BY MATT TEAFORD
You may not find a lot of gold in these towns anymore, but you’ll find plenty of abandoned spots.
13. Victor Mines
Sure, you can take the tour that the local city offers, but it’s not the same as just going out and doing your own bit of exploration. One of the largest operations in Colorado, Victor’s population soared to well over 10,000 back during the gold rush, but, today, fewer than 500 have stuck around, and most of the town’s industry runs off of tourism.
This spot looks like it’s easy to explore, but proceed with caution, because the older structures still end up being pretty unstable. The rusty roofs of the mine stand out among the yellow grasses in the area, which makes the place stand out. So many ghost towns and mines to explore, and a whole state with time to check them out.
12. Abandoned Houses of Summitville
Yeah, the Summitville Mine will live on in infamy after the mining byproducts rushed down into the river back in the 1980’s, but that doesn’t take away from its value of a ghost town. The houses still rest in the same rows they did in the beginning, and the mine itself can no longer cause in havoc on the local water sources.
While the last mine closed shop in the early 90’s (long after the original townspeople moved out), the town is oddly silent, and the remnants of the cleanup after the accident are almost untraceable. Unfortunately, there needed to be more upgraded equipment to mine the gold out, and those techniques are what ultimately led to the disaster.
11. Animas Forks
If you’re looking to get a little bit of nature in your life, than this little abandoned ghost town along the Alpine Loop is the perfect place. The loop offers 65 miles of hiking, but this is one of the most recognizable spots along the hike, and its timber-laden houses aren’t hard to spot from the trail.
With well over 100,000 people hiking the loop every year, this isn’t exactly one of the more hidden gems of Colorado’s abandoned spots, but it’s interesting nonetheless. Quite a few of the buildings lay in ruin, but there are still plenty of smaller houses that you can walk into and take a look around. How these houses kept the chilly winds from ripping through in the winter is beyond us. Those must have been some hard times.
10. Abandoned Chimney Rock Jail
It’s hard to decide what’s more impressive about this spot, but this little building resting in the shadows of Chimney Rock in one of the more arid spots of the state is easily one of the more unique abandoned spots on this list. Some argue upon whether it was a jail or not, but the bars over the windows certainly provide at least a little insight into what the building once held.
After taking a look around the building, you should definitely take the time to walk up next to Chimney Rock, which is quite the impressive natural formation. It’s rare that you get a solid natural phenomena tied in with an abandoned place, but this is one of those instances, and you should take advantage of it.
9. St. Aloysius Catholic Church (Trinidad)
Of all the spots on the list, this one is definitely the easiest to get to. The St. Aloysius Catholic Church is one of the only remnants of Morley, and even it’s in pretty rough shape these days. The only thing that makes it stand out in the ruins is its defining bell tower and towering archway that leads in to what used to be a church.
Unfortunately, most of the building has fallen in, and it’s quite the sight for sore eyes. Where St. Elmo was one of the more well-preserved towns, Morley is a fine example of what happens when a town holds no specific historical nor monetary value. While it’s a shame to see this historic building falling in, the haunting remnants of the church are perfect for a short little exploration.
8. St. Elmo
Sure, it’s become quite the hot spot for tourists, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s still quite the impressive ghost town. The population once peaked out at a little over 2,000, but the timeline for the city was short. While it did stay around longer than most of its neighboring towns, the railroad discontinued service to the town in 1922, and the citizens slowly departed.
During it’s time in operation, the town pulled in over $60 Million, making it one of the most profitable mining towns in all of Colorado. Today, it’s one of the most well-preserved ghost towns in all of America, which is probably why it has so many tourists meandering throughout its streets all year long.
7. Abandoned Midland Railway
The Colorado Midland Railway was the first Standard Gauge Railroad that over-passed the Continental Divide, but its life was short-lived. Lasting fewer the forty years, the CMR suffered the same fate as many of the mining towns in the area. In operation from 1883 to 1918, the line was built over some of the more ridiculous lands that a train ever had to operate on in the state.
That dangerous terrain would ultimately lead to its demise, because the Hagerman Pass would freeze over during parts of the year, costing the line thousands of dollars every year. These days, not much remains of the railway aside from the various tunnels that it used to travel through. Most of the rails were auctioned off and removed, leaving very little to prove that a train ever passed through these tunnels at all.
6. Como Roundhouse
In case you’re not sure what a roundhouse is, we’ll give you a little history. A roundhouse is a building where trains are serviced or repaired prior to being put back on the line. With that being said, you definitely won’t see many roundhouses being put to use these days; especially one of this design.
The good news is that this site is actually being preserved, and it should be here for some time to come. The bad news is that it means you shouldn’t be able to explore any time soon. That’s okay, though. This is one of those spots that you really need to sit back and simply enjoy the architecture and the amount of work that went into creating it.
5. Mary Murphy Mine
It’s hard to imagine that a mine that once poured out over $4.4 Million worth of gold is now wasting away in the countryside, but it definitely is. It’s a moderate hike from Grizzly Lake, but it’s a hot spot for anyone looking to adventure among a ghost town. While it’s not easy to get there, there are quite a few who even bother to drive their ATV’s around the area surrounding the mine.
Just looking at the picture above should tell you that it’s not the wisest thing to try to mess around inside of the building, which almost appears to be held together by termites holding hands. This spot is prime for admiring the power of nature, and learning just how quickly our buildings will become dilapidated over time.
4. Nevadaville
Nevadaville is the true definition of a ghost town. Just like many of the other mining towns in Colorado, it went bust big time back in 1900, at which point the population significantly declined. Everything from the main drag of the town, the post office, and the mines are easy to access, and each part of the town offers a glimpse into the past for various reasons.
The area right outside the mine itself is the most interesting spot to explore, where you can still find occasional mining relics from the past. The strangest thing to think about when exploring here is the fact that the town itself was rebuilt after a huge fire in the 1860’s, only to be deserted less than 50 years later. The only building that sees any use these days is the Masonic Lodge, which is the only lodge to hold regular meetings in a ghost town.
3. The Abandoned Coach Car (Victor)
Just as the various ores and minerals had to be taken to and from the mines, so did people. This is why it should come as no surprise that there were a few of these coach cars left behind. While this one seems to have some rather odd placement, it’s not too far-fetched to believe that it was simply decommissioned with age as the railroad industry died down across America.
This is another spot on this list that’s easily accessible and fun to explore. Not only is it relatively close to downtown Victor, it’s also easy to walk through. While it won’t give you hours of fun, it’s always amusing to step into a piece of history an imagine the people who use to travel within. It also provides for an excellent photo op when it’s not too far overgrown, and is surprisingly well-preserved for being consistently exposed to the elements.
2. Leadville Mines
Life above 10,000 ft. can be pretty difficult, but there’s definitely some beauty to be admired, too. For starters, the view from some of these abandoned mines is absolutely stunning, but, beyond that, it’s even more enchanting to imagine how difficult life must have been for the miners who made the trek up there prior to modern transportation.
After the silver industry boom declined in the late 1800’s, much of Leadville’s mines were left to slowly waste away in time. Some of the remains have fallen victim to mysterious fires, while others are simply rusting and corroding away. The good news is that there are plenty of them to explore, and they will provide for hours of interesting exploration.
1. The Crystal Mill
Where once men worked tiredly to extract minerals from the nearby streams, nothing remains aside from the skeletal remains of the building in which they used to work. A fast-moving stream flows by, giving the deserted building even more of a rustic look; especially when the colors begin to change in fall.
This abandoned spot is easily accessed through hiking trails, and the journey won’t take you too long. Just a short hike from NF-314, the walk will be both serene and beautiful, and the mill itself is gorgeous, regardless of the season. Although it’s ill-advised to attempt getting over to the building itself, the view is enough to keep you satisfied, and it’s not hard to see why this building has been preserved.
