Denver Haunted Booze and Boos Ghost Walking Tour – Lower Downtown

Denver’s old Lower Downtown district gets its best nighttime stories in bars, basements, former brothels, and grand railway spaces. This 2.5-hour ghost walk mixes local scandals, early Denver lore, and reported hauntings, with time to buy drinks along the way.

I like the small group, capped at 10, and the way the tour uses real places instead of treating the city as a stage set. I also like the mix of history and nightlife, especially the chance to see the Oxford Hotel’s Cruise Room and the basement at The Celtic on Market. The main thing to weigh is that the drinks cost extra, and some people may find the walking and storytelling a little long by the final hour.

Key points to know before you book

• The tour visits working bars: You can buy beer, cocktails, or other drinks at several stops, but no beverage is included in the $37.59 price.
• The group is limited to 10 people: That makes it easier to hear the guide and ask questions.
• The stories cover more than ghosts: Expect tales of Denver’s early red-light district, old buildings, scandals, tunnels, and local hauntings.
• The route ends near Union Station: The finish is a couple of blocks from the starting point, and the guide can walk you back if you ask.
• Bring acceptable identification: You must be at least 21, and a vertical ID may not be accepted at every bar.
• Wear comfortable shoes: The tour lasts about two and a half hours and moves through central Denver after dark.

Why LoDo makes a good ghost-tour setting

Lower Downtown, usually called LoDo, gives this tour a useful advantage: the places are close together, but their stories feel very different. You move from elegant Larimer Square to old drinking halls, from a former red-light district to Union Station. The streets provide a sense of Denver’s past without requiring a bus or long ride between stops.

The tour begins at 7:30 p.m. at 1400 Market Street. That timing suits the subject. Bars are open, the city has shifted into its evening rhythm, and the guide can tell stories in the very rooms connected with them.

This is not a haunted-house attraction with actors jumping from dark corners. The appeal comes from hearing how people lived, worked, drank, and misbehaved in old Denver, then deciding for yourself how much you believe about the spirits left behind.

The cost is $37.59 per person. I consider that reasonable if you want a guided night out with several bar visits and a focused look at LoDo. It is less attractive if you expect drinks, food, or a large paranormal production to be included. You pay for the guide, the stories, the small group, and access to the route. Your drinks are separate.

Larimer Square sets the tone

Larimer Square is the first major story stop, with about 30 minutes devoted to spooky tales and local history. The square is one of Denver’s best-known historic areas, so it gives the guide a strong opening point for explaining how the city developed.

The setting also helps you connect the stories to actual streets and buildings. Instead of hearing a vague tale about an unnamed old town, you are standing in one of Denver’s oldest central districts and looking at the architecture around you.

The guide’s job matters here. Josh has been praised for turning early Denver stories into lively scenes, while Brynn, Tammy, Rachel, and other guides have also been singled out for their humor and storytelling. Guide quality can shape the whole evening, since the tour depends more on delivery than on special effects.

You will spend time outdoors, so bring a layer even on a mild evening. Denver weather can shift quickly, and the tour requires a moderate level of fitness. The group may pause often, but you should still be comfortable standing and walking for extended periods.

The red-light district brings Denver’s less polished past forward

The route explores a former red-light district, with attention to old sites, architecture, nightlife, and the more scandalous side of Denver’s early years. This is one of the tour’s strongest features for anyone who finds standard city tours too tidy.

The stories are not limited to supernatural claims. You also hear about brothels, colorful characters, and the social world that grew around the bars and businesses of early Denver. That context gives the ghost stories more weight. Even if you are doubtful about hauntings, the human stories can still hold your attention.

A short passage near Daniels and Fisher Tower adds another piece of downtown scenery. The route also includes discussion of the city’s underground spaces and tunnels. Do not expect a long tunnel expedition, though. One account of the tour describes a quick stop below street level rather than an extended underground visit.

That distinction matters. Book this for storytelling in atmospheric locations, not for a technical tour of Denver’s tunnel system.

The Celtic on Market takes you below street level

The Celtic on Market is an important early stop, with about 30 minutes devoted to its history and ghost stories. The group is taken down to the basement, which gives the evening a change of pace and a more enclosed setting.

Basements work well for this kind of tour because you can see the age of the building in a direct way. The guide can explain what makes the place notable, then frame the reported activity around the room itself rather than asking you to picture an abstract location.

The Celtic is also the first clear chance to buy a drink. The price of your beverage is separate, and one practical criticism of the tour is that the first drink is not included. If you plan to stop at several bars, budget for that from the start.

The bar stops are not simply filler between ghost stories. They give you a chance to sit, use a restroom, order a drink, and talk with the other members of your group. A family-oriented review specifically appreciated the bathroom breaks, which tells you something useful about the pacing: this is a long evening walk, not a nonstop march.

The Oxford Hotel and Cruise Room add polished old Denver style

The route passes through the Oxford Hotel, one of the city’s historic landmarks. You get to see the lobby and the Cruise Room Bar, then hear about the hotel’s past and reported ghosts.

The Cruise Room receives about 15 minutes of focused attention. Its setting is more refined than the basement at The Celtic, so the contrast makes the tour more varied. You are not visiting a series of identical pub interiors. Each stop offers a different mood and a different piece of Denver’s past.

You should treat access as part of the guided route, not as a guarantee of a private bar experience. The Cruise Room is a functioning establishment, and the tour’s purpose is to see the space and hear its stories. The precise amount of time available can depend on the evening and the group.

If you prefer a tour with architecture as well as ghosts, this stop is especially useful. You get a look at the lobby and a well-known bar while the guide connects the rooms to their darker tales.

Nola Jane gives the tour room to breathe

Nola Jane Restaurant & Bar is scheduled for about 30 minutes. The group explores both levels of the historic building while the guide explains the reported ghostly activity. You also have time to enjoy a drink.

This is a practical stop because it combines storytelling with a real break. You can order something, listen, and take in the building rather than standing on a sidewalk for the entire evening.

The two-level layout adds visual interest, but keep your expectations measured. The tour does not include a meal, and alcohol remains available for purchase only. If you need dinner, plan that separately before or after the experience.

The bar selection has earned particular praise in the available feedback, with beer and cocktail choices described as a highlight. That makes the tour a better fit for adults who want a social night out, rather than visitors seeking a strictly historical walk.

Union Station closes the night with a public place and private stories

The final stop is Denver Union Station, where the guide tells ghost stories for roughly 15 minutes. Union Station is a fitting finale because it is both grand and busy, a public place where people often pass without considering the building’s past.

The contrast can be effective. Earlier, you hear stories in bars and older rooms. At Union Station, you are reminded that supernatural tales can be attached to a place filled with ordinary movement, trains, visitors, and daily city life.

The tour ends at 1701 Wynkoop Street, a couple of blocks from the start. If you do not know downtown Denver well, ask the guide to walk you back to the original meeting point. The short distance also puts you near public transportation and other LoDo nightlife after the tour.

The guides make or break the experience

The format depends heavily on the person holding the flashlight, or at least leading the group. Josh has been praised for his energy, pacing, and ability to make the stories feel immediate. Rachel has been noted for bringing early Denver to life. Tammy has been described as fun and well informed, while Brynn has received strong praise for animated storytelling, humor, and answering questions.

Noah’s tour was described as fun, though one assessment wished for more general Denver background and fewer stories tied directly to the bars. That is a fair point. The experience leans toward local tales linked to specific buildings, so the amount of broad city history can vary with the guide and the group’s questions.

A small group helps. With no more than 10 people, you are less likely to lose the thread of a story or get separated at a busy bar. You can also ask questions without needing to shout across a crowd.

The style is lively and social. Solo visitors can meet people at the first stop, while couples and friends can treat it as an unusual date-night or evening activity. The mood is spooky, but not presented as a serious paranormal investigation.

What the $37.59 price really covers

At $37.59, the tour sits in the moderate range for a guided evening activity. The value comes from combining a city walk, several historic venues, a costumed guide, and a planned sequence of stories.

You should add the cost of drinks when setting your budget. Nothing alcoholic is included. Some people may see that as a drawback, especially since the title promises both booze and ghosts. Others will prefer choosing their own drink at each stop instead of receiving a fixed beverage they may not want.

The tour is a good buy if you like hearing local stories while visiting places you might not choose on your own. It is less compelling for you if your priority is a formal history lecture, a long paranormal investigation, or included food and drinks.

The strong overall rating and 95 percent recommendation point to a consistently popular experience, but the mixed four-star comments are worth noting. The evening can feel long if the storytelling style does not suit you, and a few people have wanted more background about Denver beyond the bars and ghost tales.

Practical details that can save you trouble

You must be 21 or older and carry a valid photo ID. A vertical ID may not be accepted in every bar, so bring alternate identification if you have it. This is one of the most important details to handle before arriving.

The tour is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket. It is near public transportation, and service animals are allowed. You need a moderate fitness level, comfortable shoes, and clothing suited to the evening weather.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refundable. The tour can also be canceled if poor weather affects the experience or if the minimum number of participants is not met. In those cases, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Who should book this LoDo ghost walk?

I would choose this for you if you enjoy local history with a social edge, like visiting bars, and do not mind paying separately for drinks. It also works well for a date night, a small group of friends, or a solo evening when you want a planned activity after dark.

You will get the most from it if you enjoy stories about real places, old scandals, and reported hauntings more than theatrical scares. The tour gives you a useful introduction to LoDo at night and can point out buildings you might otherwise pass without a second glance.

I would hesitate if you want a serious academic history tour or a frightening attraction with constant supernatural action. The walking takes time, some stories focus closely on the bars, and the evening may feel long if you are not interested in drinking or ghost lore.

Should you book the Denver Booze and Boos tour?

Book it if you want a friendly, small-group night out that combines Denver’s racier past with bar visits and ghost stories. The Celtic basement, Cruise Room, Nola Jane, Larimer Square, and Union Station provide enough variety to keep the route moving.

Go in with the right expectations: drinks are extra, the stories are delivered for entertainment, and the tour is more about atmosphere and local tales than proof of the paranormal. Bring a valid ID, wear comfortable shoes, and allow the full two and a half hours. For a different view of downtown Denver after dark, this is a sensible and enjoyable choice.

FAQ

How long is the Denver Haunted Booze and Boos tour?

The tour lasts about two and a half hours.

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 7:30 p.m.

Where does the tour begin and end?

It begins at 1400 Market Street in Denver and ends at 1701 Wynkoop Street near Union Station. The guide can walk you back to the starting point if you request it.

Are drinks included in the ticket price?

No. Alcoholic drinks are available for purchase at the bar stops, but they are not included in the $37.59 tour price.

How old do you need to be to join?

You must be at least 21 years old and bring a valid photo ID. A vertical ID may not be accepted at every bar, so alternate identification is advisable.

Can I cancel for a refund?

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