The Ghosts of Cheesman Park & the Botanica Gardens in Denver, CO

Parks from Graveyards in Downtown Denver

The area in Denver which is now the Botanic Gardens (as seen in the photo to the left), Cheesman Park, and Congress Park have a very unique history indeed. When the plans to build Denver's Botanic Gardens were set in motion, more than 7,000 buried bodies needed to be moved from what was then the Mount Calvary & Mount Prospect cemetery.

Though most of the interred bodies from Mount Calvary (aka – the Botanic Gardens) were removed in 1890's, many bodies continued to be discovered and moved to Mount Olivet Cemetery as late as 1950. Are there more bodies beneath the popular parks and gardens? Well, according to wikipedia, even in 2010, “graves were uncovered during renovation of the park's irrigation and sprinkler systems”.

Regarding the bodies that were moved from the Botanic Gardens location, all were supposedly identified except for one – the corpse of a young Irish lass. It is said that when the workmen opened her coffin an overpowering scent of roses filled the air and a thick eerie sense prevailed among all who were witness. It was felt that perhaps this little lady may have been the remains of a Saint. The Catholic Registry quickly became involved and spent quite some time researching the girls background, yet ultimately came up with nothing.

It is not known if anyone ever discovered who she was in life. Perhaps the rose scent from the coffin was an embodiment of her ghostly presence trying to connect with the livng. Perhaps the eerie feelings were simply her way of sending a message to these men who woke her from an other-worldly slumber. Does she still haunt the Gardens today?

While most bodies from Mount Calvary found a new home, those buried at Mount Prospect were not so fortunate. Burial contractors at that time pocketed the city's money instead of moving the bodies to make way for Cheesman Park. So even to this day you have the beautiful park sitting on top of the resting place of the deceased. The tomb markers and gravestones may be gone, but the bodies reamin. It is no wonder that several ghost sightings and frequent reports of paranormal activity originate from these locations. Both Botanic Gardens and Cheesman Park are often hot destinations for ghost tours and ghost hunting expeditions by local paranormal investigators. Next time you stroll thorough these natural wonders of the city of Denver, take a moment and look around. Do you see anything out of the ordinary? Maybe you smell roses at the gardens, where no roses are planted?

For more photos of the Botanic Gardens and Cheesman Park, visit our blog post featuring our photos from each location.

“And this, our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything. ”
-William Shakespeare