We were suprised to be 100% delighted with what we thought would be an old, dusty and overlooked tourist attraction right here in Colorado Springs. We had big plans to attend a different attraction, but were turned away at the door because they were sold out. After a few minutes of quick thinking and a search on my phone for “things to do with kids in Colorado Springs” I pulled up the website for the Ghost Town Museum. Open 7 days a week and low admission cost…off we went!

I’ve driven past this attraction on Hwy 24 near Old Colorado City at least hundreds – thousands? – of times but have never really been compelled to check it out. I thought it was going to be an open yard with some tumbleweeds bouncing around, and a bunch of rickety old west building facades. Even if the highlight was a boring display of Colorado history, I thought the kids could run around and burn some energy. I was so wrong! This should be on everyone’s MUST DO list for a cold or rainy day.

The main building holds at least a dozen rooms straight out of the 1800’s, including a stagecoach that kids can climb in, a shooting gallery (25 cents per kid), a fortune teller machine (also only 25 cents), a little theater room, and a funhouse mirror, which my kids had never seen and they cracked up seeing themselves in it. There’s a second building with a row of rooms, all themed and set up with authentic items, like a doctor’s office, a small child’s room with a super short bed. Ok, it may not sound like it would be a great time, but somehow we ALL really had a great time! We probably spent an hour poking around.

Don’t skip the little shop – it was delightful! I’m not usually one to buy souveneirs but I picked up a couple old timey wooden toys and old fashioned car bingo for the kids. They had a blast poking around looking at the miniature toys: a tiny blender, tiny etch-a-sketch, tiny boggle, tiny harmonica – a whole row of these! Even the staff was super sweet!

Bonus: The bathrooms were clean, too! Admission is only $8.50 for adults, $5,50 for kids 6-16 and FREE for littles 5 and under. We walked across the parking lot to Colorado Mountain Brewery for lunch (gluten free burger buns and great kids meals) to wrap out our outing. Big WIN for kids and the moms!