The Boettcher Mansion

Posted: 06.09.2025 | Updated: 06.09.2025

The Boettcher Mansion has many claims to fame. It was the site of many parties and activities for the socialites of Golden, Colorado, in the 1930s and 1940s. It’s built atop Lookout Mountain, which is the final resting place of one of the most famous cowboys of all time. It’s also close to the site of two unsolved murders. 

However, locals know that most awe-inspiring aspects of the mansion come from its otherworldly guests. 

The Boettcher Mansion isn’t the only haunted estate near Denver. In fact, Denver could be known as the city of spooky mansions, as a whole grouping of homes on “Millionaire’s Row” is known for harboring spirits. To see some of these haunted manors for yourself, book a ghost tour with Denver Terrors. 

Is the Boettcher Mansion haunted?

All kinds of specters have been seen and heard around Boettcher Mansion. From the outline of a phantom woman to shrill cries from a disembodied voice, workers and visitors to the manor agree that something unearthly resides within the massive home. 

Charles Boettcher: The Original Owner

Charles Boettcher was a very wealthy businessman in Colorado in the early 20th century. He made his fortune from several industries, including hardware, cement, sugar beets, and cattle. 

In 1917, Boettcher wanted a quiet summer retreat where he could hunt in peace, and he had his eye on Lookout Mountain, which was just outside Golden, Colorado.

A 60-acre resort was set to be built atop Lookout Mountain, but plans fell through; Boettcher saw his chance, swept in, and bought the property. Work soon began on what would become Boettcher Mansion.

At the time, Boettcher called his new home “Lorraine Lodge,” and he spared no expense in making it one of the finest homes in all of Colorado. He designed the house to overlook Denver with massive windows, and the mansion itself was outfitted with high vaulted ceilings and fine finishes. 

Boettcher divorced his wife in 1920, and his kids were grown, so he had this grand palace all to himself. Yet, he didn’t want to sit alone in an empty castle. As soon as it was finished, Boettcher made a point to begin hosting lavish parties at the home.

Outside of the galas, Boettcher also hosted grand hunting excursions. These fun times continued until his death in 1948. At this point, Boettcher’s granddaughter, Charline Humphreys Breeden, inherited the estate and decided to move her family into the home. 

The Boettcher Mansion acted as the Breeden family home until 1972, when Charline died. Charline had chosen to dedicate the 110-acre property to Jefferson County for public use and enjoyment upon her death, which is what it’s been used for ever since. 

While Boettcher Mansion is now used for weddings and other special events, the mountaintop it sits upon — Lookout Mountain — has a history all its own.

The Legend of Lookout Mountain

For centuries, Lookout Mountain has been considered to be one of the best overlooks in Colorado. Depending where you stand, the peak offers spectacular views of the mountains, the plains, and Denver. These views won over one of the most famous men of the West: Buffalo Bill Cody. 

Buffalo Bill became world-famous for his traveling Western show that showcased the impressive feats of cowboys. After he died in 1917, however, his wife said he requested to be buried in his favorite spot in the world: Lookout Mountain. 

This was hotly debated at the time by the people of Cody, Wyoming, who believed he wanted to be buried there. While Buffalo Bill’s final resting place was debated for a while, it’s believed that he is, in fact, buried on Lookout Mountain. His body is not the only one that calls the area its final resting place, however. 

The Murders in Deadman Gulch

Before Buffalo Bill or Charles Boettcher moved to the top of Lookout Mountain, tragedy struck the mountaintop — twice.

In July 1871, a hiker was enjoying a walk by the gulch off of Lookout Mountain. In the distance, he saw something sticking up from the ground. 

As he got closer, he realized it was a human hand. Authorities soon surrounded the hand and investigated the body attached to it. They quickly surmised that the man had been killed by a gunshot to the head.

With no leads, the case quickly ran cold — until the following May, when another body was found near the gulch. This man had two gunshots to the head, and again, there were no leads as to who committed this murder. 

With two gruesome murders within a year, the gulch quickly became known as Deadman Gulch. The murders remain unsolved to this day.

Who Haunts Lookout Mountain and Boettcher Mansion?

When you begin to examine the spirits who reside around Boettcher Mansion, you have to also include the ghosts of Lookout Mountain, which are said to include the ghost of Buffalo Bill himself. 

Buffalo Bill’s Ghost

The controversy around Buffalo Bill’s preferred final resting site is one of the reasons many believe his spirit is restless. Since he is buried at Lookout Mountain, this is where many people see his spirit today, specifically within the museum that was built close to his gravesite. 

People have seen Buffalo Bill’s phantom body in the gift shop of the Buffalo Bill museum, and they’ve also witnessed objects flying off the shelves at the store. Artifacts have also been known to jump off the wall on their own in the museum.

Ghosts of Boettcher Mansion

At the Boettcher Mansion, numerous accounts of otherworldly activity have been reported. Several staff members have heard voices whispering around the mansion when no one else is on-site. 

One worker, who was alone, heard a loud scream one night. This was shortly after they learned that one of the Boettcher descendants had taken their own life, leading the employee to think that the spirit had just learned of their loved one’s passing.

Workers have also reported feeling paralyzed and chilled out of nowhere, sometimes when they heard footsteps down the hall. They’ve also heard the piano play on its own when they were about to lock up (which often made them work more quickly). 

Guests at events have reported seeing a woman dressed in ‘20s clothing, as well as an unknown man loitering near the guests’ cars. 

Haunted Denver

Ghost-loving visitors to Golden and Denver have plenty of places to potentially see spirits from the past. The Molly Brown House was the home of the famous “Unsinkable” Molly Brown, who survived the Titanic disaster and went on to be an important patron to the city of Denver. Brown hasn’t left her beloved home and is often spotted by staff and visitors alike.

Just down the street from Molly is the Peabody Whitehead Mansion, where the lost victims of a surgeon are said to roam around the property.

To see some of the finest — and spookiest — homes in all of Colorado, book a ghost tour with Denver Terrors. You never know what phantom socialite you might spot in the moonlight.

Want to learn about other haunted mansions and manors around the United States? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to discover the most chilling tales from grand estates around the country. To learn about other Denver ghost stories, be sure to check out our blog. 

Sources:

• https://www.jeffco.us/1859/History
• https://denverterrors.com/
• https://buffalobill.org/history-research/history-of-buffalo-bill/#:~:text=In%201917%20Buffalo%20Bill%20died,overlooking%20Denver%20and%20the%20plains.
• https://absurdjellyfish.wordpress.com/the-dead-men-of-deadman-gulch/
• http://americashauntedroadtrip.com/tag/lookout-mountain/
• https://www.rockymountainparanormal.com/mansions.html