Saturday, April 27, 2024

3:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Where:  Historic Sandstone Ranch, 3001 Sandstone Drive , Longmont, CO

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Join psychic medium Dori Spence and the Kindred Spirits Investigative Team as we explore this infamous - and very haunted! - 1860 historical home in Longmont.  Kindred Spirits Society has rented the entire house for a private paranormal investigation which will be followed up by a discussion of the home's history and former inhabitants, so we can see if our findings "link into" the rich past of this iconic home.

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HISTORY:

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Born in 1836, Morse Coffin grew up on an Illinois farm. He became an accomplished farmer, running his father’s homestead by the age of 21. However, wanderlust set in for the young Coffin. So, on May 5, 1859 he set out with two of his friends and headed west. On July 18, the trio arrived in Boulder, Colorado where Morse settled in and became a sawyer, working on timber. He also dabbled in prospecting, but he eventually went back to his farming roots. With money earned from his hard work, he purchased a 160-acre homestead about 3.5 miles east of the intersection of Longmont’s present-day highways 287 and 119.

 

Morse began to work the farm, which he would eventually add 200 more acres to, and his brothers Reuben and George Coffin relocated to work on the farm as well. In 1860, the Sandstone Ranch house was built along the banks of the St. Vrain River. The house gets its name from the surrounding sandstone bluffs that act as a natural barrier from Colorado’s strong winds. That very sandstone was quarried onsite to build the home. Today, the home is on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Longmont Historic Landmark.

The farm had flourished by 1865, so Morse returned to Illinois to marry Julia Dunbar. The two returned to the farm in 1866 and raised five children. Later, Julia's sister, Etta Dunbar Kelso came to live with them. Morse passed away in 1913, and Julia died in 1926. They reside in Mountain View Cemetery, 62 11th Ave, in Longmont along with one of their sons. Sandstone Ranch remained in the Coffin family until 1981 when it was purchased by the Bigelow family. The Bigelows renovated the home and sold it to the City of Longmont in the 1990s.

 

Morse, Reuben and Herbert Coffin, Longmont Museum & Cultural Center

So where do the ghosts come in to the story? Well, since the city took over the property, the home became a visitor and learning center. The center hosts special events, tours and educational seminars about the natural area and wildlife found on the property and the history of the homestead. 

Some employees have reported some mysterious events that have happened in the home. When employees have locked the doors to the bedrooms when closing up at night, they often have come back in the morning to find certain bedroom doors unlocked and wide open. A tourist, who claimed to be a psychic, visiting the home declared she saw the spirit of a either a girl or young woman who was “desperately unhappy.” Rumors are that the unhappy spirit is that of Julia's sister, Etta Dunbar Kelso. 

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The author of Haunted Longmont, held a ghost hunting fundraiser in the home in January 2014. He was joined by members of the Boulder County Paranormal Research Society and the general public. The group spent the night in the home. They experienced many odd occurrences including room temperature changes, strange noises, equipment failures, flickering lights and possible spirit sightings. Their findings were contaminated by untrained public participants and are inconclusive.

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So, decide for yourself. Is the Sandstone Ranch Visitors & Learning Center haunted? Plan to visit the property during one of their many special events or tours or stop by on your own time to enjoy the outdoor views and take a walk along the Greenway. It’s a beautiful property with a rich history, and the scenery is pastoral. The property sits along the St. Vrain Greenway and offers a glimpse of local wildlife. 

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(Courtesy of VisitLongmont.org)

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TICKETS:

 

ADVANCED RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.  No tickets will be sold at the door.  Tickets are $45/pp General Admission, $35/pp Kindred Spirits Members.  For membership information see our MEMBER PAGE.   Tickets are non-refundable unless the event is cancelled due to weather or in the event of illness.  If you need to cancel please call us prior to the event so we may open up your spot to those on the wait list.

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To purchase your tickets please use the Paypal link below, or you may call (720) 453-4733 to make other payment arrangements.  You will not receive a paper ticket from us, but you may print your Paypal receipt and bring it with you the day of the event.

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OTHER REMARKS:

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This tour will require going up and down stairs, etc.  If you need physical assistance please let us know in advance and we will do our best to accommodate you.

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Due to the nature of this tour, we recommend no children under the age of 12 attend.  We have several other tours that are family-friendly so please inquire about those.

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If you have any other questions feel free to CONTACT US.

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