Ironton
State: Colorado
County: Ouray County
Founded: 1883
Abandoned: 1960s
Peak Population: 1,000
Ironton sits dramatically along the Million Dollar Highway (US 550), once supporting 1,000 residents who mined silver, gold, and copper. The town survived longer than most by switching to tourism—a dance pavilion operated through the 1960s. Now only foundations and a few structures remain.
Quick Facts
- Located on the scenic Million Dollar Highway
- Named for iron-rich ore, not iron production
- Dance pavilion kept town alive into the 1960s
- One of the most photogenic ghost town sites in Colorado
Location
Address: Million Dollar Highway, Ouray County, Colorado
Coordinates: 37.9406, -107.6689