Peterson Family Portal

Ghost Town's Overview

Details: Category: Ghost Towns; Published on Monday, 19 September 2011 19:15

Some people think of a ghost town as being a "movie set" panorama with a full complement of vacant buildings complete with doors swinging in the wind and the howling of the breeze through holes in walls. Others think of a ghost town as being a town that is a shadow of its former past, but still alive with museums and shops and things to do pertaining to the old west in a true old west location. Still others think of a ghost town as being nothing but a few ruins and foundations in a far remote area accessible only by Four-Wheel drive on a good day.

So, who is right? Everyone is right. A ghost town is any place where people once lived, or are still living, that is a shadow of its past glory. This includes everything from absolutely remote locations with very little remaining (sometimes called the "True Ghost"), to flourishing tourist towns such as those located in Jerome, AZ or even Calico, CA. In Colorado, most of the ghost towns are located in the mountains. As the gold and silver mines played out, these boom towns typically went bust as folks went to the next big mine to make a buck.

However, over the last 30 years, there is a rush to head back to these ghost towns--not for gold, but recreational activities. This web site will point out a few interesting places throughout the Colorado Mountains that are worth a visit. In addition to the typical ghost towns, I have included information on a few old railroad sites which provided the means to transport the gold/silver out of the mountains. When driving, be warned that some sites are difficult to get to in anything other than a four-wheel drive vehicle. It is always best to be aware of local weather conditions, in addition to understanding your driving limits in rough mountainous terrain.

St Elmo

Details: Category: Ghost Towns; Published on Sunday, 18 September 2011 19:17

Saint Elmo was known as a "Saturday Night Town" located near the Denver, South Park & Pacific railroad line. St. Elmo became a favorite place for miners and railroad workers.

The failure of numerous mines, and the closure of the Alpine Tunnel in 1910 started the decline of St. Elmo. The town officially died on Sept. 30, 1952, when the post office closed, but most residents left after the last mine closed in the 1930s.

Saint Elmo today has numerous structures that are still standing, but are all privately owned. Some of the surviving buildings include City Hall, built in 1882, with two small jail cells and an iron ball and chain attached to a boulder, and the school building, built in 1880. Located on the east side of main street was the location of the Town Hall as well as Stark family residences. These buildings were lost in a fire April 15 2002. There is currently a fund raiser to help rebuild the Town Hall. The Stark family was the last family to leave St. Elmo in 1958. The stark family owned the Home Comfort Hotel the telegraph office and Post Office. They also had a retail General Store to keep the miners with plenty of supplies.

From Beuna Vista, take US 285 south to Nathrop, and then County Road 162 west. Follow for approx. 16 miles to St. Elmo.

Montezuma

Details: Category: Ghost Towns; Published on Sunday, 18 September 2011 19:16

Montezuma grew up near the site of Colorado's first silver discovery in 1863. With the transportation problems, the camp grew slowly, with a population of around 200 in the early 1870's. By the mid 1880's, Montezuma had two stores, two hotels, a schoolhouse, and a weekly newspaper. As the town grew, it became an important mining camp for a number of mining camps such as the Tiger, the Silver King, the Queen of the West, and the New York.

According to various sources, H.M. Teller was the first to strike gold here. The story probably goes that way as Teller later became a senator for Colorado, and was important in its history. Various reports show that Teller was merely among the first to prospect in the region, and he and other, including D. C. Collier, made their strikes at just about the same time. Collier was perhaps more important to Montezuma than Teller. Collier suggested the name Montezuma for the late Aztec ruler of Mexico. Collier Mountain, on which many of the best strikes were located, is just above the town.

Montezuma was threatened by a forest fire in 1889, which caused heavy damage to a number of other camps in the area. In 1958, a flash fire swept through the town, destroying a hotel, the town hall, two houses, six garages, and damaging several other buildings. Almost half of the town's population of 75 were made homeless. The fire came at a time when Montezuma was experiencing a some better times. Although not yet a ghost town, it was hovering near the brink with only 12 or so residents.

In current times, Montezuma is a quiet little mountain town with a few dedicated residents. Montezuma grew up near the site of Colorado's first silver discovery in 1863. With the transportation problems, the camp grew slowly, with a population of around 200 in the early 1870's. By the mid 1880's, Montezuma had two stores, two hotels, a schoolhouse, and a weekly newspaper. As the town grew, it became an important mining camp for a number of mining camps such as the Tiger, the Silver King, the Queen of the West, and the New York.

In current times, Montezuma is a quiet little mountain town with a few dedicated residents.

Denver South Park and Pacific Railroad

Details: Category: Railroads; Published on Sunday, 18 September 2011 19:11

The Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad was incorporated in Colorado Territory on June 16, 1873. This company constructed the lines from Denver to Leadville and Gunnison and also became controlled by the UP.

The DSP&P was sold at foreclosure to The Denver, Leadville & Gunnison Railway which was incorporated in Colorado on July 17, 1889, on July 17, 1889. The DL&G became part of the UP receivership on October 13, 1893.

The Denver, Leadville & Gunnison was acquired by The Colorado and Southern Railway on December 28, 1898. The Colorado and Southern Railway was an independent Company until control of the C&S was acquired by the CB&Q in 1908.

From that time on, the C&S had to march to Chicago's tune and the 3' gauge main line began disappearing, the first segment in 1910 with the closure of the Alpine Tunnel and the last segment on August 25, 1943 with the conversion to Standard Gauge of the Leadville to Climax branch.

Marble

Details: Category: Ghost Towns; Published on Sunday, 18 September 2011 19:16

The discovery of marble in 1873 by Sylvester Richardson created the town of Marble. The marble from this quarry has been used for many famous structures including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington D.C. Marble shut down when the overflowing Crystal River destroyed much of the town in and damaged the quarry in 1941. The quarry itself reopened in the early '90s and is unknown if it is open to visitors. There are still many old ruins that can be explored in Marble such as the Marble Finishing Mill.

Marble is located about 5.9 miles east of Hwy 133 on road 314. A museum is located on Main, west of 3rd street, where information for a self-guided walking tour can be obtained.

Crystal started out as a prospecting camp in the search for gold and silver. The Crystal mill (actually the remains of the hydroelectric generator) is one of the most photographed historical spots in Colorado. Several of the original buildings still stand. Seven silver mines in the area kept Crystal going until the Silver Crash of 1893 nearly shut the town down. Subsequent mining efforts failed which doomed the town.

Just up the road from Marble is the old town of Crystal which is located 5.9 miles east of downtown Marble on Road 314. A sign in Marble indicates that this is a four-wheel drive route and is considered to be one of the most dangerous 4x4 roads in Colorado. Crystal can also be accessed via Mt. Crested Butte ski area north along the Gothic Road. Located in the White River National Forest.

Alpine Tunnel

Details: Category: Railroads; Published on Sunday, 18 September 2011 19:08

elevation alpine_tunnel Excavation of the Alpine Tunnel began in January 1880. At an altitude of 11,523 feet, it became the first tunnel constructed through the Continental Divide, and was expected to be finished in only six months. However, due to unforeseen circumstances and construction taking place in the dead of winter, the task required nearly two years to complete. Fractured granite necessitated the expense of using over 400,000 board feet of California redwood to support and encase 1,427 feet of the 1,772 foot long tunnel with a total cost of around $300,000.

The first train went through the Alpine Tunnel began in July of 1882 with the last one through in November of 1910. During its thirty-year life, the Alpine tunneled bristled with activity carrying freight for the many mining camps in the area, and tourists.

One magnificent site is the retaining wall at the "Palisades". Constructed of hand-cut stones without the use of mortar, the retaining wall is 432 feet in length and 33 feet in height. A longer retaining wall is just below this wall, but is only six feet in height.

A huge stone engine repair house that could house six engines was gutted by fire in early 1906. The remains of the engine house can still be viewed today. Efforts to save the Alpine Station are underway. Francis B. Trudgeon saved the old depot by making extensive repairs and the installation of a new roof in 1959.

The actual entrance to the western portal of the tunnel is around 1/8 of a mile further down the path (which used to be track) from the Alpine Tunnel Station complex. Debris continually sliding down the hillside has covered the west portal, while the east portal has totally collapsed.

The easiest route to the Alpine Tunnel begins northeast of Pitkin at the junction of the Cumberland Pass Road (FDR 765) and the Alpine Tunnel Road (FDR 839). The Alpine Tunnel can also be reached via St. Elmo and Hancock Pass, but that route does require a decent four-wheel drive vehicle after the town of Hancock. I made the route in a 98 Ford Explorer on a very nice day, but would have preferred to have had a vehicle with a bit more ground clearance.