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:

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

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

Ashcroft, Colorado is known as the state’s largest ghost town and was once home to nearly 2,500 residents.

Take a Virtual Tour of Colorado Ghost Town Ironton

WARNING: Under no circumstances should you enter this property. By doing so you risk bodily harm and/or prosecution for trespassing on private property.

Ironton Colorado, now abandoned, was once a booming location for the state's mining industry.

Take a Virtual Tour of Colorado Ghost Town Gilman

WARNING: Under no circumstances should you enter this property. By doing so you risk bodily harm and/or prosecution for trespassing on private property.

If you've ever made the trip over Battle Mountain from Minturn to Leadville, you've probably noticed an old abandoned town on the side of the hill. That town is known as Gilman and was abandoned in 1985 because of contamination from the mine.

Because of this, the town is closed to the public and it is illegal to go there. However, as made evident by the massive amount of graffiti and homemade videos of the town, not everyone follows the rules. Here's a look inside the abandoned town of Gilman, Colorado.

 

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