5 Places in Fort Collins to Spot a Ghost This Halloween

Now that Halloween is right around the corner, many Fort Collins residents are on the lookout for ghostly activity.

However, you may not know that this city has a turbulent history, giving many of its older buildings a haunted past.

This Halloween, let me guide you on a tour of five of Fort Collins’ most haunted places. Each one has its own stories of ghostly encounters, but you might just have to visit for yourself to see what you can find.

1. Walrus Ice Cream

Walrus Ice Cream is open for business with its brightly lit sign in the front of the store. Employees are busy inside preparing cones for customers. (Zeya Highley | JTC 326)

To start off your ghost adventure, check out this delicious ice cream shop located off of College Avenue. Walrus Ice Cream is supposedly haunted by the ghost of Charlie Dinnebeck, the previous owner of the building. Employees have reported disappearing items, ominous sounds, the feeling of being watched, and doors closing on their own. Charlie has been told to be a friendly spirit who enjoys making things move inside the shop and scaring customers. Check out more of Walrus Ice Cream’s ghost story here.

2. The Historic Avery House

The Avery House sits ominously on the corner of Meldrum Street and Mountain Avenue. (Zeya Highley | JTC 326)

After grabbing a scoop, walk over to the historic Avery House built by Frankin Avery, one of Fort Collins’ founders. Legends say that Franklin’s brother William was poisoned by his business partner Frank Millington. William’s spirit is rumored to still haunt the Avery House today. Many guests have reported unnatural encounters in the upstairs bedroom.

3. Nature’s Own

Nature’s Own welcomes customers on a Saturday evening in Old Town Fort Collins. (Zeya Highley | JTC 326)

While strolling through Old Town, you might have visited the science-themed store Nature’s Own. However, you may not know that this location used to be home to the Linden Hotel, the home of Danish immigrant Frank Miller during his final days alive. Miller was a trick shooter in the late 1800s who traveled across the nation with Buffalo Bill himself. If you visit, make sure to check out the back of the store where one of his paintings is still hung on the wall. Many customers spot his ghost standing beside the painting, but when approached, he will disappear.

4. Fort Collins Museum of Art

The Fort Collins Museum of Art, previously the Fort Collins Post Office, stands brightly lit by vintage-style lanterns. (Zeya Highley | JTC 326)

Do you consider yourself a connoisseur of art? Haunted art, perhaps? The Fort Collins Museum of Art resides on top of land that was previously Fort Collins’ first cemetery. Gloria Boresen, the general manager, has experienced many ghost encounters during her employment. She has even personally spoken with one of the spirits she nicknamed “George” who would frequently set off the fire alarm during construction. Boresen has had many other ghostly encounters, so you may just have to visit and hear her story.

5. Happy Lucky’s Teahouse

Happy Lucky’s Teahouse is built into the old Fort Collins Firehouse, which still contains an old fire pole and a jail cell. (Zeya Highley | JTC 326)

To round out your ghost adventure, grab a cup of tea at Happy Lucky’s Teahouse, built inside of the old Fort Collins firehouse. This firehouse was one of the first jails in town, and it was used to hold James Howe in 1888 after he murdered his wife. Early Fort Collins residents were enraged with Howe, breaking into the jail and lynching him in front of the courthouse. Visitors have reported seeing Howe’s ghost in the back alley behind Happy Lucky’s Teahouse, so don’t forget to check it out before you leave.

Want to dive deeper into Fort Collins' haunted history? Check out Fort Collins Tours, a ghost tour run by Lori Juszak, ghost expert and author of Ghosts of Fort Collins. The tour runs every Friday and Saturday night.