| The Historic Hotel Colorado 526 Pine Street Glenwood Springs, CO Saturday, September 16, 2006 |
We were fortunate enough to be able to access most
areas of the hotel from the basement to one of the bell
towers, and collected some interesting information.
We experienced the most activity on the third and fifth
floors, using Cell Sensor EMF meters, IR (Infra-Red)
Thermal Scanners, digital cameras, and night vision
camcorders.
Since several guests have reported seeing a small girl
in the hotel, we decided we would attempt to interact
with her. Using a ball we borrowed from Clarissa's son,
we set up a monitoring system with IR cameras and an
IR motion sensor. We placed the ball on the floor of
room 416 with the motion sensor and cameras
focused on it. The ball did not move during the course
of our investigation, although we did have several
instances where our electronic key would not work in
that lock and the lights frequently turned themselves
off while we were in the room. (See picture on right)
The basement of the hotel currently serves as storage
for the hotel as well as a spa, chiropractors office,
outdoor excursion office and other retail businesses.
During business hours, it can be accessed from the
outside. It also contains the original hydraulic lift
designed to bring supplies from the ground level such
as ice blocks, to be stored in the basement. It is
speculated that while staying here, Al Capone used it
as an escape route on more than one occasion when
the hotel was raided in search of him. The lift is still
operational today. Another area of the basement
served as the morgue while the hotel was being used
as a Naval Hospital. Several hotel staff members have
reported locked doors opening and lights turning
themselves on and off in this area. No one can
pinpoint which spirit occupies the basement area,
although it is speculated that it is one of Walter
Devereaux's many hangouts. During that part of our
investigation, we did not detect any presences,
although the area of the former morgue was rather
creepy.
The third floor was an area where we experienced a
higher amount of activity. Several guests and staff
have reported apparitions, strange smells, sounds,
lights turning on and off, televisions changing
channels, and knocks on doors with no one there.
Our investigation took us to the center of the corridor
in front of room 325. There, we recorded high
electro-magnetic fluctuations - the needle was pegged
at 10 miligauss on the Cell Sensor - with an immense
cold and heavy feeling in that area. We were not able
to locate any possible draft source in that area, nor
could we find any source for the spike in
electro-magnetic energy. Our baseline readings for
that area were 1-3 mG.
The second area of heightened electro-magnetic
energy was on the fifth floor across from room 515.
There, we discovered a locked, unmarked door with
electro-magnetic fluctuations ranging from 8-10
miligauss. Our baseline readings for that area were
3-5 mG. Although there were no temperature
fluctuations at this location, a photograph of the area
indicates what could be spirit energy. (see right) We
later learned that the unmarked door in front of room
515 is a door to the attic. Other guests and psychics
have reported a male spirit that inhabits that area,
possibly one of the workers who helped construct the
building in 1893. Room 551 itself has also had many
strange phenomena. In 1982, the hotel was being
renovated and new wallpaper was being applied to the
walls of room 551. The next morning, all of the
wallpaper that had been applied was rolled neatly on
the floor. The wallpaper was replaced, but again found
on the floor in the morning. After two or three
attempts, several wallpaper samples were placed on
the bed in 551. The next morning, all but one of the
samples was on the floor. The sample that was left on
the bed was applied to the walls and remains there
today. Unfortunately, the room was occupied so we
were not able to investigate inside.
The hotel has two bell towers turned into luxury guest
suites. Room 661 has been dedicated to one of the
most famous women in Colorado, Molly Brown. Spirit
activity has been reported in this room as well as the
other bell tower suite, room 662. While both suites
have reports of spirit activity, the Molly Brown Suite is
reported as being the most active. Unfortunately, that
suite was occupied at the time of our investigation, but
we were able to check out room 662. While we did not
detect any paranormal activity in that room, we were
awe-struck at the beauty of the room itself and can
see why the spirits would chose to stay there.
As we concluded our investigation, we returned to our
room for rest and data analysis. During this time, we
experienced an interesting phenomena in our own
room. While going over the data we collected, the light
in the room would turn itself off. Clarissa would get out
of her seat to turn it back on. Half way across the
room to the light switch, it would turn itself back on.
After playing this game a few times, Clarissa asked the
spirit to please refrain from turning off the light for a
while so we could get some work done. The spirit
complied until we turned in to get some sleep. As we
settled under the covers and started drifting off to
dream-land, the lights turned on. A sleepy Clarissa
responded "Very funny" and the light went out. This
phenomena reminded us that, while we are gaining in
knowledge about ghosts and the spirit world, they still
know more than we do and have the upper hand.
CCPI would like to thank the Hotel Colorado staff and
guests for their help with our investigation. We can't
wait to go back and investigate this wondrous and
beautiful location again!
areas of the hotel from the basement to one of the bell
towers, and collected some interesting information.
We experienced the most activity on the third and fifth
floors, using Cell Sensor EMF meters, IR (Infra-Red)
Thermal Scanners, digital cameras, and night vision
camcorders.
Since several guests have reported seeing a small girl
in the hotel, we decided we would attempt to interact
with her. Using a ball we borrowed from Clarissa's son,
we set up a monitoring system with IR cameras and an
IR motion sensor. We placed the ball on the floor of
room 416 with the motion sensor and cameras
focused on it. The ball did not move during the course
of our investigation, although we did have several
instances where our electronic key would not work in
that lock and the lights frequently turned themselves
off while we were in the room. (See picture on right)
The basement of the hotel currently serves as storage
for the hotel as well as a spa, chiropractors office,
outdoor excursion office and other retail businesses.
During business hours, it can be accessed from the
outside. It also contains the original hydraulic lift
designed to bring supplies from the ground level such
as ice blocks, to be stored in the basement. It is
speculated that while staying here, Al Capone used it
as an escape route on more than one occasion when
the hotel was raided in search of him. The lift is still
operational today. Another area of the basement
served as the morgue while the hotel was being used
as a Naval Hospital. Several hotel staff members have
reported locked doors opening and lights turning
themselves on and off in this area. No one can
pinpoint which spirit occupies the basement area,
although it is speculated that it is one of Walter
Devereaux's many hangouts. During that part of our
investigation, we did not detect any presences,
although the area of the former morgue was rather
creepy.
The third floor was an area where we experienced a
higher amount of activity. Several guests and staff
have reported apparitions, strange smells, sounds,
lights turning on and off, televisions changing
channels, and knocks on doors with no one there.
Our investigation took us to the center of the corridor
in front of room 325. There, we recorded high
electro-magnetic fluctuations - the needle was pegged
at 10 miligauss on the Cell Sensor - with an immense
cold and heavy feeling in that area. We were not able
to locate any possible draft source in that area, nor
could we find any source for the spike in
electro-magnetic energy. Our baseline readings for
that area were 1-3 mG.
The second area of heightened electro-magnetic
energy was on the fifth floor across from room 515.
There, we discovered a locked, unmarked door with
electro-magnetic fluctuations ranging from 8-10
miligauss. Our baseline readings for that area were
3-5 mG. Although there were no temperature
fluctuations at this location, a photograph of the area
indicates what could be spirit energy. (see right) We
later learned that the unmarked door in front of room
515 is a door to the attic. Other guests and psychics
have reported a male spirit that inhabits that area,
possibly one of the workers who helped construct the
building in 1893. Room 551 itself has also had many
strange phenomena. In 1982, the hotel was being
renovated and new wallpaper was being applied to the
walls of room 551. The next morning, all of the
wallpaper that had been applied was rolled neatly on
the floor. The wallpaper was replaced, but again found
on the floor in the morning. After two or three
attempts, several wallpaper samples were placed on
the bed in 551. The next morning, all but one of the
samples was on the floor. The sample that was left on
the bed was applied to the walls and remains there
today. Unfortunately, the room was occupied so we
were not able to investigate inside.
The hotel has two bell towers turned into luxury guest
suites. Room 661 has been dedicated to one of the
most famous women in Colorado, Molly Brown. Spirit
activity has been reported in this room as well as the
other bell tower suite, room 662. While both suites
have reports of spirit activity, the Molly Brown Suite is
reported as being the most active. Unfortunately, that
suite was occupied at the time of our investigation, but
we were able to check out room 662. While we did not
detect any paranormal activity in that room, we were
awe-struck at the beauty of the room itself and can
see why the spirits would chose to stay there.
As we concluded our investigation, we returned to our
room for rest and data analysis. During this time, we
experienced an interesting phenomena in our own
room. While going over the data we collected, the light
in the room would turn itself off. Clarissa would get out
of her seat to turn it back on. Half way across the
room to the light switch, it would turn itself back on.
After playing this game a few times, Clarissa asked the
spirit to please refrain from turning off the light for a
while so we could get some work done. The spirit
complied until we turned in to get some sleep. As we
settled under the covers and started drifting off to
dream-land, the lights turned on. A sleepy Clarissa
responded "Very funny" and the light went out. This
phenomena reminded us that, while we are gaining in
knowledge about ghosts and the spirit world, they still
know more than we do and have the upper hand.
CCPI would like to thank the Hotel Colorado staff and
guests for their help with our investigation. We can't
wait to go back and investigate this wondrous and
beautiful location again!
| Chade and Clarissa examine a photograph taken just outside of the Devereaux Dining Room. Staff and guests have experienced phenomena ranging from smells to dishes being moved and candles once extinguished, resume burning all night - past their normal burn life. |
| Perhaps we needed to use a more feminine colored ball? |
| Corridor to the area of the former morgue. |
| Clarissa examines a spike in electro-magnetic energy. |
| A rather large "orb" can be seen in front of the mirror. The doorway to the left is the entrance to the attic. To the right is room 551. |
Built in 1891, the Hotel Colorado opened its doors to the public in 1893 with 191 sleeping rooms renting for as much as
$3 a night for the luxury rooms. Proprietor, Walter Devereaux built the establishment to cater to guests near and far
who wished to partake in the medicinal hot springs in the area. The hotel has seen many changes in the last century
and has been used for many things to include a Naval hospital during World War II, a retreat for Notorious gangster Al
Capone, and possibly even a hiding place for serial killer Ted Bundy after he escaped from the Garfield County Jail in
1977.
Today, only 131 of the original rooms are rented out with the rates varying from $110 per night to $675 for the deluxe
suites. Hotel guests and staff are not the only occupants of the historic site. The Hotel Colorado is home to several
spirits that inhabit the building. We were privileged to have the opportunity to visit the hotel and explore its rich history
as well as interact with a few of the "permanent" guests.
Guests and staff have reported high activity between the hours of 2-4 a.m. They have reported the elevator moving
from floor to floor with no passengers, cigar smoke - presumably from Walter Devereaux - in the main lobby, perfume
and dishes being moved in the Devereaux Dining Room, a young girl in Victorian clothing has been seen playing with a
ball in various areas of the hotel, and a female apparition has been reported looking over sleeping male guests. During
the time the hotel served as a Naval Hospital, a chamber maid was caught in a lover's triangle and murdered by one of
her jealous lovers. Her screams can still be heard in areas of the hotel and the room in which she died has had so
much activity, it cannot be rented and serves as a storage room.
Although most of the activity reports have taken place between 2-4 a.m, we had our greatest success between midnight
and 1 a.m.
$3 a night for the luxury rooms. Proprietor, Walter Devereaux built the establishment to cater to guests near and far
who wished to partake in the medicinal hot springs in the area. The hotel has seen many changes in the last century
and has been used for many things to include a Naval hospital during World War II, a retreat for Notorious gangster Al
Capone, and possibly even a hiding place for serial killer Ted Bundy after he escaped from the Garfield County Jail in
1977.
Today, only 131 of the original rooms are rented out with the rates varying from $110 per night to $675 for the deluxe
suites. Hotel guests and staff are not the only occupants of the historic site. The Hotel Colorado is home to several
spirits that inhabit the building. We were privileged to have the opportunity to visit the hotel and explore its rich history
as well as interact with a few of the "permanent" guests.
Guests and staff have reported high activity between the hours of 2-4 a.m. They have reported the elevator moving
from floor to floor with no passengers, cigar smoke - presumably from Walter Devereaux - in the main lobby, perfume
and dishes being moved in the Devereaux Dining Room, a young girl in Victorian clothing has been seen playing with a
ball in various areas of the hotel, and a female apparition has been reported looking over sleeping male guests. During
the time the hotel served as a Naval Hospital, a chamber maid was caught in a lover's triangle and murdered by one of
her jealous lovers. Her screams can still be heard in areas of the hotel and the room in which she died has had so
much activity, it cannot be rented and serves as a storage room.
Although most of the activity reports have taken place between 2-4 a.m, we had our greatest success between midnight
and 1 a.m.
| Chade and Mike explore the balcony area of Bell Tower Suite 662. |
| Lunar Phase: Waning Crescent Temperature: 73.4°F Barometric Pressure: 30.04IN Solar Activity: Quiet Geomagnetic Field: Quiet |
| A possible apparition in the area of room 515. High EMF readings were gathered in this area at the time of this photo. We've circled the area for easier viewing. |
