Lumber Baron Inn
High society hauntings mix with murderous mysteries at this historic Denver mansion
Ghost Stories of the
Lumber Baron Inn
- Numerous apparitions are seen around the inn
- Ghostly whispers are heard in the inn’s corridors
- Disembodied footsteps are heard
- Cold spots are reported in certain areas
- Potential EVPs are recorded by visiting ghost hunters
- Eerie feelings of being watched are noted in particular areas
Gilded Age Greatness:
History of the Lumber Baron Inn
Denver, Colorado has no shortage of large, historic mansions. From the governor’s mansion to the old home of The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Denver’s spacious, Gilded Age homes keep the city closely connected to its history.
And one stately red brick manor, now the Lumber Baron Inn, stands as a monument to the man who quite literally built the city of Denver: John Mouat.
Through much of the 1900s, the mansion operated as an apartment and tenement house. In the 1990s, the Mouat family manor was fully restored and opened as the Lumber Baron Inn.
Though neither lumber barons nor apartment renters have called it home in generations, specters of the inn’s past may still linger in the guest rooms. Could this historic mansion be the most haunted hotel in Denver?
Timeline of Lumber Baron Inn's History
Swipe or use timeline points to see Lumber Baron Inn through the years
1873
John Mouat first arrived in Denver in 1873, a Scottish immigrant chasing the American Dream for his family. While not an immediate success, Mouat quickly carved out a business niche for himself in the lumber industry. Late-1800s Denver was largely undeveloped, mostly still a mining camp town more than a state capitol. Mouat’s lumber company sought to change that.
Between 1889 and 1892, Mouat’s company built 200 buildings in Denver, rapidly growing the city and making Mouat incredibly wealthy.
1890
In the middle of his construction boom, John Mouat built one of the 200 new structures in Denver for himself. Mouat’s family mansion was completed in 1890, and the family soon moved in, spending the next two decades there. John spared no expense for his 8,500 square foot home, decorating each room in a different wood from his lumber business.
But despite this great care and attention to detail, the family bid their mansion goodbye by the mid-1910s.
1915
Around 1915, the Mouats moved to California and left their Denver mansion behind. The spacious house went through a few different owners, and none were sure what to do with such a grand home. It was soon renovated into 20+ apartment units and operated as a tenement house.
The home remained in this state for decades, but its seedy reputation reached a peak in 1970. That year, two teen girls were murdered in one of the apartments, a brutal crime that remains unsolved.
1970
After the 1970 murders, the old mansion seemed destined for the wrecking ball. Apartments only became more run down, until the early 1990s when new investors found the property. In 1991, the Keller family bought the mansion and undertook a massive restoration effort. With the mansion restored to its 1890s look and feel, the Kellers opened it to the public as the Lumber Baron Inn.
The new bed and breakfast was a swift success, allowing visitors and tourists the chance to lodge like the wealthiest members of Gilded Age society.
2016
In 2016, the Lumber Baron Inn was purchased by its current owners, the Bryants. The Bryants have opened the inn to new kinds of clientele in recent years, mainly those seeking the eerie and unknown. Reports of hauntings have hung around the mansion for decades, driven by reports from guests since the 1990s.
More recently, visits from ghost hunters have expanded the inn’s lore. Many now consider the Lumber Baron Inn to be one of Denver’s most active haunted hotspots.
Is The Lumber Baron Inn Haunted?
Many of the Lumber Baron Inn’s ghost stories focus on the events of the 1970 double homicide. Now, the old crime scene is home to the inn’s Valentine Suite.
Many guests lodging in that room report unexplained activity. Ghostly figures are often seen lingering in the suite or out in the hallway.
Those who have spotted these translucent forms say they are the apparitions of young women, possibly the ghosts of the murdered teenagers.
Additionally, disembodied female whispers are also frequently heard in the Valentine Suite.
The Mansion’s Mysterious Figures
The spirits of murdered teenagers aren’t the only paranormal figures visitors might spot around the Lumber Baron Inn. Other figures include another young woman, who some say is dressed like a 1920s flapper, and an older woman in a maid’s uniform.
And, perhaps it comes as no surprise, the spirits of the Mouats are also said to reappear in their old mansion. While not seen as commonly as some of the other figures, witnesses sometimes report both John Mouat and his wife, Amelia, manifesting around the house.
Hear Ghostly Voices at the Inn
Along with all the Lumber Baron Inn apparitions, strange voices and noises are also quite common. While ghostly whispers are frequently heard around the Valentine Suite, louder disembodied voices can purportedly be heard throughout the inn.
Many people also report the sounds of heavy footsteps coming from empty rooms and hallways. In recent years, ghost hunters have visited the Lumber Baron Inn for overnight stays. Many reportedly capture the inn’s voices on EVP recordings taken in their guest rooms.
Eerie Feelings from the Inn’s Phantoms
Sometimes, the Lumber Baron Inn’s paranormal activity can be subtle. For some people, it’s merely a feeling of not being alone, or being closely watched.
At times, these eerie feelings pair with sudden temperature drops.
While some people find these feelings scary, others say the inn’s spiritual energies are actually quite calming. They describe a sense of happiness, almost like a motherly figure is watching over them.
Some now attribute this to Amelia Mouat’s spirit lingering nearby.
Colorado’s Spookiest Place to Stay
There are plenty of things to enjoy about the Lumber Baron Inn, and the owners try to be open to them all. Along with being a popular Denver B&B, the inn also hosts numerous events. They offer weddings, afternoon tea, brunches and wine dinners, and more.
While the inn is mostly focused on hospitality and history, the owners and staff leave plenty of space for the Lumber Baron Inn ghost stories to thrive.
Formal ghost hunts are not currently offered at the Lumber Baron Inn, but many people explore the inn’s lore by simply booking a room. Visitors interested in ghostly tales will also likely hear some first-hand reports from the inn’s staff.
Most of the Lumber Baron Inn’s ghost stories tell of happy phantoms watching over visitors, whispering to each other, and taking strolls through the mansion. Though many guests come and go without seeing any specters, it seems all anyone needs is to be in the right room at the right time, and the Lumber Baron Inn ghosts will start coming out of the woodwork.
