Independence is a ghost town with an interesting history perched high in the mountains between Aspen and Leadville at 10,900 feet of elevation.
Within two years, it went from a little tent city to having well over 1,500 residents. Bust always follows the boom though, and in it’s third heyday year (1883) the boom ran out. In 1899 the worst storm in Colorado’s history cut the town off from all supplies, and the miners tore down their homes to make skis to escape to Aspen.
The site is decently preserved, given the time and elements in the harsh alpine environment, and the Aspen Historical Society is rebuilding and preserving what they can.
Perfectly Square
Not a square corner to be found in this old log building!
Just Needs A Woman’s Touch
A little fixer-upper
Door Frame
Colette inspects a not-so-square door frame in one of the old buildings at Independence Ghost Town.
Mother Nature Always Wins
A clear example of the tremendous power of avalanches. Pine trees smashed to toothpicks and scattered across the landscape.
Farwell Stamp Mill
The remains of the Farwell Stamp Mill still stand at the west end of Independence.
Walk to Work
Walking back from the mine and mill area to the main townsite.
