Back to the subject of Colorado ghost towns.
Today’s photo is from the ghost town of Elkhorn, Colorado. Once a mining town, the remnants of the old abandoned gold mine now sit on private property in Northern Colorado, near the village of Red Feather Lakes. This photograph was made using a Nikon D850 with the Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II.
I’ve photographed dozens ghost towns around Colorado. This particular location is just a couple of miles from my cabin in Red Feathers, and I had basically ignored it for almost 20 years, even though I drove past it several times. Low hanging fruit I guess. I never took the time to explore it, I simply looked at it from the road as I drove through. I finally made the effort in May of 2003.
Here are some additional details about the history of Elkhorn:
The town was founded in 1880 by a group of prospectors who were searching for gold.
The town’s population quickly grew, and by 1883 it had a population of over 2,500 people.
The town’s economy was based on gold mining, and it was home to several mines, including the Elkhorn Mine, the Mammoth Mine, and the Golden Fleece Mine.
The town’s population began to decline in the early 1900s, as the gold mines began to play out.
By the 1920s, the town was all but abandoned.
The town’s last remaining resident, a man named John “Jack” Smith, died in 1972.
The town is home to several historic buildings, including the Elkhorn Hotel, the Elkhorn Saloon, and the Elkhorn Schoolhouse.
The town is also home to a number of hiking trails, which offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
In 2020, Elkhorn was nearly destroyed by the Cameron Peak Fire, the largest forest fire in Colorado history. The town’s historic buildings were largely spared from the fire, and the town has since been rebuilt.
Photographically speaking, ghost towns offer a unique opportunity to study textures and contrast as well as learning about the history of the state. Ghost towns have a strong niche following among Colorado photographers, and I am one of these fanatics. There have been several books published by others which I have found to be useful in finding these off the beaten trail locations. There are also quite a few YouTube videos from other enthusiasts. There are lots of resources available for the dedicated explorer. I have recruited a few of my photographer friends to travel with me in search of ghost towns over time. I’m not so certain their enthusiasm for the subject is as strong as mine, but they are fun to visit and it makes for a good way to kill a day or two doing photography together. It’s always nice to stop at some hole in the wall restaurant and share some stories over lunch too. It’s about the whole experience for me.
I have written about this subject several times. If you’d like to read more about my take on this subject, here’s my most recent article.
