Entry No. 164 — the Denver file — filed under: Woman in Black
Central City Masonic Cemetery (Woman in Black)
This 1860s gold-rush-era cemetery sits atop a knoll overlooking the mountain towns of Central City and Black Hawk, holding 373 graves of miners and Freemasons. Every April 5 and November 1, a mysterious woman in black satin is said to appear at sunset to lay flowers on the grave of John Edward Cameron — and when witnesses have tried to approach her, she vanishes on the hillside.
The move: Visit around sunset on April 5 or November 1 to witness (or seek) the Lady in Black at John Edward Cameron's grave, then walk the historic headstones reading the stories of 1860s gold-rush miners before heading into Central City's Victorian-era casino district for dinner and a ghost-tour of the nearby opera house.
📍 Before you go The cemetery crowns a hillside above town, reached by following Central City's main streets uphill until the pavement gives way to dirt — a small lot waits at the end, though that unpaved stretch turns rough in snow, so warmer months (and especially the golden-aspen autumn) are by far the easiest time to come. It's one of a cluster of old Gilpin County burial grounds, quiet and solitary; treat it as the working historic site it is, leave before dark, and look for John Cameron's headstone with its flower pot. Below the knoll, Central City's restored Victorian casino-and-opera-house district makes the natural pairing for the rest of the night.
- 📍 Black Hawk
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: Masonic Cemetery, Spring St, Central City, CO 80427 (hillside between Central City and Black Hawk, Gilpin County)
Hours: Mined 2026-06-07 — confirm current hours before you go.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: kool1079.com · usghostadventures.com · Only In Your State
last checked: 2026-06-07