MANITOU SPRINGS, COLO. -- One local historic residence is about to get some serious national attention as one the most haunted places in America.
Manitou's Briarhurst Manor -- built by Dr. William Bell and family back in 1874 --will be featured for an entire show on the SCi-Fi Network's "Ghost Hunters" Wednesday night, Oct. 28.
FOX21 News checked in Tuesday to see what the buzz is all about -- and learned some former visitors have never checked out.
"Welcome to the Briarhurst Manor. Come in if you dare," say Erik and Tammila Wright, the manor's directors of Historic and Paranormal Research.
For those who embrace their guilty pleasure of unexplained images, shadows in the night and erie sounds from generations long gone from this world, the Wrights welcome you with what you may see.
"Vases fly across the room, silverware spinning on plates, things grabbing you that you can't see," adds Erik says.
"That will get your attention," laughs Tammila.
With 26 years experience -- more than a year at Manitou's historic residence -- you might call the Wright's your ghost hosts.
From the moment visitors arrive in the grand parlor -- catching a glimpse of its winding staircase -- Erik Wright recalls chilling stories of happier days that refuse to go away.
"Children running across the staircase and bouncing a ball downstairs and then just disappearing," he says.
With so much unexpalined activity, the Briarhurst Manor's ghostly guests have made impressions on visitors for decades.
"The master bedroom is where one of our most notorious ghost stories is documented quite heavily," Erik Wright explains.
After being refurbished, including new stained wood floors, local authorities react to late night motion sensor alarms only to find evidence of someone traveling from room to room through the secured upstairs residence.
"Little tiny footprints through the locked door and down the hall to where the children used to sleep when the Bells were living here," tells Erik Wright.
What's more shocking (this was not the first time) others have made the same claim to similar sightings, even down to details of what our little guest may have been wearing.
"They were like a Victorian child's high-heeled, pointed toe boot. Same exact thing 40 years apart. Could be Mrs. Bell, could be one of the children -- we're not real sure," Erik Wright explains.
"The dining room is where you came to dine with the Bells back in the 1890s," says Tammila Wright.
To this day an experience of fine dining may have customers watching unexpected children playing outside their window like one of the Bells' daughters from nearly a century ago. Many claim to see this little redheaded girl in a bonnet amusing diners while they visit. Tammila Wright believes these hauntings from another world may just be those spirits revisiting the joys of a life they once had.
Briarhurst Manor's president Ken Healey believes we're all just guests in someone else's house. "I've always considered that. We're here as caretakers to keep the place alive and well," adds Healey.
"If you don't believe in ghosts, come here if you're a skeptic. You won't be when you leave," explains Erik Wright.
The Briarhurst is having a "Ghost Hunters" premiere party Wednesday night, Oct. 28, with another showing and costume ball on Thursday, Oct. 29.
Click on the video icon to watch the story as it aired on FOX21 Morning News.
Click on hauntedbriarhurst.com for more information on ghost tours and other events at the Briarhurst Manor.
Click here for a list of local Halloween events.
Click here to go to Haunted Colorado: Haunted Places From Around the State
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