Help with CO mining town
 

We're going to Colorado Sept 2-5. We're driving from KC Friday night.

I've reserved, in Aspen, a Gant Condo (priceline-$100.00) for Sunday eve.

We plan on going to the Maroon Belles. Other than this, we're open.

I would like to go to a mining town. I used to love Central City before the casinos. I'm thinking something similar to Jerome, AZ (even though it's now getting too touristy).

Can anyone recommend a place similar to the old Central City or Jerome?

Georgetown Colorado is an old mining town.

Debi

There are two mining towns near Manitou springs called Cripple creek(you can take a train tour) and Victor.C.Creek has however aso casinos.Paul

My favorite is Idaho Springs because they don't have casinos there. But it'd be quite a drive from Aspen. Idaho Springs is only about a 30 min drive West of Denver.

Molybdenum and Leadville are two other ideas you could research. I haven't been to them in years though, so I don't know if they've become more commercialized.

Leadville still has a lot of the old mining town flavor, lots of old buildings some large and some shabby-like Baby Doe's cabin (where she was found frozen to death). It's the highest incorporated city in the U.S. at 10,000 feet plus. Has a nice golf course. It's a couple of hours from Aspen driving over Independence Pass on Colorado 82 to US 24 - very scenic. Do a search on Google and there are probably photos and more info. From Leadville, you can return to either Vail or Copper Mountain on Interstate 70.

Leadville also has a fantastic mining museum.

Keith

The Gant is a nice condo complex, and it sounds like you got a great deal. You can easily walk into 'downtown' Aspen from there. So much to do in and near Aspen, I'd stay close to there myself and enjoy the visit. You have just three nights, right?

I love Leadville--it's 'real.' Before your trip to Leadville, do a little research on Baby Doe and Horace Tabor if you can. She is a fascinating, heartbreaking story (I once did a 20 page term paper on her LLLLLOOOONNNNNG ago :-) )

I agree, go to Leadville (great Gant price, btw); Cripple Creek is casinos now, like Central City (blackhawk is unrecognizable). The road to Leadville via Independence Pass is awesome (and check out the ghost town of Independence (Fourth of July?) on the pass).

Leadville sounds just like what we're looking for. I understand that it's also a beautiful drive from Aspen.

We're also looking at Marble.

Thank you for all of your responses!

If you go to Marble, stop and spend a little time in Redstone. The Redstone Inn has a really good menu. Also, east of Redstone along the Crystal River there are hot springs flowing into the river, with stones to sit on and soak your feet. Ask in Redstone for the location.

We were in Colorado over the 4th of July and took a train ride into the mountains from Leadville.

This is from the website:

Originating in "the highest incorporated city in North America," the Leadville, Colorado & Southern RR takes passengers along the old Denver, South Park & Pacific and Colorado & Southern lines to the Continental Divide. But, as the old adage states, "It's not the destination, but the journey that's important." This journey is full of breath-taking panoramas across the Arkansas River Valley and humorous narratives about Leadville's colorful past. Mining and railroading were a large part of the local history, and today's passengers will find it easy to step back in time on the Leadville, Colorado & Southern.

My husband I enjoyed this very much. We have some fantastic photos from this trip.

Driving from KC, so I will assume you are taking I-70.

Idaho Springs, Georgetown, Silver Plum, are all on I-70, so you can stop going to or from (assuming you are turning around and heading back to KC) Aspen. Leadville can also be on your way, either taking Hwy 91 from Copper Mtn. or Hwy 24 just west of Vail, through Minturn. Then from Leadville, you go over Independence Pass (fantastic views and don't forget to stop at the top at look at the remains of the town of Independence) and on into Aspen.