Tip Based: Capitol Hill History & Ghost Tour

REVIEW · DENVER

Tip Based: Capitol Hill History & Ghost Tour

  • 5.034 reviews
  • From $99.00
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Operated by Best Tours of Denver LLC · Bookable on Viator

Traveller rating 5.0 (34)Price from$99.00Operated byBest Tours of Denver LLCBook viaViator

Denver does spooky well. This Capitol Hill history and ghost walk blends Victorian-era Denver with guide-led tales of haunting homes and the gossip behind them. I like how the stories feel human and funny, especially when guides like Bill, Sheila, and Kim keep the group talking and taking questions. I also like the photo moments, from famous mansion exteriors to the Sherman Towers penthouse with city and mountain views.

One thing to plan for: you’re on your feet for a long stretch. The tour runs about 2 hours, but it can run closer to 3 depending on the group pace and questions, so wear real walking shoes and expect some standing.

Key things that make this ghost tour work

Tip Based: Capitol Hill History & Ghost Tour - Key things that make this ghost tour work

  • Capitol Hill at walking pace: relaxed blocks with a clear route and a natural stop-by-stop rhythm
  • Pro guide energy: lively storytelling plus time for questions, with past guides including Bill, Sheila, and Kim
  • Real photo targets: haunted mansion facades and the Sherman Towers penthouse views
  • Mid-tour coffee break: a short pause at a trendy Capitol Hill spot to reset
  • Strong value for the price: $99 for a guided, timed walk that hits major sights without rushing

Capitol Hill’s haunted walk: what you’ll actually see

Tip Based: Capitol Hill History & Ghost Tour - Capitol Hill’s haunted walk: what you’ll actually see
This tour takes you through Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, where stately Victorian buildings, old names, and big architecture make the stories easy to picture. The vibe is part guided history lesson, part theatrical ghost story, but it stays grounded in place—you’re seeing the buildings while your guide connects them to Denver’s past.

The walk also has variety. You start in a classic mansion pocket, you pass a major civic landmark, and you end with a high-altitude payoff at Sherman Towers. Even if you’re not a die-hard ghost person, you’ll still get a good feel for what makes Capitol Hill such a photogenic, personality-filled part of town.

You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Denver.

Price and time: is $99 worth it?

Tip Based: Capitol Hill History & Ghost Tour - Price and time: is $99 worth it?
At $99 per person for about 2 hours, this isn’t a budget-only activity. The value comes from three things you don’t get with a self-guided walk: a professional escort/host, a packed set of specific stops, and a storytelling style that keeps moving from one address to the next.

A useful heads-up: some groups run almost 3 hours. That’s not necessarily a negative—if your guide is generous with questions, it can make the tour feel richer—but it does mean you should treat this as a half-day-ish commitment, not a quick stroll.

You’ll also benefit from the fact that the company offers group discounts and uses a mobile ticket. That’s small, but it usually makes the whole experience smoother once you arrive.

Start at 901 Sherman St, then let the route unfold

Your tour starts at 901 Sherman St, Denver, CO 80203 and finishes back at the same meeting point. The start time is 10:00 am, which is a good window if you want daylight for photos and don’t want to scramble for an evening slot.

It’s also convenient to get to. The tour is near public transportation, so you’re not stuck relying only on parking. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate, though it’s still a walking tour, meaning you’ll want shoes you trust.

Midway through, there’s a short break at a coffee shop in Capitol Hill. That’s a practical detail I always appreciate on walking tours because it gives you a chance to warm up, grab water, and refocus before the next block of stories.

Stop-by-stop: mansions, Denver’s Capitol, and the Sherman Towers penthouse

Tip Based: Capitol Hill History & Ghost Tour - Stop-by-stop: mansions, Denver’s Capitol, and the Sherman Towers penthouse
Below is the flow you’ll follow. Think of each stop as a chapter: your guide points out what you’re looking at, then connects it to the darker side of Denver’s past through ghost stories and scandalous local lore.

Crawford Hill Mansion

You kick things off with Crawford Hill Mansion, a strong opener because big homes set the mood fast. This is where you’ll likely get your first taste of how your guide blends place details with ghostly narrative—so pay attention early. If your memory for addresses is only so-so, take a photo here and use it as a mental anchor.

Poets Row (Historic Sherman District)

Next is Poets Row in the historic Sherman District. This stop helps you shift from one isolated mansion to a wider neighborhood story. The guide’s explanations make the streets feel like they belong to a specific era, not just random old blocks.

A possible drawback: because this area is focused on the street-and-building look, you’ll want to keep your eyes up. If you spend the whole time reading plaques or filming, you can miss the guide’s connection between the buildings and the tales.

Colorado State Capitol

Then you reach the Colorado State Capitol. This is a nice contrast point. One moment you’re in ghost-story territory, and the next you’re looking at a civic landmark that helps ground the neighborhood in real Denver power and planning.

For photos, this stop often gives you a cleaner, more open view compared with tightly packed residential blocks. It’s also a good mental reset if you’ve been leaning too hard into the spooky vibe.

Haunted Sheedy Mansion

After that, you return to residential drama with the Haunted Sheedy Mansion. This is the kind of stop where your guide’s personality matters a lot. If you enjoy story-driven tours—especially ones with a bit of gossip layered in—you’ll probably start leaning forward at this point.

Haunted Peabody Whitehead Mansion

The Haunted Peabody Whitehead Mansion continues that pattern: building exterior, story context, and a haunted tale tied to the house’s name. Even if you’re skeptical about ghosts, the architecture and the implied past give your guide something solid to work with.

Eclectic and Diverse 13th Street

13th Street gives you a street-level break between mansion stops. It’s labeled as eclectic and diverse, and that matters because it shows how the neighborhood isn’t frozen in time. Your guide uses it as a bridge so the tour doesn’t feel like a nonstop procession of haunted facades.

Creswell Mansion

Next is Creswell Mansion, another mansion stop that keeps the tour’s central theme strong. Expect your guide to focus on the way these buildings helped define social life in old Denver, and how that history turns into legend.

If you’re someone who likes structure, this is a good point to ask a question. The tour style is built for back-and-forth, not silent listening.

Haunted Molly Brown House

Then comes the Haunted Molly Brown House. This stop is especially memorable because Molly Brown’s name carries weight, and the haunted framing makes it feel like a story you can stand right next to. It also gives the group a chance to talk about what makes certain people in Denver’s past become legend-worthy.

Haunted Dunning Benedict Mansion

The Haunted Dunning Benedict Mansion is another chance for your guide to weave together scandalous past and spooky elements. This is where the tour typically leans into atmosphere. If you like your ghosts with personality—more story than straight chills—this section tends to land well.

Haunted Keating Mansion

Next up is the Haunted Keating Mansion. You’ll likely notice how guides change their rhythm from stop to stop: some houses get short, punchy haunted notes; others get more context and narrative. Keating fits into the “story build” phase, where the tour starts stacking themes.

Haunted Dodge Gregory House

The Haunted Dodge Gregory House keeps the momentum going. This stop is a good time to check your photos, because you’ll want a mix of wide shots and close enough angles to remember details later. If you’re walking with a phone-only setup, quick snaps here can save you later.

Haunted Crooke Patterson Mansion

Then you move to Haunted Crooke Patterson Mansion. By now, you should be comfortable with the tour’s rhythm: your guide talks, you look, then you walk a few steps and the next story starts. That repeating pattern is part of the reason this tour works well for people who get tired on long walking days.

Sherman Towers Penthouse: 15 Stories Above Denver

Finally, you reach the Sherman Towers Penthouse, described as 15 stories above the city. This is your payoff. You get spectacular views of Denver and the Rocky Mountains, including Pikes Peak and Longs Peak.

This last stop is where the tour turns from neighborhood story to big-picture Denver. It’s also a practical photo moment: you’ll have a wider frame than you had on the mansion blocks, which is great for context shots that show where Capitol Hill sits in the larger city.

Guides, pace, and the value of question time

Tip Based: Capitol Hill History & Ghost Tour - Guides, pace, and the value of question time
The biggest quality signal in the reviews is how guides keep the tour fun without rushing it. I like that past guides, including Bill, Sheila, and Kim, have been described as engaging and able to answer questions while still keeping the group moving.

That matters because ghost tours can go two ways: you get a monologue you can’t pause, or you get a conversation where you actually learn. Here, the pacing seems designed so you don’t feel like you’re being herded. One review also noted that the tour wasn’t rushed even with a small group, which tells me the guide style is built for attention, not just volume.

Photo tips: how to get the shots without slowing the group

Tip Based: Capitol Hill History & Ghost Tour - Photo tips: how to get the shots without slowing the group
This tour is packed with famous-looking mansion exteriors, plus that Sherman Towers view. To get good results without getting in everyone’s way, I’d do this:

  • Start by taking one wide shot at each mansion stop, not ten close-ups.
  • Save your close-up photos for when your guide pauses long enough for you to step aside.
  • At the penthouse, aim for both city-center context and mountain detail. The names Pikes Peak and Longs Peak are called out in the experience, so it helps to look for them and frame your shot accordingly.

Since your tour starts at 10:00 am, you’ll usually have decent daylight. Still, angles matter on older buildings, so don’t expect every photo to look perfect from the same spot.

Who should book this tour, and who might skip it

Tip Based: Capitol Hill History & Ghost Tour - Who should book this tour, and who might skip it
Book this if you want a walking tour where the guide actually drives the story and you’re excited to see Capitol Hill’s most recognizable homes and spots. It’s also a good match if you like spooky themes but still want real structure—distinct stops, a clear route, and a defined end point back at the starting location.

Skip it if you’re not comfortable with extended walking and standing. Also skip if you prefer ghost stories that are all about pure scares—this is more about history through the spooky lens, with scandalous anecdotes and neighborhood lore doing the heavy lifting.

Should you book the Capitol Hill History & Ghost Tour?

Tip Based: Capitol Hill History & Ghost Tour - Should you book the Capitol Hill History & Ghost Tour?
Yes, if you want an entertaining Denver neighborhood walk with real momentum and photo payoff. The $99 price works best when you value a professional host, a story-led route, and the chance to get your questions answered (especially since guides like Bill, Sheila, and Kim are known for that kind of attention).

If you’d rather do things solo with a map and no narration, you could reproduce parts of this route. But you’d miss what makes this stand out: the way the stops connect into a single evening-in-the-mind story, plus that final view from Sherman Towers.

FAQ

How much does the Capitol Hill History & Ghost Tour cost?

The tour costs $99.00 per person.

How long is the tour?

It lasts about 2 hours.

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is 901 Sherman St, Denver, CO 80203, USA.

When does the tour run?

The start time listed is 10:00 am.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

What’s included in the price?

The tour includes a tour escort/host.

Is a tip required?

No, a tip is never required. If you feel your guide did an excellent job, you can tip.

Does the tour include a coffee break?

Yes. There’s a short break in the middle of the tour at one of Capitol Hill’s trendy coffee shops.

Is this a private group experience?

Yes. It’s private, meaning only your group participates.

FAQ

Can I cancel and get a full refund?

You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the experience’s start time.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed.

Is public transportation nearby?

The start area is near public transportation.

What are some of the main stops on the tour?

Key stops include Crawford Hill Mansion, Poets Row (Historic Sherman District), the Colorado State Capitol, several haunted mansions, and the Sherman Towers penthouse.

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