Haunted tunnel Ghost tour (13+)
(formerly hauntings & history ghost tour)
Durango's Highest Rated Ghost Tour
Saddle up. You're about to be let in on something.
Durango was founded in 1880 by the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Within months, Main Avenue was lined with saloons, dance halls, brothels, and gambling halls. It attracted outlaws, miners, railroad workers, and sporting girls. Whiskey flowed. Tempers ran hot. Tragic things happened on these streets, and the people involved never quite moved on.
You'll walk the same ground they walked. You'll hear their stories, built on research that has earned the trust of local families, descendants, and business owners who have shared accounts that don't exist in any guidebook. You'll hold photo books filled with images of the actual people and places from that era. These aren't fictional characters. They lived here. Some of them, it seems, still do.
You'll hear the story of Ralph Ray, Durango's own Lizzie Borden. In 1891, just one year before the Lizzie Borden murders, Ralph murdered his elderly mother with a hatchet at their homestead in the Animas Valley. What he did after, what his father came home to, and what happened inside a historic hotel in the days that followed is one of the most heartbreaking stories in Durango's history.
At the end of the tour, we take you somewhere no other ghost tour in Durango will. Underground. Into a 19th-century tunnel that once connected a saloon to a dance hall where sporting girls entertained railroad men and miners. The building above dates to 1892. There is no record of exactly when the tunnel was constructed. What we do know is that something is still down there.
about the tunnel
Enter and exit through the same secret access point downtown, travelling a chilling section of the tunnel before re-emerging into the night.
Durango’s historic tunnel system is no longer intact. Rumors fly. On our one-of-a-kind tour, you will walk through one of the largest known stretches still accessible. Most have been filled in or blocked off. The stretch you will visit has been a long-kept secret. Until now. For the benefit of history and preservation. We treat it with reverence and for what it is: an active paranormal site.
Photographic evidence has been captured in the tunnel over the years that we do not share publicly. Equipment malfunctions are common. A vivid photograph of a male apparition standing in the doorway. A tall shadow figure at the back of the tunnel. The clearly visible legs of a child standing next to a glow necklace that had fallen to the ground. You will see this evidence during the tour, included in the photo books lent to each party.
This is not a haunted house. This is not theater. This is real.
Tour Details
Meeting Point: Bronze horse sculptures at the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Train Depot, 479 Main
Tour Length: 90 minutes
What's Included
A 90-minute lamp-lit guided walking tour of downtown Durango's most haunted locations
Guides rooted in Durango who bring the past to life
Well-researched history drawn from historical newspapers, out-of-print books, and accounts from local descendants
The story of Ralph Ray, Durango's own Lizzie Borden
Photo books with historic images and documented paranormal evidence, lent to each party
A glow necklace for each participant to keep
EMF detectors available upon request, free of charge
Recommended ghost hunting apps for your phone
The tour ends underground with exclusive access to a 19th-century haunted tunnel beneath a downtown establishment
chaps optional. goosebumps mandatory.
FAQ
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We recommend ages 13 and up. The tunnel is not safe for kids. The stories involve real historical events, including violence, death, and documented paranormal activity. We reserve the right to make exceptions for private tours and little ghost enthusiasts.
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No. The Haunted Tunnel Tour is a 90-minute walking tour through downtown Durango. The tunnel is the finale. It's a single stretch of roughly 100 feet beneath a downtown establishment, one way in and the same way out. Not a tunnel system. Not an underground trek.
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Yes. The entire building is. We treat the tunnel as an active paranormal site. Photographic evidence has been captured over the years, including a vivid image of a male apparition in the doorway, a tall shadow figure at the back of the tunnel, and the clearly visible legs of a child standing next to a fallen glow necklace. Equipment malfunctions are common. This evidence is included in the photo books provided on tour.
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At the bronze horse sculptures in front of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Train Depot, 479 Main Ave, Durango, CO.
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Tours begin at dusk. May: 7:30 PM. June through August: 8:00 PM. September through October: 7:00 PM.
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Approximately 90 minutes.
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Limited to 15 participants. We want to respect the businesses and other pedestrians. We also want our tours to be more intimate. We want our horseflies to have the best experience possible.
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Our guides are rooted right here in Durango: school district teachers, horse wranglers, and lovers of local history who bring the past to life. We have very little guide turnover because our team genuinely cares about what they do. The research behind our tours was built over years by Horsefly founder Laine Johnson through historical newspapers, out-of-print books, and accounts passed down by the descendants of the people who shaped this town. Ghost stories are rooted in truth, not lore.
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The tunnel is a confined underground space, roughly 100 feet long in total length. Guests can walk about 50 feet. Think of it as a corridor; it’s fairly large. You can exit at anytime. There is also no pressure to enter the tunnel. You are welcome to skip the last stop. Otherwise, you might consider our Ghosts on Main tour for all ages, and it skips the tunnel.
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EMF detectors are available upon request at no charge. We also recommend ghost hunting apps for your phone. We are not in the tunnel long enough to do a full investigation. Guides typically spend extra time if there are signs of paranormal activity.
We recommend downloading the GhostTube app wherever you get your apps.
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Comfortable walking shoes. There are steps leading down to the tunnel. Dress for the weather since the tour is primarily outdoors. We provide glow necklaces and photo books. Cell phone flashlights and regular flashlights are helpful.
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Yes. Every participant must sign a liability waiver after purchasing tickets. We’ll send you a link to share with your group. No one may enter the tunnel without a signed waiver.
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Yes. We rebranded to put the spotlight on the tour's finale: the haunted tunnel: same tour, same stories, same guides, same experience.