Our awesome and courageous Halloween guests!

For many of us the end of the Halloween season means hanging up the white sheet and stuffing the "Jason" mask back behind a cobwebbed corner of our garage or crawl space for another 365 days. But, for the spirits of Old Town Fort Collins this is a full-time job. 24/7/365. And on the Haunted History After Dark Halloween tour on Monday the ghosts of Old Town really got into the "spirit". For this tour we conducted our "Old Town" route which visits places such as the old Opera House and the Northern Hotel. Local ghost whisperer and tour guide, Grace Cooley, picked up on many new entities in the Opera House. She even related to us about a beagle who was inhabiting this structure. We have researched atleast one death that occured at the Opera House during its construction in 1881. This was a man who was hired to complete the framing of the interior. He died at the site in September of that year in a very horrific accident involving a makeshift elevator that he was using to haul brick and mortar to the third floor of the building. The elevator collapsed and he was sent plunging to his death. His funeral was held the next day at the old Methodist church. And for those of you who like to enjoy one of many of Coopersmith's Billiards awesome Flight C scotches while attempting to put an "A railer through the Ash", you might want to give a quick homage to this man as this is the location where his funeral took place. In fact, many funerals took place here including that of very famous early resident Joe Mason, who Mason street is named after. His funeral at this location was attended by hundreds of residents

 

in February of 1881 after his fatal accident involving a kick in the head by a young colt.

 While on this Halloween tour I noticed a guest waving to me at one of our most haunted locations. When I approached her she said that something had pushed her and was also playing with the hair of the woman next to her. No doubt! One of the many spirits who inhabits this structure is reportedly a centuries old womanizer. He appears to many in a top hat and, as he did when he was alive, is always on the prowl for a "fresh supply", as Grace says. Although he is benign, he definitely gives some our guests a "goose" or two. He is a favorite on our tour.

One Walt Disney enthusiast said "You made my day. I look at Old Town so different now!", when we talked about the not-so-haunted but very extraordinary history of Old Town Fort Collins and the connections with home town boy Harper Goff and his work creating Main Street USA in Disneyland in the 1950's.



Very brave November 3rd guests. You are amazing!



This courageous group was the first of our November season. We have to give HUGE kuddos to them. They not only braved the many spirits of Old Town but 29 degree weather to take our tour on Thursday November 3rd. You guys rock! For this group we did the "Old Post Cemetery" tour. At our first location a tour participant picked up a mist on his camera while Grace talked about early residents who were the victims of a horrific tragedy at this site. Then at the place of the very first cemetery in Fort Collins in the 1860's, another guest caught strange orbs hovering over the building we were talking about. Most of our guests pick up evidence of paranormal activity at this location. (I have to tell you that as the historian, and not the ghost whisperer, some of the evidence picked up around us still gives me the creeps! It's amazing.)

Happy Cynthia

When we got to our last location tonight, one of our awesome guests who was visiting from Missouri, Cynthia, asked if pets go to the "other side". Grace said that "yes they do", and related the presence of the beagle at the Opera House. Cynthia raised her arms in excitment and said, "Yes,!" She obviously was an owner of a very loved and fortunate pooch. We were excited that Cynthia was very happy at knowing this.

Haunted History After Dark looks forward to many more evenings this year with our awesome guests discovering the haunted and history of Old Town Fort Collins with you. We can't wait to share what we have discovered and hear your stories as well.



Grace Cooley at left connecting to spirits of Old Town



Some of our guests tonight questioned tour guide and medium, Grace, about personal readings. If you would like to book a session with Grace please contact her at hauntedhistoryafterdark@yahoo.com. Grace is increasingly being recognized as one of the most well known psychics in the nation. She has been giving accurate and insightful psychic readings for twenty years and is regarded as one of the most gifted in the area as well as the U.S.

The "other half" of HHAD Stephen and Mark.
  

Thank you so much to all of our very courageous and enthusiastic guest tonight! You were amazing!

If you would like to catch evidence of spirits in Old Town or learn about the haunted history of Fort Collins contact hauntedhistoryafterdark@yahoo.com Cost is 10 big ones per courageous ghost buster or 35 clams for an extra brave group of four. Cash only please. 

 Stephen Stills begged Suite Judy Blue Eyes long ago, “Will you come see me…Thursdays and Saturdays…” What a coincidence! That’s when our tours are.  Will you come see us…Thursdays and Saturdays.  Or by reservation. 7:30 p.m.  Tours start at 136 W. Mountain Avenue home of Boutique Bravo and Mother Lode Gallery where owner Kate has been in business for a whopping 33 years! Check her out.

And remember...YOUR HAUNTED JOURNEY STARTS AT DUSK!