Entry No. 159 — the Denver file — filed under: secret society graves
Knights of Pythias Cemetery
A small, atmospheric hilltop cemetery belonging to the secretive Knights of Pythias fraternal order, where some of the 19th-century grave plots are ringed by ornamental iron fences capped with decorative globe-like "Tesla ball" finials — a quirky local nod to Nikola Tesla's Colorado experiments. It sits within a striking cluster of historic mining-era graveyards above Black Hawk, backed by panoramic Rocky Mountain views.
The story
When gold fever swept Gilpin County in the 1860s, thousands of miners flooded these steep granite canyons. Life at 8,500 feet was short and unpredictable, so men bound themselves together in secret fraternal orders for mutual aid, proper burials, and clandestine rituals. The Knights of Pythias—founded in Washington, D.C. in 1864 and the first fraternal order chartered by an Act of Congress—built their own burial plot on a high ridge above Central City. Beneath headstones dating from the 1860s through the 1900s rest the hard-rock miners, shopkeepers, and secret-society brothers who carved out this boomtown.
What makes this specific graveyard weird isn't just its secret-society origins—it's the ironwork. Enclosing several of the late 19th-century family plots are wrought-iron fences capped with distinct, globe-like metal finials. Local lore long ago dubbed these 'Tesla balls,' a regional nod to Nikola Tesla's high-voltage electrical experiments in Colorado Springs in 1899. Whether crafted as decorative insulators or built as local homages to frontier science, the metallic spheres sit like miniature lightning arresters perched above the Victorian dead.
Swallowed by mountain aspens and pines, the Pythian plot sits within a sprawling cluster of historic graveyards perched along Upper Apex Road. Rusting iron gears and scrap from mining operations still decay in the underbrush between the headstones. You didn't hear it from us, but while tourists pile into the casino floors down in Black Hawk, this ridge offers complete stillness and a sweeping, unobstructed view of the Rocky Mountains.
What it's like
To get here, drive uphill out of Central City via Eureka Street to where Bald Mountain Road feeds into Upper Apex Road, an unpaved mountain route sitting at roughly 8,500 feet elevation. In dry weather from late spring through autumn, two-wheel-drive vehicles can handle the dirt road, but winter snow and mud quickly make it impassable. There are zero facilities or restrooms along the road, so bring water, wear thick-soled shoes for the rocky terrain, and stay alert for rapid afternoon mountain storms. Expect quiet woods, scattered iron fence plots, and neighboring fraternal graveyards just steps across the dirt path.
The move: Drive up Upper Apex Road to the cemetery cluster and explore the Knights of Pythias section together, hunting for the Tesla-ball-topped fence posts and reading the 1860s–1900s headstones of fraternal order members; then wander the adjoining hillside cemeteries before grabbing drinks or food at one of the casino-hotel bars just minutes away in Black Hawk.
📍 Before you go The cemetery cluster sits in the hills above Central City, not in Black Hawk proper. From Main Street, head uphill on Eureka Street to where Bald Mountain Road meets Upper Apex Road; the graveyards begin soon after. The dirt road is generally 2WD-passable in dry weather, but it's high country (around 8,500 ft), so plan for late spring through fall — winter snow and mud make it dicey, and afternoon mountain storms roll in fast. There are no real facilities beyond a midway pull-off near Chase Gulch Reservoir, so bring water and sturdy shoes. These are active historic burial grounds, so tread respectfully. Pair it with the casino-hotel bars or restaurants back down in Black Hawk or Central City, minutes away.
- 📍 Black Hawk
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: Upper Apex Road, Central City, CO 80422
Hours: Mined 2026-06-07 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Central City Masonic Cemetery (Woman in Black) — Located along the same ridge road, this neighboring 1860s fraternal graveyard lets you examine Masonic symbols and regional ghost lore right alongside Pythian plots.
- The Face on the Barroom Floor — After exploring the silent secret-society graves on the mountain, head down into Central City's historic Teller House saloon to see Herndon Davis's famous 1936 floor portrait.
- Central City Opera House — Pair the quiet hilltop resting place of gold-rush miners with the grand 1878 stone theater built by that same mining community down in town.
- Old Town Mine — Follow the mountain dirt roads into Russell Gulch to see the actual hard-rock gold mine where many of these 19th-century lodge members worked.
Good to know
Why are there 'Tesla balls' on the grave fences?
The ornamental iron fence posts surrounding certain 19th-century plots are capped with globe-shaped metal finials. Local legend nicknamed them 'Tesla balls' in honor of Nikola Tesla's famous wireless energy experiments in Colorado Springs around 1899.
Who were the Knights of Pythias?
Established in Washington, D.C. in 1864 by Justus H. Rathbone, the Knights of Pythias was a fraternal secret society based on the ancient Greek legend of Damon and Pythias, emphasizing friendship, benevolence, and loyalty.
How do I reach the cemetery from Central City or Black Hawk?
From Main Street in Central City, head west up Eureka Street and follow it uphill as it turns into Bald Mountain Road and then Upper Apex Road, where the cemetery cluster begins.
Are there other cemeteries in the immediate area?
Yes, Upper Apex Road features a dense cluster of historic 19th-century graveyards, including the Masonic, Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF), Foresters, and Catholic cemeteries.
Is the cemetery open year-round?
While the land is open to the public, winter snowfall and spring mud make the unpaved dirt road treacherous. Late spring through autumn is the recommended visiting window.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Atlas Obscura · Tripadvisor · visitcentralcity.com · themountainear.com
last checked: 2026-06-07