Entry No. 34 — the Colorado Springs file — filed under: haunted
Cantril School House
This 1897 Roman-arched stone schoolhouse — a National Register of Historic Places landmark purchased by the Town of Castle Rock in 2023 — now buzzes with art classes, open studios, and rotating exhibitions run by the Tri Arts Project, all while "Matilda," a gray lady ghost reportedly spotted on the staircase to the bell tower, haunts the hallways with footsteps and toppled books. It's a rare place where genuine history, local legend, and living arts programming share the same creaking floors.
The story
In 1897, builders stacked pink-and-tan rhyolite quarried right in Castle Rock to construct this Italian Villa-style schoolhouse atop 'Schoolhouse Hill,' replacing a wooden structure that burned down the year before. It hosted Douglas County’s first high school, drawing kids from miles away who boarded with local families just to sit in its classrooms. The Town of Castle Rock bought the 14,462-square-foot National Register landmark in May 2023, handing the keys to the nonprofit Tri Arts Project to fill its high-ceilinged rooms with easel painting, pottery wheels, and community galleries.
The creaking underfoot isn't just from artists moving between studios. Staff working late into the night have long reported heavy footsteps in empty corridors, locked doors rattling violently against their jambs with no one behind them, and books sliding off shelves to land standing upright on the floor. The resident ghost—nicknamed 'Matilda' by a school district secretary back when she led tours down to the basement coal furnace—is most frequently reported lingering around the wooden staircase that climbs toward the four-sided arched bell tower.
What it's like
Head just east of downtown Castle Rock into the historic Craig and Gould neighborhood, where the two-story stone building sits on a two-acre lot with a painless 54-space parking lot. Inside, the vibe sits right at the intersection of active community arts hub and creaky late-1800s schoolhouse. Don't expect to just walk in and drop into a pottery or painting session—class spots fill up in advance, so register online ahead of time through Castle Rock Parks and Recreation. For the quietest atmosphere and the best shot at hearing the building's lingering footsteps, register for an evening class on a weeknight, when the building stays lit until 9 p.m.
The move: Take an evening pottery or painting class together through the Tri Arts Project, then linger after hours to explore the staircase where Matilda has been spotted — the building is open until 9 p.m. on weeknights, giving you plenty of time to make something together and spook each other on the way out.
📍 Before you go Find it just east of downtown Castle Rock in the historic Craig and Gould neighborhood — a two-story landmark of pink-and-tan rhyolite quarried locally, easy to spot on its two-acre grounds. There's ample on-site parking, so arrival is painless. Classes and open-studio time run through the Tri Arts Project, so register ahead rather than dropping in; weeknight evenings tend to run latest, ideal for an after-work session. Hours shift seasonally, so check before you go. It's a short hop to downtown Castle Rock's shops and restaurants — pair the visit with dinner there, or climb the namesake Rock trail at sunset.
- 📍 Castle Rock
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 312 Cantril St, Castle Rock, CO 80104
Hours: Mined 2026-06-07 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Scileppi's at the Old Stone Church — Both landmarks were built out of local rhyolite stone in the late 19th century, making it easy to follow up an art session at the school with pasta under the stained-glass windows of Castle Rock's first Catholic church just three blocks away.
- B&B Cafe — Head two blocks west after your evening studio class for a diner meal served beneath real historic bullet holes in the ceiling.
- Provision — Pair a weeknight pottery class with post-studio cocktails hidden behind a swinging bookcase on Wilcox Street, just a short walk away.
- Wood Shark Trading Company — Drive three miles west to double down on local oddities with a shop stocked full of taxidermy, swords, and crystals.
Good to know
Where is the Cantril School House located?
It sits at 312 Cantril St, Castle Rock, CO 80104, in the historic Craig and Gould neighborhood just east of downtown.
Can I just drop in for an art class?
No. Tri Arts Project class registrations are managed ahead of time through the Town of Castle Rock Parks and Recreation website.
Who is Matilda, and why is she famous here?
Matilda is the local name for the gray lady ghost rumored to haunt the building. Staff and visitors have reported her presence near the bell tower staircase, doors shaking on locked rooms, phantom footsteps, and books falling upright onto the floor.
What are the building's operating hours?
General gallery and office hours typically run Monday–Thursday 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.–8 p.m., Saturday 8/9 a.m.–5/8 p.m., and Sunday 12 p.m.–6 p.m., though you should confirm specific schedules before heading out.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: crgov.com · coloradocommunitymedia.com · triartsproject.org
last checked: 2026-06-07