Colorado Ghost Town!

Colorado Ghost Town!

Colorado Ghost Town!

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In 1877 the Denver and Rio Grande Railway Company built a narrow gauge railroad through La Veta Pass to Uptop, Colorado which was a depot at the top of the Pass and what was then the highest railroad and depot in the world. With the building of the depot, merchants moved to the location to cater to rail passengers and for entertainment, built a large dance hall-saloon. It was a favorite stop for miners, railroad men and lumberjacks. The bar, known for its unique curved bar, served prohibition liquor made in a still behind the building that fueled many a raucous poker game. In 1899, the small gauge tracks were torn up in favor of standard gauge and the railroad was rerouted nine miles south. Many types of passengers made use of the railroad such as a team of Harvard botanists that camped at Uptop to collect plants for Charles Darwin. The railroad also made it possible for Indian Chief Ouray and his wife to travel to Washington, D.C. for treaty negotiation. Tourists flocked to Uptop to ride on the highest railway, which the railroad company advertised as the "Railroad Above the Clouds." When the railroad moved out, lumber companies moved in and in 1930 the Chapel-by-the-Wayside was built for that community.

Today Uptop has been recognized by the National Historical Society after being restored by two sisters, both in their 60s, who left their professions in Boston to bring the town back to life. The "ghost town" on 250 acres of land contains the home, guest cabin, dance hall-saloon, train depot - now a museum, and the chapel with views of the Sangre de Cristo mountains in the southern Rockies. For more information.

Sale includes train depot, dance hall, saloon and chapel, water and mineral rights. Now priced at $2 million.

Source: www.sothebysrealty.com