Independence Pass Ghost Town

Looking east from the summit of Independence Pass.

Located just west of the Continental Divide, down the first terrifying pass on Colorado Highway 82, is the Independence Ghost Town.

According to legend, Billy Belden, one of the early prospectors in the area, who supposedly struck a rich vein of silver on the pass on July 4, 1879, thus how the town and pass were named! Soon after a tent city sprang up, and by the summer of 1880 log cabins and businesses were build to support the new mining operation. By 1882 there were over 1,000 people working in the mines and at the Farwell Gold Mill.

Remains of the Farwell Gold Mill

Two of the original log cabins from the 1880’s that have been restored.

Building a mining camp and town at 10,900 feet above sea level was challenging. But it proved to be worth it in the short term as over $190,000 of gold was produced between 1881 and 1882. However the gold veins were shallow deposits and they were quickly depleted.

Remains of another of the original log cabins from the 1880’s

Sign next to the remains of the Farwell Gold Mill

Another view of the remains of the Farwell Gold Mill

Today you can stop at two pullouts and parking areas and hike the trails around the old log cabins. the Aspen Historical Society maintains the ghost town and have had it added to the National Register of Historical Places.

Be sure to check it out on your next drive on Highway 82 to or from Aspen.

No dual pane windows back then…