Ashcroft
The Town That Could Have Been Aspen
State: Colorado
County: Pitkin County
Founded: 1880
Abandoned: 1890s
Peak Population: 2,500
Ashcroft briefly rivaled Aspen as a silver boomtown with 2,500 residents. But the railroad chose Aspen, not Ashcroft, and the town collapsed. The Aspen Historical Society now preserves the remaining buildings.
Silver Boom
At its peak, Ashcroft had six hotels, a newspaper, and 20 saloons. The 1893 silver crash finished it.
Preservation
Ski legend Billy Fiske tried to develop a ski resort here in the 1930s. Now it's a preserved townsite.
Timeline
- 1880 - Founded Silver discovery
- 1885 - Peak 2,500 residents
- 1893 - Crash Silver devaluation
Plan Your Visit
Best Time: Summer
Difficulty: Easy
Time Needed: 1-2 hours
Quick Facts
- Once bigger than Aspen
- Ten buildings preserved
- Near Aspen ski areas
Location
Address: Castle Creek Road, Aspen, Colorado
Coordinates: 39.0561, -106.81