Denver Haunted Booze and Boos Ghost Walking Tour – Lower Downtown

Denver gets stranger after dark. This 2.5-hour walking tour mixes ghost stories, old bars, and the less polished side of LoDo, the city’s Lower Downtown district. I like the small group size, capped at 10, and the way the tour uses real historic interiors rather than telling every story from a sidewalk.

I also like that guides such as Josh, Brynn, Tammy, Rachel, and Noah bring different energy to the evening. Josh is often praised for his storytelling and humor, while Brynn and Tammy are noted for making Denver’s early days feel lively. The main drawback is simple: drinks cost extra, and anyone expecting a serious paranormal investigation may find the tour more entertaining than frightening.

Key points to know before you book

• Small groups of up to 10 people: The size makes it easier to hear stories, ask questions, and stay connected while walking at night.
• Historic bars are part of the experience: You enter places such as The Celtic on Market, the Cruise Room, and Nola Jane rather than only viewing them from outside.
• The red-light district gets proper attention: Denver’s early brothels, scandals, and rougher beginnings are central to the storytelling.
• No drink is included: You can buy beer, cocktails, or other drinks at the stops, so budget beyond the $37.59 tour price.
• The route ends near Union Station: The finish is a couple of blocks from the starting point, and the guide can walk you back if needed.
• Comfortable shoes matter: You will walk for about two and a half hours, with time spent standing in bars and on city streets.

What the $37.59 price really buys you

At $37.59 per person, this tour is priced as an evening activity, not simply a pub crawl. Your fee covers a costumed guide, the walking route, access to several historic bar interiors, and the ghost stories tying them together.

The value depends on what you want from the night. If you enjoy local history, atmospheric buildings, and a drink along the way, the price is fair. You are getting a guided look at several downtown locations that would otherwise be easy to pass without understanding their past.

The cost is less attractive if you want a drink included. One person specifically felt that the first beverage, perhaps at The Celtic, should have been part of the fee. That is a reasonable criticism. Drinks are available for purchase, but the tour price does not cover alcohol, so two or three stops can raise the total quickly.

I would budget for the tour fee plus whatever you normally spend on drinks. You do not need to drink at every stop. The stories and access to the buildings are the main event, and you can take part without ordering alcohol at each location.

Starting at 1400 Market Street

The tour begins at 7:30 p.m. near 1400 Market Street. That timing works well for Denver’s evening rhythm. You begin with enough daylight to get oriented, then the darker streets and old interiors gradually add to the mood.

Your guide is costumed and sets the tone from the start. The best guides in this experience do more than recite ghost tales. Josh has been praised for making the stories feel alive, while Rachel is noted for connecting Denver’s early days to the places around you. Brynn is especially effective if you enjoy animated storytelling and a bit of theatrical flair.

The group limit of 10 is important. A larger group would make the bar stops harder and could turn the walk into a loose crowd following someone with a microphone. Here, you should be able to hear the guide and ask questions without shouting.

The tour requires a moderate level of physical fitness. You will walk between stops, stand during stories, and move through active downtown areas. Comfortable shoes are more useful than anything spooky in your suitcase.

The Celtic on Market and Denver’s rough beginnings

The Celtic on Market is one of the strongest stops because the group is taken into the basement for stories. That change in setting does much of the atmospheric work. You are below street level, inside an old building, listening to tales connected to the location itself.

The Celtic also helps introduce Denver’s less polished past. The tour touches on the city’s former red-light district, including brothels and the people who shaped early downtown life. This is where the experience becomes more than a standard ghost walk. The scandals and working lives of old Denver give the ghost stories a human setting.

Several people have singled out this stop as a favorite, especially because of its history. If you care more about buildings and old city life than jump scares, this part should appeal to you.

The practical issue is that the bar remains a working business. You are not entering a museum with unlimited space and silence. The group needs to be respectful of the staff and other patrons, and the exact feel of the stop can depend on how busy the bar is that night.

Larimer Square and the former red-light district

Larimer Square receives about 30 minutes of attention. It is one of Denver’s key historic areas, and the tour uses its architecture and old stories to set the scene.

This section is a good reminder that Denver’s past was not as tidy as a modern downtown stroll suggests. The guide discusses the area’s earlier nightlife and former red-light district, giving you a clearer sense of the people and businesses that once occupied these streets.

I like this part because it connects the supernatural stories to visible details. You are not just hearing that something strange happened somewhere in Denver. You are standing among old facades and historic blocks while the guide explains what once happened there.

Still, this is a walking stop, not a private after-hours visit. Larimer Square is an active downtown setting, so noise, pedestrians, and regular nightlife can soften the spooky mood. That is part of the appeal for some people, but it may disappoint anyone wanting a quiet, isolated ghost setting.

The route also passes near Daniels and Fisher Tower. You may not spend a major portion of the tour inside the tower, but its presence adds another recognizable piece of old Denver to the walk.

The Oxford Hotel and the Cruise Room

The Oxford Hotel is one of the most memorable locations on the route. You get to see the lobby and visit the Cruise Room, a famous bar with its own ghost stories.

The Cruise Room receives about 15 minutes, which is enough for a focused look without turning the tour into a long bar session. The room’s historic character gives the guide a strong backdrop for stories, and the stop feels more distinctive than simply pausing outside another downtown building.

You can purchase a drink here, but it is not included. The choice is useful: order something if you want to settle into the bar atmosphere, or stay with the group and concentrate on the storytelling. You are not forced into a drinking package.

The Oxford stop suits anyone who likes architecture and old hotel settings. It also helps vary the pace. After walking city streets and hearing about the red-light district, you move into an interior with a different mood and a more polished past.

Nola Jane and two floors of stories

Nola Jane Restaurant & Bar provides another substantial stop, with about 30 minutes to explore both levels of the historic building. The guide shares stories of ghostly activity while you have time to buy a drink.

The two-floor layout gives this stop more room than a quick doorway visit. It also lets the guide talk about how the building’s different spaces connect to its past. The bar setting keeps the evening social, so this is a natural point for the group to relax and compare impressions.

This stop may be especially good for a date night or a night out with friends. Several people describe the tour as a fun way to spend an evening, not merely a scare attraction. The mix of food and drink venues helps the experience feel casual rather than overly staged.

The tradeoff is that the more relaxed the bar atmosphere becomes, the less frightening the stories may feel. If your priority is learning about old Denver while having a drink, that balance works. If you want constant suspense, the restaurant setting may feel too ordinary.

Union Station and the walk back

The final stop is Denver Union Station, where the guide shares more ghost stories for about 15 minutes. This is a smart ending point because Union Station is easy to recognize, close to public transportation, and full of its own history.

The station also gives the tour a strong contrast. You finish in a busy public place rather than a dark alley or isolated building. That can make the stories more interesting, since commuters and passersby may have no idea they are walking through a place associated with local hauntings.

The official end is at 1701 Wynkoop Street, a couple of blocks from the start. If you prefer not to find your own way back, the guide can walk the group to the starting point on request.

Union Station is useful for continuing your evening, too, though the tour itself does not include transport or a return transfer. The downtown setting makes it easy to arrange your next stop, but you should still plan your route before the walk begins.

How scary is the tour?

The word ghost in the title does not mean you are signing up for a haunted-house attraction. The mood comes from costumed storytelling, old buildings, basements, bars, and Denver’s darker past.

The strongest material appears to focus on reported hauntings connected to specific bars and buildings. You will also hear about tunnels, early Denver, brothels, and other parts of the city’s past. One account found the tour more focused on bar-specific stories than on broad Denver history, so keep your expectations balanced.

I would describe the experience as spooky entertainment with a strong local-history side. It is a good match if you like stories that leave room for doubt. It is less ideal if you want scientific paranormal research, frightening special effects, or a tour built around evidence collection.

The guide makes a major difference. Josh is praised for humor, pacing, and answering questions. Brynn is described as animated and funny, while Tammy is noted for being warm and informative. Noah has also been praised for creating a fun evening, although one account felt the talk became long after the first hour. A good guide can make the same route feel fresh, so the tone may vary by departure.

Who will enjoy this LoDo night walk?

I would recommend it to couples looking for an unusual date night, friends who want a social evening, and solo visitors who enjoy meeting a small group through a shared activity. The first bar stop can help people get comfortable with one another, and the format is less formal than a museum tour.

It also works for locals. You may know the bars already, but the stories about Denver’s brothels, old nightlife, and former red-light district can change how you see familiar streets.

Families need to note the age rule. Everyone must be at least 21 and carry valid photo identification. Vertical IDs may not be accepted at every bar, so an alternate form of identification is advisable.

You should also be comfortable walking for two and a half hours at night. Service animals are allowed, and the route is near public transportation, but the provided details do not promise a fully step-free route. If mobility is a concern, ask the operator before booking.

Small details that can make the evening better

Arrive ready to walk, not dressed for a formal bar night. Comfortable shoes will help more than elaborate clothing, and a light layer may be useful for moving between indoor and outdoor stops.

Bring your photo ID even if you do not plan to drink. The tour is for people 21 and older, and bar entry rules may differ from one stop to another.

Plan a drink budget in advance. You can enjoy the stops without buying alcohol, but if you want to order at several locations, the extra cost will matter.

I would also avoid scheduling a tight dinner reservation immediately afterward. The tour lasts about two and a half hours, and city conditions can affect the pace. Bathroom breaks are possible at the bar stops, which is helpful during a long evening walk.

The tour runs in English only. If you enjoy asking questions, the small group format should help. If you prefer a quiet audio-style walk with little interaction, this is probably not the right format.

Cancellation and weather notes

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted, and late cancellations are not refunded.

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather forces a cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. The same options apply if the minimum number of participants is not reached.

That policy makes booking fairly flexible, but keep an eye on the forecast. This is a walking tour, and rain or cold can affect how much you enjoy the outdoor sections.

Should you book the Denver Haunted Booze and Boos tour?

Book it if you want local stories, historic bars, and a social night in LoDo more than a full-on scare event. The small group, basement visit at The Celtic, Cruise Room stop, Nola Jane visit, and Union Station ending give the evening plenty of variety.

The 4.8 rating from 278 ratings and 95 percent recommendation rate fit the experience’s main strengths: guides who entertain, a route with real character, and stories that bring old Denver to life. Josh, Brynn, Tammy, Rachel, and Noah are all praised for keeping the mood fun and informative.

Skip it if you want a drink included, a quiet scholarly history tour, or a highly intense paranormal investigation. At $37.59, the price is reasonable when you treat the bars and buildings as part of the value, but you should add money for drinks.

For most visitors seeking something different after dark, I would book it. Wear comfortable shoes, bring acceptable identification, and expect spooky storytelling with a good measure of Denver history and nightlife.

FAQ

How much does the Denver Haunted Booze and Boos tour cost?

The tour costs $37.59 per person. Alcoholic beverages are not included and can be purchased separately at the stops.

How long does the tour last?

The walking tour lasts approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

What time does the tour begin?

The tour starts at 7:30 p.m.

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts at 1400 Market Street in Denver. It ends at 1701 Wynkoop Street near Union Station, a couple of blocks from the starting point. The guide can walk you back to the start if requested.

Is the tour limited to a small group?

Yes. The maximum group size is 10 people.

Do I need to be 21 or older?

Yes. Everyone must be at least 21 and bring valid photo identification. Vertical IDs may not be accepted at every bar, so alternate identification is advisable.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the tour are not accepted.