Move Over Stanley, There’s a New Haunted Horror Hotel in Colorado

According to the Weird Holidays & Observances page, May 22 is World Gothic Day. What better day to write about a newly opened boutique hotel –a haunted horror-themed one– that’s set in a historic Victorian Gothic? (Well, any day would be good, but it just fits perfect with today.)

Last week, two stories –one from Travel Pulse and the other from iHorror— about the Black Monarch Hotel in Colorado caught my eye. I had to check that out.

According to the hotel’s History page, it “was originally built as a casino, saloon and brothel at the height of the Gold Rush.”

Back then, it was known as The Monarch. As the mining town declined and people moved away, they abandoned its businesses and buildings.

Adam Zimmerli, an entrepreneur, contractor, avid horror fan and collector of oddities, spotted a gem amongst the town’s historic real estate. Made all the richer by the prospect of alleged ghosts.

According to iHorror, he “found locals who told stories of visitors staying in the hotel who woke to the sounds of men and women shouting only to discover they were the only people staying in the hotel.”

The Black Monarch’s Stay in a Haunted Hotel! section doesn’t go into detail about the specific types of paranormal activity within the building. However, it does suggest that a barkeep who was killed in a gunfight and a fire that destroyed the building in 1899 might be responsible for the hotel’s haunted lore.

And I immediately noticed Nikola Tesla’s name kept cropping up on both the site and the articles. Why? Well, according to iHorror, “Local legend states that Nicola Tesla, who had traveled to Colorado at the time, originally wired the hotel for electricity.”

Interesting.

But I also noticed some discrepancies between the articles and what I found on the Black Monarch Hotel’s site. They primarily covered the same information, but…not.

The Articles vs. The Website

For instance, both articles explained the hotel’s rooms were named after serial killers.

Each of the rooms will be themed under the names of various historical killers so visitors, for example, will be able to book the Elizabeth Bathory or H.H. Holmes room for their stay. ~iHorror

and…

As for the rooms, they have been themed after serial killers such as Elizabeth Bathory and H.H. Holmes, with the parlor being dedicated to Nicola Tesla. ~Travel Pulse

Travel Pulse didn’t state the number of rooms for rent, but iHorror did:

There are currently four rooms available for rent, but upon its completion the hotel will boast 12,000 square feet of rooms… ~iHorror

However, when I went to the Black Monarch’s site, I only found two rooms available to book: The Elizabeth Bathory (King Room) and the Nikola Tesla (Double Queen Room).

You know me. Well, if this is your first time here you don’t, but let me tell you: I’m big on fact checking. The last thing I want to do is spread false info or repeat inaccurate data.

So I used the hotel’s handy Contact Us info to reach out to their press contact, Erin Barnes, to ask some questions.

Email Exchange

Here’s an excerpt of what I wrote to Erin:

Are there currently 2 rooms only available to chose from? And when it says “shared bath” do you share with people staying in one of the other rooms?

Also, is the booking exclusively through Air BnB?

Here’s an excerpt of what she wrote back:

– There are actually three rooms to choose from: The Nicola Tesla room/parlor, which is a double room; the Elizabeth Bathory room, which has one queen bed; and the H.H. Holmes room, which is also a double room like the Tesla. There will be one more room opening in the next couple of weeks named after Black Annis, the folklore ghost creature.

– Yes, right now there is one shared bathroom and the possibility to put two more in the near future. The cool/interesting thing about this building is that he’s renovating it slowly, so there is an entire atrium/area downstairs for restaurant/bar, all unrenovated, and yet the rooms are luxe and new. It kind of adds to the creepy vibe, ha! At the same time it’s really comfortable when you’re in the rooms.

– Yes, the booking is exclusively through AirBnB right now.

So there you have it. Well, there I have it. Maybe staying in a haunted hotel under renovation with serial killer room names doesn’t appeal to you. But it’s right up my alley.

I grew up in Colorado. Both my husband and I did. Both my parents have now passed, but Wayne still has family there. We don’t make it back as much as we used to, but next trip I’m going to see if I can finagle a stay at this hotel! (From my hub, that is. Not them. He might not be brave enough to stay here.)

Hotel Info

The Black Monarch is located in Victor, Colorado.

For more info, or to book a room, visit the hotel’s website: http://blackmonarchhotel.com/.

Check-In

Is this the sort of hotel that sends shivers of delight up your spine too? If so, which room would you book?

I’d go for either the H. H. Holmes or the Black Annis. It’s a toss up. Both sound freaky awesome. Okay. Your turn…