Living in Colorado is truly a dream. The state itself is beautiful, there is plenty to see and do… it is truly heaven on earth. However, despite all of the good that comes from living in the state, there is still a dark and disturbing side complete with unsolved murders, spine-tingling legends, and these seven little-known, dark Colorado secrets:

1. Colorado Springs Sex Scandal
Pastor Ted Haggard/Facebook
In 2006, Colorado Springs Pastor Ted Haggard was accused of having a three-year affair with a male prostitute and purchasing crystal meth, two allegations that he denied. Later on, however, the disgraced pastor checked himself into an intense counseling facility and later admitted to all allegations.
2. The Gates of Hell
Courtesy of Denver Ghost Hunters
Riverdale Road in Thornton is the alleged site of several manic instances, ranging from an insane man who murdered his wife and children by setting their mansion on fire, to the grizzly lynchings of former slaves, to the mysterious underground chicken coop that was home to conjured demons and spirits. Several visitors of Riverdale Road have reported hearing a distressed woman’s screams, the creaking sounds of swinging rope and the heavy breathing of supposed seized spirits.
3. The Unsolved Murder of Dale Williams
Wikimedia Commons
In 1999, Nucla autobody repairman Dale Williams vanished into the night after receiving a mysterious phone call from a traveling motorist in need of a mechanic. He was never seen or heard from again, leaving his wife, Diana, to believe that he had been murdered by a former friend - whose ex-wife had just recently, suddenly, and secretly moved out of Colorado.

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4. Campus Cult
Wikimedia Commons
A tell-all article published by CU Independent explains that students and former members are now speaking out against the Boulder Resurrection Church's "cult-like" campus ministry, which is said to have controlled its members every move through brainwashing and manipulation.
5. Cheesman Park
Wikimedia Commons
Tread lightly the next time you visit this iconic Denver park, as it was built over a former cemetery (and some 5,000-some headstones)... and the bodies weren't moved, or so they say.
6. The Execution of an Innocent Man
Find A Grave
On Jan. 7, 2011, Gov. Bill Ritter signed a posthumous pardon for Joseph "Joe" Arridy; a 23-year-old mentally handicapped man who was wrongfully convicted and killed for the rape and murder of a Colorado woman in 1939. Arridy was often referred to as the "happiest man on death row," and is said to have only had the mental capacity of a six-year-old child.
7. The Colorado Cannibal
Wikimedia Commons
Last but certainly not least is the story of Alferd Packer; the American prospector who admitted to eating the five men he was traveling with in order to survive a harsh Colorado winter. Whether or not he murdered the men - or if they had already passed - was never known.

For even more eeriness, check out haunted places in Colorado that will give you nightmares. That is… if you’re brave enough!

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Colorado Secrets

Tori Jane | April 23, 2023
  1. What are some dark Colorado secrets? 

Colorado is absolutely a beautiful state, but like anywhere else, it’s not without its dark and/or spooky history. There are some deep, dark Colorado secrets floating around out there, such as:  

  • The Stanley Hotel, located in Estes Park, is so haunted and so creepy that it inspired Stephen King himself to write The Shining. Yikes!  
  • Riverdale Road – This road is said to actually be a gateway to hell. Uhh... cool?  
  • Gold Camp Road – Another spooky place, this eerie little road in Colorado is said to be haunted by all sorts of creepy specters.  
  • The Sand Creek Massacre – This is one of the darkest moments in our state’s history: a massacre of Native American people by members of the Colorado Military Militia.  

Learn more about these eerie, uncomfortable Colorado facts... and then some.  

  1. Has there been a history of cults in Colorado? 

Luckily for us, there has not been a lengthy history of cults in Colorado, though there is at least one story involving one cult that came here from Tennessee. It’s known as the Twelve Tribes Cult, and it’s a religious extremist movement known to have committed some serious crimes in the area. They have “locations” in Manitou Springs and Boulder County, and to this day it still has active members.  

  1. What are some unsettling urban legends of Colorado? 

Like anywhere else worth visiting, Colorado is not without its urban legends. There are some stories everyone simply knows, like:

  • The gates to hell are on Thornton Road.  
  • The Hotel Colorado is haunted by guests who never left that seem to enjoy turning lights on and off and scaring the living guests.  
  • The Third Bridge is an allegedly haunted bridge in Aurora that’s been the site of many paranormal investigations.  

Learn more about these creepy Colorado urban legends, plus a couple more!  

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