera House patrons beginning with the first festival in 1932, and was
entertainment and gathering venue for opera patrons and for special events throughout the season.
Rouge at the Teller House
120 Eureka Street, Central City, CO 80427
303-582-0600
www.tellerhouserouge.com
tim@ktrg.net
The Face on the Barroom Floor
Photo from: www.tellerhouserouge.com
Face on the Barroom Floor ~ Photo taken in 1936 - View of the face on the hardwood bar room floor of the Teller House,
painted by Colorado artist Herndon Davis (1901-1962). Photo by: www.photoswest.org
Visit the historic Face Bar in the Teller House and see the legendary painting of the beautiful Madeline on the barroom floor.
In 1872 the Teller House Hotel was built and was said to be the finest hotel west of the Mississippi River. In 1873 President Ulysses S.
President Chester Arthur) and his new hotel.
To impress the president, mine owners decided to lay 26 ingots of solid silver to make a path to the entrance to the Teller House so
saw the silver bars and walked up the boardwalk instead. At that time, Congress was debating whether gold or silver should back the
SOURCES:
www.coloradomuseums.org
www.legendsofamerica.com
The Denver Post- Spirited Times Gilpin County gambling boom brings out new, old ghost stories- March 26, 1996 Section: Living
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Past article from 2005
Teller House slots shut down amid boom in Central City
Location may have played a role
By Joanne Kelley, Rocky Mountain News
July 13, 2005
A casino that opened just a few months ago in Central City's Teller House shut down its slot machines early Monday, marking the
Added Central City Mayor Buddy Schmalz: 'It's not like Central City's business is leveling out. Business is booming.'
The Teller House bar and food service remain open for operagoers and tourists, and the casino's operator maintains its lease,
House.
Some gaming executives speculated the casino likely suffered from its location, a short walk up a hill from parking lots located closer to
The casino had 200 slot machines and was operated by 3C Gaming Inc., which also opened Scarlet's Casino in February at the site of
Eddie Lynn, 3C Gaming's chief executive was one of the investors in the first casino to set up shop in the Teller House in the 1990s, a
reinforced flooring required for slot machines.
Without lots of traffic, fees charged by the city also can add up. Central City casinos pay $1,265 a year in fees on each gaming device
When Teller House Casino opened in February, Lynn had ambitious plans to open Madeline's, a fine dining restaurant aimed in part at
The opera, whose season runs through the summer, had welcomed the addition of an upscale restaurant for opera patrons, who have
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Central City Opera House
120 Eureka Street
303-292-6700
www.centralcityopera.org
www.photoswest.org
Central City Opera House - 1933 ~ (www.photoswest.org)
CENTRAL CITY OPERA HOUSE
Eureka St.
National Register 1/18/1973, 5GL.8
Opened in March of 1878, the two-story Renaissance Revival style stone building is the oldest surviving and first permanent opera
County Opera House Association. Between 1910 and 1927, the building functioned as a motion picture theater. Donated to the
ongoing summer opera program.
www.coloradohistory-oahp.org/programareas/register/1503/cty/gl.htm
The Central City Opera House spreads a famous tale of Billy Hamilton, an Irish doorman and caretaker who lived there in the 1930s
Among the remaining troupes of the Opera House was s a miner turned stage performer by the name of Mike Dougherty, who was a
Apparently, Mike's love of the stage has caused him to linger.
Over the years, numerous back-stage visitors have reported being nearly overwhelmed with the strong (but fleeting) odor of alcohol,
are alone in the darkened corridor.
Other reported occurrences have included strange flickering orbs of light that seem to float across a darkened stage and then vanish
spots have been felt which move from one corner to the next backstage. Nearly all of these occurrences have been reported when the
SOURCE: www.legendsofamerica.com
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Central City: gold, gambling, ... ghosts?
Source of the following article: www.thefencepost.com Story by Becky Talley
His name is Billy. He is a resident of Central City, Colo., and has been the caretaker of the Opera House in this one-time mining village,
come through the town. He enjoys a good chew, and is, in fact, never without his can of dip. Billy always likes to meet new people, in
about Billy that sets him apart from other men: when you introduce yourself his handshake may be a bit cold and clammy, that is if you
Web site (http://www. coloradomuseums. com/gilpin.htm), in “1859, John Gregory discovered ‘The Gregory Lode’ in a gulch near
played out many dramas within its city walls with a cast of players from miners to soiled doves and even famous outlaws who strolled
themselves within the quiet buildings and deserted streets. Or was it only the memories that were alive in the town? It appears that this
drowning their sorrows after going bust, gambling and carousing since the mining days, though very few of them have been living for
Halloween issue. The mysterious and eerie have always held a fascination for me, so, of course, I jumped at the chance to scare
Penndragon Investigations and The Sweet Shop.
The tour began in the Central City Opera House, a grand building that has hosted the likes of Mae West and Christopher Reeves.
the Opera House.
As mentioned before, Billy was the caretaker of the Opera House. The young man, who was known to always carry Copenhagen chew,
stickler for introductions and doesn’t appear to take kindly to those who do not comply. The guide related that a man once adamantly
resulted in a broken nose for this brazen soul. When the investigation into the accident occurred, nothing was found to explain the
around is the builder of the house who has mysteriously shown up once to make repairs to the roof. The other entity apparently
smell of cigar smoke that would waft through the air whenever he appeared. The family came to the Opera House and decided to try to
didn’t pay a second thought to the occurrences until they began to smell the pungent odor of cigar smoke in their home. John has not
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The Belvidere Theatre
139 Nevada Street
Above photo from: The Opera Houses of Old Colorado website
www.operapronto.home.comcast.net/houses.html
The following story is from: www.thefencepost.com By Becky Talley
The Belvidere was the first opera house built in Central City in hopes of drawing acting troupes from New York to its stage. It was built
President Chester Arthur. (Teller also now reportedly spends his days haunting the building.) The Belvidere was built in 1874 after a
was found to be too small.
The tour was seated in the audience section of the theatre, looking to the stage, as many done for over a century, as we listened to
woman named Kate, a woman who was facially disfigured in a bar fight.
Her ghost is reported to still haunt the establishment, though it has been a long time since it has served its last drink. In fact, a psychic
woman reported to have contacted as many as 45 spirits, according to the tour guides, one of which was a large woman with a
temperature was no surprise. However, the chills that were sweeping over me were not of the cold weather kind. The hair on the back
is, in fact, downright eerie, and I was soon given a possible explanation for my sudden case of the heebie-jeebies.
The tour guide directed our attention to a section of a balcony about 10 feet to my right and just above my head. Apparently, I was
soiled doves who worked the rooms off the stage. Previously, a tour guide was able to make contact with her with the aid of dowsing
theatre. Possibly in an attempt to right her horrible death, she continues to this day to ask people for help from beyond the grave.
Another spirit is found in a back corner of the building (further away from my seat, thank goodness), and, according to communications
building. The Belvidere was used for a movie theatre for a short time and the projector was put in the general area the ghost chooses
projector. Did the machine have a little extra “help” from a projectionist from beyond the grave?
At this point in the tour, all of us ghost hunters were able to walk around the theatre and see what we could scare up. I steeled my
calmly told me it may be time to rethink this whole ghost thing and leave while I still could. I felt like there was someone behind me on
me, so I decided leave that area and take my chances with Flora instead.
When I got to her favorite spot, I met a group of people standing in a circle. All had their hands in the center of the group and informed
feel colder, but what really creeped us all out was that the air felt like it was vibrating. Now, this building is drafty and we could have
of Dodge. I stopped just short of plowing people over on my way to the door.
Others had the same experience. Tour participants Tricia Bergeron of Littleton and Barbara Padilla of Lakewood reported that they
few who did smell it! Barbara also reported to feel someone on the stairs, just like I did.
Once outside of the Belvidere and back into autumn air at the end of the tour, the hair on the back of my neck began to stand down.
eternity, and was joltingly reminded that there was one exception. John, the Opera House ghost, reportedly decided to give up his
ghostly passengers. Was I bringing anything home that I didn’t take with me to Central City? Was Flora riding shotgun in hopes that I
overactive imagination? I guess that may remain a secret that the ghosts of Central City will take to their graves, literally!
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Past news articles:
City of Black Hawk
Nov. 19th, 2003
www.cityofblackhawk.org
CENTRAL CITY, CO
The City of Black Hawk and Central City town fathers joined forces today in a first step to develop Central City’s Belvidere Theatre into
doors in 1878. Today, the City of Black Hawk purchased the tax lien on the Belvidere Theatre and Concert Hall along with the adjacent
of Black Hawk. 'Central City and Black Hawk will always be individual cities with individual histories but restoring and preserving the
a great deal to keep the culture of the area community alive.' He said the City of Black Hawk plans to preserve this historic site to its
between Central City and Black Hawk,” said Bob Harvey, Board Member for Belvidere Theatre. It is a step in the right direction.'
Several spoke out in favor of the plan to bring the Belvidere back to life as a community hub:
'The Belvidere is one of the jewels of Central City, said Patricia Holcomb of Colorado Preservation, Inc. “Colorado Preservation, Inc. is
part of many to revitalize and diversify the Central City economy.'
Mayor of Central City Buddy Schmalz said Central City is enthusiastic about the possibilities of working to restore the Belvidere and
1800s. In 1878, the Central City Opera House replaced the Belvidere Theatre as the opera hot spot with greater seating capacity for
the Central City Opera House. It was built by Colorado’s first Senator Henry Teller and Judge Silas B. Hahn for use as a meeting hall
Colorado militia, the Central City Garage and dealership, and a basketball court and recreation center. In 1972, a restored theatre was
Hawn and George Segal.
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Old theater to ring in a new year Gala will echo off 124-year-old walls and rafters
By George Lane
Denver Post Staff Writer
December 29, 1999
The Belvidere Theatre and Concert Hall is actually located in two buildings on Nevada Street just around the corner from Main Street
Upstairs or in back of the Shoo Fly were a few rooms where the women associated with the establishment were known to entertain, and
the town.
Bat Masterson, who had a bar down in Creede, is said to have gotten in trouble with one of the Shoo Fly girls.
Anyway, because it was one of the few buildings made of brick, Wisebart Hall was the only building on the south end of town to survive
While entertainment went on on the second floor, the first was devoted to retail shops.
The 450-seat theater was such a success that in 1878 it was replaced by the Central City opera house, down the street and around
Old theater to ring in a new year Gala will echo off 124-year-old walls and rafters
Author: George Lane - Denver Post Staff Writer
Back to home page
The city limits extend south along the Central City Parkway into Clear Creek County, as far as Interstate 70. The city is bordered by Black Hawk to the east and Idaho Springs to the south. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.3 km 2 ). Central City is blessed with an abundance of activities to keep people busy! Our historic community takes you back to its founding by miners in 1859. While here, gaming aficionados will appreciate our 8 casinos which operate 24 hours per day. Other folks can enjoy the abundant wildlife in and around the community. The Central City Parkway is a four-lane highway in Colorado, running from I-70 near Idaho Springs to the historic mining town and gambling area of Central City. Opened on November 19, 2004, the Parkway provides direct access to Central City. The length of the Parkway is 8.4 miles, and it can be traveled in about twelve minutes. As part of the opening ceremonies in 2004, 1996 Indianapolis 500. Probably the Hidee Mine, or explore the three cemeteries. Maybe even go to the casinos. The casino profits help preserve Central City. There are a couple ways to get to Central City from Denver. We took I-70 to the Central City Parkway. This is about 20-25 minutes west of Denver. The Central City Parkway goes directly into Central City. On the day Colorado’s casinos were allowed to reopen, June 17, the streets were still quiet in Central City, a small gambling town in the foothills about 45 minutes west of Denver.
Historic Central City Casino Parkway Ny
Historic Central City Casino Parkway Philadelphia
Central City
'The Richest $quare Mile on Earth'
Central City 1890's. Funeral procession ~ (photo from www.photoswest.org)
A long funeral procession led by a band walks down Main Street in Central City, Colorado, probably during the 1890s, possibly for
down the dirt road. A series of horse-drawn carriages follows behind the men.
Central City History:
Central City is located in the Rocky Mountains, 35 miles west of Denver. It is at the southern end of Gilpin County at an elevation of 8,
of the mining district. Thus Central City was born and was soon the leading mining center in Colorado. It came to be known as 'The
In 1874 most of the buildings in Central City were destroyed by fire. The town was rebuilt, this time of brick and stone; most of these
www.centralcitycolorado.com
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***VALENTINE'S DAY 2010 GHOSTLY EVENT! ***
STAR-CROSSED LOVERS OF GILPIN COUNTY!
Sunday, February 14th, 2010
1:30pm
Hosted by Psychic Dori Spence of SPOOKS!
Above heart image from: www.personalisedgreetingcards.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/small-heart-valentine-card-135x135mm1.jpg
......Spend some time getting to know about the history of Gilpin County’s Kindred Spirits!
Some Gone, but not Forgotten. Some Forgotten, but not Gone.......?
Join us for tours of some of Central City’s Historical & Haunted Buildings: The Thomas House, Masonic Lodge, and the original 1865
Gilpin County
Advanced reservations required
$25.00 per person
Call 303-582-5182 for reservations and information.
dorispence@gmail.com
Ticket cost includes: Tours, Appetizers and Presentations
A portion of each ticket will be donated to the Gilpin County Historical Society and the Newspaper Print Shop Preservation Fund.
Historical Ghost Tours are sponsored by SPOOKS, Inc. (Society for the Prevention of the Ostracization or Obliteration of Kindred
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Graveyard Horseback Rides in Central City!
Photo from: www.denvertours.net
Enjoy Horseback Riding in Colorado!
Come to the Magnificent Colorado Rocky Mountains and enjoy a unique horseback! Ride to some of Central City's oldest cemeteries.
infants.....vivid proof of the sorrow, new hope and then renewed grief mining families experienced. Tour can be 90 minutes or 2 hours;
A&A Historical Trails is a Colorado Horse back riding stable different and unique among many Colorado stables. Don't be limited by the
No age limit: Under 5 years old: Ride double!
Learn to ride a horse and you can have one of the most thrilling experiences of your life!
The best in Colorado Trail rides, pony rides, horse rental, horseback rides, pack trips, hunting horses, pack horses.
We offer Rocky Mountain trail horse riding with a number of unique guided and un-guided trail rides ... to old 1800's cemeteries, gold
For reservations: Please call us at: 303-567-4808 or E-mail us at:aastables@aastables.com
A&A Historical Trails Stables - 188 Alpes Hill Road
www.aastables.com
PO BOX 374 Idaho Springs, CO 80452
303-567-4808
www.rockymountaintours.net/?event=offer.detail&offerId=4522
Length: 90 Minutes
Times:
10:00 am, 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm & 4:00 pm
-Daily
-May through November
*weather permitting
Prices - including tax
Our Internet Rate ~ 90 Minute Tour ~ (per person): $54.95
Our Internet Rate ~ 2 Hour Tour ~ (per person): $69.95
Summary:
Tour does not include hotel pick up or transportation to Central City CO. Please reserve online, or call us toll-free at 888-478-1481.
is a service charge per ticket. This charge will be reflected on your summary before you checkout. The total shown includes any and
Cancellation Policy: There are no refunds. All sales are final.
Change Fee Policy: If changes are allowed on a tour or activity, a $20.00 per reservation change fee will be applied for any change to
availability on the new date. While we cannot guarantee any changes can be made, all change requests must be submitted a minimum
Important Notes:
~ Central City is located approximately a one hour drive from Boulder or Denver.
~ There is a minimum age requirement of 6 years old to ride.
~ You will be required to sign a Liability Waiver before the ride.
~ You must provide each rider's weight and level of riding experience on the Order Form.
Tour does not include hotel pick up or transportation to Central City CO.
Please reserve online, or call us toll-free at 888-478-1481.
Some of the other rides offered:
The Halloween Ride:
To the Graveyards... on HALLOWEEN!
Limited riders so sign up ASAP!
(No minimum number of riders)
(Reservations Required)
Full Moon Rides:
A $120, 6 hour round trip.
Start in daylight as we ride to the Central City casinos where you can wine, dine, and gamble. Ride back home by the light of the moon.
(5 person minimum)
(Reservations Required)
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Cemetery Tours
The Gilpin Historical Society & Museum annually holds cemetery crawls ------ Call 303-582-5364 for more info.
www.gilpinhistory.org
The Cemeteries
One mile west of Central City (taking Eureka Street) lie three cemeteries with hundreds of ornate stone markers and intricate grill work,
Cemetery. Please feel free to visit and wander among the headstones marking early day Central City residents grave sites. Please
www.centralcitycolorado.us/tourism/cemeteries
I.0.0.F. Lodge Cemetery
Located in Central City following out Eureka Street just past the Boodle Mine.
Bald Mountain Cemetery
The Town Board of Nevadaville founded the Bald Mountain Cemetery in the summer of 1877. The oldest tombstone predates the
number of caskets were transferred here from other burial grounds. Cemetery records are now housed at the county courthouse.
Catholic Cemetery
Central City Cemetery
The first City of Central cemetery was located on East 4 th High Street in Central City. It was in the way of the mining activity and
Dory Hill Cemetery
The first burial in Dory Hill was in 1859. However, the oldest tombstone inscription found by Mrs. Blanchard was Stephen T. Tibbits,
Foresters Cemetery
Knights of Pythias Cemetery
Masonic Cemetery
Red Men Cemetery
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GHOSTS OF GILPIN GETAWAY -- REST IN PEACE AT THE *Haunted* HOOPER HOMESTEAD!
Stay with us and enjoy spirit walks and guided ghost tours during the month of October. Delight your soul in a self guided spirit walk
Historic Downtown Central City will be available most weekends.
Go on the 'Up The Gulch' walking tour around 'The Richest Square Mile on Earth' or just visit and shop along Main Street Central.
Homestead Guest Quarters, enjoy a deluxe continental breakfast, two Geomancy Life Readings with Pat, Ghost Walks and a soak in
double occupancy; tax not included.)
Hooper Homestead Guest Quarters (Christine Pollock & Pat Ballantyne)
Address: 2555 W. 37th Ave., Central City, CO 80427
URL: www.hooperhomestead.com
E-mail: christine@hooperhomestead.com
Local: 303-582-5828
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Hauntings
Chateau L'Acadienne Bed & Breakfast
325 Spring Street
Central City CO 80427
303-582-5209
www.bedandbreakfast.com/colorado/chateau-lacadienne.html
Innkeepers: James & Shirley Voorhies
Chateau L'Acadienne (Big House of the Cajun) was built in the late 1870's during the height of the gold mining era. The house was
decorative moldings and fine antique chandeliers. Each guest room is uniquely decorated in either Victorian English or Louisiana
areas outside the chateau. Guests will also enjoy 'Lagniappe' (lan-yap), the Cajun French tradition of the host providing 'a little extra'
The couple bought a 120-year-old home in Central City and opened it as the Chateau L'Acadienne bed-and-breakfast. Less than a
Since then, several other guests have reported that their jewelry or keys had been moved from one side of the room to another during
Source: Denver Post- March 26, 1996 Section: Living Page: E-01 Michelle Mahoney Denver Post Staff Writer
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
The Child Ghost of Missouri Flats
Missouri Flats Cemetery
According to Jeff Casey, several county sheriffs have reported seeing a small child in the area of the new C and D parking lots south
On a separate occasion, a Central City gambling shuttle driver was driving past the grave and heard three distinct knocks on the
Source: The Denver Post- March 26, 1996
Section: Living Page: E-01
Michelle Mahoney Denver Post Staff Writer
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The Columbine Lady
The ghost of Masonic Cemetery
According to legend, every April 5th and November 1st a beautiful woman in a black satin dress appears and places columbine
If creepy is, indeed, what you clamor for, mark your calendar for Nov. 1 and head on up to Central City, where, like clockwork, the Lady
SOURCES: www.rootsweb.com
&
(Rocky Mountain News- Sat. Oct. 18th, 2003)
``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Teller House
120 Eureka
Teller House - 2006 ~ (photo taken by HauntedColorado.net. All rights reserved, please.
Teller House interior - 1872 ~ (photo from www.photoswest.org)
TELLER HOUSE
Eureka St.
National Register 1/18/1973, 5GL.9
The Teller House was built by brothers Henry M. and Willard Teller during 1871-72. The four-story brick building was reported to be
visiting elite, including U.S. President Grant who visited in 1873. Double hung windows are found on the three floors that contained
a museum, and the first floor bar with its well known 'Face on the Barroom Floor' remains an attraction.
www.coloradohistory-oahp.org/programareas/register/1503/cty/gl.htm
The Teller House houses the famous and mysterious 'Face on the Barroom Floor' painting, done by Herndon Davis in 1934. This
miner drank himself into a stupor and then proceeded to paint his wife’s portrait on the floor. Speaking tenderly of her, he painted long
witnesses say that on the anniversary of his death, the couple can be heard talking tenderly to each other through her portrait on the
her in the late 1890s after seeing her talking to another man.
Dolores Spellman, a Teller House tour guide, says she doesn't believe in ghosts herself, but 'friendly spirits' are another story.
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
The Teller House is now.......... Rouge at the Teller House!
A Kevin Taylor Restaurant
Welcome to Rouge and The Face Restaurant in Central City, Colorado - Two Kevin Taylor restaurants in one beautiful, historic
Teller House in Central City. Reservations are accepted at Rouge, an upscale, fine dining experience, serving on nights with evening
The Face Bar Restaurant: Located on the main level of the Teller House -- Casual American Cuisine. Open for appetizers, lunch,
Rouge Fine American Cuisine; Located upstairs in the Teller House. Closed for lunch. Open for dinner service only on dates with
History of Central City Opera's Teller House
The Teller House was built as a hotel by lawyer turned statesman, Henry Moore Teller, in 1872 to serve the gold mining town then
The Teller House became known as the finest hotel (outside of Denver) west of the Mississippi and houses the famous and mysterious
The hotel was rented for dining and housing of Central City Opera House patrons beginning with the first festival in 1932, and was
entertainment and gathering venue for opera patrons and for special events throughout the season.
Rouge at the Teller House
120 Eureka Street, Central City, CO 80427
303-582-0600
www.tellerhouserouge.com
tim@ktrg.net
The Face on the Barroom Floor
Photo from: www.tellerhouserouge.com
Face on the Barroom Floor ~ Photo taken in 1936 - View of the face on the hardwood bar room floor of the Teller House,
painted by Colorado artist Herndon Davis (1901-1962). Photo by: www.photoswest.org
Visit the historic Face Bar in the Teller House and see the legendary painting of the beautiful Madeline on the barroom floor.
In 1872 the Teller House Hotel was built and was said to be the finest hotel west of the Mississippi River. In 1873 President Ulysses S.
President Chester Arthur) and his new hotel.
To impress the president, mine owners decided to lay 26 ingots of solid silver to make a path to the entrance to the Teller House so
saw the silver bars and walked up the boardwalk instead. At that time, Congress was debating whether gold or silver should back the
SOURCES:
www.coloradomuseums.org
www.legendsofamerica.com
The Denver Post- Spirited Times Gilpin County gambling boom brings out new, old ghost stories- March 26, 1996 Section: Living
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Past article from 2005
Teller House slots shut down amid boom in Central City
Location may have played a role
By Joanne Kelley, Rocky Mountain News
July 13, 2005
A casino that opened just a few months ago in Central City's Teller House shut down its slot machines early Monday, marking the
Added Central City Mayor Buddy Schmalz: 'It's not like Central City's business is leveling out. Business is booming.'
The Teller House bar and food service remain open for operagoers and tourists, and the casino's operator maintains its lease,
House.
Some gaming executives speculated the casino likely suffered from its location, a short walk up a hill from parking lots located closer to
The casino had 200 slot machines and was operated by 3C Gaming Inc., which also opened Scarlet's Casino in February at the site of
Eddie Lynn, 3C Gaming's chief executive was one of the investors in the first casino to set up shop in the Teller House in the 1990s, a
reinforced flooring required for slot machines.
Without lots of traffic, fees charged by the city also can add up. Central City casinos pay $1,265 a year in fees on each gaming device
When Teller House Casino opened in February, Lynn had ambitious plans to open Madeline's, a fine dining restaurant aimed in part at
The opera, whose season runs through the summer, had welcomed the addition of an upscale restaurant for opera patrons, who have
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Central City Opera House
120 Eureka Street
303-292-6700
www.centralcityopera.org
www.photoswest.org
Central City Opera House - 1933 ~ (www.photoswest.org)
CENTRAL CITY OPERA HOUSE
Eureka St.
National Register 1/18/1973, 5GL.8
Opened in March of 1878, the two-story Renaissance Revival style stone building is the oldest surviving and first permanent opera
County Opera House Association. Between 1910 and 1927, the building functioned as a motion picture theater. Donated to the
ongoing summer opera program.
www.coloradohistory-oahp.org/programareas/register/1503/cty/gl.htm
The Central City Opera House spreads a famous tale of Billy Hamilton, an Irish doorman and caretaker who lived there in the 1930s
Among the remaining troupes of the Opera House was s a miner turned stage performer by the name of Mike Dougherty, who was a
Apparently, Mike's love of the stage has caused him to linger.
Over the years, numerous back-stage visitors have reported being nearly overwhelmed with the strong (but fleeting) odor of alcohol,
are alone in the darkened corridor.
Other reported occurrences have included strange flickering orbs of light that seem to float across a darkened stage and then vanish
spots have been felt which move from one corner to the next backstage. Nearly all of these occurrences have been reported when the
SOURCE: www.legendsofamerica.com
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Central City: gold, gambling, ... ghosts?
Source of the following article: www.thefencepost.com Story by Becky Talley
His name is Billy. He is a resident of Central City, Colo., and has been the caretaker of the Opera House in this one-time mining village,
come through the town. He enjoys a good chew, and is, in fact, never without his can of dip. Billy always likes to meet new people, in
about Billy that sets him apart from other men: when you introduce yourself his handshake may be a bit cold and clammy, that is if you
Web site (http://www. coloradomuseums. com/gilpin.htm), in “1859, John Gregory discovered ‘The Gregory Lode’ in a gulch near
played out many dramas within its city walls with a cast of players from miners to soiled doves and even famous outlaws who strolled
themselves within the quiet buildings and deserted streets. Or was it only the memories that were alive in the town? It appears that this
drowning their sorrows after going bust, gambling and carousing since the mining days, though very few of them have been living for
Halloween issue. The mysterious and eerie have always held a fascination for me, so, of course, I jumped at the chance to scare
Penndragon Investigations and The Sweet Shop.
The tour began in the Central City Opera House, a grand building that has hosted the likes of Mae West and Christopher Reeves.
the Opera House.
As mentioned before, Billy was the caretaker of the Opera House. The young man, who was known to always carry Copenhagen chew,
stickler for introductions and doesn’t appear to take kindly to those who do not comply. The guide related that a man once adamantly
resulted in a broken nose for this brazen soul. When the investigation into the accident occurred, nothing was found to explain the
around is the builder of the house who has mysteriously shown up once to make repairs to the roof. The other entity apparently
smell of cigar smoke that would waft through the air whenever he appeared. The family came to the Opera House and decided to try to
didn’t pay a second thought to the occurrences until they began to smell the pungent odor of cigar smoke in their home. John has not
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The Belvidere Theatre
139 Nevada Street
Above photo from: The Opera Houses of Old Colorado website
www.operapronto.home.comcast.net/houses.html
The following story is from: www.thefencepost.com By Becky Talley
The Belvidere was the first opera house built in Central City in hopes of drawing acting troupes from New York to its stage. It was built
President Chester Arthur. (Teller also now reportedly spends his days haunting the building.) The Belvidere was built in 1874 after a
was found to be too small.
The tour was seated in the audience section of the theatre, looking to the stage, as many done for over a century, as we listened to
woman named Kate, a woman who was facially disfigured in a bar fight.
Her ghost is reported to still haunt the establishment, though it has been a long time since it has served its last drink. In fact, a psychic
woman reported to have contacted as many as 45 spirits, according to the tour guides, one of which was a large woman with a
temperature was no surprise. However, the chills that were sweeping over me were not of the cold weather kind. The hair on the back
is, in fact, downright eerie, and I was soon given a possible explanation for my sudden case of the heebie-jeebies.
The tour guide directed our attention to a section of a balcony about 10 feet to my right and just above my head. Apparently, I was
soiled doves who worked the rooms off the stage. Previously, a tour guide was able to make contact with her with the aid of dowsing
theatre. Possibly in an attempt to right her horrible death, she continues to this day to ask people for help from beyond the grave.
Another spirit is found in a back corner of the building (further away from my seat, thank goodness), and, according to communications
building. The Belvidere was used for a movie theatre for a short time and the projector was put in the general area the ghost chooses
projector. Did the machine have a little extra “help” from a projectionist from beyond the grave?
At this point in the tour, all of us ghost hunters were able to walk around the theatre and see what we could scare up. I steeled my
calmly told me it may be time to rethink this whole ghost thing and leave while I still could. I felt like there was someone behind me on
me, so I decided leave that area and take my chances with Flora instead.
When I got to her favorite spot, I met a group of people standing in a circle. All had their hands in the center of the group and informed
feel colder, but what really creeped us all out was that the air felt like it was vibrating. Now, this building is drafty and we could have
of Dodge. I stopped just short of plowing people over on my way to the door.
Others had the same experience. Tour participants Tricia Bergeron of Littleton and Barbara Padilla of Lakewood reported that they
few who did smell it! Barbara also reported to feel someone on the stairs, just like I did.
Once outside of the Belvidere and back into autumn air at the end of the tour, the hair on the back of my neck began to stand down.
eternity, and was joltingly reminded that there was one exception. John, the Opera House ghost, reportedly decided to give up his
ghostly passengers. Was I bringing anything home that I didn’t take with me to Central City? Was Flora riding shotgun in hopes that I
overactive imagination? I guess that may remain a secret that the ghosts of Central City will take to their graves, literally!
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Past news articles:
City of Black Hawk
Nov. 19th, 2003
www.cityofblackhawk.org
CENTRAL CITY, CO
The City of Black Hawk and Central City town fathers joined forces today in a first step to develop Central City’s Belvidere Theatre into
doors in 1878. Today, the City of Black Hawk purchased the tax lien on the Belvidere Theatre and Concert Hall along with the adjacent
of Black Hawk. 'Central City and Black Hawk will always be individual cities with individual histories but restoring and preserving the
a great deal to keep the culture of the area community alive.' He said the City of Black Hawk plans to preserve this historic site to its
between Central City and Black Hawk,” said Bob Harvey, Board Member for Belvidere Theatre. It is a step in the right direction.'
Several spoke out in favor of the plan to bring the Belvidere back to life as a community hub:
'The Belvidere is one of the jewels of Central City, said Patricia Holcomb of Colorado Preservation, Inc. “Colorado Preservation, Inc. is
part of many to revitalize and diversify the Central City economy.'
Mayor of Central City Buddy Schmalz said Central City is enthusiastic about the possibilities of working to restore the Belvidere and
1800s. In 1878, the Central City Opera House replaced the Belvidere Theatre as the opera hot spot with greater seating capacity for
the Central City Opera House. It was built by Colorado’s first Senator Henry Teller and Judge Silas B. Hahn for use as a meeting hall
Colorado militia, the Central City Garage and dealership, and a basketball court and recreation center. In 1972, a restored theatre was
Hawn and George Segal.
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Old theater to ring in a new year Gala will echo off 124-year-old walls and rafters
By George Lane
Denver Post Staff Writer
December 29, 1999
The Belvidere Theatre and Concert Hall is actually located in two buildings on Nevada Street just around the corner from Main Street
Upstairs or in back of the Shoo Fly were a few rooms where the women associated with the establishment were known to entertain, and
the town.
Bat Masterson, who had a bar down in Creede, is said to have gotten in trouble with one of the Shoo Fly girls.
Anyway, because it was one of the few buildings made of brick, Wisebart Hall was the only building on the south end of town to survive
While entertainment went on on the second floor, the first was devoted to retail shops.
The 450-seat theater was such a success that in 1878 it was replaced by the Central City opera house, down the street and around
Old theater to ring in a new year Gala will echo off 124-year-old walls and rafters
Author: George Lane - Denver Post Staff Writer
Back to home page
Poker Combo RankingsUk Casino Roulette Rules Libri Sul Blackjack Slot Solex
'The Richest $quare Mile on Earth'
Central City 1890's. Funeral procession ~ (photo from www.photoswest.org)
A long funeral procession led by a band walks down Main Street in Central City, Colorado, probably during the 1890s, possibly for
down the dirt road. A series of horse-drawn carriages follows behind the men.
Central City History:
Central City is located in the Rocky Mountains, 35 miles west of Denver. It is at the southern end of Gilpin County at an elevation of 8,
of the mining district. Thus Central City was born and was soon the leading mining center in Colorado. It came to be known as 'The
In 1874 most of the buildings in Central City were destroyed by fire. The town was rebuilt, this time of brick and stone; most of these
www.centralcitycolorado.com
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***VALENTINE'S DAY 2010 GHOSTLY EVENT! ***
STAR-CROSSED LOVERS OF GILPIN COUNTY!
Sunday, February 14th, 2010
1:30pm
Hosted by Psychic Dori Spence of SPOOKS!
Above heart image from: www.personalisedgreetingcards.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/small-heart-valentine-card-135x135mm1.jpg
......Spend some time getting to know about the history of Gilpin County’s Kindred Spirits!
Some Gone, but not Forgotten. Some Forgotten, but not Gone.......?
Join us for tours of some of Central City’s Historical & Haunted Buildings: The Thomas House, Masonic Lodge, and the original 1865
Gilpin County
Advanced reservations required
$25.00 per person
Call 303-582-5182 for reservations and information.
dorispence@gmail.com
Ticket cost includes: Tours, Appetizers and Presentations
A portion of each ticket will be donated to the Gilpin County Historical Society and the Newspaper Print Shop Preservation Fund.
Historical Ghost Tours are sponsored by SPOOKS, Inc. (Society for the Prevention of the Ostracization or Obliteration of Kindred
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Graveyard Horseback Rides in Central City!
Photo from: www.denvertours.net
Enjoy Horseback Riding in Colorado!
Come to the Magnificent Colorado Rocky Mountains and enjoy a unique horseback! Ride to some of Central City's oldest cemeteries.
infants.....vivid proof of the sorrow, new hope and then renewed grief mining families experienced. Tour can be 90 minutes or 2 hours;
A&A Historical Trails is a Colorado Horse back riding stable different and unique among many Colorado stables. Don't be limited by the
No age limit: Under 5 years old: Ride double!
Learn to ride a horse and you can have one of the most thrilling experiences of your life!
The best in Colorado Trail rides, pony rides, horse rental, horseback rides, pack trips, hunting horses, pack horses.
We offer Rocky Mountain trail horse riding with a number of unique guided and un-guided trail rides ... to old 1800's cemeteries, gold
For reservations: Please call us at: 303-567-4808 or E-mail us at:aastables@aastables.com
A&A Historical Trails Stables - 188 Alpes Hill Road
www.aastables.com
PO BOX 374 Idaho Springs, CO 80452
303-567-4808
www.rockymountaintours.net/?event=offer.detail&offerId=4522
Length: 90 Minutes
Times:
10:00 am, 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm & 4:00 pm
-Daily
-May through November
*weather permitting
Prices - including tax
Our Internet Rate ~ 90 Minute Tour ~ (per person): $54.95
Our Internet Rate ~ 2 Hour Tour ~ (per person): $69.95
Summary:
Tour does not include hotel pick up or transportation to Central City CO. Please reserve online, or call us toll-free at 888-478-1481.
is a service charge per ticket. This charge will be reflected on your summary before you checkout. The total shown includes any and
Cancellation Policy: There are no refunds. All sales are final.
Change Fee Policy: If changes are allowed on a tour or activity, a $20.00 per reservation change fee will be applied for any change to
availability on the new date. While we cannot guarantee any changes can be made, all change requests must be submitted a minimum
Important Notes:
~ Central City is located approximately a one hour drive from Boulder or Denver.
~ There is a minimum age requirement of 6 years old to ride.
~ You will be required to sign a Liability Waiver before the ride.
~ You must provide each rider's weight and level of riding experience on the Order Form.
Tour does not include hotel pick up or transportation to Central City CO.
Please reserve online, or call us toll-free at 888-478-1481.
Some of the other rides offered:
The Halloween Ride:
To the Graveyards... on HALLOWEEN!
Limited riders so sign up ASAP!
(No minimum number of riders)
(Reservations Required)
Full Moon Rides:
A $120, 6 hour round trip.
Start in daylight as we ride to the Central City casinos where you can wine, dine, and gamble. Ride back home by the light of the moon.
(5 person minimum)
(Reservations Required)
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Cemetery Tours
The Gilpin Historical Society & Museum annually holds cemetery crawls ------ Call 303-582-5364 for more info.
www.gilpinhistory.org
The Cemeteries
One mile west of Central City (taking Eureka Street) lie three cemeteries with hundreds of ornate stone markers and intricate grill work,
Cemetery. Please feel free to visit and wander among the headstones marking early day Central City residents grave sites. Please
www.centralcitycolorado.us/tourism/cemeteries
I.0.0.F. Lodge Cemetery
Located in Central City following out Eureka Street just past the Boodle Mine.
Bald Mountain Cemetery
The Town Board of Nevadaville founded the Bald Mountain Cemetery in the summer of 1877. The oldest tombstone predates the
number of caskets were transferred here from other burial grounds. Cemetery records are now housed at the county courthouse.
Catholic Cemetery
Central City Cemetery
The first City of Central cemetery was located on East 4 th High Street in Central City. It was in the way of the mining activity and
Dory Hill Cemetery
The first burial in Dory Hill was in 1859. However, the oldest tombstone inscription found by Mrs. Blanchard was Stephen T. Tibbits,
Foresters Cemetery
Knights of Pythias Cemetery
Masonic Cemetery
Red Men Cemetery
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GHOSTS OF GILPIN GETAWAY -- REST IN PEACE AT THE *Haunted* HOOPER HOMESTEAD!
Stay with us and enjoy spirit walks and guided ghost tours during the month of October. Delight your soul in a self guided spirit walk
Historic Downtown Central City will be available most weekends.
Go on the 'Up The Gulch' walking tour around 'The Richest Square Mile on Earth' or just visit and shop along Main Street Central.
Homestead Guest Quarters, enjoy a deluxe continental breakfast, two Geomancy Life Readings with Pat, Ghost Walks and a soak in
double occupancy; tax not included.)
Hooper Homestead Guest Quarters (Christine Pollock & Pat Ballantyne)
Address: 2555 W. 37th Ave., Central City, CO 80427
URL: www.hooperhomestead.com
E-mail: christine@hooperhomestead.com
Local: 303-582-5828
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Hauntings
Chateau L'Acadienne Bed & Breakfast
325 Spring Street
Central City CO 80427
303-582-5209
www.bedandbreakfast.com/colorado/chateau-lacadienne.html
Innkeepers: James & Shirley Voorhies
Chateau L'Acadienne (Big House of the Cajun) was built in the late 1870's during the height of the gold mining era. The house was
decorative moldings and fine antique chandeliers. Each guest room is uniquely decorated in either Victorian English or Louisiana
areas outside the chateau. Guests will also enjoy 'Lagniappe' (lan-yap), the Cajun French tradition of the host providing 'a little extra'
The couple bought a 120-year-old home in Central City and opened it as the Chateau L'Acadienne bed-and-breakfast. Less than a
Since then, several other guests have reported that their jewelry or keys had been moved from one side of the room to another during
Source: Denver Post- March 26, 1996 Section: Living Page: E-01 Michelle Mahoney Denver Post Staff Writer
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The Child Ghost of Missouri Flats
Missouri Flats Cemetery
According to Jeff Casey, several county sheriffs have reported seeing a small child in the area of the new C and D parking lots south
On a separate occasion, a Central City gambling shuttle driver was driving past the grave and heard three distinct knocks on the
Source: The Denver Post- March 26, 1996
Section: Living Page: E-01
Michelle Mahoney Denver Post Staff Writer
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The Columbine Lady
The ghost of Masonic Cemetery
According to legend, every April 5th and November 1st a beautiful woman in a black satin dress appears and places columbine
If creepy is, indeed, what you clamor for, mark your calendar for Nov. 1 and head on up to Central City, where, like clockwork, the Lady
SOURCES: www.rootsweb.com
&
(Rocky Mountain News- Sat. Oct. 18th, 2003)
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Teller House
120 Eureka
Teller House - 2006 ~ (photo taken by HauntedColorado.net. All rights reserved, please.
Teller House interior - 1872 ~ (photo from www.photoswest.org)
TELLER HOUSE
Eureka St.
National Register 1/18/1973, 5GL.9
The Teller House was built by brothers Henry M. and Willard Teller during 1871-72. The four-story brick building was reported to be
visiting elite, including U.S. President Grant who visited in 1873. Double hung windows are found on the three floors that contained
a museum, and the first floor bar with its well known 'Face on the Barroom Floor' remains an attraction.
www.coloradohistory-oahp.org/programareas/register/1503/cty/gl.htm
The Teller House houses the famous and mysterious 'Face on the Barroom Floor' painting, done by Herndon Davis in 1934. This
miner drank himself into a stupor and then proceeded to paint his wife’s portrait on the floor. Speaking tenderly of her, he painted long
witnesses say that on the anniversary of his death, the couple can be heard talking tenderly to each other through her portrait on the
her in the late 1890s after seeing her talking to another man.
Dolores Spellman, a Teller House tour guide, says she doesn't believe in ghosts herself, but 'friendly spirits' are another story.
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
The Teller House is now.......... Rouge at the Teller House!
A Kevin Taylor Restaurant
Welcome to Rouge and The Face Restaurant in Central City, Colorado - Two Kevin Taylor restaurants in one beautiful, historic
Teller House in Central City. Reservations are accepted at Rouge, an upscale, fine dining experience, serving on nights with evening
The Face Bar Restaurant: Located on the main level of the Teller House -- Casual American Cuisine. Open for appetizers, lunch,
Rouge Fine American Cuisine; Located upstairs in the Teller House. Closed for lunch. Open for dinner service only on dates with
History of Central City Opera's Teller House
The Teller House was built as a hotel by lawyer turned statesman, Henry Moore Teller, in 1872 to serve the gold mining town then
The Teller House became known as the finest hotel (outside of Denver) west of the Mississippi and houses the famous and mysterious
The hotel was rented for dining and housing of Central City Opera House patrons beginning with the first festival in 1932, and was
entertainment and gathering venue for opera patrons and for special events throughout the season.
Rouge at the Teller House
120 Eureka Street, Central City, CO 80427
303-582-0600
www.tellerhouserouge.com
tim@ktrg.net
The Face on the Barroom Floor
Photo from: www.tellerhouserouge.com
Face on the Barroom Floor ~ Photo taken in 1936 - View of the face on the hardwood bar room floor of the Teller House,
painted by Colorado artist Herndon Davis (1901-1962). Photo by: www.photoswest.org
Visit the historic Face Bar in the Teller House and see the legendary painting of the beautiful Madeline on the barroom floor.
In 1872 the Teller House Hotel was built and was said to be the finest hotel west of the Mississippi River. In 1873 President Ulysses S.
President Chester Arthur) and his new hotel.
To impress the president, mine owners decided to lay 26 ingots of solid silver to make a path to the entrance to the Teller House so
saw the silver bars and walked up the boardwalk instead. At that time, Congress was debating whether gold or silver should back the
SOURCES:
www.coloradomuseums.org
www.legendsofamerica.com
The Denver Post- Spirited Times Gilpin County gambling boom brings out new, old ghost stories- March 26, 1996 Section: Living
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Past article from 2005
Teller House slots shut down amid boom in Central City
Location may have played a role
By Joanne Kelley, Rocky Mountain News
July 13, 2005
A casino that opened just a few months ago in Central City's Teller House shut down its slot machines early Monday, marking the
Added Central City Mayor Buddy Schmalz: 'It's not like Central City's business is leveling out. Business is booming.'
The Teller House bar and food service remain open for operagoers and tourists, and the casino's operator maintains its lease,
House.
Some gaming executives speculated the casino likely suffered from its location, a short walk up a hill from parking lots located closer to
The casino had 200 slot machines and was operated by 3C Gaming Inc., which also opened Scarlet's Casino in February at the site of
Eddie Lynn, 3C Gaming's chief executive was one of the investors in the first casino to set up shop in the Teller House in the 1990s, a
reinforced flooring required for slot machines.
Without lots of traffic, fees charged by the city also can add up. Central City casinos pay $1,265 a year in fees on each gaming device
When Teller House Casino opened in February, Lynn had ambitious plans to open Madeline's, a fine dining restaurant aimed in part at
The opera, whose season runs through the summer, had welcomed the addition of an upscale restaurant for opera patrons, who have
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Central City Opera House
120 Eureka Street
303-292-6700
www.centralcityopera.org
www.photoswest.org
Central City Opera House - 1933 ~ (www.photoswest.org)
CENTRAL CITY OPERA HOUSE
Eureka St.
National Register 1/18/1973, 5GL.8
Opened in March of 1878, the two-story Renaissance Revival style stone building is the oldest surviving and first permanent opera
County Opera House Association. Between 1910 and 1927, the building functioned as a motion picture theater. Donated to the
ongoing summer opera program.
www.coloradohistory-oahp.org/programareas/register/1503/cty/gl.htm
The Central City Opera House spreads a famous tale of Billy Hamilton, an Irish doorman and caretaker who lived there in the 1930s
Among the remaining troupes of the Opera House was s a miner turned stage performer by the name of Mike Dougherty, who was a
Apparently, Mike's love of the stage has caused him to linger.
Over the years, numerous back-stage visitors have reported being nearly overwhelmed with the strong (but fleeting) odor of alcohol,
are alone in the darkened corridor.
Other reported occurrences have included strange flickering orbs of light that seem to float across a darkened stage and then vanish
spots have been felt which move from one corner to the next backstage. Nearly all of these occurrences have been reported when the
SOURCE: www.legendsofamerica.com
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Central City: gold, gambling, ... ghosts?
Source of the following article: www.thefencepost.com Story by Becky Talley
His name is Billy. He is a resident of Central City, Colo., and has been the caretaker of the Opera House in this one-time mining village,
come through the town. He enjoys a good chew, and is, in fact, never without his can of dip. Billy always likes to meet new people, in
about Billy that sets him apart from other men: when you introduce yourself his handshake may be a bit cold and clammy, that is if you
Web site (http://www. coloradomuseums. com/gilpin.htm), in “1859, John Gregory discovered ‘The Gregory Lode’ in a gulch near
played out many dramas within its city walls with a cast of players from miners to soiled doves and even famous outlaws who strolled
themselves within the quiet buildings and deserted streets. Or was it only the memories that were alive in the town? It appears that this
drowning their sorrows after going bust, gambling and carousing since the mining days, though very few of them have been living for
Halloween issue. The mysterious and eerie have always held a fascination for me, so, of course, I jumped at the chance to scare
Penndragon Investigations and The Sweet Shop.
The tour began in the Central City Opera House, a grand building that has hosted the likes of Mae West and Christopher Reeves.
the Opera House.
As mentioned before, Billy was the caretaker of the Opera House. The young man, who was known to always carry Copenhagen chew,
stickler for introductions and doesn’t appear to take kindly to those who do not comply. The guide related that a man once adamantly
resulted in a broken nose for this brazen soul. When the investigation into the accident occurred, nothing was found to explain the
around is the builder of the house who has mysteriously shown up once to make repairs to the roof. The other entity apparently
smell of cigar smoke that would waft through the air whenever he appeared. The family came to the Opera House and decided to try to
didn’t pay a second thought to the occurrences until they began to smell the pungent odor of cigar smoke in their home. John has not
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The Belvidere Theatre
139 Nevada Street
Above photo from: The Opera Houses of Old Colorado website
www.operapronto.home.comcast.net/houses.html
The following story is from: www.thefencepost.com By Becky Talley
The Belvidere was the first opera house built in Central City in hopes of drawing acting troupes from New York to its stage. It was built
President Chester Arthur. (Teller also now reportedly spends his days haunting the building.) The Belvidere was built in 1874 after a
was found to be too small.
The tour was seated in the audience section of the theatre, looking to the stage, as many done for over a century, as we listened to
woman named Kate, a woman who was facially disfigured in a bar fight.
Her ghost is reported to still haunt the establishment, though it has been a long time since it has served its last drink. In fact, a psychic
woman reported to have contacted as many as 45 spirits, according to the tour guides, one of which was a large woman with a
temperature was no surprise. However, the chills that were sweeping over me were not of the cold weather kind. The hair on the back
is, in fact, downright eerie, and I was soon given a possible explanation for my sudden case of the heebie-jeebies.
The tour guide directed our attention to a section of a balcony about 10 feet to my right and just above my head. Apparently, I was
soiled doves who worked the rooms off the stage. Previously, a tour guide was able to make contact with her with the aid of dowsing
theatre. Possibly in an attempt to right her horrible death, she continues to this day to ask people for help from beyond the grave.
Another spirit is found in a back corner of the building (further away from my seat, thank goodness), and, according to communications
building. The Belvidere was used for a movie theatre for a short time and the projector was put in the general area the ghost chooses
projector. Did the machine have a little extra “help” from a projectionist from beyond the grave?
At this point in the tour, all of us ghost hunters were able to walk around the theatre and see what we could scare up. I steeled my
calmly told me it may be time to rethink this whole ghost thing and leave while I still could. I felt like there was someone behind me on
me, so I decided leave that area and take my chances with Flora instead.
When I got to her favorite spot, I met a group of people standing in a circle. All had their hands in the center of the group and informed
feel colder, but what really creeped us all out was that the air felt like it was vibrating. Now, this building is drafty and we could have
of Dodge. I stopped just short of plowing people over on my way to the door.
Others had the same experience. Tour participants Tricia Bergeron of Littleton and Barbara Padilla of Lakewood reported that they
few who did smell it! Barbara also reported to feel someone on the stairs, just like I did.
Once outside of the Belvidere and back into autumn air at the end of the tour, the hair on the back of my neck began to stand down.
eternity, and was joltingly reminded that there was one exception. John, the Opera House ghost, reportedly decided to give up his
ghostly passengers. Was I bringing anything home that I didn’t take with me to Central City? Was Flora riding shotgun in hopes that I
overactive imagination? I guess that may remain a secret that the ghosts of Central City will take to their graves, literally!
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Past news articles:
City of Black Hawk
Nov. 19th, 2003
www.cityofblackhawk.org
CENTRAL CITY, CO
The City of Black Hawk and Central City town fathers joined forces today in a first step to develop Central City’s Belvidere Theatre into
doors in 1878. Today, the City of Black Hawk purchased the tax lien on the Belvidere Theatre and Concert Hall along with the adjacent
of Black Hawk. 'Central City and Black Hawk will always be individual cities with individual histories but restoring and preserving the
a great deal to keep the culture of the area community alive.' He said the City of Black Hawk plans to preserve this historic site to its
between Central City and Black Hawk,” said Bob Harvey, Board Member for Belvidere Theatre. It is a step in the right direction.'
Several spoke out in favor of the plan to bring the Belvidere back to life as a community hub:
'The Belvidere is one of the jewels of Central City, said Patricia Holcomb of Colorado Preservation, Inc. “Colorado Preservation, Inc. is
part of many to revitalize and diversify the Central City economy.'
Mayor of Central City Buddy Schmalz said Central City is enthusiastic about the possibilities of working to restore the Belvidere and
1800s. In 1878, the Central City Opera House replaced the Belvidere Theatre as the opera hot spot with greater seating capacity for
the Central City Opera House. It was built by Colorado’s first Senator Henry Teller and Judge Silas B. Hahn for use as a meeting hall
Colorado militia, the Central City Garage and dealership, and a basketball court and recreation center. In 1972, a restored theatre was
Hawn and George Segal.
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Old theater to ring in a new year Gala will echo off 124-year-old walls and rafters
By George Lane
Denver Post Staff Writer
December 29, 1999
The Belvidere Theatre and Concert Hall is actually located in two buildings on Nevada Street just around the corner from Main Street
Upstairs or in back of the Shoo Fly were a few rooms where the women associated with the establishment were known to entertain, and
the town.
Bat Masterson, who had a bar down in Creede, is said to have gotten in trouble with one of the Shoo Fly girls.
Anyway, because it was one of the few buildings made of brick, Wisebart Hall was the only building on the south end of town to survive
While entertainment went on on the second floor, the first was devoted to retail shops.
The 450-seat theater was such a success that in 1878 it was replaced by the Central City opera house, down the street and around
Old theater to ring in a new year Gala will echo off 124-year-old walls and rafters
Author: George Lane - Denver Post Staff Writer
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