The land was eventually transferred to the U.S. These plans never materialized, and later landowners sought to preserve what remained of the town’s buildings. A few old-time miners stayed in the area, but by the 1930s, Ashcroft was a ghost town.Īround mid-century the growing ski industry revived interest in the old town, which was envisioned as part of a ski resort. The 1893 repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act, which devastated Colorado’s silver mining industry, spelled further doom for what was left of Ashcroft. A lack of railroad connections to the town, along with competition from nearby Aspen where several exciting new silver discoveries had been made, caused Ashcroft to decline. But by late in the decade, Ashcroft was already losing population. For a short time, Ashcroft had more residents than nearby Aspen. It featured two newspapers, a hotel, a school, and as many as twenty saloons. Originally a mining camp established in 1880, Ashcroft grew to a town of over 2,000 residents. This is the abandoned silver mining town of Ashcroft. A 2007 State Historical Fund grant further aided with the site’s preservation.Īnother ghost town sits eleven miles from Aspen on Castle Creek Road.
In 1973 the town was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and in 1980 the Aspen Historical Society took control of preserving the site. Over the years, the weather took its toll on many of the buildings, and local residents became concerned for the preservation of the remaining structures. Harsh weather conditions also contributed to the town’s abandonment. But within just a few years, the gold played out and miners moved to the more lucrative silver mines in and around Aspen. In the early 1880s the town’s population grew to about 1,500, with about forty businesses. Although silver mining dominated the region, Independence was one of the few mining towns in the area associated with gold mining. The town was given its name following a gold discovery on July 4, 1879. Located near Aspen, Colorado, are the ghost towns of Ashcroft and Independence, two fascinating reminders of the mining boom era in Colorado’s central mountains.Īt 10,900 feet, the ghost town of Independence can be found along Highway 82 just west of Independence Pass, Colorado’s highest mountain pass. Some of the remaining buildings in Independence.