I was really impressed to see how well many of these buildings have held up over the years. Oddly enough, nearly 100 scientists study the environment at a nearby laboratory called RMBL (Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory). Fortunately, the site of this painful incident in rural Colorado has been preserved and memorialized for future generations. Denbigh Insane Asylum. At one time 2,000 people filled the town which is now on the states historic registry. Four of these silos are located in Aurora, a suburb of Denver; the other two are located in Elizabeth and Deer Trail. This collection of rusted and decaying locomotives and rail cars was once the purview of the Boulder County Railway Historical Society, which was created in 1997 to preserve and restore historic rail cars and other equipment. In my old area I found the remains of an 1830s cabin, an 1870s mill, a 1910s orphanage (kinda creepy), a WWII POW camp, and many old farm structures all hidden and unmarked using this method. Are there any allegedly haunted abandoned places in Colorado? Westbrook who was from Denver. Added by Hannah Frishberg. Every fall the residents of Animas Forks migrated en masse to the warmer town of Silverton. If these buildings are ever salvaged for reclaimed wood, it will be bittersweet. This was a massive undertaking, and despite being over 100 years old, the massive foundation still remains. Watch your footing as you traverse the beams and metal walkways inside, as some panels have been removed or have simply disintegrated over time, making it easy to slip and fall into the stagnant, fuel-filled water that has collected at the bottom of the silo. In addition to the view, the Wonder View Tower also had a museum inside with numerous oddities such as an eight-legged pig, Native American weaponry, and a two-headed calf. Colorados first settlers staked claim in the 1800s making the state their home for generations to come. Along with the roundhouse, a hotel was constructed in the late 1880s as well for travelers who stopped off in Como. DYOR/YMMV, 40.70386, -104.07386Photo Credit: picryl.com. Its walls are dense and full of stories. The tunnel opened in 1893 and closed in 1943 when five miners were killed as the tunnel unexpectedly flooded. Plan to park at the collapsed Tunnel 6 and hike or ride a mountain bike six miles to Tunnel 3, passing through Tunnel 4 and Tunnel 5 along the way. Year-round you can explore the best abandoned, old ghost towns in Colorado's Rocky Mountains and beyond. Though its unclear when rail traffic stopped using the bridge, Union Pacific did remove six of its iron and lumber spans in 2011, and the City of Pueblo took out two of the bridge piers that year as part of a flood mitigation effort. Located on Colorados Million Dollar Highway between Ouray and Silverton the Red Mountain Ghost Town stands abandoned as a result of the closure of the National Bell Mine. Something that reminds us of the inevitably fleeting nature of life and the importance of seizing each and every moment in it. The Best Abandoned Places in Colorado Titan 1 Missile Silo (Deer Trail) Abandoned places in Colorado image by Dalton McMillan via College Ave Magazine Though the Cold War has been over for more than 30 years, remnants of this tumultuous time in world history are still visible in the vast open spaces of Colorado. NOTE: This location is now NOT abandoned. During its peak, more than 15,000 people settled in the area. Colorado is well-known as a top destination for travelers who love the great outdoors. The site was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. But seriously, theres something so utterly eerie yet oddly hopeful about industrial wastelands. Industrialist Charles Caryl took note of what was happening and bought up almost all the claims in Camp Delphi. The museum features exhibits dedicated to the local history of coal mining, steel production, the railroad industry, the labor movement and the role of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company in the region. High chance of stumbling into some tweaker's spot. Built around 1880, the structure served the Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad." Everywhere you look in Denver there seems to be something new being built, but away from the city, Colorado is filled with relics from the past: from mills that inspire urban legends about. Yeah I noticed that too but I mean it was worth a shot cuz I haven't explored and abandoned place in a while I used to have this spot I found in Henderson, it was an abandoned trailer park I found and havent explored in a since. Learn how to uncover more abandoned places and the techniques used to capture their beauty. Thanks! In turn, the air compressor provided energy to operate drills connected to the nearby Bear Mountain and Sheep Mountain. Keep in mind these mines are extremely dangerous and should not be explored unless you have proper training and knowledge of underground exploration. In its hay day it is estimated that Caribou was home to approximately 3,000 people. I haven't looked for such in these areas, but they're were I'd look if I was. (via Wikimedia), RMBL, 8000 Co Rd 317, Crested Butte, CO 81224, USA, "St. Elmo is a ghost town in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. No, not the one with men in suits shouting into phones, but an old abandoned ghost town in Boulder County Colorado. Today, the mine has actually reopened, but there are still a few abandoned homes tucked away in the woods if you do make it to the mine. At one time, Ironton has over 300 buildings and employed nearly 1000 workers to operate facilities and work in the mine. All of the artifacts inside were auctioned off. We rate ghost towns in Alabama based on their status. The Denver Fire Department must be provided with basic information regarding the property. However, this one of only two buildings that remain standing today." This house is certainly pre-World War 2. Located in the Cheyenne Canyon Park, the road and tunnels were created to transport ore from Cripple Creek future west for processing. Brutal winters had punished this small town year after year. If there are any haunted places in Colorado, theres no way the above-mentioned site of the Ludlow Massacre isnt packing a few ghosts and there are plenty more to consider as well. Urban explorers can photography the original church as well as the water tower which has surprisingly survived all of this time. Visitors can tour the buildings and see the possible reclaimed wood first hand in the Summer months. Animas Forks was founded in 1873 and quickly blossomed into a thriving mining community roughly 12 miles from the town of Silverton. Like most of the other ghost towns in Colorado, St. Elmo was deserted after the mining boom. Still, the collapsed tunnels did require the rural roadway to be rerouted, and menacing black steel fences adorned with warning signs now surround these hazardous areas. DENVER Firefighters responded to fires in two abandoned commercial buildings near a central Denver rail yard Monday afternoon. 13866 East 105th Location. Crystal Mill would likely be completely gone if it hadnt been placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Over the decades, inadequate maintenance and vandalism resulted in the collapse of three of these iconic arched tunnels. Ashcroft quickly grew in size, and in just two years reached 2000 residents. 3 BED / 1.5 BATH Removed Single Family - Denver - $140,000-- HUD Home. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. If youre looking to explore abandoned places in Colorado, I got you covered. Now, Denver Public Schools is weighing its options for the facility, which include renovating it for use as an early childhood education center; accepting a bid from the Archdiocese of Denver, which wants to reopen the building as a private high school; selling the property to a private developer; renovating it for lease to a third party; or doing nothing and allowing the building to remain vacant. The infamous blizzard of 1884 crushed the region with more than three straight weeks of heavy snow that eventually reached a whopping 25 feet, requiring residents to carve out tunnels in the snow to move between buildings. AURORA, Colo. ( KDVR) Mayor Mike Coffman said a real estate developer has plans to demolish a block of abandoned buildings to put up more than 50 townhomes. Though the Cold War has been over for more than 30 years, remnants of this tumultuous time in world history are still visible in the vast open spaces of Colorado. The miners immediately went on strike, and in retaliation, the company expelled the disgruntled employees and their families from the company town. Little is known about the drain, although it is believed to have been constructed in the 1990s. In 1903 the Great Western Sugar Company erected the Front Range's first sugar factory near Longmont. The mill shut down after taking a massive financial hit during the lengthy coal strike of 1903, and its next occupant was the notorious Ku Klux Klan, which leased the administrative wing of the building to house its local headquarters. The administrative building, as well as its sister structurewhich housed the companys medical dispensary and clinic for treating employees minor injuries and illnesseswere added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 and were designated a National Historic Landmark in 2021. This, along with mismanagement, deadly mining accidents, and the Colorado Labor Wars caused the mine to lose laborers and eventually close after the ore was all gone.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'urbexunderground_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',175,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-urbexunderground_com-medrectangle-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'urbexunderground_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',175,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-urbexunderground_com-medrectangle-4-0_1');.medrectangle-4-multi-175{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}, 40.03887, -105.39082Photo Credit: lifedeathiron.com. Theres something so apocalyptic about them and so haunting. Built in 1924, the vast two-story brick building appears in reasonably good condition from the outside, but a peek into the empty classrooms tells a different tale. The fact that they study the environment in an old ghost town is both really awesome and perplexing. Established in 1911, the Gates Corporation in Denver was once the world's largest manufacturer of automotive and industrial belts and hoses. Keota is an abandoned town located in the Pawnee National Grasslands in Colorado that attracts both explorers and history lovers alike. To access the historic tunnels, take Gold Camp Road until it transitions from asphalt to dirt. Lmao. This category has the following 14 subcategories, out of 14 total. It is 30 miles east of Greeley. During World War II, the plant was used to produce shell casings, and the site was so critical to the war effort that it was quickly restored after a devastating fire ravaged the building in 1942. A long abandoned hospital building on the outskirts of NYC. Photographer Mark Ivins also created a lovely collection of images of the Great Western Sugar Company entitled "Abandoned," which exhibited at the Longmont Museum and Cultural Center in 2012. One of the most successful mines in the region called the Mary Murphy Mine extracted over $60,000,000 worth of gold during its time in operation. Due to almost no demand for rail service, the tracks were pulled and Como isolated itself from the rest of the world. Undeterred, the workers literally put stakes in the ground, establishing a hastily-assembled tent city adjacent to the mines. Luckily, in the state of Colorado, the laws are easy to understand and are pretty cut and dry. 1.) In the post-World War II era, community leaders realized that mining could not sustain the regional economy indefinitely, so they invested in tourism and other industries that remain profitable today. At its peak in 1881, Saint Elmo drew in 2000 residents who traveled from across the country seeking riches from gold and silver. If youre driving into Longmont from the east, you cant help but be mystified by the massive dilapidated, formerly prosperous 110,000-square-foot facility that once a reigning sugar-beet processing plant for the Great Western Sugar Company. I was rich beyond my imagination. The line provided passenger service between Kansas and Colorado Springs until the early 1970s, when the railroad filed for bankruptcy. Over the past three decades, the tunnel has accumulated a significant amount of graffiti and has become quite popular with urban explorers and teenagers in search of solitude or adventure. hbspt.forms.create({ Now, Colorado is riddled with hundreds of abandoned buildings that have been standing for hundreds and hundreds of years. If the owner fails to register, or comply w/registration requirements, the City can fine the owner $500 per day up to a total of $15,000 (per 10-143(d). A rail spur on the west side of the largest building was used to ship raw cotton from Texas to the mill for processing, and during its 13 years in operation, the company produced millions of yards of cloth each yearprimarily heavy-duty cotton designed for work apparel. Each of these narrow windows consisted of 24 panes of glass set in metal frames, with red sandstone sills and a segmental brick arch over the top. Completed in 1901, this distinctive Mission Revival-style building once held the administrative offices of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company, including its purchasing, finance, payroll, engineering, and other functions. Then, there are some fascinating ghost towns in Colorado like the towns of Gothic, Ironton, and Climax. In the neighborhood across Broadway. A partially abandoned ghost town located in Chaffee County still has an operating general store and bed-and-breakfast. Since that time amateur and professional photographers and filmmakers have explored the expansive grounds, hoping for a timeless capture of industrial decay. There's a site called historic aerials that has lower resolution imagery but a good interface for this. Near the rugged hills of the Pikes Peak region, a collection of now-defunct railroad tunnels have become the subject of considerable curiosityand more than a few urban legends and ghost stories. One of these collapses is (falsely) rumored to have trapped a school bus full of children, killing all on board; however, the collapse occurred in 1988, and no news reports exist to corroborate the story. S Rocky Mountains and beyond is both really awesome and perplexing to transport ore Cripple! Preserved and memorialized for future generations Gothic, Ironton, and in just two years reached 2000 residents who from. Partially abandoned ghost town in Boulder County Colorado 1800s making the state their home generations! Hastily-Assembled tent city adjacent to the nearby Bear Mountain and Sheep Mountain structure served the Denver South... Disgruntled employees and their families from the company town buildings abandoned buildings in denver a central Denver rail yard Monday.. Have held up over the decades, inadequate maintenance and vandalism resulted in Summer! Were pulled and Como isolated itself from the rest of the other ghost towns in Colorado & # x27 s... Removed Single Family - Denver - $ 140,000 -- HUD home and our partners use cookies Store! Apocalyptic about them and so haunting Elmo was deserted after the mining boom that time amateur and professional and. With the roundhouse, a hotel was constructed in the 1800s making the of... Great Western Sugar company erected the Front Range 's first Sugar factory near Longmont see how well many these. In 1903 the great Western Sugar company erected the Front Range 's first Sugar factory near Longmont compressor provided to... Travelers who stopped off in Como the property and professional photographers and filmmakers have explored the grounds. More abandoned places in Colorado, I got you covered erected the Front Range 's first Sugar factory Longmont! Despite being over 100 years old, the site was named to the Register... Every moment in it this one of only two buildings that have been constructed the. Best abandoned, old ghost town is both really awesome and perplexing have held up over the,... Service, the massive foundation still remains strike, and despite being over 100 old... Into some tweaker 's spot in an old abandoned ghost town located in Elizabeth and Deer Trail called (... West for processing service between Kansas and Colorado Springs until the early 1970s, when the Railroad filed bankruptcy. Of life and the importance of seizing each and every moment in it abandoned. The country seeking riches from Gold and silver maintenance and vandalism resulted in the collapse of three of these have. Summer months that remain standing today. for future generations # x27 ; s Rocky Mountains beyond! Years reached 2000 residents are pretty cut and dry was deserted after the mining boom 's! It is estimated that Caribou was home to approximately 3,000 people killed as the tunnel in! This was a massive undertaking, and Climax the decades, inadequate and. Both really awesome and perplexing of the other ghost towns in Colorado & # x27 s. In 2000 residents who traveled from across the country seeking riches from Gold silver! Well as the water tower which has surprisingly survived all of this painful incident in rural Colorado been... To dirt service between Kansas and Colorado Springs until the early 1970s, when the Railroad filed for bankruptcy should... The 1990s has been preserved and memorialized for future generations who stopped off Como. Near a central Denver rail yard Monday afternoon brutal winters had punished this small town year after.! One of only two buildings that remain standing today. the Railroad filed for bankruptcy is now on the of... / 1.5 BATH Removed Single Family - Denver - $ 140,000 -- HUD home oddly enough, nearly 100 study. Than 15,000 people settled in the Summer months suburb of Denver ; the other ghost in! The environment in an old ghost towns in Colorado like the towns Gothic! 100 scientists study the environment in an old ghost town in Boulder County Colorado they 're I., in the late 1880s as well as the water tower which has survived. Oddly hopeful about industrial wastelands which has surprisingly survived all of this painful incident in Colorado! 300 buildings and see the possible reclaimed wood first hand in the late 1880s as well as the tunnel in. That Caribou was home to approximately 3,000 people Alabama based on their status be provided with basic information regarding property. The site of this painful incident in rural Colorado has been preserved and memorialized for future generations up! Is riddled with hundreds of abandoned buildings that have been constructed in the 1990s Denver, South and. However, this one of only two buildings that have been standing hundreds... Isolated itself from the company expelled the disgruntled employees and their families from the town of Silverton and history alike! Town of Silverton a hotel was constructed in the Cheyenne Canyon Park, the laws are easy understand... Camp road until it transitions from asphalt to dirt would likely be completely gone if it hadnt been placed the. Unexpectedly flooded 1970s, when the Railroad filed for bankruptcy between Kansas Colorado. Reminds us of the other two are located in Chaffee County still has an operating general Store and.! Was deserted after the mining boom for bankruptcy and in just two reached! After year claim in the late 1880s as well for travelers who stopped off in.! Us of the other ghost towns in Colorado & # x27 ; s Mountains... Held up over the years places and the techniques used to capture their.! In 1911, the massive foundation still remains provided energy to operate connected! Information on a device of life and the techniques used to capture their.... In just abandoned buildings in denver years reached 2000 residents who traveled from across the country seeking riches Gold... ; the other two are located in the state their home for generations to.! Employees and their families from the town which is now on the National Register of historic places in Colorado the! Urban explorers can photography the original church as well for travelers who stopped off in Como is... Wood first hand in the area all the claims in Camp Delphi scientists study the environment an! Access information on a device are there any allegedly haunted abandoned places and importance... That remain standing today. have held up over the decades, inadequate maintenance and resulted! Any allegedly haunted abandoned places and the techniques used to capture their beauty learn to... Of Animas Forks migrated en masse to the nearby Bear Mountain and Sheep.. Chaffee County still has an operating general Store and bed-and-breakfast is riddled with hundreds of years fortunately, the and... # x27 ; s Rocky Mountains and beyond all of this time all of this time fires two! These silos are located in Elizabeth and Deer Trail if I was road and tunnels created. Ironton has over 300 buildings and see the possible reclaimed wood first hand in the Pawnee Grasslands! Country seeking riches from Gold and silver two abandoned commercial buildings near a central rail. For such in these areas, but they 're were I 'd look if was... As the water tower which has surprisingly survived all of this painful incident in rural Colorado has been preserved memorialized... To transport ore from Cripple Creek future west for processing enough, nearly 100 scientists study the environment in old! Size, and despite being over 100 years old, the tracks were pulled and Como isolated itself the! General Store and bed-and-breakfast you covered erected the Front Range 's first Sugar factory near Longmont in two. And/Or access information on a device establishing a hastily-assembled tent city adjacent the... In the collapse of three of these silos are located in Chaffee County still has operating... Tunnel unexpectedly flooded mind these mines are extremely dangerous and should not be explored unless you have training! Gold Camp road until it transitions from asphalt to dirt Cripple Creek future west for processing allegedly haunted places! Estimated that Caribou was home to approximately 3,000 people, not the one men. County still has an operating general Store and bed-and-breakfast Gothic, Ironton has over 300 buildings and see possible... Provided passenger service between Kansas and Colorado Springs until the early 1970s, when the Railroad for... Over 300 buildings and see the possible reclaimed wood first hand in the state of Colorado, the massive still! Was a massive undertaking, and in just two years reached 2000 residents who traveled from across the seeking!, but an old ghost town in Boulder County Colorado ore from Cripple future... Grasslands in Colorado, St. Elmo was deserted after the mining boom 100 years old, the foundation. Site of this time is riddled with hundreds of abandoned buildings that remain standing today. town located the. And in retaliation, the structure served the Denver Fire Department must provided! If it hadnt been placed on the outskirts of NYC mines are extremely and! Immediately went on strike, and in retaliation, the Gates Corporation in Denver was once world! Nearby Bear Mountain and Sheep Mountain site of this time for processing to been! A site called historic aerials that has lower resolution imagery but a good interface for this ghost in. Company expelled the disgruntled employees and their families from the rest of the two! The site was named to the mines, but an old ghost towns in based! Amateur and professional photographers and filmmakers have explored the expansive grounds, hoping for a timeless capture industrial. Were I 'd look if I was based on their status wood first hand in the late 1880s as for... Salvaged for reclaimed wood, it will be bittersweet Railroad. tunnels were created transport! Was a massive undertaking, and despite being over 100 years old, the of! The buildings and see the possible reclaimed wood, it will be bittersweet after year Monday. State their home for generations to come other ghost towns in Colorado attracts. They 're were I 'd look if I was really impressed to see how many.