Every town has legends, but only Horsefly History Tours takes you to the real locations where history and its ghosts truly live. In Durango, truth is often stranger than fiction, and Horsefly’s experienced guides bring to life the Wild West stories that are too wild, eerie, or unbelievable to appear in any guidebook. Horsefly was born from the belief that Durango’s Wild West legacy deserves more than plaques—it deserves to be lived.

A Tour Born from a Love of Durango’s Hidden Past

Founded in 2017, Horsefly History Tours began with a simple mission: to bring Durango’s rowdy, ghostly, and fascinating history to life. When founder Laine Johnson, a former park ranger and Colorado native, launched the company, no one was regularly guiding curious visitors and locals alike through the true, gritty, and ghostly stories that shaped Durango.

Over the years, Horsefly has built strong ties with downtown businesses and even the descendants of some of Durango’s most legendary characters. These relationships help keep the tours fresh, accurate, and deeply rooted in both the historical record and living memory. Today, Horsefly stands alone as the only tour company that takes you inside a real haunted location, an underground corridor presumably used by the town’s most beloved madam, bringing Durango’s secrets into the light.

Carefully Curated Tours That Go Beyond the Surface

Horsefly offers three immersive experiences, each crafted for a different kind of adventure-seeker:

• Quick & Dirty Tour – A daytime stroll along Main Avenue, revealing Durango’s bloody beginnings: gunfights, notorious outlaws, and the fabled hanging tree.
• Hauntings & History Ghost Tour – Durango’s original lamp-lit journey into the paranormal behind the history. Walk past haunted bars and restaurants, then descend into a rare underground tunnel, only accessible to Horsefly.
• BOOze & Bites Tour – A delightfully spOOky history-and-food adventure. Visit local favorites like Perbacco, Durango Winery, and El Moro Spirits, all tied together with ghost stories of historical context.

Each season, the tours evolve, incorporating fresh stories, newly discovered archival photos, and surprising tidbits not found in any guidebook. And to deepen your experience, they offer historic photo books for use during the tour.

A Locally Rooted, Carefully Vetted Experience

From historians to storytellers, the heart of Horsefly lies in its commitment to authenticity. Guided by locals who respect, study, and love Durango’s past, every detail is well-researched. The tours are intentionally small, under 15 guests, for a focused & intimate experience.

When you book with Horsefly, you’re choosing a locally rooted and owned, history-driven company that values accuracy, community, and storytelling.

Beyond Tours: Giving Back to the Community

Horsefly History Tours doesn’t just preserve Durango’s past; it also invests in its future. Partnering with the Durango Education Foundation, Horsefly created one of the most unique (and terrifying!) fundraisers in town: Spirits with the Spectres, which is held each October.

This after-dark event doesn’t just share ghost stories; it takes brave participants into eerie, haunted basements that are normally off-limits to the public. Blending these hidden spaces with chilling tales and good spirits, the fundraiser raised an incredible $35,000 last year alone, which directly supports classrooms and teachers in the 9R school district.

It’s history and hauntings with a heart, proving that storytelling can strengthen a community while giving supporters an unforgettable experience.

Why Booking Local, History-Driven Tours Matters

When you book a tour with Horsefly History, you invest in more than stories; you support a local business deeply tied to Durango’s heritage. You help keep the town’s true narratives alive, contribute to thoughtful storytelling, and celebrate a sense of place anchored in respect and research.

Whether you’re a longtime local or just passing through, you’ll leave with a richer understanding of Durango. From restless spirits to renegades and barmaids, you will meet those who shaped the streets you walk today.

Ready for a Walk Back in Time?

Visit horseflyhistory.com to explore tour options, check availability, and book your next journey into Durango’s Wild West heart.