Overview
The Haunted Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs
For the amateur paranormal investigator and horror fan, if asked about haunted hotels in Colorado, The Haunted Stanley Hotel immediately comes to mind, thanks in large part, to the terrifying film, The Shining. But, nestled just southwest, inside Colorado Springs, Colorado, lies another spooky haunted hotel for weary travelers, The Broadmoor Hotel.
History of the Haunted Broadmore Hotel
In 1890, a wealthy Prussian Count, by the name of James Pourtales ventured out West to carve out an appealing parcel of land that could be used to cater to the ever-increasing upper class of Colorado. This is mostly thanks in large part to the ever-burgeoning prospector business. Over twenty-four hundred acres were set aside by Cheyenne lake, with minor amounts of housing and business, but primarily a casino built by Count Pourtales himself. A smaller amount of time passed before the casino mysteriously burned down in 1897, but within a year, another was built over top of it, along with the hotel.
Spencer and Julie Penrose
Along the way, the Count developed a partnership with another business couple, Spencer and Julie Penrose. As time passed, Julie frequently stayed at the hotel’s penthouse while her husband was away on business. Spencer passed in 1939, but Julie lived on until 1956. In a much undiscovered and unpublicized event, a week prior to her death, Julie supposedly went missing in a heavily wooded area by the lake. She was found unrobed, shaking, and not fully aware of how she had gotten there or where she’d been. Seven days later, she passed away.
Who haunts the Broadmoor Hotel?
Hospitality staff at the Broadmoor, notes that chief among activity in the hotel is the penthouse, the exact same one that Julie Penrose stayed in all those years. Lights turning on and off, deep cold spots and objects moving on their own are the principal reports. Other times, guests who stay in the penthouse report being watched in their own rooms and feelings of dread. One guest reported having awoken in the night to have the covers peeled back and the feeling of someone dragging them by their foot out of the bed!
The staff notes that a woman in a period 1930s dress has been seen floating down the hallways and up the front staircases at night, which suggests that the ghost is indeed Julie Penrose. There have been cases of multiple spirits being seen in the penthouse floor area, guess it must be more than Julie Penrose haunting the Broadmoor. The most conclusive ending is that spirits of the victims from the casino fire of 1897 somehow still inhabit the building and haunt it along with Julie Penrose. But despite the uneasiness, the penthouse is still quite available to stay in today and the Broadmoor is quite successful just as Count Pourtales would have wanted.
My dad stayed in this hotel and saw an apparition you probably wouldn’t believe
What happened
I took a few pictures from across the lake and noticed a floating blue spectral light in the photos (from Live mode on iPhone). It was so odd I googled this hotel and discovered it was haunted. Maybe it was a reflection? But every pic I took from across the lake had this floating shiny blue light. I will look to see if I can upload one of the photos somewhere…
Does anyone know about the tunnels under the Broadmoor? I know they exist but there’s no info on them
I know of the haunted tunnels for a disturbing reason. I was staying at the hotel with my family. I was exploring the hotel with my cousins and I believe we were in the basement of the east building. It was very dark and you felt a presence. We were suddenly startled by a man yelling at us. I quickly start to look around and see a man walking towards us. Assuming it’s security we stay to hear what he has to stay. To our shock he wasn’t. He said he was living in a house around the hotel (never specified where) and that he and his daughter often would explore the tunnels but now she was in college. As the man was taking I secretly started dialing 9-1-1 just in case worried for my cousins safety. (Keep in mind I was 14, one was 12, and one was 6). The man stated that there were tunnels if you went to the door at the back of the office in the post office. He said that he would meet us there. Skeptical of this, we went to check it out. Upon arriving to the post office in the hotel sure enough there was a door at the back of the office but since we were children. We weren’t allowed back. I come to later find out that there was an insane man Walking around the hotel trying to lure kids into the tunnels where he planned to kidnap them. To my belief, this was that man.
I work at the Broadmoor and yes there are tunnels that are super haunted!!! They go throughout the whole Broadmoor and lake, ghosts are all over the place.
Cool I am staying here currently for the week and I’m taking lots of pictures
Addison, did you see or experience anything?
Did you ever find the Broadmoor pics?
I stayed at the Broadmoor when I was attending a convention in 1992. It was off season and the hotel was rather empty. I didn’t know about the hauntings but the whole time I was there, going back and forth to my room, I had the feeling of something watching me the whole time. I mentioned it to one of the employees and they informed me of the haunted history of the hotel. Eerie place.
I worked there in the 90’s. Room 408 is most definitely haunted. People staying below it would always complain of it sounding like furniture being dragged around, but no guests were in the room. We’d also always get complaints of the lights flickering on and off. The maintenance guy would tell me he’d pretend to fix the issue, but there was no fixing it. That room’s haunted!
Who used to be in room 418 that is haunting it?
I stayed there around 2007. I didn’t know of the hotels history & there with my husband at the time for his work convention. As soon as I walked into the hotel lobby I felt IT!! By time I reached the front desk to set my purse down I noticed I had dug my finger nails into the palms of my hands from clenching my purse & luggage bag so tightly. I felt a smothering, heavy, dreadful feeling in & around my body the entire week I stayed there. I had a hard time sleeping in the room at night and felt as though I was being watched & the air felt so heavy that it was hard to breathe. Some areas in the hotel (by water fountains) didn’t feel as bad. The only area I felt good & “normal” was outside by the pool. The pool area felt peaceful and completely different from the hotel. I didn’t want to leave that area & I didn’t want to go back in the hotel. The land around the hotel feels like it talks to you I kept hearing “save us” The land is beautiful but I won’t go back into that hotel. I’ll never forget my experience there!
I work at the broadmoor over night and I have stories upon stories about the hauntings that we are told to keep on the “hush”
Feel free to email us at [email protected]. We’d love to hear your stories about the haunted Broadmoor. It’s one of our favorite haunted places.