Ashcroft Townsite
Silver in the hills led to the speedy creation of this boom town and a lack of it saw the town abandoned nearly as quickly.
Been Here?
Want to Visit?
forumComment
Night sky over the Ashcroft Hotel David Crane
A small cabin surrounded by colorful aspens in Ashcroft David Crane
Four buildings of the Ashcroft Townsite David Crane
Ashcroft Hotel David Crane
Looking out a barred window and door of the Ascroft Hotel David Crane
Looking out the front door of the Ashcroft Hotel David Crane
Overlooking many of the restored buildings of the Ashcroft Townsite. David Crane
The Blue Mirror Saloon David Crane
Introductory signage David Crane
One of many helpful kiosks along the path David Crane
One of few buildings not restored; this is the original condition David Crane
Mining precious metals seems to produce ghost towns almost as though they are a natural byproduct of the process, and the history of ghost town, Ashcroft, Colorado is a telling example of just why that is.
Top Places in Aspen
Magic Mushroom House
An architect in Aspen used psychedelics as his muse while building this mushroom masterpiece.
Added by Rachel
Hunter S. Thompson Shrine
"You better take care of me Lord, if you don't you're gonna have me on your hands." ― Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
Despite being one of the most photographed vistas in the Rockies these twin peaks are rightfully known as the "Deadly Bells."
Added by thomasharper
See more things to do in Aspen »
In 1880 two prospectors, Charles B. Culver, and W.F. Coxhead, discovered silver in the Castle Creek Valley. In his greedy furor Coxhead promoted the area as Castle Forks City (changed to Ashcroft in 1882) back in the mining town of Leadville, hoping to bring other prospectors and businesspeople to the area. Meanwhile Culver recruited 23 other prospectors on site and when Coxhead returned, the 25 of them laid out city streets and constructed a courthouse in just two weeks.
By 1885, six hotels and twenty saloons had sprung up, and the town was now home to over 3,500 people. However, as with so many towns in the boom times of Western mining, things declined rapidly from there. The early promise of a railroad passing from Ashcroft to Crested Butte never came about. In addition, the ore deposits, initially turning out 14,000 ounces of silver per ton, turned out to be shallow and were quickly depleted. 1884 had produced another rich ore vain in nearby Aspen, and by the end of 1885 only 100 residents remained in Ashcroft. Into the 20th Century, only a few men stayed in the dwindling town as mine work thinned out. Mostly they fished, hunted, and drank at the local bar.
The 1930s briefly brought new life to the town as winter sports rose in popularity and the Highland-Bavarian Lodge was built as a planned ski resort. After one of the founders of the resort died in combat in World War II, the town was leased to the U.S. Military, seeing use from the 10th Mountain Division for mountaineering training. After the end of the war, it was given over the the U.S. Forest Service.
Ashcroft saw limited activity from then on, until 1974, when the Aspen Historical Society took interest. They succeeded in having Ashcroft added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and it remains as a terrifically preserved ghost town and cautionary reminder of the fleeting rewards of greed.
Drive about 11 Miles South on Castle Creek Road from the round-a-bout in Aspen. There are signs.
Sign up for our newsletter and get the best of Atlas Obscura in your inbox.
gold rushghost towns
Start the discussion.
forum Visit our forums.
D DCrane
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashcroft,_Colorado
http://aspenhistory.org/tours/ashcroft-ghost-town/
http://www.examiner.com/article/history-hike-aspen-s-ashcroft-ghost-town
Aspen, Colorado, 81611
Now booking adventures
to Maine, Greenland & Labrador, Peruvian Amazon, and more.
Near This Place
Buena Vista, Colorado
Mount Elbert
The highest point in Colorado is a dangerous mix of lightning, jealousy, and thin air.
Carbondale, Colorado
Penny Hot Springs
A little-known hot spring haven right below the highway.
Added by mtclymer001
Molson, Washington
Okanogan Highland Ghost Towns
This former mining mecca holds a surprising abundance of undisturbed relics from the Old West.
Added by John Hieger
Eagle, Alaska
Fort Egbert
This remote fort on the Yukon River is a vestige of the wild Alaska gold rush.
Added by Edward Denny
Caliente, Nevada
Delamar Ghost Town
The eerie ruins of an isolated abandoned town nicknamed "the Widowmaker" for its deadly gold mine.
Added by Greg Johnson
Central City, Colorado
Nevadaville Ghost Town
This deserted gold rush town is home to a Masonic lodge that, strangely enough, still holds meetings.
Added by aaaaaaaaaaaa
Random Place Icon Another Random Place »