McPhee, Colorado, Dolores County was once a bustling town; now it stands as a ghost town echoing stories of a bygone era. Explore the rich history and remnants of McPhee below. Below is detailed information about the town.
County: Dolores County
Zip Code: Not available
Latitude / Longitude: 37.6661° N, 108.5334° W
Elevation: 6,982 feet (2,128 meters)
Time Zone: Mountain Time Zone (MT)
Established: 1924
Disestablished: 1948
Comments: McPhee was primarily established as a company town built around a large sawmill operated by the New Mexico Lumber Company. The town was strategically located to support the booming timber industry, focusing on processing lumber from the vast Ponderosa Pine forests in the region.
McPhee was named after lumberman Thomas McPhee. At its peak, it was one of the largest sawmills in the United States and played a significant role in the local economy.
Remains: Today, very little remains of McPhee. The townsite is mostly submerged under the McPhee Reservoir, created in the 1980s as part of a water project.
Some remnants of foundations and scattered artifacts might be found in areas that are not underwater, but most of the town’s physical structure is lost to history.
Current Status: McPhee is classified as a ghost town with no remaining inhabitants. Its legacy lives on through historical records and its influence on the region’s development.
Remarks: McPhee’s story is a testament to the transient nature of industrial towns that rise and fall with economic demands. Although the town has vanished, the McPhee Reservoir, named in its honor, continues to serve as a crucial water resource for surrounding communities, preserving the town’s name for future generations.
