Comet

Comet is an abandoned mining settlement in Jefferson County with remains of houses, a schoolhouse, and an ore bin. Most structures are deteriorating but their presence marks where hundreds of workers once lived and worked.

The settlement began in 1885 during the mining boom with a population reaching 300, people working in mines and a nearby mill. After mines and the mill closed around the mid-1900s, residents left permanently.

The name Comet reflects the miners' hope for quick fortune and wealth. The few remaining structures like the old schoolhouse show how people lived together and what community existed in this working town.

You can reach this place by taking a dirt road west from the main highway for about 3 to 4 miles (5 to 6 kilometers). Summer and fall offer the best visiting conditions since winter brings snow that can make the roads difficult to navigate.

The town experienced an unexpected revival during the 1920s and 1930s when mining and mill operations resumed with workers returning. Over 20 saloons operated then, revealing how vibrant nightlife was before the final decline.