I will definitely be returning to this town very soon. Only had limited time to explore this past weekend.
Founded in 1886 during the Colorado Silver Boom, the town later became a center of lead and zinc mining in Colorado. It was abandoned in 1984 by order of the Environmental Protection Agency because of toxic pollutants, including contamination of the ground water, as well as unprofitability of the mines. It is currently a ghost town on private property and is strictly off limits to the public. The town sits at an elevation of 8950 ft on top of a dramatic 600-foot cliff.
As of 2007 there have been plans to demolish the town to make way for luxury housing as part of plans to create a new ski resort nearby. Obviously those plans have either stalled or changed because it's 2013 and the town remains as dead as ever.
I didn't take the time necessary for a stealthier entry, so I didn't explore the whole town. These photos are just a small sampling from about 5 of the many buildings scattered around the town.
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