Animas Forks, Colorado

Animas Forks, Colorado

Animas Forks is a rickety ghost town teetering high in the San Juan Mountains just east of Silverton, Colorado. It used to be a bustling community during the silver boom of the late 1800s but today only the miner’s spirit permeates the cool, mountain air.

Pictured above is the best preserved building, an impressive residence known as ‘the bay window house’. Broken down and beaten after enduring years of nasty weather, the resilient structure rises defiantly out of a dense thicket of green willows.

I can’t imagine how people lived up here all year long, extracting precious minerals from the generous earth. There’s no debate that they enjoyed breathtaking views of the surrounding peaks but struggling to survive the harsh winters must have been absolutely brutal.

Comments

  1. Courtney - Maui JungalowApril 2, 2016 at 12:20 PM

    Does anyone try to go inside the house? Is it too hard to get to the house through the thicket? Or is it barricaded? We have a few old structure on Maui, not too many and usually there are keep out or "kapu" (no trespassing signs).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dan MillerApril 4, 2016 at 2:08 PM

      At this ghost town you are allowed to roam freely. When we were there, we explored all of the remaining structures inside and out. There are a few signs about the possible danger from entering the unstable buildings so you are warned to examine them at your own risk

      Delete
  2. BarbRadApril 2, 2016 at 3:52 PM

    I love scenery like this. I'm a mountain / river person.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dan MillerApril 4, 2016 at 2:01 PM

      You would love Animas Forks then because it's a beautiful alpine setting complete with a sparkling blue river.

      Delete
  3. Book Lady: Linda Jo MartinApril 5, 2016 at 12:58 AM

    Looks like fun. I would love to explore there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dan MillerApril 6, 2016 at 11:59 AM

      It was a great experience exploring the ghost town and trying to imagine what life must have been like. The mountains around there are incredible.

      Delete

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