Horsefly History Tours

Horsefly History Tours Take a break from your outdoor adventures and learn about the rough and tumble history of Durango, Colorado. Most of us start out with a Plan A in life.

You'll listen to tales of murder, brothels, ghosts, and hangings. Take a walk with HHT and learn about the darker side of Durango's past. Mine was to be a Wildlife Biologist stalking Jaguars in some remote jungle. I pictured myself living in some tiny cabin drinking strong coffee as exotic birds sang their morning songs. But life takes twists and turns and strangely enough it has guided me to one

of my deepest core loves- creepy history and a connection to place. Turns out, these things are not mutually exclusive. I have lived through some wild adventures that have taught me wonderful and often times painful lessons. I couldn’t see it then but they were all preparing me for this new chapter. A native Coloradoan, I grew up exploring the high alpine lakes and pine scented trails of the Rocky Mountains. I was fortunate enough to live in Jamestown, CO until I was 8. I went to a one room school house and had the same fantastic teacher from pre-K to 3rd. In college I worked in Rocky Mountain National Park as a Naturalist. I lead nature walks, held campfire programs, stopped traffic for bighorn sheep and counted elk on foggy autumn mornings; it also allowed me to find my voice amongst some of the most amazing men and women I have ever worked with. I proceeded to get a B.S. in Wildlife Biology at Colorado State University and an M.S. in Zoology & Physiology at the University of Wyoming. I worked as a Field Technician in Wyoming radio-collaring mountain lions in the Snowy Range using hound dogs. I was one of a two-person team and we used snowmobiles and horses to get into the backcountry. I also spent one summer catching lions on the Southern Ute Reservation using foot snares and hound dogs. My Master’s degree thesis focused on the genetics of American marten in SW Alaska on the islands of the Alexander Archipelago. What wild adventures I had there baiting live-traps with sardines amongst salmon eating Brown bears! After school my husband and I moved to Durango. I lead a chainsaw crew briefly for the SW Conservation crew, worked in various restaurants, and most recently worked with special needs kids at a local elementary school. I never would have expected how I would fall in love with those kids! I developed life long friendships with students and parents alike. It was truly one of my favorite jobs. Throughout all of my adventures, I have poured through Durango history books with an obsession. The more I read, the more curious I have become. I have always had an interest in the supernatural that stems from my own personal experiences since I was a child. Old buildings and places speak to my soul. I have always had a firm belief that a connection to place, whether a town or a forest, feeds our souls. Once you learn about the history of Durango, you will see it in a whole new light. I couldn’t do any of this without the support of my loving family. My husband has helped to elevate my courage and supports me in every way, my 8-year old daughter, Evelyn, is my honorary business partner due to her passionate enthusiasm for this venture and her new love of history. My 6-year old son, Grey, well, he only cares about the gunfights of the Wild West. Durango is our home, our place, our community, and we cherish it.

In the last few months, Durango lost some talented historians I truly admired. Both believed in Horsefly History Tours a...
12/19/2024

In the last few months, Durango lost some talented historians I truly admired. Both believed in Horsefly History Tours and were generous with their knowledge and research. Kathy Szelag provided a tremendous amount of financial support to the Animas Museum. She was a constant figure on the Durango History page. She was ready to research a topic at a moment’s notice. She really enjoyed digging into the “darker” side of Durango’s history. Duane was a legend. My mom had his Colorado history book from the 1970s! He taught history at Fort Lewis for over 50 years! He welcomed me with open arms when I was just starting the tour business. He was the one who told me to stop calling myself a tour guide and start calling myself a historian! He provided me with oral histories he took decades ago. Without Duane, Durango wouldn’t have a record of much of its history. Thank you Duane and Kathy. You both inspired me and I wouldn’t be where I am today without you. You will both be missed. https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/duane-smith-local-historian-and-former-fort-lewis-college-professor-dies-at-87/

Next time you are in Santa Fe you MUST stop into San Miguel Chapel! My feisty and beautiful mom works there as a docent....
12/19/2024

Next time you are in Santa Fe you MUST stop into San Miguel Chapel! My feisty and beautiful mom works there as a docent. It’s the OLDEST church in America! It’s a fascinating place with layers upon layers of history. They’ve excavated the layers of foundation down to when it was a Native American dwelling. One of the beams was carved in the 1700s. It’s the kind of place where your imagination runs wild and the energy from centuries of prayer spills from the walls. Of course, the first thing I wanted to know was if it was haunted. How could it NOT be?? The parking lot was built on a cemetery. But no ghost stories…yet.

The weather is beautiful this weekend, so we are offering the Quick & Dirty History Tour at 2 pm on both Sat and Sun. Jo...
12/03/2024

The weather is beautiful this weekend, so we are offering the Quick & Dirty History Tour at 2 pm on both Sat and Sun. Join us for a stroll on Main Avenue and learn about the early history of Durango! Did you know there was a hanging tree just off Main? Trust me, you will see Durango in a whole new light. Come on out while the weather is nice! Tickets are available at horseflyhistory.com

Huge thank you to Kit, Sarah, and John for all your incredible hard work this season! 🤠 Each of you brings something spe...
11/17/2024

Huge thank you to Kit, Sarah, and John for all your incredible hard work this season! 🤠 Each of you brings something special to Horsefly, and we are beyond lucky to have you on the team. Your dedication and passion make all the difference; we couldn’t do it without you! The butterflies are no joke, but it takes real rockstars to push through and deliver an unforgettable experience. 🙌💪 Thank you for everything you do!

There’s still time! Our 8pm ghost tour still has space! Dress warm and bring a hot chocolate! Tickets at: Horseflyhistor...
10/31/2024

There’s still time! Our 8pm ghost tour still has space! Dress warm and bring a hot chocolate! Tickets at: Horseflyhistory.com

This is it! There’s a chill in the air and the spirits are just behind the veil. So close, they might just reach out and...
10/29/2024

This is it! There’s a chill in the air and the spirits are just behind the veil. So close, they might just reach out and touch you! Last chance of the season to hear true ghost stories and see REAL ghost photos taken locally. Happy Halloween!!

For the love of god Coloradoans, vote “YES” on prop 127 to end lion hunting! You’ll notice a mountain lion in the Horsef...
10/26/2024

For the love of god Coloradoans, vote “YES” on prop 127 to end lion hunting! You’ll notice a mountain lion in the Horsefly logo. That’s because I used to radio-collar them in Wyoming. I was one of a two-person team. We did all the same things as lion hunters, except we tagged them instead of killing them. I’ve witnessed firsthand the hunting and trapping of these magnificent creatures, and it’s a horrific practice. Large cats regulate their own populations and hunt the weak ungulates. This one is a no-brainer.

What a fun BOOze & Bites tour last night! I wish I had taken more pics! Drinks, great food, and history! And my dear fr...
10/26/2024

What a fun BOOze & Bites tour last night! I wish I had taken more pics! Drinks, great food, and history! And my dear friend from high school joined us! This is a tour you’ll definitely want to bring friends and family on!

Had the immense pleasure of getting to know Dr. Ali. What an inspiration. You know the saying, “behind every great man i...
10/18/2024

Had the immense pleasure of getting to know Dr. Ali. What an inspiration. You know the saying, “behind every great man is an even greater woman!” Or something like that! 😉🥊💥🤠

Last week, I had the thrilling experience of giving private tours to some truly fascinating people! On Saturday, the Leg...
10/16/2024

Last week, I had the thrilling experience of giving private tours to some truly fascinating people! On Saturday, the Legends on the Animas Pro Boxing Title Event was in town! The Good Fight Boxing Gym asked me to do tours for some of the fighters, promoters, and sponsors. I was tasked with talking about the history of the train to none other than Al Harper, the owner of the train! Thankfully, he was incredibly gracious and validated everything I shared. What a relief!

To make it even more memorable, I also had the honor of guiding Dr. Khalilah Ali, the former wife of Muhammad Ali. She is such a vibrant and captivating woman! While we were in the haunted tunnel, I swear she saw a shadow figure—two others witnessed it too!

I was joined by some amazing individuals: Jeremy Ramos, Andrew “Hurricane” Hernandez, Andrew “Durango Kid” Flamm (the nicest guy ever!), Mike Dempsey (who met Jack Dempsey as a child!), Mike Cooley (Muhammad Ali’s bodyguard), and many others. It was an exhilarating whirlwind of an experience that I will never forget! 🥊💥🤯

Check out the video from last year! We are down to the last tickets! This is a one time chance to see these old basement...
10/15/2024

Check out the video from last year! We are down to the last tickets! This is a one time chance to see these old basements AND support our school district at the same time!

Many thanks to all of our attendees and sponsors for Durango Education Foundation's first ever Spirits with the Spectres fundraising event! We'd like to giv...

https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/durango-education-foundation-hosts-haunted-fundraiser/The Durango Education Found...
10/15/2024

https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/durango-education-foundation-hosts-haunted-fundraiser/

The Durango Education Foundation's & Horsefly History Tours 2nd Annual Spirits with the Spectres is coming up THIS Saturday, October 19th at the Strater Hotel and we couldn't be more excited! Because last year's event sold out, we doubled the size this year and we're very close to being sold out again. We were featured in The Herald this morning. Check it out!

For anyone who has lived in Durango a while, it shouldn’t come as a big surprise that this place is haunted – to the gills. Like any other place, this town has seen its share of people who have died v...

10/04/2024

October is many things. The first full month of Autumn, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Halloween, and many other special dates. For the third year, our officers have the option to purchase and wear special pink patches in recognition of one more important part of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month. These patches aren't just for our officers though. They are sold through a local non-profit for $10 each and all proceeds go to the Cancer Support Community of Southwest Colorado.

If you'd like to support this wonderful cause, you too may buy one of these awesome patches. They are backed with hook & loop material and can be stuck on a backpack or your favorite jacket. But wearing one doesn't let you arrest anybody (sorry!).

If you see our officers out in pink, please say hi. We'd love to tell you what these patches mean to us. If you'd like to purchase your own, please visit https://durangopatches.square.site. Patches can be picked up in person or mailed.

You may have wondered why groups of people are wearing glow necklaces downtown! That’s because they are on our Hauntings...
10/01/2024

You may have wondered why groups of people are wearing glow necklaces downtown! That’s because they are on our Hauntings & History Ghost Tour! We are the only tour that takes people into a haunted 1890s tunnel. Hear TRUE ghost stories and accurate history. Check out our reviews on Google and TripAdvisor. If you’re on the tour with the glow necklaces, then you’re on the right tour!

Your best chance for paranormal activity in the tunnel is NOW! Visit horseflyhistory.com for tickets! 🎟️ 👻💀😱
09/26/2024

Your best chance for paranormal activity in the tunnel is NOW! Visit horseflyhistory.com for tickets! 🎟️ 👻💀😱

It’s TIME!! Spirits with the Spectres is the MOST unique fundraiser Durango has to offer! The Durango Education Foundati...
09/24/2024

It’s TIME!! Spirits with the Spectres is the MOST unique fundraiser Durango has to offer! The Durango Education Foundation and Horsefly History & Ghost Tours has partnered to create the most spine-tingling tour of Historic Downtown Durango’s most haunted locations! Curious about the tunnels? Love eerie basements? This fundraiser is for you! Plus, it’s for a great cause. DEF supports our local 9R district. See places you’ve only heard about. Places that we have been given access to for ONE night only! It sells out fast (for real) so get your tickets today! https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/ae17fbc4-6ea1-4b8e-8554-abcfefb91a32     
     

It’s TIME!! Spirits with the Spectres is the MOST unique fundraiser Durango has to offer! The Durango Education Foundati...
09/24/2024

It’s TIME!! Spirits with the Spectres is the MOST unique fundraiser Durango has to offer! The Durango Education Foundation and Horsefly History & Ghost Tours has partnered to create the most spine-tingling tour of Historic Downtown Durango’s most haunted locations! Curious about the tunnels? Love eerie basements? This fundraiser is for you! Plus, it’s for a great cause. DEF supports our local 9R district. See places you’ve only heard about. Places that we have been given access to for ONE night only! It sells out fast (for real) so get your tickets today! https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/ae17fbc4-6ea1-4b8e-8554-abcfefb91a32     
     

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Durango, CO

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+19705700437

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Raise your hand if you’ve heard of Jack Dempsey!! Thank you to the Good Fight Boxing Gym for inviting Horsefly to speak about the legendary World Heavyweight Champion who spent time in Durango in his early years. Come on our Quick & Dirty history tour to learn more about Durango’s fascinating past!! 🥊🏆 #dodurango #visitdurango #travelerschoice #sodurango #visitcolorado #durangocolorado #elranchotaverndurango #downtowndurango #durangochamberofcommerce

Introducing BOOze & Bites! Our new small bites food/ ghost tour in Historic Downtown Durango. Thursdays at 4:30 throughout the summer and fall. Perfect for family and friend groups! Or make some new friends!

Announcing our new tour next week!! Here’s a clue : BOO

Take a walk on the WILD side! Join Horsefly History Tours for a Quick & Dirty tour of downtown Durango. Durango was founded by the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. People from all walks of life came here for a chance at a brighter future. Durango was a dirty rough frontier town ripe with vigilante justice and isolation. Join us on the Quick & Dirty tour and hear about the crazy events and brave people that left their mark on this Wild West town.

Horsefly History Tours summer calendar is LIVE and available to book! #history #fyp #horseflyhistorytours #sodurango #exploredurango #downtowndurango #visitdurango #visitcolorado #historytour #durangocolorado #durangosilvertonnarrowgaugerailroad #dodurango

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