Entry No. 25 — the Grand Junction file — filed under: haunted
Whispers From The Past Ghost Walk
“A white basement door once opened onto a passage to the St. Regis Hotel.”
Rhonda Steele is a fifth-generation Grand Junction local who spent five years digging through downtown’s dirt — specifically the red-light district that ran at 3rd and Colorado, and the tunnels still sitting under the street beneath Elks Lodge #575. A white basement door once opened onto a passage to the St. Regis Hotel; lodge members swear the upstairs piano has played itself at the 11 p.m. toast. She and Nina Carrillo of Western Slope Paranormal walk you through all of it, K2 meters included.
The story
Rhonda Steele didn't construct this route out of generic campfire tropes. A fifth-generation Grand Junction local, she spent five years sifting through property records, municipal archives, and downtown dirt to map out what the city used to hide—specifically the red-light district that once ran along 3rd and Colorado, and the forgotten subterranean network beneath the pavement. Deep under Elks Lodge #575, a plain white basement door once opened directly onto an underground passage leading straight to the old St. Regis Hotel.
The Elks Lodge itself holds its own specific, unscripted weirdness: lodge members swear the upstairs piano has chimed into life on its own during their traditional 11 p.m. toast. Steele partnered with Nina Carrillo of Western Slope Paranormal to bridge the gap between archival history and field investigation. Instead of theatrical jump scares, they treat the city streets like an open-air evidence site, handing out equipment to see if anything reacts to the old brickwork.
What it's like
Do not attempt to enter through the front door of the Elks Lodge at 249 S. 4th Street. Instead, pull into the parking lot around back off 3rd Street, where the group meets in the dark. You’ll be handed loaner K2 electromagnetic meters and dowsing rods to split before setting out on a flat, well-lit 90-minute loop through downtown at an easy pace. Remember that you cannot just show up—everything runs strictly by reservation with a few hours' advance notice. If your tour happens to include the secondary extension out to Orchard Mesa Cemetery, bring a strong flashlight, as downtown's ambient street lighting disappears quickly out there.
The move: Reserve an evening walk, split the loaner K2 meter and dowsing rods between you, and finish with a nightcap near 3rd and Colorado — the block that used to be the red-light district.
📍 Before you go Walks meet in the parking lot behind the Elks Lodge at 249 S. 4th Street — enter the lot off 3rd Street, not through the lodge’s front door. The downtown route is flat, well lit, and runs about 90 minutes at an easy pace, but wear comfortable shoes anyway. Everything is by reservation with a few hours’ notice, so call ahead rather than just showing up. An Orchard Mesa Cemetery walk is sometimes added afterward; bring a flashlight if you’re in for that leg.
- 📍 Grand Junction
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: Meets behind Elks Lodge #575, 249 S 4th St, Grand Junction, CO 81501
Hours: Added 2026-06-11 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Moody's Lounge — Follow up the 3rd and Colorado history route with a dark nightcap behind the neon musical notation sign at Moody's Lounge just two blocks away.
- Atomic Legacy Cabin — Pair downtown's underground tunnel history with a trip across the river to inspect the hidden site of Mesa County's secret Manhattan Project operations.
- Grand Junction Ghosts (US Ghost Adventures) — Compare Steele's local research and K2 meter investigation with this storyteller-led tour that covers a mile of downtown starting at the Museum of the West.
- Candle Kitchen GJ — Stop by this downtown candle bar earlier in the evening to blend a custom scent before gathering behind the Elks Lodge after dark.
Good to know
Where is the meeting point for the ghost walk?
The tour meets in the parking lot behind Elks Lodge #575 at 249 S. 4th Street. Make sure to enter the lot from 3rd Street rather than trying to go through the lodge’s main entrance.
Do I need to make a reservation in advance?
Yes. The walk requires a reservation with at least a few hours' notice, so call ahead before heading out.
Is specialized paranormal gear provided?
Yes, guides supply loaner K2 meters and dowsing rods for participants to use along the downtown route.
How physical is the tour?
The downtown walk takes about 90 minutes at an easy, relaxed pace over flat, well-lit sidewalks.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · kekbfm.com · kjct8.com · Tripadvisor
last checked: 2026-06-11