Redstone, Mountain mining settlement in Pitkin County, United States.
Redstone is a small census-designated place in Pitkin County, Colorado, set along the Crystal River at roughly 7,900 feet (2,400 m) elevation in the Elk Mountains. The settlement sits at the base of red rock cliffs, with the river running through a narrow valley on one side and forested slopes rising on the other.
John Cleveland Osgood established Redstone in 1898 as a company town to house workers of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company, which mined coal in the surrounding valleys. The town grew fast but declined after the mines closed in the early 20th century, and it has remained largely unchanged since then.
The Redstone Historic District lines the main road with small Victorian cottages built for coal miners and their families. The red sandstone cliffs rising behind the village are what gave the place its name, and they remain the most visible feature of the landscape today.
Redstone sits along a road that can be affected by snow and ice in winter, so checking conditions before traveling is a good idea. The area serves as a starting point for trails into the White River National Forest, as well as access to the Crystal River for water activities in summer.
Osgood built the Redstone Inn in 1902 specifically to house unmarried workers, giving them a standard of comfort that was unusual for laborers at the time. His private residence, Osgood Castle, stands just outside the village and was built the same year in a Tudor Revival style with handcrafted interiors.
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