Denver Spirits & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl

Denver’s Spirits & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl mixes old Denver ghost stories with drinks at four local bars. You begin at Pub on Penn, walk through the grand residential streets around Millionaires Row and Cheesman Park, then stop at places such as Bar Nun, City O’ City, and Bang Up to the Elephant.

I like the small-group limit of 20 people and the mix of history, local bars, and spooky tales. Guides Jessica, Kevin, and Kirk have been singled out for warm delivery, humor, and strong storytelling. The main caution is consistency: one poor experience described a guide who seemed underprepared, and some listed house stops may be skipped when time runs short.

Key points at a glance

• Denver mansions are the main attraction: Hear stories tied to the Dunning Benedict House, Croke-Patterson-Campbell House, Sheedy Mansion, Whitehead House, and Cottage House.
• Four bar stops shape the evening: Drinks are purchased separately at Pub on Penn, Bar Nun, City O’ City, and Bang Up to the Elephant.
• The tour begins and ends at 1278 Pennsylvania Street: You do not need to arrange a ride between stops.
• The route is capped at 20 people: That makes it easier to hear the guide than on a large group walk.
• The storytelling can vary by guide: Jessica, Kevin, and Kirk received especially strong praise, while one visit was criticized for thin commentary and a weak finish.
• The $36 price covers the guide and tour only: You should budget extra for every drink and any food you order.

A haunted night around Denver’s old mansions

The unusual part of this experience is not simply the promise of ghosts. It is the setting. Instead of moving from one theatrical attraction to another, you walk through an older residential section of Denver, looking at historic homes while your guide explains the people, tragedies, and strange encounters linked to them.

That gives the evening a more local feel than a standard pub crawl. The bars are stops along the way, not the whole point. You get a drink, hear a few stories, and then head back onto the streets for the next house.

The experience lasts about two hours and starts at 6:00 pm. That timing works well if you want an evening activity without giving up an entire night. You can continue with dinner or more drinks afterward, or simply treat the crawl as a compact introduction to this part of Denver.

The tour has an average rating of 4.4 from 53 reviews, which suggests a solid experience with some unevenness. The best nights depend heavily on the guide’s energy, preparation, and ability to make the houses feel more than just stops on a map.

Starting with a drink at Pub on Penn

Meet your guide in front of Pub on Penn at 1278 Pennsylvania Street. The first stop lasts about 15 minutes, giving you time to gather the group, order a drink, and hear the first stories connected to Millionaires Row.

This opening stop serves two purposes. It lets everyone get acquainted, and it gives the guide a chance to explain the tone of the evening. You are not signing up for a formal historical lecture. The stories are meant to be social, spooky, and easy to follow while you have a drink.

Pub on Penn is also the point where the experience can make a first impression, for better or worse. One otherwise positive account found the bar staff unpleasant, so you may want to keep your expectations focused on the tour rather than the venue itself. Drinks are not included, and you pay for your own order.

A practical tip: arrive with enough time to locate the meeting point and settle in before 6:00 pm. The tour ends back at the meeting point, so note where you began. You do not need to organize transportation from bar to bar, but you will be walking between stops.

Bar Nun and the shift from pub crawl to ghost walk

Bar Nun Denver is scheduled for roughly 20 minutes. It offers heated outdoor seating, bar food, and inventive cocktails, making it a useful second stop if you want something more substantial than a quick drink.

The menu is not included in the tour price, but this is a good place to decide if you want food along the way. Since the whole experience is short, you should not expect a full meal at every stop. A small bite here may be more practical than waiting until the end if you are hungry.

From this point, the tour turns more strongly toward the historic homes. You will spend time hearing stories outdoors, so dress for Denver’s evening conditions. The information provided does not promise entry into the mansions, and the experience is best understood as a walking tour of the homes and their stories rather than an indoor house tour.

Cheesman Park and the Dunning Benedict House

One of the central subjects is Cheesman Park and the unsettling history connected with it. The tour includes the Dunning Benedict House, once owned by Walter Scott Cheesman, the person whose name is tied to the park.

This stop gives the guide a chance to explain why the area has such a strong haunted reputation. The appeal is partly the contrast between the polished mansions and the darker stories attached to them. You are walking through a real neighborhood, not a staged attraction, so the atmosphere depends on the guide’s words and your own imagination.

A good guide will use this stop to establish the larger story of the area. Jessica was praised for answering questions and helping create a welcoming group, while Kirk was noted for bringing several stories to each building with humor. Those details matter here because a house can look ordinary until the guide gives you a reason to notice its past.

Croke-Patterson-Campbell House and the mansion stories

The Croke-Patterson-Campbell House is presented as one of the most haunted homes on the route. The focus is on unsettling encounters connected with the property.

This is the sort of stop that will appeal to you if you prefer reported experiences and local legend over jump scares. The supplied information does not promise special effects, actors, or paranormal equipment. The entertainment comes from the setting, the account of past encounters, and the guide’s delivery.

That also explains the main weakness of the tour. If a guide reads a short paragraph and moves on, the houses may feel like a series of addresses. If the guide adds context, uses photographs or videos, and takes questions, the same stops can feel much more vivid. One positive account specifically praised a guide for carrying photos and videos to show the group.

Sheedy Mansion and the city’s working past

At Sheedy Mansion, the stories turn toward ghostly workers from earlier days. This adds a useful change of pace. The tour is not only about wealthy residents and grand homes. It also touches on the people who worked in and around these properties.

That broader focus can make the history more human. You are hearing about the people connected with the houses, not simply being told that a building is haunted. The exact depth will depend on the guide, so I would ask questions if you want more background about the people behind the stories.

The walk through the residential streets is part of the value here. You get a look at an area that does not usually appear in a basic first-time city tour, and the guide points out details you might otherwise pass without notice. At the same time, the route is not a sightseeing tour of Denver’s major landmarks. Book it for the stories and neighborhood atmosphere, not for a broad overview of the city.

Whitehead House and the strangest encounters

The Whitehead House is linked to a series of unusual events that reportedly began after Whitehead first moved in. The guide shares first-person accounts and the darker explanations attached to the house’s haunting.

This section should suit you if you like stories with a clear narrative: a resident moves in, strange events begin, and later encounters add to the house’s reputation. It gives the guide material to build suspense rather than simply list a building and a ghost.

Still, keep your expectations realistic. The tour presents local ghost stories, not verified paranormal proof. The experience works best when you enjoy the tension between documented places and legends that may be difficult to confirm.

Cottage House and the story of Madge

The Cottage House offers a different visual clue. It looks out of place among the grander mansions because it was one of many cottages in the area at an earlier time.

The main spirit associated with the house is said to be a woman named Madge. Her story gives the tour another personal figure to remember, and the smaller scale of the house helps vary the route after several mansion stops.

This is also a good example of why the walk is more than a list of bars. You are seeing how the neighborhood changed over time, from cottages to large homes, while hearing stories attached to both the buildings and their former residents. If you want only drinks, this may feel too slow. If you like local character and old houses, it adds welcome texture.

City O’ City for a flexible mid-tour drink

City O’ City is scheduled for about 15 minutes. The restaurant and bar offers craft beer and cocktails, with food and drink choices intended to suit different tastes.

The short stop means you should think of it as a chance to refresh, not a full dining visit. You pay separately, and the group will continue on schedule. If you want a particular drink or meal, you may have to save it for after the tour.

This stop helps keep the evening social. You can compare notes with the group, meet people from different places, and take a break from standing outdoors. Several highly rated experiences described the tour as fun, laid-back, and a good way to spend an evening with new people.

Finishing at Bang Up to the Elephant

The final stop is Bang Up to the Elephant, a bar and restaurant known on this tour for quirky drinks and a lively atmosphere. The guide wraps up here after about 15 minutes, and the activity ends back at the original meeting point.

This was one of the better-liked venues in the feedback. It was described as a strong finish with a good atmosphere, which matters because the final stop often shapes your memory of a pub crawl.

You should clarify the end-of-tour plan with your guide before ordering another drink. The scheduled activity ends at this location, but the overall meeting point is listed as the start point. The supplied information says the activity ends back at the meeting point, so allow for that return rather than assuming Bang Up to the Elephant is your final departure point.

What the $36 price really covers

At $36 per person, the tour is reasonably priced if you want a guided evening with local history and several pub stops. You are paying for the professional guide, researched historical material, ghost stories, and the organized route.

You are not paying for drinks, food, transportation, or private access to the homes. A couple who buys one drink at each bar can spend much more than the entry price, especially if cocktails and food are involved. I would think of the $36 as the cost of the storytelling and group experience, then set aside a separate bar budget.

The value is strongest for someone who would otherwise spend the evening choosing bars without much local context. You get a plan, a guide, and a reason to walk through the neighborhood. The value is weaker if you expect a packed schedule, many drink inclusions, or a dramatic haunted attraction.

Group size, walking, and practical planning

The group can include up to 20 people. That is small enough for a guide to maintain contact with the group and answer questions, though the experience may still feel crowded at narrow sidewalks or busy bars.

Transportation is not included. You walk between the locations, and you should have a moderate level of physical fitness. The exact distance is not provided, but the tour moves through a neighborhood and includes several stops, so comfortable shoes are sensible.

The activity is offered in English. Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation. Since this is an evening experience with outdoor walking, bring clothing suited to the weather and be ready to stand while stories are told.

You receive confirmation within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

The guide matters more than the bar list

The strongest part of this experience is the guide. Jessica was praised for being friendly, well informed, and happy to answer questions. Kevin received credit for good rapport and delivery, while Kirk was noted for humor and several stories at each building.

Those names are useful, but they do not guarantee which guide you will receive. The quality can vary. One disappointing visit included little introduction, limited historical explanation, and a guide who left abruptly at the end, leaving the group with an unpaid drink tab. That is not a minor detail, and it is fair to treat guide consistency as the main risk.

I would book this tour for its best version, while keeping expectations grounded. You are buying a social storytelling walk, not a guaranteed paranormal event. The more willing you are to listen, ask questions, and enjoy the atmosphere, the more you are likely to get from it.

Who should book this Denver ghost crawl?

I think this tour suits you if you want an easy evening activity with a small group, a few drinks, and local stories. It works well for solo visitors who want to meet people, couples looking for something different from a standard bar night, and friends who enjoy historic neighborhoods with a spooky twist.

It is also a useful choice if you have already seen Denver’s main sights and want a more specific theme. The route around Millionaires Row and Cheesman Park gives the evening a clear sense of place.

I would skip it if you want all drinks included, a large number of bars, indoor mansion access, or theatrical scares. You may also be disappointed if you need a full meal at each stop or dislike walking outdoors at night.

Should you book the Spirits & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl?

Book it if you value good storytelling, local history, and a relaxed social night more than a high-energy party. The $36 fee is fair for the guide and organized route, but your real cost rises with drinks and food.

For the best chance of a rewarding evening, arrive ready to walk, ask questions, and treat the ghost stories as local folklore. The homes, Cheesman Park setting, and final stop at Bang Up to the Elephant give the crawl a clear identity. The only major question is guide quality, so this is a tour worth choosing for the concept, with a little flexibility about how polished the delivery will be.

FAQ

Where does the Denver Spirits & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl start?

The tour starts in front of Pub on Penn at 1278 Pennsylvania Street, Denver, Colorado 80203.

What time does the tour begin?

The tour starts at 6:00 pm.

How long does the haunted pub crawl last?

The experience lasts approximately two hours.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

Are drinks included in the $36 price?

No. Alcoholic drinks are not included, and you pay for your own beverages and food at the bars.

Which bars are included?

The planned stops include Pub on Penn, Bar Nun Denver, City O’ City, and Bang Up to the Elephant.

How large is the group?

The tour allows a maximum of 20 people.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations and changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded.