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Today I read an article by Kathleen St. John called “Ghost haunting Blake Street Vault helps give LoDo saloon that old-Denver feel.” Ah, Denver…my old stomping grounds. Where I grew up. Where, when I visit these days, I barely recognize.
There was no LoDo when I was coming up in Denver. That’s an invention of the last 15 years or so. A cool name given to a part of the downtown area few hardly ventured to after dark. Now it’s all hip and cool and happening.
Maybe that’s why Lydia, Blake Street Vault’s ghost, doesn’t want to leave?
BLAKE STREET VAULT, A SALOON
The bar sounds pretty cool. The decor hearkens to the era of saloons you might have found in Wild West Denver back before the turn of the century (the one before last): tin ceilings, wood floors and barrels for bar tables. Rustic.
I’m not quite sure if Lydia died in the bar or not. The article wasn’t exactly clear on that. Supposedly some ghost hunters were brought in after many people reported having weird feelings or experiences in the place –especially down in the vault. They’re the ones who identified the ghost as being Lydia, a saloon girl who worked in the building 150 years ago.
THE VAULT
The vault was discovered during renovations down in the basement. The article’s author described the vault as “more historically interesting than paranormally scary, at least until you get to the vault.”
I’m assuming what makes it both creepy and perhaps playing some part in Lydia’s story is that the author mentioned scratch marks on the vault’s ceiling. But it doesn’t say if she was shut in down there and left to die or what.
However, the saloon’s new owners have a tribute of sorts up to Lydia. There’s a mannequin dressed as a saloon girl in the window above Blake Street Vault’s entrance.
GHOST ACTIVITY
As far as activity…besides glasses being knocked over and people feeling uncomfortable at times, the best story was of the high-heeled footsteps clicking overhead when the bar’s new owner and an inspector were down in the basement pre-saloon renovation. At the time, the floors were still covered in carpet, and when they went upstairs to investigate no one was there.
WHERE TO FIND BLAKE STREET VAULT
If you live in Denver or are planning to visit and want to make a Haunt Jaunt to an eerie pub, you might want to consider the Blake Street Vault. It’s located at 1526 Blake Street.
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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I visited Blake Street Vault tonight for the first time. The Happy Hour prices were OUTRAGEOUSLY CHEAP and my friend and I happened to sit down just when the Lower Downtown (LoDo) Historical Walking Tour came in. The tour guide graciously invited us to bring our drinks and follow them to the basement. SPOOKY! I took a bunch of pictures and caught a glimpse of Lydia!! The food was great. The beer was great. The tour guide was amazing. I cannot say enough about this place. You need to check it out even if you don’t believe in ghosts!!
Oh Jennifer, what a GREAT story. SOOOOO glad you stopped by and left it. What a neat bunch of info you gave. Cheap prices, the ghost tour inviting you downstairs, AND that you glimpsed Lydia. How exciting! THANKS again for stopping by to share!