Colorado has a lot of reminders of its rich history, many of which still stand in the form of monuments, historic sites, and buildings.

Like the rest of the United States, Colorado was home to underground bootleg operations during prohibition which sometimes involved tunnel networks, and many of these tunnels still exist under historic buildings.

Read More: Bootlegging + Horse Skeletons in Shady Secret Colorado Tunnels |

You may have recently read about a now-defunct bar in downtown Denver known as Green Russell that occupied one of these tunnel-equipped buildings and the odd array of animal bones found along with them. Well, the historic Larimer Square building now has a new tenant that will undoubtedly keep the mystique and historical significance of the structure intact.

New Bar Opens in Historic Colorado Prohibition-Era Building

This past weekend saw the grand opening of the new Ghost Saloon, the latest establishment to set up shop in the historic back alley building at 1422 Larimer Street in downtown Denver.

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Like Green Russell before it, Ghost Saloon is a speakeasy-style bar "hidden" behind an initial entrance, known as a welcome room.

Ghost Saloon is the latest creation from Handsome Boys Hospitality and in addition to repurposing the historic space, is also serving as a brick-and-mortar retail setting for Hats by Parker Thomas and the newly revitalized Ruckus clothing brand.

This new endeavor is just the latest from Handsome Boys Hospitality's owner Josh Schmitz who is also the founder of Ruckus and operates neighboring Disco Pig, a club that is now connected to Ghost Saloon via the old, prohibition-era tunnel that still sits below Larimer Square.

Bootlegging + Horse Skeletons in Shady Secret Colorado Tunnels

A network of tunnels under Denver, Colorado’s Larimer Square were used for bootlegging during prohibition and, so it appears, disposing bodies of deceased horses.

Gallery Credit: Nate Wilde

Underground Shops + Secret Tunnels in Some Old Colorado Buildings

Many Colorado businesses have secret tunnels that date back to the 1800s, some of which were used to move liquor during prohibition.

Gallery Credit: Nate Wilde

See Secret Tunnels + Vault under the Colorado State Capitol

Legends of politicians sneaking prostitutes and hiding from gunslingers in tunnels under the state capitol probably aren’t true, but the tunnels do exist:

Gallery Credit: Nate Wilde

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