Entry No. 14 — the Fort Collins file — filed under: magic
Aiden Sinclair's Underground (Illusions of the Mind)
Accessed through a swinging bookcase in the basement of the Stanley Hotel's historic Carriage House, Aiden Sinclair's Underground is a 75-seat subterranean magic theater that opened in 2021. Sinclair — a veteran of America's Got Talent and Penn & Teller's Fool Us — curates an ever-rotating roster of the world's top prestidigitators performing 60-to-90-minute theatrical shows. The intimate room also houses curiosity-cabinet exhibits including reportedly haunted artifacts from the Titanic, the Queen Mary, and the Winchester Mystery House. Current flagship show MAGUS takes audiences through the esoteric history of magic in a fully interactive 90-minute experience.
The story
You go to the Stanley Hotel for ghosts, but in the basement of the historic Carriage House—right beneath where diners eat fried chicken at The Post—lies something far more deliberate. Behind an unassuming, swinging bookcase sits Aiden Sinclair's Underground, a 75-seat subterranean magic parlor opened in 2021. Sinclair, a sleight-of-hand veteran seen on America's Got Talent and Penn & Teller's Fool Us, designed the small-footprint room specifically for close-up mentalism and historical deception.
The space operates as equal parts performance room and cabinet of curiosities. Arrayed along the perimeter are glass display cases holding reportedly haunted relics sourced from the wreck of the Titanic, the corridors of the RMS Queen Mary, and the Winchester Mystery House. Sinclair curates a rotating roster of visiting prestidigitators alongside flagship experiences like MAGUS, a 90-minute interactive deep-dive into the esoteric history of magic.
Because the room holds just 75 seats, there are no trapdoors, digital projection screens, or distant upper balconies to cushion the illusion. When a card shifts or a secret is pulled from your mind, it happens three feet from your nose. It trades grand Las Vegas theatricality for dark Victorian parlor tension, where the art relies entirely on sleight of hand, psychology, and uncomfortably close proximity.
What it's like
Grab up to two drinks at The Post bar upstairs before heading downstairs 30 minutes prior to showtime. Once the secret bookcase door closes, late entry is strictly locked out and ticket sales are final, so arrive with time to spare. The space is tight, quiet, and intimate, with every chair positioned close to the performer. Tickets start at $45, attendees must be 12 or older, and free parking sits directly in front of the building.
The move: Book the Sunday MAGUS show at 6 p.m., then linger at The Post bar upstairs with a drink before heading down the hidden bookcase entrance together. The 75-seat room is small enough that every seat feels close to the stage — it rewards going in knowing as little as possible.
📍 Before you go Tickets are $45+ and all sales are final — no refunds, exchanges, or transfers. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime; late entry is strictly prohibited once the show begins. Ages 12 and up only. You may bring up to two drinks purchased at The Post bar upstairs. Free parking is available in the lot directly in front of The Post. ADA accessible via elevator; request wheelchair seating in advance. Reserve well ahead for weekend shows, especially in summer.
- 📍 Estes Park
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 333 Wonderview Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517 (beneath The Post Restaurant at The Stanley Hotel)
Hours: Added 2026-06-11 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- The Birch Ruins — Walk half a mile down the road before your show to explore the stone remains of a 1910s bungalow perched on a rocky outcropping.
- Seven Keys Lodge Key Collection — Follow up subterranean illusions with a five-mile drive to see 30,000 catalogued hotel keys covering the walls of a historic mountain lodge.
- Estes Park Memorial Observatory — Pair an evening of psychological tricks with direct observation of the night sky through a 16-inch telescope less than two miles away.
Good to know
How do you locate the hidden theater?
Head down into the basement of the historic Carriage House at The Stanley Hotel (beneath The Post Restaurant) and look for the swinging bookcase entrance.
Can you bring drinks into the show?
Yes, you can bring up to two drinks purchased upstairs at The Post bar inside with you, provided you buy them before the theater doors close.
What is the policy if you arrive late?
Late entry is strictly prohibited once the show begins, and all ticket sales are final with no refunds, exchanges, or transfers permitted.
Is the subterranean space ADA accessible?
Yes, the basement theater is ADA accessible via elevator; you should request wheelchair seating in advance when booking your tickets.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · estesvalleyvoice.com · stanleyhotel.com
last checked: 2026-06-11