Denver's Haunted Hotels

"Oxford Hotel Cruise Room" by Chris Bartle is licensed under CC BY 2.0

You have most likely seen The Shining, but have you ever set foot inside The Stanley Hotel, which inspired Stephen King to write the book? It turns out that the Denver-area has more than a few “mysterious” hotels. If you want to do a little ghost hunting this Halloween, add these destinations, courtesy of Visit Denver, to your itinerary.

THE OXFORD HOTEL

1600 17th St.
Denver's oldest boutique hotel, The Oxford, offers top-notch amenities, a luxurious spa and is located in the trendy LoDo neighborhood. This 123 year old hotel is also known for its haunted past, from tales of locked bathroom stalls to sinks that turn on and off during the night. But the real mystery lies behind the door of room 320. In 1898, a woman named Florence Montague shot and killed her lover before taking her own life in room 320. Since then, single male guests who stay in room 320 have reported sheets being ripped off the bed and their arms being pulled by an unseen force. But the unexplained terror doesn't end in room 320.

The hotel's Cruise Room bar is known for its martinis, Art Deco style and a mysterious postal worker. Bartenders routinely report a man walking into the bar wearing an old post office uniform. He always orders a beer before muttering "the children, I have to get the gifts to the children." He appears to drink his beer and leave - but when the bartender picks up his bottle, it's always full. Research has revealed a story of a postal worker from the 1930s who was on his way to deliver Christmas presents to nearby Central City, but the gifts were never delivered. That spring, his decomposed body was found on the way to Central City with all of the Christmas gifts still with him. That single beer at the Cruise Room may have been his last.

THE LUMBER BARON MYSTERY MANSION
2555 West 37th Ave
Shortly after the current owner of the Lumber Baron first purchased the rundown mansion, he described it as a "haunted house on a movie set." Known around the neighborhood as the "haunted castle," the Queen Anne Victorian style mansion was the site of a 1970 murder of two young women. Paranormal activity is a weekly occurrence at the Lumber Baron, with reports of strange voices, furniture moved in rooms, windows closing and cold spots throughout the property. Visions have been reported of a woman in a flapper style dress holding champagne followed by a rush of cold air. The pyramid-shaped roof atop the third floor was supposedly built as a portal to another dimension. Throughout October, the mansion offers a Haunted House Hunt mystery dinner for those who crave an evening of fright.

"Brown Palace Hotel" by Wirawan Purwanto is licensed
under CC BY-SA 2.0

THE BROWN PALACE HOTEL AND SPA
321 17th St.
Downtown Denver's Brown Palace opened its doors on August 12, 1892 - and hasn't closed them for a single moment since. For more than a century the luxurious hotel and spa has stood as an anchor to the bustling financial and cultural district, playing host to presidents, prime ministers and celebrities.

The Brown Palace Club, occupying a 45-degree angle of the right-triangular hotel, is the source of more spooky stories than any other part of the building. Examples include reports of lights that turn on and off by themselves, and of carpet that crawls underfoot like something alive Often spotted in the Club entryway or just outside of it is a man in a dark suit or uniform and a cap, which witnesses describe as looking like an old-fashioned railroad conductor's cap. When encountered and approached by the living, this specter silently retreats to the ground floor and into the wall of the 90-degree corner of the hotel. When the hotel first opened, the ground floor was encircled by retail shops and businesses - including the Rock Island Railroad ticket office in that same corner.



THE STANLEY HOTEL
333 Wonderview Avenue, Estes Park
Well known as inspiration for the Stephen King novel, "The Shining" this Colorado hotel has regularly been featured as one of America's most haunted hotels. In 1911, chief housekeeper Elizabeth Wilson was involved in an explosion that blasted her through the floor into a room one story below. The location of the explosion was repaired and converted into room 217, the same room King visited when writing "The Shining." Guests staying in room 217 often report unwanted housekeeping services, including having items put away or unpacked.
Most of the rooms in the hotel have had haunted experiences, including items moved, as well as lights turning on and off. In fact, the entire fourth floor of The Stanley Hotel (formerly the servant quarters) is quite active. Often, the sound of children playing in the halls of the Stanley can be heard, even when no children are present.

"Stanley Hotel [Estes Park, CO]" by sean hobson is licensed under CC BY 2.0

PATTERSON HISTORIC INN (FORMERLY CROKE PATTERSON MANSION)
420 E 11th Ave
The Castle Project is a documentary about the haunted history of the Croke Patterson Mansion in Capitol Hill. Filmmaker Brian Higgins documents his work as crewmembers work to transform the 124 year-old mansion into a modern bed & breakfast hotel. Most of the crew is skeptical of ghosts, but after sightings of apparitions, whispering voices and peculiar odors, they quickly realize they may not be alone in the house.

Built in 1890 by Thomas B. Croke, the red sandstone mansion is 14,000 square feet of elegant beauty. It is also said to be one of the most haunted buildings in Denver. Croke only owned the mansion for two years after selling it to Thomas M. Patterson. It wasn't until the 1970's that people began to experience strange occurrences. During renovations to the property, construction crews began to notice the work they had done the day prior was always in disarray when they returned. Thinking this the work of vandals, they left a pair of guard dogs to monitor the property overnight. When the workers returned the following day, both dogs were found dead on the sidewalk, having jumped from the third-floor window. It is said that the spirit that haunts the old mansion is that of a little girl who is buried deep in the basement floor.

Today the mansion has been transformed into the Patterson Historic Inn, an exquisite bed & breakfast hotel with modern luxuries and amenities. But the presence of paranormal activity may still remain within the walls of the old mansion and guests should think twice before taking a tour of the cellar. Sleep tight!

15 Cooking Tricks of the Trade

"Cooking up some delicious" by Kelly Sikkema is licensed under CC BY 2.0

With the holidays quickly approaching, you will undoubtedly be spending a lot of time in the kitchen. You don’t have to be a trained chef to be a good cook, but it is very easy to burn or over-season meals, among other minor kitchen snafus. Regardless of how skilled or experienced of a chef you are (that’s what the internet is for), be sure to keep these tips from House Beautiful in mind, and your meal cannot go wrong!

1. Master mise en place.

This might be the most important tip of all. “Mise en place” is French for “everything in place.” What it means to a chef? Before you cook, have everything measured, peeled, chopped, pans greased, etc. and within reach. This will keep you from running around looking for the dried basil while your sauce is on the brink of burning.

2. A sharp knife is essential.

Sharpen it on a regular basis and hone in between sharpening. Dull knives are dangerous and make cutting much more difficult.

3. Taste as you go.

You should know what the dish tastes like before serving it. Sometimes a little more salt or a dash of spice brings perfection. Which brings us to the next tip…

4. Salt as you go.

Don’t be afraid of salt! Since you’re cooking a fresh meal instead of eating a packaged one, you’re starting out with much less sodium to begin with.

5. But lose the salt shaker.

Use a small bowl of kosher salt and add pinches as you cook and taste. It’s easier to control the amount and ensures even coverage.

6. Tongs are an extension of your hand.

Walk into any restaurant kitchen and you’ll see a set of tongs in almost every cook’s hand — usually gripped low down on the handle for maximum control. Use it to flip meat, pull a pan out of the oven, stabilize a steak while slicing, the list goes on and on.

7. Put a wet paper towel under a cutting board.

Not only are cutting boards that slide on the counter annoying, they’re extremely dangerous when you’re holding a knife and trying to chop something. Wet a paper towel and lay it under the board and it won’t budge!

8. Sear chicken breast and finish in oven.

Chefs sear a piece of meat, poultry, or fish in a pan and then place it in the oven. Not only does this free up burners, it results in a much moister result.

9. Don’t overcrowd your pan.

When roasting or browning anything, the tendency is to cram as much in the pan as possible — resist! Do it in smaller batches instead. Crowding the pan leads to steaming and lowers the temperature of the pan so you won’t get the caramelization you’re looking for — and that’s where the flavor is.

10. Cook with a 1:1 ratio of butter and oil.

Oil stops the butter from burning and the butter adds richness to the dish.

11. Cut the ends off onions, tomatoes, cantaloupe, etc.

Pretty much do this for any other food that does not stay stable on the cutting board to make a flat surface. This allows you to have complete control of the item as you chop.

12. When baking, only mix until all ingredients are incorporated.

Over-mixing causes toughness by developing gluten in the flour. For light and fluffy cupcakes, only mix until the batter’s come together.

13. Your broiler is basically an upside down grill.

Use it for more than storage!

14. Don’t forget the power of your nose.

If something in the oven smells done but the timer’s still ticking, check on it.

15. Clean as you go.

This simple tip makes a world of difference. Wipe down your cutting board in between items. Not only is it hard to chop something that is swimming in tomato juices, it’s unsafe to chop on a wet surface.

Turn Your Bathroom Into a Spa

After a long day at work, sometimes coming home and collapsing onto the couch just doesn’t help you to de-stress. But imagine if you had your own mini-spa right in your apartment bathroom! Some simple re-decorating is all it takes to turn your bathroom into your oasis. Use these tips from Apartment Therapy to get started.

"giant bathtub" by Erica Nicol is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

1. Enclose it

Part of the joy of a spa is that ability to take a break from life — to step away from the stresses and just focus on you. So consider a way to create a barrier between you, your bathroom and the rest of the world. It could be an extra lovely/dramatic shower curtain. It could be a curtain that you place over the door for an extra barrier. It could be big plants that partially obscure the rest of your bathroom from say, your tub. Get creative to think of a way you can enclose yourself to feel protected and a little bit transported.

2. Consider the presentation

As you can imagine, bath salts, yummy-smelling soaps and other treats for your body are a great way to treat yourself to a spa day. But don't just line them up unceremoniously on your bathroom counter. Think about the presentation. Put products in lovely containers you like handling. If you have a tub, consider splurging on a lovely-to-you bathtub caddy that you can slip into a warm bath under.

3. Add something surprising

Maybe it's a piece of art in your shower (or something more practical). Maybe it's a giant mirror in a weird spot. Perhaps it's just a bouquet of flowers on the edge of your tub. Just add something that will surprise you and perhaps transport you to a feeling of relaxation.

4. Consider all your senses

Start with neutralizing the things that might stress you out first. Loud noises from construction down the street or neighbors? Include white noise or soothing music to cover up sounds you don't want. Hate the overhead light in your windowless bathroom? Bring in candles.

5. Surround yourself with softness

When you're ready to leave your spa-like bathroom, take that relaxation with you by surrounding yourself with softness. Make sure you step onto a plush bath mat or into fluffy slippers. Towel off from a bath or shower with an extra cozy towel. Wrap yourself in a robe.

What would you put in your spa bathroom?

Maximize Your Kitchen Space

"counter space!" by Maggie Hoffman is
licensed under CC BY 2.0

Regardless of the size of your apartment’s kitchen, it seems like there is never enough space for cooking, not to mention storage. If you are especially pressed for space to cook, storing your kitchen utensils in an organized and efficient way is paramount. Get creative with maximizing the space in your kitchen with these storage ideas from The Kitchn:

Add shelving anywhere you can: When space is at a minimum, you have to make the most of whatever you can find. That will likely mean adding shelving or a hanging cabinet to spaces that might otherwise go unused. Just make sure you have stylish storage containers if you opt for open shelving.

Hang your pots and pans: By storing your pots and pans vertically, you’ll free up cabinet, shelf, and drawer space for more pantry storage. We’d much rather see a beautiful Calphalon or All-Clad pan than a box of cereal or a bag of chips.

Make use of your cabinet doors: The inside of your cabinet doors are a woefully underused resource. Use them for storing spices or small kitchen utensils to free up even more space for larger items.

Put even narrow spaces to use: Think an awesome skinny storage rack is out of your reach? Think again! Find out how you can easily DIY a rolling pantry that is designed to fit whatever space your kitchen has to offer.

Organize in tiers: A simple and inexpensive addition, risers in your cabinets will not only make use of the vertical space on your shelves, but they’ll help you know what you already have and avoid buying duplicates.

Add a cart: If you have more space near your oven than you do in your pantry, keep a rolling cart with all your essential items at hand. You can move it around to wherever you’re cooking or stash it away when you have guests over and need more floor space.

Don’t forget about the space under your cabinets: Steal a trick from woodworking workshops, and affix lids to the bottom of your cabinets to keep jars of your most used items handy. Just be sure your cabinet is sturdy enough to hold the jars when they are full.

How do you make the most of the space in your kitchen? Share your tips with us!