Haunted Briarhurst.com   

 This is a small taste of the most accurate history that The Wrights' have discovered thru actual hand written letters by Dr. Bell and oral accounts from his descendants.
The Briarhurst Manor was originaly built by Dr. William A. Bell and family in 1874. The first home burned down in 1886. Dr. Bell had the second home built out of stone in 1888. This was their summer home until the last visit in 1921. Dr. Bell past away in 1922 at the age of 83 and Cara past away in 1938 at the age of 85.

    
 Bell ‘s Son, Archibald Juxton Bell in 1914 goes on title, while Bell’s estate is being cleared, but officially inherits the Briarhurst in 1922. He sells the castle to the great cattle baron, Henry Esser as a private residence to finance an ambitious development project of his own in Denver.  In 1930, the castle is acquired by the Colorado National Bank of Denver and operated as a “Supper & Gentleman’s Club”. 

The Briarhurst Manor becomes the home of Mrs. Vida Ellison in 1940 until 1966. She was vastly instrumental in the preservation of Mesa Verde National Park and had a past that went clear back to her father being a member of Buffalo Bill's Wild West show and her Grandfather as a Scout for Wild Bill Hickock.

Mrs. Ellison preferred to store artifacts in the Briarhurst from Mesa Verde to have them protected, including Anasazi mummies. It was the fashion of the day to put such oddities on display for tourist to take pictures. She didn’t want this to happen. Vita started the Cliff Dwellings Museum and the first Indian turquoise jewelry store in Manitou.  She pasted away in 1966 and her sister, Vera, lived between the Briarhurst and Penrose, Colorado.  After Vera passes and the Briarhurst went to auction. The Wouk Family, with 6 children, won the auction and lives their till 1972. Then, the Mc Clurgs acquires the castle and continues to have it as a family home. The Mc Clurgs started the famous Buffalo Bill Wax Museum that stands just in front of Blue Sky Bed & Breakfast Inn, today.  We don’t know why but the Briarhurst was boarded up and left desolent because we have been unable to find a living descendant.