Tonya Hance: Adventures, Events, Photos, Books: Ashcroft: A Colorado Ghost Town of Unparalleled Beauty

Ashcroft Ghost Town is a charming and scenic visit featuring historic ruins, snow-capped peaks, and the stunning fall colors that Colorado is famous for. Nestled a mere ten miles south of the ski resort town of Aspen along Castle Creek Road, Ashcroft was founded in 1880 by silver prospectors. Ashcroft's townsite, which was first named Castle Forks City, boomed almost overnight after the discovery of silver in Castle Creek Valley. Within two weeks, the streets were laid out, a courthouse was built, and the townsite was divided into 840 lots. Known as a successful boomtown, Ashcroft's population quickly grew to 2500 by 1882.

Horace Tabor, a Leadville mining tycoon, invested in the successful Tam O'Shanter and Montezuma silver ore mines which were producing 14,000 ounces of silver per ton. When Horace and his wife, Baby Doe, visited Ashcroft in 1883, the town celebrated with a grand ball, banquet, and free drinks in all of the saloons thanks to Horace's generosity.

Larger than Aspen its heyday, Ashcroft consisted of twenty saloons, two newspapers, six hotels, a school, a bowling alley, a doctor's office, and a jail. With telegraph service, a post office, and its close proximity to the railroad in Crested Butte, Ashcroft was set to rival the nearby town of Aspen. Unfortunately, the mines, whose silver deposits were shallow, played out. A new and profitable strike was discovered in Aspen in 1884 luring the remaining residents of Ashcroft away. The town that boomed overnight went bust in the same manner. By 1885, only one hundred people remained in the once prosperous silver mining town of Ashcroft.

In an effort to preserve this historic townsite, Aspen Historical Society put the ghost town of Ashcroft on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and began reconstruction efforts to protect the remaining buildings from collapse. Thanks to the Aspen Historical Society's continued efforts over the years, one can visit the townsite and see six original structures along with three restored buildings. These structures include a two-story hotel with photogenic bay windows, a post office, an assay office, two saloons, a mercantile, and a blacksmith shop along with several cabins and outhouses. Most of the buildings are marked with interpretive signs and follow what was once Main Street. Artifacts may be seen as well in the buildings and surrounding fields.

To reach this picturesque ghost town at an elevation of 9500 feet, head toward the traffic circle west of Aspen on CO-82. Take the third exit onto Castle Creek Road and follow Castle Creek Road ten miles to a small parking lot on the left. A clearly marked short path leads to the townsite. Please note that dogs are not allowed and a short donation is requested to visit the area.