In the last Colorado post, I showed you the scenic high-altitude Highway 82. On the same highway, a bit towards Aspen is a forgotten mining town, now called Independence mining town. We decided to check it out and see what there is to see.
As the sign shows, it's a high-elevation town. It was still snow around too, in the summer, mid-June.
The town was founded in 1879 because a big amount of gold deposits were found in this area. Many people moved into this town because the pay was extremely good at the time. Many also liked the temperate climate at this altitude.
Here is seen how they are trying to preserve some of the structures still standing.
As with many mining locations at the time. The hype soon faded because gold was depleted in the area and starting in 1883 the production decreased drastically.
The original structure. That's actually quite well preserved, considering that it is almost 150 years old.
In 1899 the biggest storm in Colorado happened and with it a huge amount of snowfall. That cut off all the supply routes to the town. By that time there were still about 100 people living there.
Since there was no food coming in, they needed to get out of the town but they decided to do it fun way. Inhabitants dismantled some of the structures to make many pairs of skis and they fled the town and skied downhill to Aspen, it was a contest. The entry fee was a ham sandwich 😀.
Nobody came back to live there and since that time the town is a ghost town.
A river next to the town.
Here are a couple of photos where you can see some rubble piles that once were the buildings.
It was interesting for us to see this place. I don't know about you but for me, it's always cool to see places with a history that are forgotten in time.
