Entry No. 33 — the Grand Junction file — filed under: haunted
Forest Queen Hotel
The Forest Queen Hotel occupies a narrow, two-story Victorian wood-frame building at the center of Elk Avenue that has stood since 1881, when it opened as a brothel. Seven rooms on the upper floor retain original plank floors and period details; the Coal Creek Grill bar occupied the ground level. The hotel's documented ghost is Elizabeth, a madam who in 1884 lost her life savings to a gambler at the adjacent Kochevars Saloon and then jumped from the second-story room #4 into Coal Creek below. Rooms #2, #3, and #4 carry the heaviest reputation — guests have reported shaking beds, disembodied boot-steps in hallways, and cigar smoke with no visible source. The hotel's own house rules banned Ouija boards "for the comfort of other guests."
The move: Book room #3 or #4 for the night — the building sits steps from Kochevars Saloon and the rest of Elk Avenue's bars. Walk the same block Liz walked in 1884, then see how well you sleep with the windows cracked over Coal Creek.
📍 Before you go The Forest Queen's operating status is uncertain as of 2025 — the Wheeler family announced they would not renew their lease after five years of operation. Verify current status before planning a trip around a stay here. If it has reopened under new ownership, the 7 rooms run roughly $99 and up; no elevator, thin walls, and street noise from Elk Avenue are recurring complaints. Crested Butte is roughly 3 hours from Grand Junction via US-50 and CO-135; the road is open year-round but winter driving requires caution.
- 📍 Crested Butte
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 129 Elk Avenue, Crested Butte, CO 81224
Hours: Added 2026-06-11 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4
last checked: 2026-06-11