Entry No. 79 — the Denver file — filed under: haunted

Lumber Baron Inn & Gardens

This ornate 1890 Queen Anne looks like any restored Highland mansion, but by 1970 it was a carved-up flophouse where two young women were murdered on October 13 — Cara Lee Knoche, a teenage runaway in the Valentine Suite, found strangled under the bed, and her friend Marianne Weaver shot dead on the floor. More than 50 years on, both killings are still unsolved (Weaver has a live Colorado cold-case file). The current owners restored the place into a B&B and lean all the way in, documenting frequent paranormal activity and putting on comedy murder-mystery dinners; the two victims' apparitions are the ones guests report in the Valentine Room and on the stairs.

The move: Book the comedy murder-mystery dinner theatre or a haunted-house hunt evening, then ask the owners about the real 1970 case the fictional one is winking at — a genuinely strange, story-rich night for a couple or small group.

📍 Before you go You'll find this three-story Queen Anne mansion at 37th and Bryant in the quiet, residential Potter-Highlands historic district — it's a real B&B on a neighbor-lined block, so keep voices down on the porch and stairs after dark. There's a small parking lot at Bryant Street and 38th Avenue plus easy street parking nearby. Everything here runs by reservation — the murder-mystery dinners, haunted-house hunts, afternoon teas and overnight stays are all booked ahead, and event nights cluster on weekends and around fall, so plan early (especially near Halloween). Dates and seasonal offerings shift — check ahead. Afterward, the Highland Square shops and restaurants around 32nd and Lowell are a short stroll for a drink.

• 📍 Potter-Highlands / Highland
• 💸 $$$
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Indoors

Where: Lumber Baron Inn & Gardens, 2555 W 37th Ave, Denver, CO 80211 (Potter-Highlands; the Valentine Suite is the murder room)

Hours: Operating B&B and event venue; murder-mystery dinners and haunted-house events run on a scheduled basis (often weekends/seasonal), afternoon tea and weekend dining also offered. Reserve ahead at lumberbaron.com; events are dated so book the specific night.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: allthatsinteresting.com · apps.colorado.gov · Official site

last checked: 2026-06-07