Denver ghosts meet happy hour. This crawl mixes bars with a guided walk past some of Denver’s famous—often spooky—mansion streets, with stories you won’t find in most guidebooks. I like the way the tour blends drinking stops with named historic homes and clear storytelling, and I also like the small group size that keeps the pace friendly.

One catch: the alcohol is on you, and the bar stops are short enough that you’ll want to order fast and keep moving. If you’re hoping for a long, slow hangout at each place, this tour will feel more like a guided sampler than a full-on party night.

Quick hits

• Short bar stops set up the night: quick drinks, then right into the haunted walking part
• Cheesman Park mansion storytelling with specific houses and named figures
• Multiple cocktail-and-beer styles: from inventive cocktails to a craft beer or mixed drink option
• Max group size of 20 for a more personal guide-led experience
• Pros like Kevin, Jessica, and Kirk running the night with photos/videos and lots of delivery

Before You Go: what this Denver Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl is really about

This isn’t just a crawl where you hop between bars and collect stamps. The hook is the haunted-mansion route, where the guide uses local details to connect the buildings, the people who lived there, and the eerie stories that became part of Denver’s lore. Then it adds in bar time in small doses so you stay social without losing the thread of the walk.

At $36 for about two hours, the value comes from what’s included: a local guide, and ghost stories backed by researched history. Drinks and food are not included, so you’re paying mainly for the storytelling and the planned route—not for a full bar tab.

The pacing is a big part of the experience. You’ll start with a drink, move through a sequence of historic stops, and end with another couple of bar moments. It works best if you’re in the mood for walking, listening, and grabbing drinks in between.

The two-hour rhythm and practical pacing you should plan for

The tour runs 6:00 pm and lasts around two hours. There are two clearly timed bar stops (about 15 to 20 minutes each), then several historic home stops that happen during the walking portion. The exact time at each house isn’t spelled out, but the overall structure stays tight: listen at a spot, move to the next spot, repeat.

That means you should plan your expectations. You won’t have hours to linger over one drink. If you’re someone who likes to read a menu first and relax into a second round, you’ll do better with a faster ordering style on this night.

You’ll also be walking through a neighborhood area, with a moderate fitness level recommended. If it’s a chilly evening, wear something you can move in—especially since one bar stop is noted for heated outdoor seating, which suggests you might be spending some time outside.

Finally, the group is capped at 20, which usually helps with crowd flow. It’s also a good sign for questions: you’re less likely to get lost in the back of the pack.

Stop 1: Pub on Penn starts the night on Millionaires Row

You meet in front of Pub on Penn at 1278 Pennsylvania St. The tour begins with a drink and the guide’s first round of spooky stories, centered on Millionaires Row. You’ll spend about 15 minutes here before heading out.

This opener matters because it sets the tone. The guide doesn’t just tell random ghost tales; the stories aim to connect the neighborhood’s past to the buildings you’ll see later. It’s a smart way to help you understand why those mansions exist in the first place and why people began linking them with haunting legends.

One practical thing: this is your first bar stop, so order early if you want to settle in before the walking part. Also, this particular pub can be a mixed bag depending on what you’re after. One downside that shows up in feedback is that Pub on Penn may not match your expectations for staff friendliness, even if the tour guide experience is strong.

Stop 2: Bar Nun Denver for heated outdoor seating and inventive cocktails

Next up is Bar Nun Denver. This stop is about 20 minutes and focuses on drinks and bites, with heated outdoor seating called out as a feature. The menu is described as offering inventive cocktails, which is a good fit for a group mix—some people want cocktails, some want something familiar.

This is the moment to eat if you can. Since alcohol isn’t included, a bar-with-bites stop helps you keep the night comfortable as the walking continues. It’s also a nice change of pace from the earlier opener: you’re not just sipping, you’re settling in with something more substantial.

If you tend to be picky about cocktails, you’ll probably appreciate that the guide isn’t pushing one single drink. You can pick based on taste while still keeping time with the tour.

The mansion walk near Cheesman Park: where the haunting stories live

After the second bar stop, the tour moves into the heart of the haunted narrative: historic homes tied to Cheesman Park and the people associated with them. This is where the “Denver Spirits” part turns from atmosphere into specifics—named buildings, named owners, and specific types of encounters.

Here are the mansion stops you should expect as you move through the area:

The Dunning Benedict House and Walter Scott Cheesman’s namesake connection

One key stop is at the Dunning Benedict House, tied to Walter Scott Cheesman. The tour includes an explanation of the history of Cheesman Park and why the area is so haunted, anchored by the house once owned by its namesake.

This is the kind of stop that pays off later. If you listen closely here, you’ll understand the neighborhood connections better—why certain families mattered, how the area developed, and why the haunting stories stuck around.

The Croke-Patterson-Campbell House and unsettling encounters

One of the most haunted homes on the tour is the Croke-Patterson-Campbell House. The stories include unsettling encounters people have reported at this location.

This part of the evening tends to be the most “sit up and pay attention” segment. Since you don’t get a long stop time, it helps if you’re ready to hear the key story beats without expecting a long Q&A at each address.

The Sheedy Mansion: ghostly workers and older tensions

Then you move to the Sheedy Mansion. The tour tells tales of encounters with disgruntled, ghostly workers from days gone by.

The theme here is important. Instead of a single dramatic apparition story, the guide’s narrative ties haunting to everyday labor and old conflicts. That makes the stories feel more grounded in human behavior, even when they turn supernatural.

Whitehead’s first residence and the start of the strange occurrences

There’s a stop where the guide shares the spookiest accounts connected to the first resident, Whitehead, and the strange occurrences that allegedly began soon after moving in. This is one of the stops where the guide may lean into first-person style details—still presented as local legend—but aimed to make you visualize what people claimed happened.

The Cottage House and Madge, the spirit with a simple story

Finally, there’s the Cottage House. It’s described as out of place among the larger mansions nearby, once one of several cottages. The main spirit is thought to be a woman named Madge, and the tour gives her story as the focus.

This is a good balancing stop. If the other houses feel heavy or intense, a smaller-scale ghost story can feel like a reset before the night heads back toward bars.

City O’ City: craft beer or cocktail for a reset break

At some point during the latter part of the crawl, you’ll reach City O’ City for about 15 minutes. The vibe here is built around choice: sample a craft beer or a cocktail, depending on what you prefer.

This stop works as a reset. By the time you reach it, you’ve done the walking portion and the story-heavy part. A more relaxed bar choice makes it easier to keep the night fun instead of spooky-only.

It’s also a practical chance to check in with your group, refuel with a drink, and gear up for the last stop.

Bang Up To The Elephant closes the night with a quirky vibe

The last stop is Bang Up To The Elephant, where the guide wraps up the tour and says goodbye. This is the final about 15-minute bar-and-restaurant stop.

This end matters because it gives you a social landing spot after the haunted walk. You can try a quirky drink and soak in the atmosphere without the pressure of moving again right away. If you want a solid final photo moment or a last chance to ask a question to the guide, this is typically where that can happen naturally.

It’s also where you can compare notes with the group—especially if you’re the type who likes to talk through which house story stuck with you most.

Price and value: why $36 can work (and when it won’t)

Let’s talk money in real terms. The tour costs $36 per person for about two hours. Included is a professional local guide and thorough, researched history, plus ghost stories. Not included is transportation and alcoholic beverages.

So your main expenses are:

• the $36 ticket
• whatever you choose to pay for drinks (and any food if you order)

That means the value depends on how you plan to drink. If you’re the kind of person who orders one drink, maybe a snack, and you mostly want the route and stories, this can be a fair price for a guided night out. The small group cap of 20 helps too, because it usually means better attention from the guide.

If you’re planning to buy multiple cocktails and eat full meals at every stop, the total cost will climb fast. In that case, you’ll want to decide whether this experience still beats a normal bar night with a smaller bill.

Also, the tour’s design is story-forward. If you want a nonstop party style crawl with lots of bar time, this one may feel tight. That’s not a flaw if you know what you’re buying, but it’s worth stating clearly.

What makes the guides matter on this tour

This type of tour lives or dies on delivery. When the guide is active and animated, the stories land. When the guide sticks to short, memorized bits, the whole thing feels flat.

In feedback, several guides are specifically praised for doing the work: Kevin and Kirk are noted for rapport and humor, while Jessica is described as knowledgeable, friendly, and happy to answer questions. One standout detail is that some guides use photos and videos, which helps you connect the house faces and details to the story being told.

So if you’re choosing a time or deciding whether this is your night, think about the kind of guide you want. The tour lists a professional local guide, and the best versions of the experience are clearly guided-by-story, not just guided-by-location.

Who should book this haunted pub crawl?

This is a strong pick if you like:

• spooky storytelling with named stops and historic context
• a guided walk through a specific Denver area
• short bar stops where you can still talk and listen

It’s especially good for couples who want a different date night, and for solo visitors who want a social evening without a huge crowd. The max group size of 20 and the moderate physical fitness recommendation fit a lot of people looking for a friendly, manageable walking tour with drinks.

You might skip it if you:

• want long stays at each bar
• dislike walking between short stops
• need a very high-energy performance style every minute

One more practical note: because the tour relies on multiple bar locations, it helps to stay flexible. If a bar stop feels off that night, you’ll still have the stories and the route to anchor the experience.

Should you book: my decision guide

Book it if you want a haunted-by-design Denver night that includes specific historic homes, a guide who tells the stories out loud, and quick drinks that keep the pace moving. At $36, it’s a decent way to experience Denver’s darker side without turning your evening into a logistics puzzle.

Skip it if you’re mainly chasing a long, bar-only crawl or if you’re very sensitive to service quality at a specific pub. This tour can’t control how every location treats a group in the moment, so your best results come from going in knowing it’s half storytelling walk, half bar sampler.

If you’re curious, this one tends to be the kind of experience you talk about afterward, especially because it’s built around houses like the Dunning Benedict House, Croke-Patterson-Campbell House, the Sheedy Mansion, and the Cottage House tied to Madge.

FAQ

How much does the Denver Spirits & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl cost?

It costs $36.00 per person.

How long is the tour?

The duration is about 2 hours.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 6:00 pm.

Where do I meet for the tour?

You meet in front of Pub on Penn at 1278 Pennsylvania St, Denver, CO 80203.

Is transportation included?

No, transportation is not included.

What’s included in the ticket price?

Your ticket includes a professional local guide, thoroughly researched and accurate history, and authentic local ghost stories.

Are alcoholic beverages included?

No. Alcoholic beverages are not included.

How many people are on the tour?

The tour has a maximum of 20 travelers.

Is the ticket mobile?

Yes, the tour includes a mobile ticket.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Canceling less than 24 hours before the start time does not get a refund.