Ghostly goings-on keep things lively

Are Colorado’s gaming towns the creepiest places in the United States?

Halloween is the time of year that Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek get their ghost on with ghoulie events that explore the past lives of vaporized vixens and villains.

All three cities are rich sources for ghost sightings, but the closer it gets to Oct. 31, the more the former natives get restless.

Perhaps the most well-known ghostly pursuit is the Creepy Crawl, a guided walking tour of Central City’s most infamous haunted houses every Saturday this month.

This year’s tours include new skin-crawling stories and spooky destinations. Gilpin Historical Society members lead the tours where those brave enough to take the trip may be treated to some ghostly sightings of the walking dead.

Not-so-scary family tours start at 6:30 or 6:45 p.m. or the adults-only extra creepy versions leave between 7 and 9 p.m. A new tour leaves every 15 minutes from the Century Casino, 102 Main St.

Tickets are $5 in advance at any King Soopers or by calling 866-464-2626, or $10 at the door based on availability.

More haunted happenings. Doc Holliday Casino in Central City is haunted by many old and hopeful souls from the town’s gold-mining era who are known to come out and play this month.

Doc Holliday visitors are invited to ghost hunt for free in the Room of Historical Hauntings. Bring your iPhones, Android phones, iPads, tablets and courage, and download one of the suggested ghost-hunting apps. Then spend as much time as your heart can handle exploring the ghosts and stories of departed souls who are stuck or have chosen to reside within Doc Holliday’s walls.

Doors to the haunted room are open 7 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through the rest of October. Also open from 7 to 11 p.m. on Halloween, Oct. 31.

Ghost galivant. Spooks Inc., (The Society for the Prevention of the Ostracization or Obliteration of Kindred Spirits) presents the Legendary Ghost Walk of the Masonic Cemetery with host Dori Spence at 4 p.m. Oct. 30-Nov. 1 at Central City’s Masonic Cemetery. Gates open at 3 p.m.

The Lady in Black’s spirit has been seen visiting the grave of John Cameron, who died Nov. 1, 1887, at age 28. The ghost walk starts at 6 p.m. leaving from the cemetery.

Tickets and information: 303-776-3611 or email spiritconnections@msn.com.

Cripple Creek ghost walk. Cripple Creek District Museum hosts annual ghost walks for those yearning for ghouls, ghosts, beasts and other things that go bump in the night.

Dress warm for a bone-chilling walking tour of downtown Cripple Creek, where you will be introduced to the city’s unseen population.

The tour is free and starts in front of the Outlaws & Lawmen Jail Museum on West Bennett Avenue. It ends with cider and cookies in the gift shop of the Cripple Creek District Museum.

Tours at 5 and 6 p.m. Oct. 29. For more information, call the museum at 719-689-2634.

From wild to mild. Johnny Z’s in Central City will give away up to $500 for its annual Halloween costume contest on Oct. 29. The casino will also serve free appetizers Oct. 29 and 31.

- Penny Parker is a columnist for The Denver Post. She’s always on the prowl for tidbits and tips from Colorado’s gaming communities. Call her at 303-619-5209 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.