Redstone Castle – Haunted Castle in Redstone, Colorado

Nestled in the Crystal River Valley of Colorado, Redstone Castle stands as a monument to Gilded Age excess. The 42-room Tudor Revival mansion has captivated visitors since 1902 with its opulent architecture and dark secrets.

Built by coal baron John Cleveland Osgood, this castle harbors spirits from its troubled past. Guests and staff report encounters with ghostly figures who refuse to leave their earthly mansion.

The castle’s remote location adds to its eerie atmosphere and mysterious reputation. Local residents whisper about strange occurrences that have plagued the property for over a century.

Paranormal investigators have documented unexplained phenomena throughout the estate’s numerous rooms and corridors. The castle’s haunted history attracts ghost hunters and curious visitors from around the world.

Historical Background

Construction on Redstone Castle began in 1897 and concluded in 1902 at considerable expense. John Cleveland Osgood spared no cost, spending approximately four million dollars on his dream estate.

The coal magnate built the castle to serve as his personal residence and entertainment venue. Osgood hosted lavish parties attended by wealthy industrialists, politicians, and celebrities of the era.

The mansion featured imported silk wall coverings, Tiffany glass fixtures, and rare wood paneling. Osgood’s extensive art collection included works by European masters displayed throughout the castle’s grand halls.

Tragedy struck the castle when Osgood’s wife Alma Regina Shelgrem descended into depression and illness. She spent her final years isolated in the castle’s upper floors before dying in 1956.

After Osgood’s death in 1926, the castle changed hands multiple times throughout the decades. Each subsequent owner reported strange occurrences and unexplained events that defied rational explanation.

The castle served as a private residence, event venue, and even a restaurant. Financial difficulties and mysterious circumstances forced several owners to abandon the property unexpectedly.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Visitors consistently report sudden temperature drops in specific rooms throughout the castle’s multiple floors. Cold spots appear without warning, even during warm summer months when heating systems remain off.

Disembodied footsteps echo through empty corridors late at night when no living person walks. Staff members have documented these phantom sounds occurring in predictable patterns and specific locations.

Objects mysteriously move from their designated positions without any physical explanation or human intervention. Furniture, artwork, and decorative items relocate themselves overnight despite locked doors and security systems.

Apparitions of a woman in Victorian-era clothing appear in several rooms and hallways. Witnesses describe her as elegant but sorrowful, matching historical descriptions of Alma Osgood.

Electronic devices malfunction without explanation when brought into certain areas of the castle. Cameras drain batteries instantly, and recording equipment captures unexplained voices and strange electromagnetic readings.

Doors slam shut with tremendous force despite closed windows and no air currents. Witnesses report seeing doorknobs turn slowly as if invisible hands attempt to open them.

Shadow figures dart across walls and through doorways when observed from peripheral vision. These dark entities vanish completely when witnesses attempt to look at them directly.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The most frequently encountered spirit is believed to be Alma Osgood herself. Her apparition appears wearing elaborate Victorian gowns, wandering the upper floors where she spent her final years.

Witnesses describe Alma’s ghost as melancholic, often seen gazing out windows toward the mountains. She appears most frequently in the master bedroom suite where she suffered through prolonged illness.

Tour guides have reported feeling an overwhelming sense of sadness in Alma’s former chambers. Several visitors have broken down in tears without understanding why when entering these specific rooms.

John Cleveland Osgood’s spirit reportedly haunts the castle’s library and study areas. His apparition appears as a distinguished gentleman in period business attire, examining books and papers.

Staff members have encountered Osgood’s ghost late at night in his former office. The phantom coal baron seems unaware of living observers, continuing his work as if still alive.

A young servant girl’s spirit manifests in the castle’s service areas and back staircases. Historical records indicate a maid died under mysterious circumstances in the early 1900s.

This servant ghost appears frightened and disoriented, often disappearing through walls along servant corridors. Witnesses report hearing her crying softly before she vanishes from sight completely.

The castle’s ballroom hosts phantom parties where music and laughter echo through empty space. Multiple witnesses have heard orchestra music playing when no musicians are present on the property.

Security guards working night shifts have reported seeing dozens of transparent figures dancing and socializing. These ghostly guests wear formal attire from the early 20th century and ignore living observers.

A mysterious man in a top hat appears on the castle’s grand staircase. His identity remains unknown, but he’s been photographed multiple times by different visitors.

This top-hatted phantom stands motionless on the landing, staring at visitors before fading away. Some paranormal researchers believe he was a business associate who died during a visit.

Most Haunted Spot

The master bedroom suite on the third floor experiences the most intense paranormal activity. Alma Osgood spent years isolated in these rooms, and her presence remains strongest here.

Visitors report overwhelming feelings of grief and despair when entering this specific area. The temperature drops noticeably, and many people experience unexplained difficulty breathing in these chambers.

Alma’s full-body apparition appears most frequently in front of the suite’s large windows. She stands perfectly still, looking out at the Crystal River Valley for several minutes.

The bedroom’s antique mirrors reportedly show reflections that don’t match present-day reality. Witnesses have seen Victorian-era furnishings and decorations in the glass that no longer exist.

Can You Visit?

Redstone Castle operates as a private event venue with limited public access throughout the year. The property offers scheduled tours during specific seasons, primarily summer and early fall months.

Entry fees for guided historical tours typically range from twenty-five to forty dollars per person. Special paranormal investigation tours cost more and must be arranged in advance through management.

Professional guided tours last approximately ninety minutes and cover the castle’s main public areas. Tour guides share historical information and documented ghost stories throughout the comprehensive walkthrough experience.

Photography is generally permitted during daytime historical tours with some restrictions in private areas. Flash photography may be prohibited in rooms with sensitive antique furnishings or artwork.

Visiting hours vary seasonally, with most tours occurring between 10 AM and 4 PM. The castle closes to public tours during winter months due to weather conditions.

Private paranormal investigations can be arranged for serious researchers and ghost hunting groups. These overnight experiences require advance booking and carry premium pricing starting around five hundred dollars.

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity intensifies during late evening hours between 10 PM and 3 AM. Most dramatic encounters occur when fewer living people occupy the castle’s numerous rooms.

October through early November sees increased supernatural phenomena according to staff documentation and visitor reports. The autumn months seem to trigger more frequent apparitions and unexplained events.

Anniversary dates connected to the Osgood family also produce heightened paranormal activity throughout the property. Researchers recommend visiting during dates significant to Alma Osgood’s life and death.

Full moon nights generate more ghost sightings and supernatural occurrences than other lunar phases. Local paranormal investigators have documented this pattern over multiple years of research.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

A wedding photographer in 2015 captured a transparent female figure in the ballroom background. The image shows a Victorian-era woman standing near the fireplace during the reception.

Multiple guests at the same wedding reported seeing this woman before she vanished completely. None of the living attendees wore Victorian clothing or matched the mysterious figure’s description.

Former castle manager Jennifer Martinez documented three years of paranormal encounters during her employment. She reported hearing piano music from the ballroom when the instrument remained covered and locked.

Martinez also witnessed doors opening and closing repeatedly despite being secured with modern locks. She recorded audio evidence of voices speaking in rooms she knew were completely empty.

Paranormal investigator David Patterson conducted a week-long investigation in 2018 with advanced recording equipment. His team captured EVP recordings of a woman’s voice saying “leave me alone” repeatedly.

Patterson’s thermal imaging cameras recorded unexplained cold spots moving through rooms in intelligent patterns. The temperature anomalies seemed to respond to questions asked by investigators during sessions.

A cleaning crew member named Robert Chen reported physical contact from invisible entities in 2019. He felt hands pushing him away from Alma’s bedroom suite on multiple occasions.

Chen’s experiences became so intense that he refused to work alone in certain areas. Several other staff members confirmed similar encounters and backed up his detailed accounts.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The Travel Channel featured Redstone Castle in a 2017 paranormal investigation special episode. Investigators documented significant electromagnetic field fluctuations throughout the master bedroom suite and adjacent corridors.

Equipment malfunctions occurred repeatedly during filming without any technical explanation or environmental cause. Multiple cameras stopped functioning simultaneously when paranormal activity reportedly increased in specific rooms.

Local paranormal research group Colorado Spirit Seekers has investigated the castle numerous times since 2010. They’ve compiled extensive documentation of EVP recordings, unexplained photographs, and eyewitness testimonies.

Their most compelling evidence includes thermal imaging showing a human-shaped heat signature moving through walls. The figure appeared on multiple cameras simultaneously, ruling out equipment malfunction or misidentification.

Professional medium Sarah Whitmore conducted sessions at the castle in 2016 and 2019. She claimed to communicate directly with Alma Osgood’s spirit during both extended visits.

Whitmore described receiving messages about Alma’s unhappy marriage and declining mental health during isolation. Information she shared matched historical records not publicly available at the time of her sessions.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

Trespassing on Redstone Castle property without permission is strictly prohibited and prosecuted under Colorado law. The estate maintains security monitoring and local law enforcement responds quickly to unauthorized visitors.

The castle’s structure contains areas with deteriorating materials that pose physical safety hazards to visitors. Certain sections remain off-limits during tours due to unstable flooring and other structural concerns.

Visitors must stay with authorized tour groups and avoid wandering into restricted private areas. The property’s size and layout make it easy to become disoriented or lost.

Winter conditions create additional hazards with icy walkways and limited accessibility to certain buildings. The castle suspends public tours during heavy snow months for visitor safety concerns.