Nestled in the heart of Denver, Cheesman Park is a beloved urban retreat known for its lush greenery, jogging trails, and stunning views of the Rocky Mountains. But beneath its serene surface lies a history as eerie as it is fascinating. Once the site of Denver’s first city cemetery, Cheesman Park has long been associated with ghostly legends, scandalous corruption, and a past that refuses to be buried.
From Cemetery to City Park
Cheesman Park’s history dates back to 1858, when General William Larimer established Denver’s first cemetery, known as Mount Prospect. The site was intended to be a final resting place for pioneers, but it quickly became a disorganized burial ground, filled with a mix of settlers, criminals, and the city’s indigent. The first person buried there was John Stoefel, who was hanged for killing his brother-in-law. Wealthier families often opted for private cemeteries, leaving Mount Prospect to become an increasingly neglected and poorly maintained site.
By the 1870s, the cemetery had gained a reputation as an eyesore. Denver’s rapid growth made the land it occupied more valuable for residential and recreational use than as a burial ground. In 1890, the U.S. government formally deeded the land to the city of Denver, stipulating that it be converted into a park. The transformation, however, would prove to be anything but smooth.
A Corrupt Undertaking
The task of removing thousands of bodies from the cemetery fell to undertaker E.P. McGovern, who won the contract from the city in 1893. He was to exhume each body, place it in a new coffin, and relocate it to Riverside Cemetery. However, in a bid to increase his profits, McGovern devised a gruesome scheme. Instead of using full-sized coffins, he used child-sized ones, often hacking bodies into pieces to fit them into the undersized boxes. Remains were scattered, mixed, and in many cases, simply left behind.
The scandal broke when the Denver Republican newspaper exposed McGovern’s practices, describing a scene of open graves, human bones strewn across the ground, and workers handling remains with little care. The public outcry was swift, and the city halted the exhumation process. By then, an estimated 4,200 bodies had been buried in the cemetery, but only about 1,000 had been properly relocated. The rest remained beneath the park’s surface, forgotten—at least officially.
The Birth of Cheesman Park
With the cemetery only partially cleared, the city proceeded with its plans. The land was regraded, landscaping was added, and in 1907, the area was officially dedicated as Cheesman Park, named after Walter Cheesman, a Denver businessman whose family funded the park’s pavilion. Over time, the memory of its cemetery origins faded for some, but many locals continued to report unsettling encounters.
Ghostly Legends and Paranormal Activity
It’s no surprise that Cheesman Park has become one of Denver’s most infamous haunted locations. Visitors frequently report eerie sensations—feelings of being watched, sudden cold spots, and inexplicable sounds. Some even claim to see ghostly apparitions wandering the park, believed to be spirits of those whose remains were never properly relocated.
One of the most persistent stories is that of shadowy figures moving through the trees or misty shapes appearing in photographs taken within the park. Others describe hearing whispers, footsteps, or even cries in the dead of night. Paranormal investigators and ghost hunters have long been drawn to Cheesman Park, considering it a hotspot for supernatural activity.
Residents of the surrounding historic mansions have also reported unusual happenings. Doors slam shut on their own, strange noises echo through the halls, and some claim to see figures standing in their yards, only for them to vanish moments later.
Most recently, in 2010, irrigation work in the park led to the discovery of four preserved skeletons, which the city coroner’s office dated to be more than a century old. Their identities have been lost to history. “Cheesman’s cemetery had a lot of criminals and paupers buried without headstones or any records,” said Jill McGranahan, spokeswoman for the Denver Parks and Recreation Department. “There’s really nowhere to look to find out who these bones belonged to.”
Cheesman Park Today
Despite its chilling past, Cheesman Park remains one of Denver’s most cherished green spaces. It serves as a gathering place for families, joggers, picnickers, and yoga enthusiasts. The park’s picturesque scenery and historical charm make it a favorite among locals, even as its ghostly reputation lingers.
In recent years, construction projects in and around the park have uncovered human remains, further confirming that Cheesman Park is, in many ways, still a cemetery. While city officials handle such discoveries with care, the occasional reminder of the park’s past only fuels its haunted legend.
For those who love history, Cheesman Park is more than just a beautiful green space—it’s a portal to Denver’s early days, filled with stories of ambition, scandal, and spirits that may never rest. Whether you visit for the views, the history, or a chance at a paranormal encounter, one thing is certain: Cheesman Park’s past is never truly buried.
