Imperial Hotel and Restaurant

The Imperial Hotel and Restaurant stands as a historic commercial structure within Cripple Creek, Colorado, a mountain town that achieved prominence during the late nineteenth century gold mining boom and subsequently developed into a historic tourism destination. The hotel was established during or shortly after Cripple Creek's boom period as a hospitality venue serving miners, investors, and visitors drawn to the region's extractive industries and the wealth generated through precious metal mining. The structure represents substantial capital investment typical of successful commercial enterprises in gold rush communities, designed to provide accommodation and dining services to the transient and resident populations that characterize mining towns at the height of their economic development. The Imperial Hotel's paranormal history centers upon the presence of George Long, the original owner and founder of the establishment, whose death appears to have occurred within the hotel structure or in circumstances closely associated with the property. George Long appears to have maintained extensive personal connection to the building throughout his operational ownership, with his living quarters, business offices, and personal spaces positioned within the hotel structure itself, a common arrangement for proprietors of period commercial hospitality venues. The paranormal phenomena associated with George Long's spirit manifestation appears concentrated in his former apartment spaces, the casino floor areas, and the restaurant spaces, suggesting that his haunting reflects an ongoing attachment to the commercial enterprise and spaces that defined his adult life and business identity. An additional significant paranormal presence involves the spirit of Alice, George Long's daughter, reported to have experienced serious mental health challenges or developmental disabilities during her lifetime. Alice's paranormal activity manifests through phenomena concentrated in specific locations within the hotel structure, particularly near shut doors and in spaces where she may have spent significant time during her lifetime. Paranormal investigators have documented what they interpret as electronic voice phenomena associated with both George Long and Alice, with recordings allegedly capturing disembodied voices attributable to these individuals or personalities associated with their historical identities. Security personnel employed by the hotel have reported hearing the distinctive sounds of slot machine activity, specifically the mechanical sounds of coins dropping into hoppers and the electronic chiming associated with slot machine operation, occurring during late nighttime hours when the casino facilities are definitively closed and the machines are secured and non-functional. These auditory phenomena have been described as consistent and recurring rather than isolated incidents, suggesting either recorded sound residue replaying in specific environmental conditions or conscious spirits reenacting behaviors and sounds from their living experiences. Visitors report spontaneous physical contact sensations, including unexpected touches and brushes against their bodies that have no identifiable physical source, suggesting tactile manifestations of spirit presence. Doors have been reported to open and close without explanation, with shut doors identified as a specific locus of paranormal activity concentrated in areas potentially associated with George Long or Alice's personal spaces. Moving objects, including items being displaced from shelves or surfaces despite no living person being present to cause such disturbance, represent additional categories of documented paranormal phenomena. Paranormal investigators have conducted multiple investigations at the Imperial Hotel, documenting phenomena through audio recordings, photographic evidence, and eyewitness accounts, establishing the location as a professionally recognized haunted site within Colorado's paranormal investigation community and on organized ghost tour routes throughout Cripple Creek.