They’re in search of the residents who may have decided to stay, long after they died. Famous TV personas from series like TAPS, Paranormal State, and similar ghost-hunting shows have visited these abandoned communities. Historians and explorers aside, there is another major group of people who enjoy taking a trip to local ghost towns. They do, however, have interpretive signs with the town’s history, so you can use your imagination as to what life might’ve been like back then. Bowerman, Hancock, and Teller City each have only a select amount of ruins left. There may only be one building or a few scraps of wood left behind. Many of the ghost towns in Colorado contain little evidence of previous inhabitants. Both feature a good amount of historic structures to explore. Vicksburg and Winfield are secluded in Clear Creek Canyon, north of Buena Vista. It has many original buildings remaining. Hidden on the Alpine Loop 4×4 byway by Silverton, Animas Forks is one of the highest ghost towns at 11,200 feet of elevation. Graysill Mines is a good choice if you want to see the lifestyle that miners led, or Homestead Meadows if you want to check out the remnants of buildings that the earliest Rocky Mountain settlers once called home. Remote Off-Road 4×4 Ghost Towns Dilapidated buildings in Animas Forks ghost town. There is also an abandoned railroad and a cemetery that definitely leaves a haunting impression. It houses forty-three buildings, including a still operating General Store, open in summer and fall. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this old mill site ultimately failed because of its dwindling population and harsh, high-elevation winters.Īnother one of the most notable towns is Saint Elmo. Tucked away on the side of Independence Pass outside Aspen, it houses a large number of original homesteads. If you’re looking for a well-preserved town, check out Independence. Depending on the route some can be accessed in the winter, while others are best saved for spring, summer, and fall when the snow is melted and roads are clearer. ![]() They make for a relaxing day trip and fun addition to your travels. The towns can be remote and only accessible by 4×4, while others are just off the main road. However, some like Nevadaville, have a few, although they’re still pretty much deserted. Most towns are absent of any full-time residents. Each has its own local flavor, so many tourists decide to visit multiple during a journey through this beautiful state. There are well over fifty ghost towns to visit. Visiting Colorado’s Top Ghost Towns Independence ghost town near Aspen. Being able to enter centuries-old saloons, still furnished with original 19th-century stools and bars, is an unmatched experience. South Park City in Fairplay and Gunnison’s Pioneer Museum are two examples. Many of the ghost towns in Colorado are considered to be national historic treasures and are preserved and visited as such.Ī few western museums stage an “Old West” style ghost town with original buildings and artifacts. But just because no one lives there doesn’t mean that they are totally devoid of life. Now, they remain stuck in their 19th-century life as ghost towns. No matter the reason, the towns transformed from heyday hubs to quiet (sometimes completely abandoned) communities. ![]() Other times, a railroad line was constructed in a nearby town and drew the population away. ![]() Sometimes the town mines ran dry and miners and their families moved elsewhere to find work. Saloons, shootouts, cowboys, and sheriffs were commonplace during these glory days. During the Great Gold Rush in the second half of the 19th century, settlers headed west in search of their fortune. Photo by: Dixie LawrenceĬolorado is a state filled with a rich, Wild West history which can be easily experienced with a trip to a ghost town. Some of the most fascinating remnants of Colorado’s ski history are its lost and abandoned ski…ħ Former Ski Areas of ColoradoRead More Guide to Abandoned Places in Colorado Ashcroft, Colorado ghost town near Aspen.
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