Ghost Town Museum | Colorado Springs

The Ghost Town Museum in Colorado Springs is an immersive, indoor museum designed to preserve and showcase the spirit of Colorado’s 19th-century frontier and mining towns. Located on the west side of the city near Old Colorado City, the museum recreates the experience of walking through a real Wild West town that appears to have been frozen in time. Housed in a historic industrial building dating back to 1899, the museum combines preservation, re-creation, and interactive exhibits to bring the Old West to life.

1. Historical Background

The structure that houses the Ghost Town Museum was originally built as a railroad maintenance facility for the Colorado Midland Railway, servicing the nearby Golden Cycle Mill. In the early 20th century, as many mountain mining towns in the region were abandoned, a local family began rescuing buildings, furnishings, tools, and artifacts from those disappearing communities. In 1954, they opened the Ghost Town Museum, placing these salvaged materials in an environment that reflected the authentic layout and style of a frontier settlement.

Over the decades, the museum has remained family-owned and operated, with each generation expanding and preserving its collection. The museum is more than just a display-it’s a preservation of a disappearing chapter of Colorado’s gold rush legacy.

2. Indoor Ghost Town Environment

The museum is entirely indoors, offering a climate-controlled, year-round opportunity to explore without concern for weather. The interior is arranged like a miniature main street from the late 1800s, with wooden boardwalks connecting a series of authentic storefronts and workshops. Dim lighting, rustic wooden interiors, and natural sound effects contribute to the ambiance.

Key structures inside include:

Saloon: Decorated with original period furniture, poker tables, and vintage drinkware.

General Store: Stocked with authentic packaging, canned goods, cash registers, and scales from the era.

Blacksmith Shop: Filled with anvils, bellows, iron tools, and metalwork.

Undertaker’s Parlor: Complete with a coffin and mourning attire, reflecting life and death customs of the period.

Living Quarters: Homes recreated with vintage beds, wash basins, kitchenware, and sewing machines to show daily life.

Stagecoach and Wagons: Real vehicles used in frontier transportation, many recovered from abandoned sites.

The rooms are fully staged, with figures, props, and decorations, offering an eerily accurate glimpse into a town that appears to have been suddenly deserted.

3. Artifact Collection

The museum’s collection includes thousands of genuine 19th and early 20th-century items, each with ties to the Pikes Peak region:

Mining tools: Pickaxes, sluice boxes, dynamite crates, and ore carts used in gold and silver extraction.

Household items: From butter churns and washboards to early telephones and radios.

Trade implements: Saddles, horseshoes, guns, farming equipment, and merchant scales.

Railroad memorabilia: Including lanterns, conductor uniforms, tickets, and track segments.

Many of these items are displayed in context, meaning you’ll find kitchen tools in kitchens, mining gear near the assay office, and clothing in tailor shops-creating an organic and educational environment.

4. Interactive Exhibits and Activities

What sets the Ghost Town Museum apart is its emphasis on hands-on experiences, especially appealing to families with children. These include:

• Gold Panning (seasonal: May to September)

Visitors can try panning for real gold using shallow pans and water troughs filled with mineral-rich sediment. It’s an opportunity to understand the hard labor and luck involved in gold prospecting.

• Antique Arcade and Shooting Gallery

An old-fashioned shooting gallery lets guests test their aim with vintage-style pop-up targets. There are also nickelodeons, self-playing pianos, and mechanical fortune tellers-classic amusements once found in frontier towns.

• Butter Churning and Other Pioneer Tasks

Kids can take part in hands-on pioneer chores like butter churning or crank-operated appliances, giving them a tactile understanding of pre-electric life.

• Educational Film

A short documentary film runs on loop, offering background on Colorado mining towns, the gold rush, and the formation of ghost towns. It sets the historical context for the physical exhibits.

5. Gift Shop and Visitor Services

The on-site gift shop is styled like a classic mercantile store and features:

Old-fashioned candy and sodas like sarsaparilla and root beer.

Frontier-themed souvenirs such as toy rifles, bandanas, and sheriff’s badges.

Historical books, postcards, pottery, T-shirts, and jewelry made in regional styles.

Amenities include:

Wheelchair and stroller accessibility across the main boardwalk and exhibits.

Restrooms, indoor seating areas, and shaded parking.

Free on-site parking, shared with the adjacent Roundhouse Brewery, making it easy to enjoy a meal nearby after your visit.

6. Special Events and Private Rentals

The museum is available for private functions, including:

Birthday parties for children with custom tour packages and activity areas.

School field trips with tailored educational programming and staff-led demonstrations.

Corporate events and western-themed banquets, hosted inside the atmospheric museum environment, accommodating up to 150 seated guests.

Groups of 10 or more receive discounted admission and may schedule special activity packages upon reservation.

7. Visitor Information

Location: 400 S. 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904

Hours:

June–August: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

September–May: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Closed on major holidays (New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas)

Admission:

Adults: around $8.50

Children (6–16): around $5.50

Kids under 6: Free with adult

Average visit time is 45 to 60 minutes, longer if participating in interactive exhibits.

Summary

The Ghost Town Museum provides a richly detailed, multi-sensory journey into Colorado’s frontier past. It is a rare example of a historic preservation effort that doesn't just display the past, but recreates the atmosphere of an entire town. With hands-on activities, authentic artifacts, and carefully staged settings, it appeals to visitors of all ages and offers a deeper understanding of the people and communities who once braved the Wild West. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a family traveler, or an event planner seeking a distinctive venue, the museum delivers both education and nostalgia in one immersive experience.