Ghost Town Museum
The snapshot
Hear the creak of wooden promenade as you mosey your way around the player piano, taking in the hundreds of artifacts of the authentic Wild West.
The full experience
As a proper preservation of the Pikes Peak region’s pioneer past, the Ghost Town Museum is filled with real buildings and artifacts from the old west towns that once dotted this region during the late 1800s and early 1900s. But you won’t have to hike across the countryside to find this fantastic piece of history; it’s all been carefully constructed indoors right here in Colorado Springs.
A Walk Back in Time at the Ghost Town Museum
Travel down a real wooden promenade and get a peek into pioneer life — how the people of the past lived, worked, and played. Try your hand at an old-fashioned butter churn or printing press, check out authentic stagecoaches and wagon,s and explore thousands of other artifacts that are actual pieces of Colorado history.
Panning for real gold is included in your summer admission to the Ghost Town Museum! From May through September, you can sift through water and silt like the gold prospectors of Cripple Creek and so many other Colorado towns. Find your “fortune” in the bottom of your metal pan. Even if you don’t manage to find gold, there are other tiny treasures buried in the sand, like tiny minerals! It’s one of the museum’s most beloved activities and makes for a thrilling experience for kids (and adults).
Fun for Everyone in the Family
Speaking of kids, the Ghost Town Museum has several antique games and a big shooting gallery where anyone can try their hand at hitting targets.
When you’re finished exploring, the gift shop awaits. It is packed with old-fashioned candies, snacks, 1800s-style toys and games, sweet jams, and other fun items. You can also pick up souvenir coffee cups, t-shirts, jewelry, and pottery. Don’t forget to sip on a sarsaparilla while you’re there — it wouldn’t be an authentic wild west experience without it!
The Wild West Ghost Town Museum allows you to take a journey to the early years of Colorado’s exciting history without having to travel any further than Colorado Springs. Even better, the indoor location makes it the perfect spot to have fun and beat the summer heat (or winter chill, or Colorado thunderstorm). Come out and see it for yourself!
Hours & seasons
Average time
- Typical Visit: 1-2 hours
Difficulty/accessibility
- Handicap accessible parking
- Front door is extra wide and flush with parking lot surface
- Ramps are available on the promenade and there are benches available throughout to rest
Phone & address
Additional information
Last admission taken 1/2 an hour before closing.
Closed New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Gold panning is included in ticket prices, when available. Call ahead to confirm.
What we love (and you will too)
Your Local Guide, PK McPherson
Third-generation Colorado Springs native and mom, sharing the secrets that turn good trips into unforgettable adventures.
I admit it, I took Ghost Town for granted when I was a kid. My grandparents collected stuff like this, so I didn't have to go far to see Wild West artifacts. Then I took my kids there when they were around 6 and 10. They were fascinated! We spent HOURS there the first time we went and they poured over every inch of the place. It was an awesome way to connect with them, teach them about some of their family history and make memories together. Also, we now call it Ghost Buster Town . . .
Plan your adventure
- What to bring
- How to prepare
- The Seasons
- Good to know
- Bring quarters for the shooting gallery and the player pianos.
- Bring the kids – you’d be surprised how excited kids get for butter churns and saddles!
- No preparation needed.
- Tickets can be purchased in the gift shop.
- Ghost Town is open year-round, rain or shine.
- Great place to get the kids out of the house on a snow day.
- Ghost Town usually offers gold panning from May-September.
- Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
Getting here
- Ghost Town is about 15 minutes from downtown Colorado Springs by car
- About 40 minutes from downtown Colorado Springs by bus
- PikeRide bike share is available all over downtown Colorado Springs, and Ghost Town is a pretty flat 20-minute ride.
- Ample parking
FAQs about Ghost Town Museum
What is a ghost town?
A “ghost town” is what is left behind after a thriving town becomes abandoned. There are a lot of them in Colorado because of the state’s various mining booms.
Do they host field trips?
Ghost Town Museum is a great place for field trips! The kids will get to explore through hundreds of historical artifacts, pan for gold, and play antique arcade games all while learning about Colorado’s rich history. The attraction is indoors and minutes from Bear Creek Park, which is a perfect spot for a post-visit lunch. Check out the field trip guide for more information: https://www.ghosttownmuseum.com/event-venue/.
Can we schedule events at Ghost Town Museum?
Ghost Town hosts all sorts of events in Colorado Springs. It’s the perfect place for rehearsal dinners, birthday parties, corporate events and more.
Does it cost extra to gold pan?
Nope! The extensive panning area is available from May to September for no additional charge. They’ll show you how to pan REAL gold like they did on the Colorado frontier.
Call Pikes Peak Region Attractions and talk to a local: 1-800-525-2250
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Price List
Adult: $8.50
Child (6-16): $5.50
