Cheesman Park – Haunted Park in Denver, Colorado

Cheesman Park looks like any other peaceful urban green space in Denver. But beneath its manicured lawns lies one of the most disturbing secrets in Colorado history.

This 81-acre park was built directly on top of a cemetery. Thousands of bodies were supposedly moved before construction began in the early 1900s.

The truth is far more horrifying than most visitors realize. The bodies weren’t properly relocated at all.

Many corpses were hacked into pieces to fit smaller coffins. Others were simply left behind in the soil where families now picnic today.

Visitors report seeing shadowy figures wandering among the trees at dusk. Strange sounds echo across the grounds when no one else is around.

Historical Background

The land was originally established as Mount Prospect Cemetery in 1858. City leaders designated 320 acres for Denver’s official burial grounds.

The cemetery served the community for decades without incident. Rich and poor alike were laid to rest in this sprawling necropolis.

Everything changed when Denver’s population exploded in the 1880s and 1890s. The cemetery’s location became prime real estate for the growing city.

In 1893, the city revoked the cemetery’s charter without warning. Officials declared the land would become a park named after early pioneer Cheesman.

Families were given 90 days to remove their loved ones’ remains. Most couldn’t afford the exhumation and reburial fees.

The city hired undertaker E.P. McGovern to relocate the remaining bodies in 1893. He was paid $1.90 per coffin for the gruesome work.

McGovern quickly realized he could maximize profits through horrific methods. He used child-sized coffins for all bodies regardless of the deceased’s size.

Workers hacked corpses into pieces with shovels to make them fit. Body parts were scattered carelessly across the grounds.

Witnesses reported seeing workers break apart skeletons during lunch breaks. Some workers allegedly stole jewelry and gold teeth from the deceased.

The operation became so scandalous that newspapers ran exposés about the desecration. Public outrage forced the city to fire McGovern in 1894.

By then, only about 1,000 bodies had been successfully relocated. An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 corpses remained buried beneath the future park.

Congress Park and the Denver Botanic Gardens were built on adjacent cemetery land. Cheesman Park was officially dedicated and opened to the public in 1907.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Cheesman Park experiences consistent paranormal activity throughout the year. Visitors report encounters happening in broad daylight as well as after dark.

Shadow figures are the most commonly reported phenomena at the park. These dark shapes move quickly between trees or across open lawns.

People describe sudden cold spots appearing on even the warmest summer days. The temperature can drop 20 degrees within a few steps.

Disembodied voices whisper from empty spaces near the pavilion. Some visitors hear their names called by invisible speakers.

Electronic devices malfunction without explanation throughout the grounds. Cell phones drain completely within minutes of entering certain areas.

Cameras capture strange orbs and mists in photographs taken here. These anomalies appear in pictures even on clear days.

Dogs refuse to walk through specific sections of the park. They whine, bark, and pull away from seemingly empty spaces.

Visitors report feeling watched by unseen eyes while walking alone. An oppressive heaviness settles over certain areas without warning.

The sensation of being touched by invisible hands is frequently reported. People feel tugs on their clothing or taps on their shoulders.

Some witnesses claim to see full-bodied apparitions in Victorian-era clothing. These figures appear solid before vanishing into thin air.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The most famous ghost is a woman in a white Victorian dress. She appears near the pavilion during twilight hours.

Witnesses describe her as appearing sad and searching for something. She walks slowly across the grass before fading from view.

Many believe she’s looking for her grave or the remains of loved ones. Her identity remains unknown after more than a century.

A man in a dark suit has been spotted near the park’s eastern edge. He stands completely still, staring at visitors who pass by.

When approached, he turns and walks away at an unnaturally fast pace. He disappears behind trees but is never seen emerging on the other side.

Children’s laughter echoes across the park when no kids are present. The sound comes from multiple directions simultaneously.

Some visitors report seeing ghostly children playing near the playground equipment. These phantom kids vanish when adults get too close.

A jogger named Patricia Thornton reported an encounter in 2003. She felt someone running alongside her on an empty morning path.

When she looked over, she saw a translucent figure matching her pace. The figure disappeared after about 30 seconds of running beside her.

A groundskeeper named Michael Chen worked at Cheesman for 12 years. He claimed to hear digging sounds coming from beneath the ground.

The sounds occurred most often near the park’s central lawn area. Chen described them as metal tools scraping against wood and stone.

Local paranormal researcher Karen Daniels documented 47 separate encounters between 2010 and 2015. Her team recorded EVP phenomena on multiple occasions.

One recording captured a voice saying “help me find my bones.” Another featured multiple voices speaking in overlapping whispers.

A photographer named James Wu captured strange images at Cheesman in 2018. His photos showed shadowy figures that weren’t visible to the naked eye.

In one image, a dark shape appears to be reaching toward Wu. In another, multiple figures stand in a circle on empty grass.

Most Haunted Spot

The area surrounding the marble pavilion experiences the most paranormal activity. This structure stands at the park’s center where the cemetery’s densest burials occurred.

The pavilion was built in 1910 as a monument to the site. Visitors report feeling overwhelming sadness when standing inside it.

Shadow figures are most frequently seen near the pavilion’s columns. These entities seem drawn to the structure itself.

The northwest corner of the park near 13th Avenue also has intense activity. This section was part of the “pauper’s field” where indigent citizens were buried.

Bodies in this area were buried in mass graves with little documentation. Their identities were often never recorded.

Visitors report seeing multiple apparitions in this corner simultaneously. Some describe feeling pulled or pushed by unseen forces.

Can You Visit?

Cheesman Park is open to the public every day of the year. No entry fee is required to visit the grounds.

The park operates on standard Denver Parks and Recreation hours. Gates officially open at 5 AM and close at 11 PM.

No official ghost tours are currently offered through the city. Several private paranormal investigation companies offer tours on weekends.

Photography is allowed and encouraged throughout the park. Many visitors come specifically to capture potential paranormal evidence.

The park features walking paths, a playground, and the historic pavilion. Regular community events and concerts happen during summer months.

Best Time to Visit

Most paranormal activity occurs during dawn and dusk hours. The transition periods between night and day seem particularly active.

Early morning visits between 5 AM and 7 AM yield frequent reports. The park is usually empty during these hours.

Evening visits between 8 PM and 11 PM also produce many encounters. Shadows grow longer and the atmosphere becomes noticeably heavier.

October through November sees increased activity according to paranormal researchers. The cooler months align with more frequent sightings.

Full moon nights generate the most dramatic reports of all. Visitors claim the moonlight illuminates ghostly figures more clearly.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Denver resident Amanda Foster shared her 2019 experience on a local paranormal forum. She was walking her dog near the pavilion at sunset.

Her dog suddenly froze and began growling at empty space. Foster looked up to see a translucent woman standing 20 feet away.

The figure wore old-fashioned clothing and appeared to be crying. She vanished after approximately 10 seconds.

College student Derek Martinez documented his encounter on social media in 2020. He was studying on a park bench when his laptop battery died instantly.

A sudden cold wind surrounded him despite no breeze elsewhere in the park. He heard whispered voices speaking unintelligible words behind him.

When he turned around, no one was there. His laptop battery showed zero percent despite being fully charged minutes earlier.

Tour guide Rebecca Walsh has led paranormal walks through Cheesman since 2015. She reports consistent activity during her monthly tours.

Her groups frequently capture orbs and light anomalies in photographs. Electronic voice phenomena recordings have produced dozens of unexplained sounds.

In 2017, Walsh’s entire tour group witnessed a shadow figure cross the lawn. All 15 participants saw the same entity simultaneously.

Local Legends & Myths

Legend claims that anyone who falls asleep in the park will have nightmares. The dreams allegedly feature visions of being buried alive.

Some locals believe the park is cursed due to the desecration. They avoid visiting after dark out of respect for the restless dead.

Urban legend suggests that counting the pavilion’s columns brings bad luck. Visitors who count them allegedly experience misfortune within days.

Another tale warns against taking anything from the park grounds. People who remove rocks or plants supposedly face haunting experiences at home.

Some claim a “portal” exists near the park’s center. This opening allegedly allows spirits to move between worlds freely.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The Rocky Mountain Paranormal Research Society investigated Cheesman Park in 2012. Their team recorded multiple EVP sessions across three nights.

They captured 23 distinct voices that weren’t audible during the investigation. Several voices asked for help or stated they were lost.

Electromagnetic field readings spiked dramatically near the pavilion. These spikes occurred without any electrical sources nearby.

The investigation team also documented sudden temperature drops of 15-20 degrees. These cold spots moved across the lawn as if following a path.

Denver Ghost Hunters conducted an investigation in 2016 with thermal imaging equipment. Their cameras captured several human-shaped cold spots moving through the park.

One thermal image showed a figure sitting on a bench. No one was visible to the naked eye at that location.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

The park closes at 11 PM and overnight visits are prohibited. Denver Police patrol the area and issue citations for trespassing.

Visitors should stay on designated paths to avoid damaging the grounds. Some areas have uneven terrain that could cause injuries.

Do not dig or disturb the soil anywhere in the park. It’s illegal and disrespectful to the remains potentially still buried below.

Visit in groups during evening hours for safety purposes. The park is located in a generally safe neighborhood but caution is advised.

Report any unusual activity to park rangers or Denver Police. Emergency phones are located at several points throughout the grounds.