Over the years, we’ve visited and written about many of Colorado’s ghost towns. With Halloween nearly upon us, we thought it a fitting time to revisit some of those stories. Happy Halloween!
St. Elmo is a Western favorite for many reasons. St. Elmo was founded in 1880 because of the many gold and silver claims surrounding the scenic, creekside mountain town. It’s is easily accessed — even by normal cars — just 25 miles southwest of Buena Vista. St. Elmo is also immaculately maintained by its caretakers, some of whom operate the St. Elmo General Store.
So many stories lie along with the bodies buried in this southwestern Colorado ghost town’s lovingly restored little cemetery that sits a few feet away from a present-day campground.
There are the two little girls, sisters Sarah and Gertrude Mullins, “Born 2 years apart, Died 2 days apart, Buried 2 hands apart.”
It may be a bit late for the fall color now, but these are still great towns to check out — like Ashcroft: Managed today by the Aspen Historical Society, a series of weather-beaten buildings stand flanked by leafy gold. Interpretative signs depict the town’s past, and many of the buildings, such as the two-story hotel at street’s end, have been stabilized for safe entry.
Bonanza, in Saguache County, was in jeopardy of being relegated to the ash heap of history, facing disincorporation and losing its status as the state’s smallest town because of a “lack of government.”
Ed Bartheld’s body was found surrounded by explosive in the crawl space under his house.
The former town of Eureka, eight miles north of Silverton, is becoming a popular camp site, and the county is forcing temporary residents to use a 50-space campground with picnic areas.
Here’s a short notice about a ghost town in central Colorado being legally abandoned and ceded to the U.S. Forest Service.
