Once upon a time, there was a booming mining town located in the mountains of Chaffee County, and all who lived there were proud of their home, which then consisted of saloons, hotels, dance halls, schools, stores and more than 150 prosperous mines within the area. One mine, which recovered a whopping $60,000,000 worth of gold during its operation, ran continuously from 1870 to 1925, when the railroad was eventually abandoned.
During its heyday, the town was a thriving haven; but after the mining industry closed for good, it sat nearly vacant, even losing its post office after the postmaster’s death in the early 1950s.
The small, historic ghost town that I am referring to is St. Elmo, and its beautifully preserved buildings, streets, and landscape deserve to be visited by every Coloradoan.
Tourists from both near and far visit St. Elmo every year and have the option of renting 4-wheelers to navigate its old mining roads.
Flickr/Jeffrey Beall
The General Store re-opens every summer and sells a variety of goods to visiting tourists.
Wikimedia Commons
St. Elmo’s post office, which closed following the post master’s death in 1952.
Flickr/Michele ONeill
The post office and its neighboring buildings.
Flickr/Michele ONeill
The old one-room school house rests among colorful Aspen trees.
Flickr/UnShuttered Soul~ Good to be busy!
An old Texaco gas station.
Wikimedia Commons
What remains of an old two-story home with bay windows.
Wikimedia Commons
Vintage licence plates line the wall of a steel building.
Flickr/Michele ONeill
Have you ever visited this hauntingly beautiful ghost town? Or do you know somebody who once lived here? Tell us your story in the comments.
Flickr/Jeffrey Beall
Wikimedia Commons
Flickr/Michele ONeill
Flickr/UnShuttered Soul~ Good to be busy!
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