This last Wednesday, Haunted History After Dark, welcomed guests from Fort Collins, and as far away as Berthoud, CO for a ghostly walking adventure.  Even from the first haunted location on our tour, goose bumps were felt by all, as a 131 year-old tale of tragedy unfolded that night on the streets of Old Town. While local ghost whisperer and tour guide, Grace, connected with the spirits at this site who had perished in one of the most terrible incidents in early Fort Collins history, the guests found themselves rubbing the prickly sensation on back of their necks and arms, as one of the specter’s desired to make its presence known within the group. With the many ethereal beings we encounter on our tours, Grace says, "...this is normal".

As the night progressed, the streets of Old Town were not only alive and vibrant with celebrants of the local bars and restaurants, but the spirits who inhabit those places got in on the action as well. At one location on the haunted route, our group encountered an angry past “proprietor” of a long ago brothel on College, which is now a very popular watering spot, who in his ghostly form told us to “…move along…MOVE ALONG!” Which we obliged.  This particular spirit is one of the most active on our tour, and his moods are unpredictable.  Grace says, “He knows full well that I can take him to other side, and he DOESN’T like it!” As the historical guide on tour, I’ve actually had my own encounter with this brown- suited man while Grace and I were researching our route, and he didn’t like me either!

As we ventured north through Old Town Square, we found Mr. William Trimble, an early resident and mercantile proprietor waiting for us and watching our every step, move and word. He’s very protective and particular about his location.  Grace advised us that in a spirit form he was standing within the group and listening to our tales. Again, all of us, except for Grace, were rubbing the goose bumps off the back of our necks. As a Fort Collins historian, I then became nervous, as I wanted to provide for him his well-deserved justice, but Grace reassured me, after her confirmation and communication from him that my accuracy regarding him was “dead” on. However, please be fore-warned that Mr. Trimble is not one to be reckoned with. Even today, in his ghostly presence, he still watches and will reprimand those who loiter or litter near his early establishment.

Amid a full moon, the tour ended at a ghostly and tragic location on north College, which the Fort Collins Courier newspaper headlined on the 17^th of May 1905, as a “Distressing Tragedy Almost in the Heart of the City”. But, for Grace and I, the most distressing tragedy, was saying good bye to our wonderful Haunted History After Dark guests! As we bid them adieu, as I always do, I told them, “Get home safe and alive…don’t end up on our tour!”

Grace and I need to say that we were VERY honored to be a part of a reunion between two of our guests. The pair had only met twice since high school, previous to our tour, and we feel extremely privileged to be a part of that. Thank you so much to you! Now that is cool history!

If you would like to experience goose bumps and communicate with the early residents of Fort Collins, or….would like to reunite with a high school buddy like our guests, you need to take the Haunted History After Dark tour. Walk with the spirits who are dying to meet you!

YOUR HAUNTED JOURNEY STARTS AT DUSK!

Contact hauntedhistoryafterdark@yahoo.com  or call 970-690-7986 to book your ghostly adventure.