Colorado’s Largest Ghost Town was Once Home to 2,500 People

Because of Colorado's rich history, our great state is full of reminders of the past, including numerous ghost towns. However, one Colorado ghost town is unique in that it was once home to roughly 2,500 people, making it the largest ghost town in the state. That town is the now-abandoned Ashcroft, Colorado.

Where is Ashcroft, Colorado?

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Ashcroft, Colorado was once a booming mining town with, as mentioned above, roughly 2,500 residents. However, nowadays, you can still visit the town if you know where you're going.

Ashcroft is located just south of Aspen, Colorado off of Colorado Highway 82:

Now that you know where Colorado's largest ghost town is, let's learn a little more about Ashcroft, Colorado.

History of Ashcroft, Colorado

As mentioned above, Ashcroft was the product of a mining boom in the 1800s, much like many other historic Colorado towns.

The town was founded in 1880 following a silver boom and was, believe it or not, actually bigger than neighboring Aspen at one point. However, the town of Ashcroft would only exist for a few years until the mines would run dry and the town would become abandoned.

While it wasn't around too terribly long, Ashcroft had so many people living there at one point that it was home to six hotels and 20 saloons, a few of which are still standing in the present-day ghost town.

What's Ashcroft Colorado Like Now?

Unlike many ghost towns and abandoned places in Colorado, Ashcroft is open to the public. It is maintained and actually has an entry fee. Once you've paid your fee, you have to keep your dog in the car while you explore one of the old hotels, saloons, and various other buildings still standing.

Now that you know all about Colorado's largest ghost town, keep scrolling to take a virtual tour: