Tucked back behind some well-to-do neighborhoods in suburban Highlands Ranch lies the sprawling, storied Highlands Ranch Mansion, a century-old structure with an interesting past.
Today you can rent out the Highlands Ranch Mansion for weddings and corporate events, but not too long ago, the estate was the home to a series of families between the early 1900s and 1976. So are any deceased members of those families still hanging around the mansion's long hallways? Some people think so. [gallery columns="2" size="medium" ids="25481,25476"] Specifically, guests have reported seeing the ghost of a girl -- purportedly Julia, the daughter of 1926-1937 owner Frank Kistler -- in her upstairs bedroom and again in the hallway. She has also been seen looking out the west bedroom window. In addition, visitors have heard the clock in the great hall chime, even though it had been broken for years, and they've heard sobs in the otherwise-vacant house. The mansion has also been the subject of paranormal investigations and numerous ghost tours. [gallery columns="2" ids="25477,25480"] William Kirby of the Douglas County News-Press visited the mansion in 2001, along with members from the Highlands Ranch Historical Society.We wanted to make certain that the lights had been shut off, and that we had left the place in good order," he wrote. "This meant walking along the long hallway to the haunted room, then walking back down in total darkness. This we did with nary a "boo" heard or apparition seen. But as we turned to go down the stairs, a light, apparently of its own volition, came on in a small room 40 feet down the hall."
You know what's creepy? This is the exact experience my husband had as a teenager when helping to shut down the mansion after an event. The lights popped on, even after he and his companions had turned them off. And after the house was locked up and they were outside getting ready to leave, they saw the image of a girl in an upstairs bedroom window. Now, I ordinarily don't believe in ghosts, but I have to admit that is crazy spooky!
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The Highlands Ranch Mansion boasts 27,000 square feet of living space on 250 acres, including two ballrooms, a library, a bowling alley, a gazebo, carriage house, and servants' quarters. Undergoing a massive $6 million renovation in 2010, the mansion is now open to the public for tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays (9 a.m.–2 p.m.). For more information about the mansion's history or to schedule an event, visit its website or Facebook page.
Have you had a paranormal experience at the Highlands Ranch Mansion? We'd love to hear your stories in the comments below!
