Buckskin Joe, originally named Laurette, was a booming Colorado gold mining town established in 1860 near Alma. You’ll discover it reached 3,000 residents by 1866 and produced about $16 million in gold before declining when deposits depleted. The settlement served as Park County’s seat and later transformed into a ghost town. In 1957, it gained new life as a Western theme park until 2010. The site’s fascinating history holds many more colorful tales.
Key Takeaways
- Buckskin Joe was established in 1860 as a gold mining settlement, officially named Laurette but commonly known by its nickname.
- The town boomed to 3,000 residents by 1866 with three hotels, two banks, and produced approximately $16 million in gold.
- It served as Park County seat from January 1862 before declining as gold deposits depleted, becoming abandoned by 1866.
- The ghost town site contains remnants like rock-marked streets, old mine dumps, and a historic cemetery with 211 documented burials.
- In 1957, Malcolm Brown created a Buckskin Joe theme park with authentic buildings that operated until 2010 before relocating to private property.
From Laurette to Buckskin Joe: The Origin Story
When prospectors first established the settlement in 1860, they named it Laurette, not Buckskin Joe. This original name became official when the post office opened in 1861, located about two miles west of Alma, Colorado.
The Buckskin Joe nickname emerged from Joseph Higginbottom, a local mountain man known for his distinctive buckskin clothing. As more miners arrived, they preferred this colorful moniker over Laurette. The Rocky Mountain News was already using “Buckskin Joe” in 1862, and by the mid-1860s, most locals had adopted the name in everyday references. The town grew rapidly, eventually reaching a population of 3,000 residents by 1866.
Laurette history gradually merged with the Buckskin Joe nickname as the mining camp grew. Though the post office maintained the original name until the town’s decline, photographs from 1864 and numerous mining records document how the community’s identity had informally but definitively changed. Many of the historical buildings that once stood in the original town were later relocated to create the Buckskin Joe tourist attraction established in 1957.
Gold Rush Fever: Discovery and Early Mining Operations
You’re standing on the same ground where Joseph “Buckskin Joe” Higginbottom and his associates struck gold in August 1860 along Buckskin Creek, triggering the rapid development of what would become a bustling mining district.
The miners initially extracted rich placer gold deposits using simple techniques, working the creek margins and nearby gulch where gold had naturally concentrated over centuries.
Within weeks of discovery, the Phillips lode began producing extraordinary yields, eventually generating over $300,000 from its near-surface decomposed ore during its first two productive years.
The elevation of 10,761 feet created harsh winter conditions that often limited mining operations until spring thaws allowed work to resume.
Later, Buckskin Joe brought his expertise from sinking 22 mining shafts throughout the West to further develop the area’s mineral potential.
Higginbottom’s Golden Strike
In August 1860, Joseph Higginbottom, better known by his colorful moniker “Buckskin Joe,” made a discovery that would transform the Colorado Territory’s mining landscape.
His gold discovery along creek margins in what would become Laurette (later renamed Buckskin Joe) quickly established the area’s mining legacy and sparked formation of a structured mining district.
The Buckskin Gulch gold discovery led to:
- Establishment of local mining laws and community organization
- Naming of Fairchild Creek after one of the original prospectors
- Discovery of the extraordinarily rich Phillips Lode just a month later
- Development of stamp mills to process the oxidized gold ores
The Phillips Lode proved immensely profitable, yielding over $300,000 in just two years before miners encountered problematic pyritiferous ores that existing technology couldn’t process effectively. This mining challenge paralleled difficulties experienced at other locations in the South Park Districts where placer deposits were exhausted by the mid-1860s. Similar to the challenges faced at the Gold Coin Mine, these mining operations struggled with the waste disposal concerns as they expanded.
Early Placer Techniques
Gold extraction in Buckskin Joe began with four basic placer mining techniques that evolved in complexity and efficiency.
You’d first see miners panning, swirling gravel in water to separate heavier gold from worthless material. This slow method quickly gave way to rocker boxes, which processed 3-4 yards daily.
For increased volume, sluice boxes with wooden riffles trapped gold particles as water rushed through. Mercury was added to amalgamate fine gold clinging to riffles. These sluices typically recovered about 40% of processed gold.
The most advanced technique, hydraulic mining, used pressurized water to wash gold-bearing gravel. Similar to Samuel Marcus’s operation, this technique was essential for placer mining areas with loose material that couldn’t be safely tunneled.
Mining equipment remained simple – pans, shovels, and wooden flumes that stretched two miles to carry water for placer processing.
Operations ran seasonally from April to October, with most deposits exhausted by the mid-1860s as miners shifted to hard rock mining.
Boom Town Days: Life in 1860s Buckskin Joe
As gold fever swept through the region, Buckskin Joe’s population exploded to 2,000 miners by spring 1860, transforming the settlement into a bustling frontier community.
You’d find Horace Tabor managing his general store and post office, establishing himself as a prominent figure years before his Leadville fortune.
Daily life for miners revolved around backbreaking work at the claims, followed by evenings in the town’s saloons and dance halls where legends like the mysterious dance hall girl of Mount Silverheels fame entertained the weary. The town’s notorious resident J. Dawson Hidgepath became well-known for his amorous pursuits of women throughout the community before his unfortunate demise in 1865.
Gold Rush Fever
When prospectors discovered gold near Buckskin Creek in 1859, they triggered what would become one of Colorado’s most remarkable gold rush settlements.
Within a year, news of the Phillips lode’s discovery sent gold fever spreading like wildfire. You’d have witnessed mining camp culture transform rapidly as primitive Spanish arrastras gave way to more sophisticated stamp mills.
By September 1860, you couldn’t stake a new claim if you tried—every inch of promising ground was already taken. Nearly 2,000 miners worked the district at its peak, developing gold prospecting techniques to extract maximum value. Eventually, Horace Tabor’s store became the only original building to survive the town’s eventual decline.
- The Phillips lode alone yielded over $300,000 from just surface mining
- Mining methods evolved quickly from simple panning to complex milling operations
- The town exploded with 14 stores, 2 hotels, and numerous saloons by 1861
- Claim laws were established early to maintain order among the fortune-seekers
Tabor’s Frontier Enterprise
Among the fortune-seekers drawn to Buckskin Joe’s promising gold fields were Horace and Augusta Tabor, a couple whose entrepreneurial vision would shape both the settlement and Colorado’s mining history.
The Tabors established Buckskin Joe’s first general store, becoming the commercial backbone of the burgeoning mining camp. Their frontier commerce enterprise stocked essentials miners desperately needed—tools, food, clothing, and supplies.
Horace’s appointment as postmaster further cemented their central role in community affairs, making their store a hub where mail, news, and gossip flowed freely alongside commercial transactions.
You would have found their store serving as both marketplace and social center, where weary miners gathered after long days in the diggings.
The profits and connections from this venture later propelled the Tabors toward their legendary silver fortune in Leadville.
Daily Miner Life
Trudging up from the creekbeds at dusk, Buckskin Joe’s miners returned to a settlement that transformed almost overnight from wilderness to bustling hub during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush of 1860.
By fall, nearly 2,000 men worked claims, enduring harsh conditions for the promise of wealth.
Daily life centered around four critical aspects:
- Backbreaking labor using sluice boxes and arrastra methods before mills arrived
- Constant health threats, with smallpox outbreaks in 1861 claiming many lives
- Fierce competition for claims along Buckskin Creek and the Phillips lode
- Brief respites of miner’s camaraderie in the town’s three hotels and numerous saloons
Despite daily struggles with accidents, exposure, and isolation, the mining community maintained a vibrant, if unstable, social atmosphere.
The fast-paced frontier environment persisted until ore depletion began driving residents away by 1866.
Notable Characters and Colorful Personalities
The colorful tapestry of Buckskin Joe’s history was woven by remarkable individuals whose stories defined this frontier mining town.
You’ll find Joseph Higginbottom, the buckskin-clad namesake who traded his claim for a horse and gun before departing.
Horace and Augusta Tabor established the town’s first store before Horace became one of Colorado’s mining legends.
Father Dyer, the “Snowshoe Itinerant,” preached across Mosquito Pass, while Frank H. Mayer brought law to the wild settlement.
Among the most colorful characters was Silverheels, the dance hall girl who nursed miners during an epidemic.
J. Dawson Hidgepath’s strange posthumous tale involves his mistreated skeleton.
Later, Malcolm F. Brown assembled authentic 19th-century buildings, transforming Buckskin Joe into a movie set where even a donkey once served as mayor.
The County Seat Years (1861-1866)
Buckskin Joe’s five years as the Park County seat marked a pivotal period in this frontier town’s brief but vibrant history. Officially designated as county seat on January 7, 1862, under its formal name “Laurette,” the town flourished as an administrative center with a courthouse, assay office, and essential municipal facilities.
During this golden era, you’d have found:
- A bustling population of 2,000-3,000 residents
- Approximately $16 million in gold produced between 1859-1866
- Three hotels, two banks, and a newspaper documenting frontier life
- Multiple commercial buildings lining a thriving main street
The town’s prosperity was short-lived. When rich gold deposits played out and the mill closed in 1866, Buckskin Joe’s influence waned.
Mining Methods and Economic Impact
As gold fever swept through Colorado in the early 1860s, Buckskin Joe’s miners developed increasingly sophisticated mining techniques to extract precious metals from the earth.
They began with simple placer mining along creek margins and gulches, using animal-powered arrastras to process ore.
When surface gold became scarce, miners advanced to lode mining with underground tunnels. The Phillips lode mine yielded an impressive $300,000 in just two years. Steam-powered stamp mills eventually replaced arrastras, increasing efficiency.
However, economic challenges mounted as miners encountered pyrite minerals at depths of 15-40 feet. These sulfides couldn’t be processed by local mills, forcing expensive shipment to distant smelters.
Despite attempts to build local smelters, high operational costs and technological limitations led to declining profitability, contributing to Buckskin Joe’s eventual abandonment by 1867.
The Ghost Town Era: Abandonment and Remnants
While booming with activity and thousands of enthusiastic prospectors in the early 1860s, Buckskin Joe quickly descended into abandonment following the depletion of its valuable gold deposits.
By 1866, the town lost its status as Park County seat, and prominent residents like Horace Tabor had already departed, sensing diminishing opportunities.
Today, when you visit the ghost town site west of Alma, you’ll find:
- Long rows of rocks marking former streets
- Old mine dumps scattered across the landscape
- Square-cut nails from original structures
- The historic cemetery with 211 documented burials
Natural reclamation processes have erased most structures, as environmental impact from harsh mountain conditions accelerated decay.
No original buildings remain standing, though Wakely’s rare 1864 photographs preserve visual evidence of this once-thriving mining community.
Buckskin Joe Reborn: The Western Theme Park Legacy
In 1957, long after the original mining settlement had vanished into history, a new Buckskin Joe emerged through the vision of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer director Malcolm F. Brown. He assembled over 30 authentic 19th-century buildings from central Colorado, creating a movie set that opened to the public in 1958.
From the ashes of a forgotten mining town, a Hollywood director’s vision resurrected Buckskin Joe as an authentic slice of the Old West.
The theme park quickly became the nation’s largest Old West attraction, offering hourly gunfights, stagecoach rides, and live entertainment. Its historical significance extended beyond entertainment, as it preserved genuine frontier structures.
The park hosted more than 20 films featuring stars like John Wayne, Jane Fonda, and Kevin Costner.
After 53 years of operation, Buckskin Joe closed in 2010. Billionaire William Koch purchased the ghost town in 2011, relocating the buildings to his private ranch near Gunnison, where they remain today, inaccessible to the public.
Visiting Historic Buckskin Joe Today
Today’s visitors seeking the historic Buckskin Joe face a different experience than those who enjoyed the once-popular theme park.
The original mining town site, located about 2 miles west of Alma, offers authentic ghost town exploration without commercial amenities. Meanwhile, the theme park structures were relocated to a private ranch near Gunnison in 2010, limiting public access.
For those interested in discovering Buckskin Joe’s historical significance:
- Visit the original ghost town site near Alma to see genuine mining-era remnants
- Explore the historic cemetery containing over 200 burials of miners and notable residents
- Include it as part of a broader tour with nearby mining towns like Fairplay and Leadville
- Look for remnants along the Royal Gorge Bridge road where the theme park once stood
Frequently Asked Questions
Was There Any Connection Between Buckskin Joe and South Park TV Show?
While Buckskin Joe wasn’t a direct South Park inspiration, you’ll find a connection: Trey Parker and Matt Stone filmed their debut “Cannibal! The Musical” there in 1993, before creating the show.
Did Any Infamous Outlaws or Gunfighters Visit Buckskin Joe?
Like whispers in the wind, historical evidence doesn’t firmly place famous outlaws or legendary gunfighters in Buckskin Joe itself. You’ll find some gunmen likely passed through Colorado’s mining regions during this era.
What Happened to Silverheels After She Left Town?
You’ll never know for sure what happened to Silverheels after her departure. Her legacy lives on through Mount Silverheels, while mysterious veiled figure sightings at the cemetery suggest she returned incognito.
Were There Any Major Disasters or Epidemics in Buckskin Joe?
Imagine standing amid the graves of Buckskin Joe’s miners. You’ll find smallpox was the only major epidemic, devastating the town in 1861-1862. Silver Heels’ heroic disaster response became legendary before she mysteriously vanished.
How Did Winter Conditions Affect Mining Operations in Buckskin Joe?
You’d face severe snow impacts from October to May, enduring mining delays as freezing conditions limited digging operations. You’d need to constantly maintain your claim while struggling with dangerous supply runs.
References
- https://www.legendsofamerica.com/co-buckskinjoe/
- https://kids.kiddle.co/Buckskin_Joe
- https://royalgorgeregion.com/buckskin-joe/
- https://westernmininghistory.com/towns/colorado/buckskin-joe/
- https://janmackellcollins.wordpress.com/2023/10/06/the-unearthly-lover-of-buckskin-joe-colorado/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckskin_Joe
- https://southparkheritage.org/where-have-all-the-ghost-towns-gone-by-christie-wright/
- https://www.magogquebec.ca/en/buckskin-joe-white-man-devil/
- https://www.roamingourway.com/colorado-road-trip-buckskin-joe/
- https://exploreparkcounty.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/buckskin_brochure.pdf
