Episode Transcript
Amanda: Happy Halloween, all you true crime fans. I'm Amanda.
Kori: And I am Corey.
Amanda: And this October Colorado crime podcast is channeling our inner spooky girl to bring you some seriously spooky stories. Just in time for Halloween.
Kori: That's right. Today we're taking you to Thornton, Colorado, specifically, Riverdale Road, an eleven mile stretch of road that seems like it came straight out of a horror movie. Known for its paranormal legends, ghostly sightings, and even its connection to unsolved murders, Riverdale Road has become a staple in Colorado's spooky lore. But, Amanda, it's not just the ghost stories here that make this road so terrifying. There's something darker lurking.
Amanda: Exactly. So buckle up while we take you for a ride. Let's start with a little background. Riverdale Road runs through Thornton, a quiet suburban area just north of Denver. But this quiet road has a sinister past, one that goes back centuries, even before the first european settlers arrived.
Kori: That's right before it became the residential area that is today. This area was home to native american tribes like the Arapahoe and the Cheyenne. It's said that they had deep respect for the land, and some even believed that the area had spiritual significance. However, when settlers came in, things began to change.
Amanda: One of the first dark events tied to Riverdale Road dates back to the 18 hundreds. The story goes that a man named Lewis River, a european settler, built a home on what would later become the road. According to legend, Lewis was a recluse who didn't get along with his neighbors and developed a strange obsession with the road itself. It's said that he would sometimes disappear into the trees and would be seen only at night, walking up and down the road like some kind of restless spirit.
Kori: The road itself is twisted and long, with dense cottonwood trees lining the sides. It wasn't uncommon for people to claim they would see strange figures or hear unsettling noises from the woods at night. But this is only the beginning of Riverdale Road's dark history. In the 20th century, things took an even more disturbing turn.
Amanda: One of the most well known stories connected to Riverdale Road is the legend of the Phantom Camaro. Drivers have reported seeing a black Camaro driving at breakneck speeds, appearing out of nowhere, and then suddenly vanishing when you try to catch up.
Kori: That's right. The Camaro is said to appear when you least expect it, often tailgating you or getting dangerously close, almost as if it's trying to run you off the road. And just as quickly as it appears, it's gone. Some people claim to have had this encounter in the dead of the night, while others say they've seen the car during the day.
Amanda: But here's the kicker. There's no evidence of any accidents involving a Camaro on Riverdale Road. No police reports, no reports of fatal crashes. That's what makes this legend so eerie, a phantom car with no explanation. It's as if the Camaro is a manifestation of something far more sinister.
Kori: It wouldn't be a true haunted road without the story of a gate to hell, right? Riverdale Road has its own version of this, a place locals call the gate to Hell original. Located near an abandoned cemetery, this is a popular site for ghost hunters and thrill seekers who want to catch a glimpse of the super supernatural.
Amanda: The cemetery itself is old and overgrown with crumbling tombstones and broken fences. But the real attraction is a set of old iron gates, which is said to be the gateway to the paranormal world. People who have dared to enter report seeing shadows, hearing disembodied voices, and feeling cold, clammy air. That doesn't make sense.
Kori: But that's not the only legend connected to these gates. Locals say the gates were built over an old witch's grave. The story goes that a woman suspected of witchcraft was buried here after being burned at the stake. It is said her spirit is angry and restless and that she haunts the area to this day, seeking vengeance for her untimely death.
Amanda: And for years, people have claimed to see strange symbols etched into the ground around the gates. Some say it's witchcraft. Others think it's some kind of warning, a sign that you shouldn't go any further. And yet people do. They say you can feel a sense of malevolence as soon as you step through the gates, like something is watching you from the darkness.
Kori: Not all of the creepy stories on Riverdale Road are purely supernatural. There's also a very real unsolved murder mystery that haunts the area.
Amanda: In late 1987, just two days before Christmas, Heidi rose Ursula McGuire went missing after her shift at the Circle K gas station. Heidi was last seen giving a male customer a ride home in her 1978 Chevy Monza. Five days after Heidi vanished, her car was found in a ditch near East 112th Avenue and Riverdale Road. On February 14, 1988, several months after she was last seen, Heidi McGuire's body was found in a field at 89th Avenue and Riverdale Road. An autopsy revealed someone had struck her in the head with a blunt object.
Kori: To this day, that murder remains unsolved, and it has become part of the road's dark reputation. Some people believe that Heidi's spirit still haunts the area, searching for answers and looking for justice.
Amanda: We couldn't talk about Riverdale Road without mentioning the countless paranormal experiences that people claim to have had while driving or walking along it. People have reported seeing glowing lights in the trees, shadowy figures darting between the trees, and even hearing ears, whispers coming from nowhere.
Kori: One particularly chilling story comes from a local resident who claims to have been driving down Riverdale Road late at night. He said he saw a figure standing in the middle of the road. He stopped the car to ask if the person needed help, but when he got out and looked around, there was no one there. He didn't feel alone, though. He said he could feel something watching him. When he got back into the car, his radio began playing static, and then a voice came through the noise, whispering, get out.
Amanda: You know, the strangest part is that many people who've had paranormal experiences on Riverdale Road don't talk about it until someone with a similar encounter does. First, it's like they're afraid to bring attention to it, afraid of what might happen if they do.
Kori: So, what makes Riverdale Road so creepy? Is it the old legends, the unsolved mysteries? Or is there something darker, something that has been buried in the area's history that continues to haunt this road to this day?
Amanda: Whatever the reason, Riverdale Road is undeniably one of the spookiest, most mysterious places in Colorado. And if you're ever brave enough to visit, well, keep your eyes open, your wits about you, and be prepared to drive past what might be your very own encounter with the unknown.
Kori: Have you ever had any paranormal experiences on Riverdale Road?
Amanda: No, because I am a chicken, and I don't like to be scared. What about you? Have you.
Kori: No, I've never been on that road, to be honest. Um, to be fair, I, you know, grew up in the nineties, and we didn't drive that far, especially not in the dark. There were some scary places, like in Colorado or, like down in Grayley and Kersey and stuff like that, but I don't remember what world they are. It was in my youth. That was a long time ago.
Amanda: Well, I remember. I do remember driving on it, like, you know, trying to be scary in, like, high school. I don't know that I ever drove at night, but I was with people who drove on it at night, and I. It's. It is windy and dark, and there's trees everywhere, and it's definitely unnerving.
Kori: There's an old cemetery in Larimer county that's kind of creepy like that. Like, I wouldn't go in the dark. It's scary in the daytime. You can just feel the energy changing.
Amanda: I feel like, unfortunately, all cemeteries are a little bit scary.
Kori: Even, like, this one is, like, old timey. Like, a really old timey. Like, there's no. Nobody been buried in there. New. It's all. I think the last person in there was, like an 85 or something like that.
Amanda: So it's, like, not a popular one. No, they weren't dying to get in.
Kori: Yeah. No, they weren't dying to get in.
Amanda: That's it, folks. That's all my Halloween jokes I've got. You're welcome.
Kori: But anyways, they, like, put pennies on people's gravestones. And there was a. I think there's a, like, a rocking chair, maybe, like a cement rocking chair that is said to, like, I don't know. You can feel, like, people sitting in it. Like, it's a whole thing. It's a whole creepy thing.
Amanda: Well, if you guys want to hear that story, let us know.
Kori: Yeah, good. And I'll try and find it. And, you know, probably not, so don't vote for that one.
Amanda: Or do.
Kori: I just told you about it. It's over.
Amanda: It out.
Kori: Yeah. Yeah.
Amanda: Why would you put pennies on a grave? Is that a thing?
Kori: I don't know. I guess to make sure people go to heaven. I don't know. I don't really know.
Amanda: Oh, okay.
Kori: I'm not just telling you what was on there. You're not. You're not a spooky bitch.
Amanda: I'm not a spooky bitch, but I am trying to be in my spooky bitch era because, you know, you're telling ghost stories. That's all for today's episode. We hope you enjoyed this spooky trip down Riverdale Road with us. If you've ever had your own experience on this road, make sure to reach out to us on socials or drop us an email. We always love hearing your stories. You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube at Colorado Crimepod.
Kori: Until next time, podcast ends. Stay spooky, and as always, have the weekend. You deserve.
