St. Elmo, Ghost town in Chaffee County, Colorado.
Saint Elmo contains 43 preserved structures from the 1880s, including a courthouse, jail, saloon, and mercantile building along its main street.
The settlement, initially named Forest City in 1880, changed to Saint Elmo and grew to 2,000 residents due to gold and silver mining operations.
The town featured multiple establishments in the 1880s, including five hotels, dance halls, a newspaper office, and a telegraph station serving the mining community.
The Saint Elmo General Store operates from May through September, offering basic supplies and souvenirs to visitors exploring the historic district.
The mining town maintains year-round access through plowed roads and offers a single cabin rental that accommodates three guests near the general store.
Location: Chaffee County
GPS coordinates: 38.70472,-106.34500
Latest update: May 27, 2025 08:40
Colorado features natural areas and historical sites away from common routes. The locations range from sand formations at Paint Mines Park to Zapata waterfalls. Bishop Castle displays hand-built stone architecture in the forest, while Devil's Causeway presents narrow rock bridges in the wilderness. Fossil discoveries, dinosaur tracks, and abandoned mining towns document the state's history.
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