The Brookforest Inn, situated in Brookforest, Colorado, was constructed in 1927 by Edwin and Mary Welz. The couple had a vision of creating an Alpine village in the scenic Colorado Mountains and acquired 160 acres of land for their venture. Initially, they built a single cabin, which they rented out to summer visitors. As time passed, they expanded the inn, constructing a total of nine chalets available for rent. The Welz family hired a dedicated staff to manage the inn and cater to the guests in the on-site restaurant. Accounts of the inn’s history portray Mr. Welz as a stern and exacting employer, while Mrs. Welz, affectionately known as “Ma,” was known for her kindness. Entertaining the guests was a significant part of the inn’s charm, whether it involved activities such as tennis or horseback riding into the nearby Town of Evergreen. While Mr. Welz maintained a strict demeanor with the staff, he was also fiercely protective, promptly dismissing any customers who caused trouble for his employees. Sundays held a special significance at the inn, with waitresses donning Swiss costumes as they served the popular fried chicken.
Numerous stories have emerged over the years, recounting paranormal encounters and hauntings within the Brookforest Inn. In the late 1960s, a former employee named Larry shared tales of a man named Carl who supposedly stayed in room one and either suffered a fatal heart attack or took his own life by hanging. Guests who stay in room one frequently report sudden drops in temperature, an overwhelming sensation of being watched, and sightings of Carl’s apparition standing at the bar. Some guests have even engaged in conversations with him, only for him to vanish in an instant. Larry also recalled hearing footsteps on the closed-off third floor during his shifts. Since its sale in 1945, the inn has changed ownership multiple times, with each proprietor experiencing numerous paranormal events that have attracted both guests and ghost hunters from far and wide. Reports include the sounds of a young child, who succumbed to influenza, roaming the area where they passed away. Apparitions have been sighted throughout the inn, and figures have been observed walking the premises when the inn was unoccupied. However, the most disturbing account shared by guests involves an overpowering stench of decaying flesh permeating the second floor.
The Brookforest Inn has become a popular destination for paranormal investigation teams, with various researchers conducting thorough examinations of the property. One investigator, in particular, was so unnerved by his experience that he abruptly abandoned his equipment and left the premises in fear.
The haunting legends surrounding the Brookforest Inn continue to captivate visitors, leaving them with both a sense of intrigue and a spine-chilling fascination.
Located at:
8136 S Brook Forest Rd, Evergreen, CO 80439, United States
Sources:
– “Brook Forest Inn” – Ghosts of Colorado
– “Brook Forest Inn” – Haunted Places, http://www.hauntedplaces.org/item/brook-forest-inn/
– “Brook Forest Inn” – Shadowlands Haunted Places
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