The Stanley is often recognized as the most haunted hotel in Colorado, but many other accommodations in the state also have paranormal activity present on their respective properties.

The historic Hotel St. Nicholas in Cripple Creek is one of those places.

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History

Construction on this brick structure began in 1896 and was completed in 1898 for a total cost of $12,000, courtesy of the Catholic Sisters of Mercy. It was the first dedicated general hospital to be established in Cripple Creek and the surrounding area. It opened during the height of the gold rush and subsequently provided medical care to many miners living in town.

After almost 30 years of service, the Sisters left Cripple Creek. In 1924, the hospital at 303 3rd Street was purchased and operated privately by a series of local doctors. Then, from the late 1960s-'70s, the building acted as a nursing home and then served as a boarding house. After that, it stood vacant until its purchase and meticulous refurbishment in 1995.

This is when it joined the list of fine Cripple Creek hotels as the Hotel St. Nicholas. There are 15 guest rooms in the beautiful bed and breakfast.

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Hauntings

With such a colorful past, it's no surprise that the energy of former souls can still be felt inside the historic hotel.

Sources say the two ghosts that are most often seen here are a young, mischievous boy named Petey, as well as a friendly gold miner. When alive, Petey may have been in the care of the Sisters of Mercy. Now, he's been known to take objects like cigarettes from guests at the bar. The ghost of the gold minder has been seen and heard walking on the back stairway or sitting on a stool in the office.

Another paranormal spirit that's often said to be lingering in the halls of the hotel is referred to as Stinky. As his name suggests, this ghost is accompanied by an odor of raw sewage, which can be smelled on various floors of the hotel. Stinky may also be seen as an old miner with no upper body.

More eerie encounters documented from inside the Hotel St. Nicholas include flickering lights, unexplained whispers heard outside of guest rooms, apparitions, and objects moving on their own. It's believed that nuns, children, and former patients of the hospital's mental ward are among the spirits causing these to happen.

Would you be brave enough to stay overnight in this haunted hotel?