Entry No. 154 — the Denver file — filed under: 1878-opera-house
Central City Opera House
“still nudges visitors backstage with a strong whiff of alcohol in tow”
Built by Welsh and Cornish miners in 1878 and one of the oldest professional opera companies in the country, this intimate 550-seat stone jewel-box theater hosts a summer festival each year and is famously stalked by the ghost of Mike Dougherty — a miner-turned-performer who drank himself to death and reportedly still nudges visitors backstage with a strong whiff of alcohol in tow.
The move: Catch a performance during the 2026 summer festival (June 27–August 2) — options include Mozart's Marriage of Figaro or the Colorado classic Ballad of Baby Doe — then linger for a backstage area walk or the Haunted History Tour to hunt for Mike Dougherty's floating orbs and unexplained cold spots.
📍 Before you go It's a 35-mile mountain day trip from Denver: take I-70 to Exit 243, then the scenic 8-mile Central City Parkway, turning onto Main and up Eureka Street. Crucially, this is a summer-festival house — outside the season (roughly late June through early August, but check what's actually staged before committing to the drive) there may be nothing on, so confirm the program first. Mountain traffic runs unpredictable, so leave early. Free covered parking sits at the casino a block downhill, and a reserved lot adjoins the house. Pair it with the historic gold-rush district's walkable streets and the Gilpin History Museum.
- 📍 Central City
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 124 Eureka St, Central City, CO 80427
Hours: Mined 2026-06-07 — confirm current hours before you go.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Yelp
last checked: 2026-06-07