Miramont Castle
This castle, built with nine different architectural styles, may include nine ghostly entities within
Paranormal Reports at
Miramont Castle
- A woman in a black dress appears in mirrors
- Phantom footsteps are sometimes heard in the house
- Ghostly singing can be heard at times
- A little girl’s ghost is spotted in the doll room and outside in the garden
- Visitors and staff claim to be touched by unseen hands
- Loud disembodied voices are heard
- A man’s apparition is seen sometimes
- Shadow figures are seen at times
- Small items are purportedly moved by the castle’s ghosts
A Home of Many Styles:
History of Miramont Castle
Whether it’s a single story ranch, a quaint Queen Anne, or an expansive Victorian, a home’s architecture forms its character. But there’s one old mansion in Manitou Springs, Colorado, that can’t be viewed with any one style in mind.
Incorporating nine different architectural styles, Miramont Castle may well be the most eclectically designed home in Colorado.
Built as a private home, and later converted into a hospital, Miramont’s owners could never seem to settle on either styles or uses for the massive castle.
Now a museum, Miramont’s colorful past is displayed proudly through its halls and rooms. But some say there are more than exhibits to find at Miramont. Paranormal mysteries may also be on display.
Timeline of Miramont Castle's History
Swipe or use timeline points to see Miramont Castle through the years
1892
Given Miramont Castle’s size and opulence, you may think it was built for a wealthy industrialist or robber baron. But rather, Miramont Castle was built by a man of God. Jean Baptiste Francolon moved to Manitou Springs after a long and successful career as a Catholic priest. Francolon was born into wealth in France, but moved to the United States in the 1870s. Frequently in ill health, Francolon finally settled in Manitou Springs, Colorado in 1892.
1895
Immediately, Francolon’s family became one of the wealthiest in the region. As the Colorado air improved Francolon’s health, he started designing a permanent residence in Manitou Springs. A man of varied taste, Francolon designed his new home to include as many architectural styles as he enjoyed in life. Construction began in 1895, and Francolon closely monitored progress as his one-of-a-kind 14,000 square foot castle took shape in the Colorado mountains.
1900
Despite building one of the most opulent and expensive homes in Colorado at the time, the Francolon family spent precious little time there. The family moved away suddenly in 1900, and the house sat empty for several years. In 1904, it came under the ownership of the Sisters of Mercy, who hoped to use it as a health center. Three years later, a local sanatorium burned down, and the Sisters pressed Miramont Castle into service as a replacement sanatorium. For two decades, the castle would be home to the region’s tuberculosis patients.
1928
The Sisters of Mercy closed the Miramont Castle sanatorium in 1928. For several decades after, the Sisters used Miramont sparingly as a boarding house and later a clergy residence. In 1946, the Sisters sold Miramont to developers, who converted it into numerous apartments. The property would remain in private hands until 1975, when it was purchased by the Manitou Springs Historical Society for rehabilitation and reuse.
1977
The historical society opened Miramont Castle to the public in 1977. Since then, it has remained a popular museum in Manitou Springs, with both informative exhibits and a period-inspired tea room. But there’s more life than just museum artifacts and exhibits in Miramont today. Lore around Manitou Springs says the historic castle is haunted, both by previous owners and other, unknown entities. As time goes on, ghost stories become more of a central part of the castle’s experience.
Is Miramont Castle Haunted?
Jean Baptiste Francolon spared no expense building his Colorado castle. But no one is certain if he actually haunts his old house. Some reports seem to fit his description, but a confirmed sighting remains elusive.
One thing is definite: the ghost of some wealthy man roams through Miramont today.
Often spotted wearing a top hat, and at times a frock coat, the shadowy man is rarely any more detailed than that.
No one knows who this mysterious shadow man is, though many figure it is the entity of Jean Baptiste Francolon, still enjoying the home he built in Manitou Springs.
Miramont’s Mysterious Mirrors
Another well-known specter in Miramont Castle is the lady in the mirrors. No one has any firm idea who this woman is. But whoever she is, she seems to enjoy her own reflection.
In mirrors all throughout the castle, visitors and staff report spotting a woman’s image in the reflections. She vanishes in an instant, so no one can ever get a good look, though some witnesses claim the woman wears a flowing black dress.
A Whole Family of Phantoms
One other well-dressed woman’s apparition is also seen in the castle. Rather than lingering in mirrors, this woman floats all through the house and is known to wear light, cream colored dresses. Miramont Castle is also said to be home to at least one child spirit.
The shadowy figure of a young girl is spotted frolicking through the castle at times. Like many of Miramont’s entities, the little girl’s identity remains unknown. But she seems to have an eye for the museum’s collection of dolls.
Ghosts Play in Miramont’s Garden
Miramont Castle’s little girl ghost is said to roam around the home’s ’doll room’ more often than any other space. Sometimes, even when she’s not visible, visitors and staff report hearing a little girl singing in the doll room. But whenever anyone goes to investigate, they find the room empty.
Some say the little girl isn’t the only child haunting the castle, either. The little girl’s figure is sometimes seen playing outside in the yard, alongside the apparition of an unknown young boy.
Apparitions Argue in the Castle Halls
The mysterious, child-like singing inside is occasionally joined by adult voices as well. Oddly, Miramont’s adult spirits are regularly heard yelling and arguing with each other.
And just like with the little girl’s singing, anyone who goes looking for a heated argument will only ever find empty rooms. Along with voices, other strange sounds are frequently noted, like phantom footsteps and sudden creaks of the wooden floor planks.
Get Grabbed By a Ghost
Items around Miramont Castle are sometimes moved and hidden by the home’s unseen entities. While most of this activity seems to be nothing more than pranks, the specters of Miramont do sometimes get carried away.
In one report, a witness saw a table cloth on an entryway table be yanked right out from under a vase of flowers.
At other points, the ghosts of Miramont Castle are said to reach out and touch people.
Visitors and staff say that people will seemingly brush by them in the halls, even when they’re alone. Others still report having their clothes tugged on, as if by a curious child.
Miramont Castle:
Apparitions & Architecture
Today, Miramont Castle still stands as a monument to the oddity of history. From its unique initial design to its widely varied use through the years, the castle has always been a place where the unexpected demands to be expected.
Around every corner, a new design style appears. Through every page of its history, a different curiosity takes shape. While Miramont Castle today stays focused on its historical stories and exhibits, the home’s hauntings still play a role in shaping future curiosities.
Ghost tours and hunts are not currently offered at Miramont Castle. Several different day tour packages are available during the region’s warmer months. But it doesn’t seem like Miramont’s phantoms shy away from daylight. Each year, through regular tours, more ghost stories come out.
Jean Baptiste Francolon designed Miramont to include all the architectural styles he enjoyed in life. But, perhaps the most impactful aspect Francolon imbued into his home was an eclectic collection of souls. Phantoms to embody the oddity that is built into the foundation of Miramont Castle.
