The Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Posted: 04.08.2025 | Updated: 04.29.2025

Listening to music under the stars, surrounded by ancient rocks that provide an enchanting acoustic experience, sounds like a great way for any music fan to escape from reality for a little while, but this famous outdoor venue has much more to offer than impressive live performances. There are also rumors that the beautiful national landmark is home to several disturbed spirits as well as a powerful source of energy.

If you would like to learn more about the urban legends of Red Rocks and other spooky stories in the area, book your next ghost tour with us here at Denver Terrors.

Is Red Rocks Amphitheatre Haunted?

The Red Rocks Amphitheatre is the most impressive and iconic outdoor music venue in the world. Featuring a natural setting that allows for perfect acoustics, musicians of all levels of fame aspire to play in such an extraordinary location.

But there is more to this beautiful amphitheater than meets the eye. Throughout the years, a number of mysterious events have occurred here, leaving Denver locals and visitors puzzled for generations.

The History of the Red Rocks Amphitheatre

The Red Rocks Amphitheatre opened on June 15^th, 1941; however, the space was used for live music performances as far back as the early 1900s. This large, natural rock formation offers incredible acoustics for concerts, making it a top choice for musicians who want to show off their vocal talent. Some of the most popular bands to play at the venue include The Beatles and U2.

Located on 738 acres of land, the Red Rocks Amphitheatre is home to a host of plant life and wildlife. Dinosaurs once roamed the area and have left behind fossils from Diplodocus and Tyrannosaurus Rex species. 

Their remnants have been found in the Dinosaur Ridge area located east of the venue. Footprints from the massive creatures can be seen there to this day. The land was also once the territory of the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe people.

The Spirits of Red Rock Amphitheatre

With the rock structures dating back to the Jurassic period, it is no surprise there have been some unexplainable occurrences in the area. There are several legends about the hauntings of Red Rocks that the people of Denver have passed down for decades. These stories remain just as popular now as they were years ago.

The Hatchet Lady

The legend of the Hatchet Lady is perhaps the most popular ghost story to come out of the Red Rocks. The frightening spirit has been said to appear to children who are behaving mischievously at the park, as well as to couples who have snuck into the shadows for some alone time. She will typically make her presence known at the highest point of the rock formation.

Visitors should be aware that she is an angry and vengeful spirit. At times she will even appear to be headless to increase the fear factor. According to the story, she is very protective of the Red Rocks and is hellbent on tormenting anyone who disrespects her territory.

One witness claims he saw her in the moonlight while looking at the top of the amphitheater during a show. He saw what appeared to be a woman on top of a dangerously steep incline. It was clearly a very hazardous place for anyone to be standing. When the man looked in her direction a second time, he noticed she was gone. He said he couldn’t recall many distinct features but could tell she was an older woman with long hair.

The Origins of The Hatchet Lady 

There are a few variations of the Hatchet Lady’s origin story. In every version, she is the ghost of “Old Ms. Johnson,” but the fine details vary. One version says she chased away all of her daughter’s suitors using a hatchet, which is why she often appears to young couples in love.

In other tales, Ms. Johnson got into a dispute over property at Red Rocks with a man named John Walker. It was that disagreement that caused Ms. Johnson to meet her demise. In a different story, the Hatchet Lady lost her property when the amphitheater was constructed.

No matter how she got there, it seems the spirit of Old Ms. Johnson doesn’t plan on leaving the area anytime soon. She’s been talked about for decades and continues to be the subject of the spookiest legend of the Red Rocks.

The Old Miner

One of the lesser-known ghost tales from Red Rocks is the one about the spirit of an old miner. The man is believed to have a long, white beard. He’s around 5’5 tall, and carrys around a bottle that’s perceived to be whiskey.

The old man isn’t as malevolent as the Hatchet Lady; he’s just a little grumpy. It is said he can be seen near the area of the stage that is off-limits to visitors.

Since Colorado is filled with several old and abandoned mines, it’s quite believable that there are a few haunting spirits in the mines. Many miners died from cave-ins or effects of inhaling dust and dirt over the years.  

The Old Trading Post

There is an old gift shop that has been a part of the Red Rocks Amphitheatre for many years. According to employees there are a number of ghosts who like to spend time looking through souvenirs. While there haven’t been any mentions of people seeing apparitions, there have been several haunted happenings occurring in the shop.

Like any gift shop, the Trading Post sold coffee cups and figurines that were meant to be handled with care. There have been many mornings when the staff open and find coffee mugs smashed on the floor. Some shrug it off as being caused by seismic activity in the area, but others have their doubts.

Workers have stated that late at night, they will hear a scratching sound. Similar to how a dog scratches on a door to come inside. A female employee was so disturbed one night after hearing a disembodied voice whisper her name she hid in one of the back rooms crying until a fellow worker found her.

According to several staff members, the boiler room downstairs is the creepiest part of the building. That is where they see the most activity. The door handles will shake on their own, locks will open and snap back into place, and boxes of supplies have been known to fly off the shelves.  

The Red Rocks Energy Vortex

It is believed that people who are sensitive to spiritual energy are most likely to encounter something otherworldly while visiting the area. This is commonly known by locals as the “Red Rocks Energy Vortex.”

An energy vortex is a location that gives off a strong and powerful force of energy that can be both life-altering and healing in more ways than one. It’s considered to be a sacred area where energy is entering into the Earth or is projected from the Earth’s plane.

There are some who believe the energy vortex at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre is sourced from all the incredible live music performances played there over the years. It truly is a magical place to see your favorite artist perform. But there is another explanation for why so many think the Red Rocks radiate energy.

Many people have reported hearing strange noises, seeing sudden bursts of light, and feeling an intense gust of wind while at the venue. Those who believe in the healing power of higher frequencies and ghosts or those who take part in spiritual healing practices such as meditation tend to believe the energy vortex exists.

Haunted Denver

With its long history of being a mining town where multiple tragic deaths occurred and home to the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, most people who have lived in Denver for a while will agree that there is something dark and creepy haunting their hometown. The best way to find out if the Red Rocks and surrounding areas really are haunted would be to visit them to watch an entertaining live show.

You can also check out our blog for more details about all the haunted places to visit in Denver. During your stay, be sure to book a ghost tour with us here at Denver Terrors.

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Sources:

• https://www.redrocksonline.com/our-story/history/
• https://hashtagdenver.com/red-rocks-amphitheatre-haunted-secrets/#:~:text=The%20Red%20Rocks%20Hatchet%20Lady%20is%20perhaps%20the%20most%20well,appears%20headless%20to%20terrify%20people.
• https://95rockfm.com/ghosts-red-rocks-amphitheater/
• https://hashtagdenver.com/is-red-rocks-amphitheatre-haunted/
• https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nature/colorado/creepy-legend-red-rocks-denver
• https://303magazine.com/2016/10/red-rocks-paranormal-playground-haunted/