Aspen DarkSide Ghost Tour

Aspen’s DarkSide Ghost Tour takes the town’s shinier image and flips it over. A guide leads the group through the streets after dark, telling stories of mining disasters, bar fights, strange deaths and the ghosts said to haunt the Victorian buildings. The setting is perfect: gaslight-style lamps, brick walls, old hotels and bars that have been serving drinks since the 1880s. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the mix of real history and campfire storytelling makes for an engaging evening. Aspen was a rough place in its early days. Fortune seekers poured in when silver was discovered, building saloons and hotels faster than law and order could keep up, and the harsh winters, avalanches and mine accidents killed many. When the silver market collapsed, the town almost disappeared. Over time, a collection of legends has grown around the survivors, the buildings and the places where people lived and died, and a good ghost tour sorts fact from folklore while still leaving room for a shiver.

Expect a leisurely walk on flat streets, with stops at key locations for stories. Tours like this are typically offered in the evening, and the group is small enough that the guide can interact with everyone. The tone ranges from spooky to humorous, and many guides mix in real history that gives context to the tales. Check the current schedule, start time, meeting point and age guidance when you book, because evening departures and seasonal changes vary.

Dress for the weather, since evenings in the mountains are cold even in summer, and bring a light jacket in warm months and proper winter gear in the cold ones. Wear comfortable shoes, bring a phone or camera for any atmospheric photographs and keep an open mind. Visitors who dislike scary stories or have very young children may want to ask the operator about the content and intensity beforehand.

A ghost tour makes a good pairing with a restaurant dinner, since it usually starts after the early dining crowd has finished. Some people like to eat first and then walk off the meal with the tour, followed by a drink in one of the historic bars that appear in the stories.

If you enjoy the format, the operator’s historic walk and highlights tour give a more factual version of the same terrain, and a daytime stroll with the knowledge you have gained will feel quite different. Either way, this is one of the more entertaining ways to learn about Aspen’s past.

If you are visiting with a group, consider making the ghost tour the centerpiece of a night out. Arrange an early table, allow time to walk between the restaurant and the meeting point, and plan a nightcap afterward. Remember that many of the old buildings in the stories are now hotels, shops or private homes, so keep your voice down, respect residents and avoid entering premises uninvited.

The stories are meant to entertain rather than convince you of anything, so go along with the fun and ask the guide your questions. Photographs in low light work best with a steady hand and a phone night mode.

Arrive a little early at the meeting point so you can hear the introduction and pick a spot near the guide.