A ‘Haunted’ Hotel in Colorado Is Reopening With an Even Creepier Vibe
Somebody call paranormal investigator Zak Bagans — or, on second thought, maybe don't — because a famous haunted hotel in Colorado just reopened to the public after extensive renovations on May 1.
The Black Monarch originally debuted during the Gold Rush era as a triple-threat casino, saloon and brothel. It's now a newly-renovated boutique hotel (and listed on Colorado's National Register of Historic Places) less than 50 miles southwest of Colorado Springs in the tiny mountain town of Victor.
And according to some firsthand reports from past guests, it's a bit of a hotspot for paranormal sightings.
According to Travel + Leisure, people have experienced "unexplained" phenomena while in the building — such as the sounds of women laughing and men shouting when there was no one to be found.
The property is thought to be haunted by the spirit of a barkeep who allegedly died in a gunfight — and a devastating fire that leveled the building in 1899 is thought to contribute to the downright ghostly vibes. There are also some unconfirmed ties to inventor Nikola Tesla as well (he reportedly wired the hotel's electricity). Either way, there's now an entire room named after him.
Doubling down on the hotel's haunted reputation, new owner Adam Zimmerli and staff decided to add rooms inspired by Elizabeth Bathory and H.H. Holmes — two of the most notorious serial killers in the history books. They've also packed the Black Monarch with "curiosities" such as taxidermy and other creepy trinkets.
Related: The 7 Best Starter Travel Credit Cards of 2019
Hotel guests are encouraged to explore the historic mountain town and also to embrace the hotel's "dark" aesthetic. After all, Zimmerli hopes to one day host live burlesque and circus performances.
Feeling brave? You can book your stay at The Black Monarch Hotel through Airbnb.
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 2X miles | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase |
| 5X miles | 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel |
| 10X miles | 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel |
Pros
- The Capital One Venture X business card has a lucrative welcome offer.
- In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Cons
- The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
- Top rated mobile app